American Airlines has recently made significant changes to its AAdvantage Business incentive program for small and midsize companies. This program now awards miles and loyalty points for bookings made via travel agencies, reversing a previous policy that only rewarded participants for direct bookings. These changes aim to provide more flexibility and benefits to companies that participate in the program.
To be eligible for the AAdvantage Business program, companies must have a minimum of five active travelers and have spent at least $5,000 on American Airlines flights over the past 12 months. Additionally, businesses that use the Citi AAdvantage Business World Elite Mastercard are automatically enrolled in the program. These criteria ensure that companies of varying sizes and travel budgets can take advantage of the rewards offered.
Rollback of Previous Strategies
American Airlines decided to reverse its previous strategy of focusing on increasing direct bookings and coercing travel agencies to book via NDC modern merchandising technology. This decision came after the airline’s corporate travel share declined due to these tactics. As a result, American has returned most of the fare content that was pulled from legacy booking systems and abandoned plans to eliminate loyalty points on tickets purchased through travel agencies.
Under the AAdvantage Business program, registered companies earn one reward mile for every dollar spent on flights, with an additional two reward miles per dollar for flight purchases through the AAdvantage Business Mastercard. Points earned can be redeemed for flights, hotels, car rentals, and Admiral Club passes. Companies also have the option to transfer points to employees as a perk, allowing them to enjoy the benefits of the program as well.
Future Enhancements
In addition to the current benefits, American Airlines has announced that more enhancements are in the works for the AAdvantage Business program. Companies will soon be able to redeem and manage miles directly from their account on the American website, streamlining the process. They will also have the option to store company credit cards in their business account for easier checkout, making booking travel more convenient. By the end of the year, companies will be able to set and customize their travel policies on AA.com, as well as manage and redeem shared trip credits within their account. Additionally, American Airlines will enable name change waivers for all registered travelers in an AAdvantage Business account, providing companies with more flexibility when transferring tickets between employees.
Overall, the revamped American Airlines AAdvantage Business incentive program offers more benefits and flexibility to small and midsize companies. With the ability to earn and redeem miles, customize travel policies, and transfer tickets between employees, companies participating in the program can enjoy a more seamless and rewarding travel experience. American Airlines’ focus on providing value to its business customers through these enhancements demonstrates its commitment to meeting the needs of corporate travelers in today’s ever-changing travel landscape.