After years of devaluations and cuts, American has gone above and beyond in enhancing their elite program this year.
In April they shocked the world by bringing back the ability to spend your way to lifetime million miles elite status for the remainder of 2020. Alas it appears that the million miler spending promotion will not be extended for 2021 spending. The million miler announcement overshadowed their extension of elite status from 1/31/21 to 1/31/22.
In August they matched United’s free tickets changes, but did it much better. They included Canada in free changes and they allowed voucher refunds when changes are made to a less expensive ticket.
Plus they also removed basic economy restrictions. Passengers with basic economy fares can now purchase upgrades, priority boarding, preferred or main cabin extra seating, or same day confirmed flight changes.
Elite members on basic economy fares can now get free upgrades, use upgrade certificates, select free preferred or main cabin extra seating, and make same day confirmed flight changes!
American has now announced their elite status plans for 2021.
Flying and spending requirements are being reduced across the board.
These were the pre-pandemic requirements:
And here are the 2021 requirements, which will grant status through 1/21/23:
For example the requirement for Gold status goes from 25K EQMs+$3,000 spending to 20K EQMs+$2,000 spending.
American will also waive the spending requirement for Gold, Platinum, and Platinum Pro status for customers who spend $30,000 on American credit cards. All miles that post to your account between 1/1/21-12/31/21 will count for that requirement.
Plus, American will take a page out of Delta’s and Hyatt’s playbooks and count all flights taken from 10/1/20-12/31/20 for both 2020 and 2021 elite status!
American will also be adding new rewards options for Platinum Pro and Executive Platinum members to select.
American plans to fly nonstop from JFK and Dallas to Tel Aviv in 2021, so having elite status will be more valuable than ever for travelers to the holy land.
Your move Delta and United!
Will you try to hit 2021 elite status on American?
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5 Comments On "American Continues To Lead The Way With 2021 Elite Status Enhancements"
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What do you mean by “All miles that post to your account between 1/1/21-12/31/21 will count for that requirement.” I don’t see anything about credit card spend counting for eqm’s.
I said they will waive the spending requirement (EQD), not the flying requirement (EQM).
You did, but the wording after that is a little confusing, especially since you use the word “miles” if you’re talking about EQD.
Do they typically take care of their elites?
They lowered all qualifying metrics to achieve status, but they also made a change so that beginning in 2021, travel on Basic Economy tickets won’t earn any of them (EQMs, EQDs, & EQSs). Is that right based on what you’ve seen?