American Airlines Raised Its Bar To Qualify For Lowest Tier Of Frequent Flyer Program

American Airlines Group, Inc AAL American’s AAdvantage program members will have to earn 40,000 “loyalty points” to reach Gold, its lowest tier of status, up from 30,000 from March.
The Gold level includes free checked bags, early boarding, and free upgrades.
AAL became the latest airline to bump up the costs for travelers to qualify for frequent-flier status in its loyalty program in 2023, the Wall Street Journal reports.
Also Read: American Airlines And JetBlue Airways Tap Their Alliance Amid Antitrust Regulatory Opposition
Carriers made it easier for people to maintain and earn status during the pandemic to hold on to customers.
But the programs also swelled in size, making it more competitive for customers to secure space in premium cabins and seats in lounges.
AAL also introduced new perks for people who have 15,000 points and are yet to earn status.
Customers with no-frills basic-economy tickets will earn fewer points for each dollar they spend.
Delta Air Lines, Inc DAL revamped requirements for frequent fliers to access its luxury lounges to reduce overcrowding.
Also, starting next year, Delta travelers will need to spend 33% more on flights to qualify for Gold, Platinum, and Diamond Medallion status for 2024.
For the third quarter, AAL reported revenue of $13.46 billion, which beat the $13.25 billion consensus estimate. The company reported earnings per share of 69 cents, beating a consensus estimate of 31 cents. Revenue was up 50.1% year-over-year.
Price Action: AAL shares traded lower by 0.62% at $12.85 premarket on the last check Friday.

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