Dissapointing Changes to American Airlines Lifetime Gold and Platinum Status – Starts December 1, 2011


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I just received an email from AAdvantage that I am not quite pleased about. I have copied and pasted the email below, but essentially they are changing their million mile program for lifetime gold and platinum status. As of December 1, 2011 only base miles earned by flying American Airlines flights will count towards lifetime status. This is a HUGE change to the current program as ANY earned AA miles regardless of how they were received count towards lifetime status. I am about 100,000 miles shy of lifetime gold, so have four months to accumulate miles other ways as well. The one ‘nice’ thing they are doing (which is also to help promote their $450 just released credit card) is that until December 31, 2012 all miles earned on the Citi Executive/AAdvantage World Elite MasterCard will also count to obtain this status (all other cards are excluded). You MUST, however, have opened this credit card prior to December 1, 2011. Looks like I might be opening another AAdvantage credit card soon to get the 75,000 bonus miles. You can view their current offer in my “Top Promos” tab.

Your commitment to American Airlines is extraordinary and we sincerely thank you for your loyalty.

We are pleased to announce the new AAdvantage® Million MilerSM program which recognizes and rewards AAdvantage members when Million Miler thresholds are reached. Starting December 1, 2011, AAdvantage base miles earned by flying on American Airlines, American Eagle® or the AmericanConnection® carrier or any eligible AAdvantage program participating airline will count towards Million Miler status. Also, as a limited time offer, one AAdvantage mile for every dollar spent on eligible purchases using the new Citi ExecutiveSM / AAdvantage® World EliteTM MasterCard® credit card that post to billing statements through December 2012 will count toward Million Miler status*. The Citi ExecutiveSM / AAdvantage® World EliteTM MasterCard® credit card account must be open and in good standing by December 1, 2011.

You will enjoy the following benefits when you attain Million Miler status:

At one million (1,000,000) Million Miler miles, AAdvantage members will receive lifetime AAdvantage Gold® status and 35,000 AAdvantage bonus miles**

At two million (2,000,000) Million Miler miles, AAdvantage members will receive lifetime AAdvantage Platinum® status and four (4) one-way systemwide upgrades

At each additional Million Miler mark, members will receive four (4) additional one-way systemwide upgrades

Your beginning Million Miler balance on December 1, 2011, will include every AAdvantage mile you ever earned in the AAdvantage program. This Program to Date balance is currently reflected in your AAdvantage account on AA.com. On December 1, 2011, you will be able to view the details of your Million Miler activity in your AAdvantage account on AA.com separately from your AAdvantage award miles, so you can track your progress toward reaching this special designation.

For frequently asked questions, visit AA.com/MillionMiler. We thank you for your loyalty and look forward to seeing you on board soon.

Sincerely,

Maya Leibman

President — AAdvantage Loyalty Program

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JettyBoy
JettyBoy
12 years ago

>>>>The one ‘nice’ thing they are doing (which is also to help promote their credit card) is until December 31, 2012 all miles earned by credit card spend will also be including to obtain this status.

Note that this is ONLY on the Mastercard and not on the other Citi products

dealswelike
dealswelike
12 years ago
Reply to  JettyBoy

@JettyBoy – thanks for pointing that out – I will update the post

jumpdogjump
jumpdogjump
12 years ago

“Your beginning Million Miler balance on December 1, 2011, will include every AAdvantage mile you ever earned in the AAdvantage program…”

I suppose those with expired miles are going to give poor Maya all kinds of grief for this one!

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