American Airlines Boosts The Number Of Award Miles You Earn For First & Business Class In 2015 (Applies To US Airways Too)

Dec 15, 2014

American Airlines and US Airways are offering bonuses that depends of your program status for first and business class flights that you take in 2015.

The bonus also apply for select flights on partner airlines that are marketed by American Airlines or US Airways.

You can access American Airlines web page for this announcement here.

Note that the bonus miles are also available on flights that are marketed by American Airlines or US Airways and operated by US Airways, British Airways, Iberia, Finnair, Qantas or Japan Airlines.

Here’s the booking class and elite status bonus miles breakdown:

1. American Airlines Executive Platinum and US Airways Chairman’s Preferred members earn long-haul fights bonus of 12,000 miles for first class and non-discounted business (booking classes F,A,P,J,R,D,C) and 1,000 bonus miles for short/medium haul. The bonus miles for discounted business (Z & I) is 3,500 for long-haul and 500 for short/medium haul.

2. American Airlines Gold/Platinum and US Airways Silver/Gold/Platinum members earn long-haul fights bonus of 6,000 miles for first class and non-discounted business (booking classes F,A,P,J,R,D,C) and 500 bonus miles for short/medium haul. The bonus miles for discounted business (Z & I) is 1,000 for long-haul and 250 for short/medium haul.

3.American Airlines and US Airways American Airlines Business First Class Earnings 2015 earn long-haul fights bonus of 3,000 miles for first class and non-discounted business (booking classes F,A,P,J,R,D,C) and 250 bonus miles for short/medium haul. The bonus miles for discounted business (Z & I) is zero for both long-haul and short/medium haul.

Note that American Airlines long-haul flights are those greater of 3,000 miles or JFK-LAX and JFK-SFO transcons.

Here are some examples provide by American Airlines for the number of award miles you earn:

Conclusion

This is obvious enhancement by American Airlines and US Airways to offer greater number of award miles for those members that purchase first and business class fares to match changes initiated by Delta and United without negatively affecting those that fly on economy fares.

Executive Platinum and Chairman’s Preferred members that fly long-haul flights on business and first class will earn a lot more miles under this program change.

I just hope that American Airlines wouldn’t introduce this nonsense started by Delta and United Airlines for the 2016 membership year where the number of miles earned is dictated by the ticket price. The fact that this bonus miles offer is only valid for 2015 could be an indication that something might change in 2016.

Here are the frequently asked question by AA about this change:

Why is this a year-long promotion?

We want to make sure our members are rewarded for what they fly. We are in the process of investing $2 billion in our airports, our clubs and onboard our revitalized fleet. That includes updates to our premium cabins – and we want to reward our customers for purchasing those tickets.

Do I have to register for this promotion?

Registration is not necessary for this promotion. All bonus miles are automatically added to your account after the eligible flight is complete.

Will I receive these bonus miles if I upgrade into Business or First Class?

In order to qualify for this promotion, you will need to purchase a First or Business Class ticket. Upgrades from a purchased Main Cabin ticket into the Business or First Class Cabin will not receive the bonus promotional miles. If you purchase a Business class fare and then upgrade to First, you will receive the bonus promotional miles based on the original Business class fare you booked.

How do I know which fare class I purchased?

You can easily find out which fare class is being purchased by clicking on the “+” button next to the flight number when you are presented your flight options on aa.com.

Similarly, you can determine the fare class you are booking on US Airways by clicking on the flight number after selecting the flight/fare you desire to book, which will open up a pop up window displaying the booking inventory.

Are these bonus miles elite qualifying?

No, these bonus miles are not elite qualifying. Bonus miles are award redeemable miles only.

Do the bonus miles count towards the Million Miler status?

No, these miles do not count towards Million Miler status and are redeemable miles only.

When will bonus miles be deposited into my account?

These bonus miles will be deposited into your account as soon as the flight posts to your account. In rare instances, it might take up to 2 weeks for the promotional miles to post after the flight miles have posted.

Is the promotion the same for US Airways Dividend Miles members?

The promotion is slightly different for US Airways Dividend Miles members as they will not receive the promotional bonus miles for AA or US marketed flights operated by British Airways, Iberia, Finnair, Japan Airlines or Qantas.

When the two programs combine in the second quarter of 2015, all Dividend Miles members will become AAdvantage members. At this time, they will be eligible for the AAdvantage promotion, which means the bonus would then apply to travel on a US Airways flight operated by British Airways, Iberia, Finnair, Japan Airlines or Qantas.

Dividend Miles members who want to earn these bonus miles on these flights have the option of crediting these flights to their AAdvantage account. If they’re not already an AAdvantage member, they can enroll at aa.com/enroll.

Won’t these extra bonus miles dilute award availability?

No. American is constantly evaluating MileSAAver award availability, and also offers last seat award availability on all flights with AAnytime awards. In addition to redeeming miles for tickets, members can redeem miles for upgrades to First Class and Business Class, vacation packages, car rentals, hotel stays and retail products.