[A320FAN]

Status whiners take note:

American Airlines Redesigns AAdvantage® Loyalty Program

Award mileage accrual based on price of ticket begins August 1
Introducing Platinum Pro for the 2017 membership year

FORT WORTH, Texas, June 06, 2016 - American Airlines (Nasdaq:AAL) is taking the next step in the evolution of its award-winning AAdvantage loyalty program, shifting to award miles based on the price of a ticket. The AAdvantage program will also make changes to how members qualify for elite status and introduce a new elite level in 2017.

“American Airlines is evolving AAdvantage to continue our tradition of having the best loyalty program in the world by rewarding our most loyal customers with the benefits they value the most,” said Andrew Nocella, American’s Chief Marketing Officer.

Earning Award Miles
For travel beginning August 1, 2016, flights marketed by American will earn award miles based on the price of the ticket purchased. Elite members will earn even more miles based on their status level.

Elite Status Level AAdvantage
member Gold Platinum Executive
Platinum
Miles earned per USD spent† 5 7
(40% bonus) 8
(60% bonus) 11
(120% bonus)

†base fare plus carrier-imposed fees, excluding any government-imposed taxes and fees

Award miles for travel on most flights marketed by partner airlines will be based on a percentage of the flight distance and the booking code purchased.

Beginning later this month, customers will be able to see an estimate of the number of miles and elite-qualifying credits they will earn for a chosen itinerary when booking their trip on aa.com.

2017 Program Changes

New Elite Level
On January 1, 2017, the AAdvantage program will add a fourth elite level for customers.

◾Platinum Pro – members can begin qualifying for this new level in 2017. Placed between Platinum and Executive Platinum levels, members will receive benefits, including:◾Complimentary auto-requested upgrades on all eligible flights within North America and between the U.S. and Central America

◾Earn 9 award miles/U.S. dollar (80% bonus)

◾Two free checked bags

◾oneworld® Sapphire status


New Elite Qualification Requirement
Effective January 1, 2017, Elite Qualifying Dollars (EQD) will be added to the elite-qualification requirements.

◾Members can earn elite status by reaching the EQD threshold, and either the Elite Qualifying Miles (EQM) or Elite Qualifying Segments (EQS) requirement.

Gold Platinum Platinum Pro Executive Platinum
25k EQMs
Or
30 EQSs 50k EQMs
Or
60 EQSs 75k EQMs
Or
90 EQSs 100k EQMs
Or
120 EQSs
$3k EQDs $6k EQDs $9k EQDs $12k EQDs


A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoo...e-f424baafefcd

Changes to Upgrade Benefits
Later in 2017, AAdvantage members will see changes to how upgrade requests are prioritized along with a new benefit for Executive Platinum members:

◾Upgrade priority will be based on a 12-month rolling EQD total, sorted by elite status level.

◾Executive Platinum members will be able to use their complimentary 500-mile upgrade benefits on AAdvantage award tickets for travel on American from Main Cabin to the next class.

Additional details about the 2016 AAdvantage program are available at aa.com/aadvantage2016.

About American Airlines Group
American Airlines and American Eagle offer an average of nearly 6,700 flights per day to nearly 350 destinations in more than 50 countries. American has hubs in Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, Phoenix, and Washington, D.C. American is a founding member of the oneworld alliance, whose members and members-elect serve nearly 1,000 destinations with 14,250 daily flights to 150 countries. Shares of American Airlines Group Inc. trade on Nasdaq under the ticker symbol AAL. In 2015, its stock joined the S&P 500 index. Connect with American on Twitter @AmericanAir and at Facebook.com/AmericanAirlines.

[davidbogolub]

The new management at AAAL Is nothing if not adept at spinning and doubletalk, not to mention outright bald-faced lying (a speciality of their ground staff who have shamelessly lied to me countless times since January about cancellations and the like until I confronted them with paperwork or internet screen shots when they sheepishly retired-without apology for the lies, but that is another letter for another day.). I have been a loyal AAL customer for decades and have nearly four MILLION miles logged. I also have LOTS of miles on BA, Turkish and others. Ever since the merger of AAL with US Air the cheapening of what was once one of the best products in the industry, the astonishing deterioration in customer service, the jaw-dropping level of contempt that the new management holds their customers in-even their best customers like me, have all added up to make "The New American" the worst, in my opinion, airline in the US industry. Indeed, they stand out as being among the very worst in the world in terms of customer service in all categories.
One of the latest examples is the way that they have "evolved" (their marketing mouthpiece's word) their aadvantage frequent flyer program. Now, to attain top tier, not only must one fly 100,000 miles in what ha become the most customer unfriendly system in the US of not the worls but also one MUST spend a MINUMUM of twelve thousand dollars yearly. That's a thousand bucks a month folks, paying for what has evolved into the very worst customer service and product delivery in my memory in the US airline industry. I have had FOUR international flights canceled since January and four delayed for many hours. In every case they lied about the reasons. I know this because I have worked for city government and have LOTS of friends at LOTS of airports and generally know a source from which I can get the straight story--and it is NEVER from AAL. The number of domestic cancellations and delays beggars description...and for this I am expected to fork over a grand-a-month to pay for the privilege of cancellations, delays, nonexistent customer service (no longer even a phone number to call to complain or get redress-they REALLY don't care, do they), and abysmal ground service.
I have already changed much of my overseas travel to BA and to Turkish in Europe and former British Empire, and to Singapore and Cathay Pacific in Asia, and the difference, even on BA is night-and-day. Perhaps the new AAL management, who are clearly focusing on the casual and occasional flyer at the expense of driving away what had been a large and loyal cadre of business and loyalty customers, will get a clue--but I doubt it. This cannot be an accident. It MUST be a deliberate company policy. Nobody could be this stupid or blind to market and customer reaction.
Oh, well, AAL...our relationship was nice while it lasted but it is time to move on I think. Any thoughts out there fellow flyers