AAdvantage® program updates
What’s coming in 2024
Exclusive AAdvantage® member benefits
In the coming months, you’ll enjoy more flexibility when flying on American as an AAdvantage® member.
Basic Economy cancellation
Starting January 17, 2024, you can cancel non-refundable Basic Economy fare tickets on aa.com and receive a partial Trip Credit for a fee if:
- Your trip is wholly within the 50 U.S. states
- You booked American Airlines marketed and operated flights
- You booked in the U.S. directly through American (aa.com, the app or American Airlines Reservations)
- Travel hasn't started yet
Basic Economy tickets booked through a third party cannot be canceled for Trip Credit.
Same-day standby
For travel on or after March 1, 2024, only AAdvantage® members* can stand by for an earlier flight. To request same-day standby, find your trip on aa.com or in the app starting 24 hours before your flight departure.
Keep in mind your new flight must:
- Depart on the same day, from and to the same airports, as your original flight
- Have the same number of stops, in the same airports, as your original flight
- Be operated by American Airlines or American Eagle® carriers
*Same-day standby will continue to be available to oneworld® status members, active U.S. military and Main Cabin Select customers.
Other benefits
Later in 2024, more travel benefits become exclusive to AAdvantage® members, including:
- Extended Trip Credit: You’ll have 6 more months to use Trip Credit than non-members when canceling travel online.
- Admirals Club® One-Day Passes: Only AAdvantage® members can buy One-Day Passes.
- Flagship® Lounge Single Visit Passes: Buy a pass to enjoy our premium lounge.
- 24-hour trip hold: Only members will be able to put flights on hold free of charge for up to 24 hours.
As an AAdvantage® member, you’ll also continue to enjoy benefits like boarding earlier with Group 6, exclusive access to American Airlines Vacations™ packages and more.
New upgrade benefits
Coming later this year, you can:
- Earn miles on upgrades: Earn miles when you pay with cash to upgrade to a premium cabin.
- Upgrade with our partners: You’ll be able to redeem miles for upgrades with more airline partners in 2024.
- Manage systemwide upgrades: Request systemwide upgrades online.
For now, you can use your miles to upgrade to a higher cabin of service on Qantas.
New ways to redeem and get rewarded
New Loyalty Point Reward choices
Starting with the new qualification year on March 1, 2024, you can choose Loyalty Points toward AAdvantage® status as your reward choice. Loyalty Points become available at select Loyalty Point Reward levels:
- 15,000 level: Choose 1,000 Loyalty Points
- 175,000 level: Choose 5,000 Loyalty Points
- 250,000 level: Choose 15,000 Loyalty Points per reward choice (2 available)
New Enhance with Miles opportunity
Coming soon: Dine in luxury at the airport when you redeem miles for Flagship® First Dining passes, available once you reach AAdvantage Platinum Pro® status.
Previous updates
Systemwide and mileage award upgrades
If you and a companion are waitlisted for the same type of upgrade, you can sponsor them to receive your priority level. You’ll stay prioritized together, even at the airport.
Companion and sponsor qualifications:
- Book on the same flight (same or separate reservations)
- Use the same upgrade type (systemwide or mileage award upgrades)
Companions don’t have to be AAdvantage® members; the upgrade can be deducted from any account.
To sponsor a companion for a new or existing trip, contact Reservations.
Upgrade requests will be prioritized by AAdvantage® status level, then:
- Type of upgrade
- 12-month Rolling Loyalty Points
If the upgrade type and 12-month Rolling Loyalty Points value are the same, we’ll look at the booking code then date / time of the request to determine prioritization.
Type of upgrade
Before you get to the airport, requests for systemwide and mileage award upgrades are processed independently from complimentary upgrades.
At the airport, upgrades requested will be prioritized in this order:
- Systemwide and mileage award upgrades
- Complimentary upgrades
12-month Rolling Loyalty Points
Your 12-month Rolling Loyalty Points value is updated daily and is different from your Year-to-Date (YTD) Loyalty Points, which is used to track your progress toward AAdvantage® status.
Rolling Loyalty Points are based on:
- Loyalty Points earned in the 12 last months
- Additional Loyalty Points earned from reaching qualifying spend thresholds on eligible AAdvantage® Aviator® Silver Mastercard® and on the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®
Booking code
Booking code priority:
- From Business to First (for systemwide and mileage award upgrades only): J, R, D, I, C
- From Main Cabin to the next class: W, P, Y, H, K, M, L, V, G, S, N, Q, O, T