AAdvantage

AAdvantage is the frequent flyer program of the U.S. carrier American Airlines. It was launched on 1 May 1981, and is thus the oldest existing frequent flyer program in the world and the second of its kind, the first such loyalty program was established in 1979 by Texas International. With 67 million members (as of October 2011) is one of the largest AAdvantage frequent flyer programs in the world.

History

The foundation of the program resulted from the Airline Deregulation Act of the United States of 1978 and the resulting increase in competitive pressure. To reward loyal customers and retain a discount for airline tickets were first introduced to these and expanded free upgrades. To this end, the flight bookings of the reservation system Sabre were examined for recurring numbers in order to determine the most active 130,000 frequent flyer and automatically enroll in the program. Furthermore, 60,000 members of the AA 's Admirals Club were filed. The name AAdvantage was chosen based on the corporate identity, logo Massimo Vignelli designed by.

Less than a week later, the MileagePlus frequent flyer program was launched by the competitors United Airlines, other airlines followed in the coming weeks and months.

As the first program AAdvantages cooperated in 1982 with an international airline, and on flights to Europe on British Airways also miles could now be collected.

Frequent flyer status

The unit of account of the program are " miles". Members who have registered for free, these can collect on flights operated by American Airlines and its Oneworld Alliance partners and credited by various hotels, car rentals and tour operators. Miles can be redeemed for free flights, upgrades and several product awards. They also lead to different status levels. AAdvantage recognizes four different categories for frequent flyers:

  • Provisional members receive at registration on the internet a " AAdvantage " paper card for printing.
  • Gold status, from 25,000 status miles or 25,000 points or 30 paid flight segments. Benefits include, among other things, a 25% mileage bonus, a second free luggage check- in at Business Class counters and collecting upgrade points. Per 10,000 miles flown getting 4 points, 1 point later upgraded to a maximum distance of 500 miles makes.
  • Platinum status, from 50,000 status miles or 50,000 points or 60 flight segments flown. Benefits include, in addition to those of the gold status has a 100% mileage bonus and international flights access to the Admirals Club lounge or to a business class lounge of another oneworld airline.
  • Executive Platinum, from 100,000 status miles or 100,000 points or 100 flight segments flown. Members of this category can fly within North America and the Caribbean automatically and free in business class, if it has space. They also receive options to achieve this status 8 EVIP upgrade vouchers, which can be used on intercontinental routes (1 EVIP valid for up to three flight segments in the next higher category seat ). For the collection of upgrade points omitted. The check- in is at the first-class switch. Members receive access to the first-class lounges on international travel with oneworld airlines.

Since the end of 2011, there is a renewed Million Miler Program. All Status Miles collected on AA or oneworld airlines are added to the collected until end of November 2011 miles. Members who have accumulated 1,000,000 miles on flights with American Airlines, will receive a lifetime of gold status. For 2,000,000 miles there is the lifelong Platinum status.

Cooperations

In addition to the cooperation within the Oneworld alliance and the AmericanConnection regional airlines and American Eagle Miles can be earned on code -share flights with the following airlines.

Texas International Airlines Sabre (computer system) Envoy (airline) Fiji Airways
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