American Airlines’ AAdvantage Business program has recently made a significant change by awarding miles and loyalty points for bookings made via travel agencies. This change, implemented on July 16, reverses American’s previous policy of only rewarding AAdvantage Business participants for direct bookings. This marks a shift in their strategy since last October when American rebranded its Business Extra program to AAdvantage Business.
The AAdvantage Business program is available to companies that have a minimum of five active travelers and have spent at least $5,000 on American Airlines flights over the past 12 months. Additionally, the program is also open to all businesses that use the Citi AAdvantage Business World Elite Mastercard. Registered companies earn one reward mile for every dollar they spend on flights, with an additional two reward miles per dollar for flight purchases through the AAdvantage Business Mastercard.
Companies enrolled in the AAdvantage Business program can redeem points for flights, hotels, car rentals, and Admiral Club passes. Another perk is the ability to transfer points to employees as a form of recognition. Furthermore, employees can earn points toward loyalty status on top of the reward miles and loyalty points they earn as individual AAdvantage members.
American Airlines has announced that more enhancements are in the pipeline for the AAdvantage Business program. Later this summer, companies will be able to redeem and manage miles directly from their account on the American website. Additionally, they will have the option to store company credit cards in their business account for easier checkout. By the end of the year, companies will also be able to set and customize their travel policies on AA.com. They will have the ability to manage and redeem shared trip credits within their account.
In response to customer feedback, American Airlines has opened a customer service phone number specifically for the AAdvantage Business program. The phone line is operational on weekdays from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Central time. Another upcoming change is the introduction of name change waivers for all registered travelers in an AAdvantage Business account by the end of the year. This will provide companies with more flexibility to transfer tickets between employees.
Through these recent updates and improvements, American Airlines is demonstrating its commitment to providing small and midsize companies with valuable incentives and benefits through the AAdvantage Business program. Stay tuned for more enhancements and features as the program continues to evolve and cater to the needs of its participants.