American Airways made main modifications to its AAdvantage loyalty program as of 2022, with the introduction of the Loyalty Factors idea. With these modifications, standing is not earned primarily based on what number of miles you fly or how a lot you spend, however fairly primarily based on what number of Loyalty Factors you earn. As you’d anticipate, members have combined emotions about these modifications.
On this publish I needed to cowl the main points of the Loyalty Alternative Rewards advantages for 2022, that are earned by passing sure Loyalty Factors thresholds over the course of the membership 12 months.
What are American Loyalty Alternative Rewards?
With the reimagined AAdvantage program, you earn standing completely primarily based on what number of Loyalty Factors you earn, as follows:
- AAdvantage Gold standing requires 30,000 Loyalty Factors
- AAdvantage Platinum standing requires 75,000 Loyalty Factors
- AAdvantage Platinum Professional standing requires 125,000 Loyalty Factors
- AAdvantage Govt Platinum standing requires 200,000 Loyalty Factors
Since you may earn Loyalty Factors by way of bank card spending and different companion exercise, you would in concept earn all revealed AAdvantage elite tiers with out stepping foot on a airplane. Nevertheless, there’s one side of elite perks that isn’t primarily based completely on what number of Loyalty Factors you earn.
American AAdvantage has Loyalty Alternative Rewards completely for many who fly a minimum of 30 eligible flight segments over the course of a membership 12 months. These Loyalty Alternative Rewards offer you entry to a few of the most precious elite perks, like systemwide upgrades and extra.
American’s 2022 Loyalty Alternative Rewards
In 2022, American AAdvantage is providing 5 tiers of Loyalty Alternative Rewards:
- Reward Stage 1 might be unlocked after incomes 125,000 Loyalty Factors and a minimal of 30 eligible flight segments, and that will get you one Loyalty Alternative Reward
- Reward Stage 2 might be unlocked after incomes 200,000 Loyalty Factors, and that will get you two Loyalty Alternative Rewards
- Reward Stage 3 might be unlocked after incomes 350,000 Loyalty Factors, and that will get you two Loyalty Alternative Rewards
- Reward Stage 4 might be unlocked after incomes 550,000 Loyalty Factors, and that will get you two Loyalty Alternative Rewards
- Reward Stage 5 might be unlocked after incomes 750,000 Loyalty Factors, and that will get you two Loyalty Alternative Rewards
A couple of issues to notice on the subject of deciding on Loyalty Alternative Rewards:
- For thresholds with a number of choices, you may select the identical reward twice, or two completely different rewards (besides the place it’s particularly famous {that a} choice required two selections)
- The 30 qualifying segments it is advisable earn embody segments on American or a qualifying companion airline; American Airways marketed award flights even depend towards the requirement
- For the needs of 2022 qualification, Loyalty Factors earned between January 1, 2022, and February 28, 2023, qualify; going ahead, the qualification 12 months will likely be March 1 by way of February 28
- When you qualify for Loyalty Alternative Rewards, you’ll have till March 31, 2023, to make your choice; it might make sense to attend, because it provides you extra flexibility, and probably extra time to redeem your rewards (for instance, systemwide upgrades are legitimate for a 12 months from after they’re issued)
With that out of the way in which, which Loyalty Alternative Rewards ought to you choose at every threshold? Let’s go over all the main points.
Loyalty Alternative Rewards for 125,000 Loyalty Factors
Those that earn 125,000 Loyalty Factors and 30 eligible flight segments earn Platinum Professional standing, and may choose one of many following advantages:
- One systemwide improve
- 20,000 AAdvantage bonus miles (AAdvantage bank card members obtain an extra 5,000 bonus miles)
- Six Admirals Membership one-day passes
- $200 American Airways Journey Credit score
- Carbon emissions offset
- $200 donation to your selection of one in every of 10 companion charities
- One-time 15% off award low cost (for as much as two passengers wherever American or companions fly)
- Present of AAdvantage Gold standing
Loyalty Alternative Rewards for 200,000 Loyalty Factors
Those that earn 200,000 Loyalty Factors earn Govt Platinum standing, and may choose two of the next advantages:
- Two systemwide upgrades
- 20,000 AAdvantage bonus miles (AAdvantage bank card members obtain an extra 10,000 bonus miles)
- Six Admirals Membership one-day passes
- Admirals Membership membership (requires two Loyalty Alternative Rewards)
- $200 American Airways Journey Credit score
- Carbon emissions offset
- $200 donation to your selection of one in every of 10 companion charities
- Present of AAdvantage Gold standing
- Alternative of 1 Bang & Olufsen premium product (requires two Loyalty Alternative Rewards)
Loyalty Alternative Rewards for 350,000 Loyalty Factors
Those that earn 350,000 Loyalty Factors can choose two of the next advantages:
- One systemwide upgrades
- 25,000 AAdvantage bonus miles
- Six Admirals Membership one-day passes
- Admirals Membership membership (requires two Loyalty Alternative Rewards)
- $200 American Airways Journey Credit score
- Carbon emissions offset
- $200 donation to your selection of one in every of 10 companion charities
- Present of AAdvantage Gold standing
Loyalty Alternative Rewards for 550,000 Loyalty Factors
Those that earn 550,000 Loyalty Factors can choose two of the next advantages:
- One systemwide upgrades
- 25,000 AAdvantage bonus miles
- Six Admirals Membership one-day passes
- Admirals Membership membership (requires two Loyalty Alternative Rewards)
- $200 American Airways Journey Credit score
- Carbon emissions offset
- $200 donation to your selection of one in every of 10 companion charities
- Present of AAdvantage Platinum standing (requires two Loyalty Alternative Rewards)
Loyalty Alternative Rewards for 750,000 Loyalty Factors
Those that earn 750,000 Loyalty Factors can choose two of the next advantages:
- One systemwide upgrades
- 25,000 AAdvantage bonus miles
- Six Admirals Membership one-day passes
- Admirals Membership membership (requires two Loyalty Alternative Rewards)
- $200 American Airways Journey Credit score
- Carbon emissions offset
- $200 donation to your selection of one in every of 10 companion charities
- Present of AAdvantage Platinum standing (requires two Loyalty Alternative Rewards)
My tackle American’s Loyalty Alternative Rewards
Everybody will worth these Loyalty Alternative Rewards advantages otherwise primarily based on their journey patterns and preferences, although I’ll share my broad tackle which choices make sense:
- Personally I worth American AAdvantage miles at 1.5 cents every, so to me the bonus miles are the choice to beat; when you qualify for the primary and second tier of Loyalty Alternative Rewards and have a co-branded American bank card, you would probably earn a complete of 85,000 AAdvantage miles
- I discover the inconsistency of the valuation of awards at every tier to be odd; for instance, on the first tier you may choose a $200 American Airways credit score or one systemwide improve, whereas on the second tier you may choose a $200 American Airways credit score or two systemwide upgrades
- Many individuals could just like the systemwide upgrades, however personally I don’t plan on deciding on these; American simply doesn’t make sufficient confirmable improve house accessible, and I’d fairly get AAdvantage bonus miles I can redeem nonetheless I’d like for journey on superior companion airways
- For me the mathematics simply doesn’t add up on the Admirals Membership day passes or membership, the $200 American Airways credit score, or the charitable donation, as the chance value by way of AAdvantage miles is simply too large
- On the first tier, deciding on a 15% award low cost may very well be the most effective worth; for instance, when you e-book two roundtrip awards to the Center East on Qatar Airways in enterprise class you’d pay 280,000 miles, so that you’d be taking a look at a rebate of 42,000 miles
Since I’m hoping to earn 200,000 Loyalty Factors over the course of this membership 12 months (although I nonetheless have a methods to go), I’m leaning towards deciding on the 15% award low cost on the first tier, after which deciding on 60,000 AAdvantage bonus miles on the second tier.
Backside line
American AAdvantage provides the Loyalty Alternative Rewards program, which members can choose when passing sure Loyalty Factors thresholds, together with incomes 30 qualifying segments.
Somebody who qualifies for Govt Platinum with 200,000 Loyalty Factors and 30 segments might choose 5 systemwide upgrades, or in any other case might choose perks starting from as much as 85,000 bonus miles, to $600 price of American Airways credit.
Personally I’m not an enormous fan of systemwide upgrades given the shortage of confirmable improve house upfront, so I’m leaning towards deciding on bonus miles.
What do you make of American’s Loyalty Alternative Rewards? Which do you propose on deciding on?
