For the third straight 12 months, American Airways loyalists gained’t need to take care of any adjustments to the airline’s elite standing necessities.
American on Wednesday introduced that it’s leaving American Airways AAdvantage standing benchmarks precisely the identical this coming 12 months.
That’s prone to be a little bit of a aid for frequent vacationers who’ve needed to take care of more and more harder standing necessities from airways and motels alike lately.
American is, nonetheless, making just a few adjustments for the upcoming AAdvantage 12 months, which technically begins March 1.
The service is including just a few advantages and selections to its Loyalty Level Rewards, the menu of perks the service presents when AAdvantage members hit sure loyalty milestones.
New advantages embrace inflight food-and-beverage coupons, New York Occasions subscriptions and — for giant earners — premium retail alternatives.
A few further perks will disappear this 12 months, however — don’t fear — probably the most profitable profit alternatives like systemwide upgrades, Admirals Membership memberships and bonus miles aren’t going anyplace.
In the meantime, all AAdvantage elite members who qualify for standing beginning March 1 might be eligible for a baggage tag commemorating the service’s a hundredth birthday.
Right here’s a rundown of what’s altering (and what’s not) within the new 12 months.
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Loyalty Factors necessities for standing stay as-is
As famous, American Airways is not going to increase the edge for standing within the new 12 months.
Which means the Loyalty Factors you’ll must preserve or achieve standing will stay unchanged.
| AAdvantage standing tier | Loyalty Factors required | Oneworld alliance standing |
|---|---|---|
|
40,000 |
Ruby |
|
|
75,000 |
Sapphire |
|
|
125,000 |
Emerald |
|
|
200,000 |
Emerald |
As a reminder, you earn 1 Loyalty Level per base AAdvantage mile earned by way of flying, spending on eligible cobranded American Airways bank cards and by way of different avenues just like the airline’s purchasing, eating and motels platforms.
Learn extra: How I earned 29,000 Loyalty Factors and 23,000 AAdvantage miles on a single $800 lodge keep
American follows within the footsteps of high rivals Delta Air Strains and United Airways in leaving elite necessities unchanged going into 2026.
Loyalty Level Rewards adjustments
American’s greatest AAdvantage adjustments in 2026 encompass its Loyalty Level Rewards. These are the perks members obtain upon reaching sure Loyalty Level thresholds in between standing tiers.
There are new perks at just a few totally different Loyalty Level thresholds coming in 2026, plus a pair that may go away this 12 months.
Here is a rundown of what is altering, and what’s remaining in place.
15,000 Loyalty Factors
| Modifications | Remaining in place |
|---|---|
|
Later in 2026, AAdvantage members who attain 15,000 Loyalty Factors will achieve two new choices to select from:
|
Various selections members can choose from at this threshold embrace:
|
60,000 Loyalty Factors
| Modifications | Remaining in place |
|---|---|
|
Starting March 1, members will see their Loyalty Factors bonus enhance when spending with choose companions — from 20% to 25%, as much as a most of 25,000 Loyalty Factors.
Keep in mind that the bonus lasts six months upon registering for this reward. It applies to American Airways Holidays, AAdvantage Motels, AAdvantage eShopping, AAdvantage Eating, AAdvantage Cruises and SimplyMiles. |
Members additionally unlock Avis Most popular Plus standing at this threshold. |
100,000 Loyalty Factors
| Modifications | Remaining in place |
|---|---|
|
The bonus for the above American Airways companions will not enhance to 30% on the 100,000 threshold.
|
|
175,000 Loyalty Factors
| Modifications | Remaining in place |
|---|---|
|
Beginning March 1, members who attain this threshold will achieve two new choices:
Coming later in 2026, members may also have a 3rd new choice: a 12-month all-access New York Occasions subscription. |
There’s a protracted record of other selections starting from two systemwide upgrades to World of Hyatt Explorist standing and American Airways journey credit score.
See the total record right here. |
250,000 Loyalty Factors and every successive threshold
| Modifications | Remaining in place |
|---|---|
|
Beginning March 1, members who attain this threshold will achieve three new choices:
And, like with the 175,000-point threshold, you may choose a 12-month all-access New York Occasions subscription. One removing from this threshold is the power for members to pick out a Bang & Olufsen product. |
Different choices embrace extra systemwide upgrades and Admirals Membership membership, and lots of others.
See the total record of other advantages right here. |
The above new perks (and the tip of the Bang & Olufsen choice) may also be in place on the 400,000, 550,000 and 750,000 Loyalty Factors thresholds.
What to know concerning the adjustments
Total, the changes to American’s Loyalty Level Rewards aren’t drastic and usually skew in prospects’ favor with just a few new alternatives to select from.
The 100,000 threshold seemingly takes probably the most tangible hit, with the tip of a heftier bonus on spending with sure American companions.
Personally, I would like to see the airline add a journey perk or two at that midlevel threshold.
The top of the Bang & Olufsen product choice as a selected perk is technically a internet loss for patrons who opted for that over a journey perk on the increased milestones. On the similar time, I’ll be curious to see what different choices American presents via its AAdvantage Trade.
However the addition of New York Occasions subscriptions and financial savings on trip packages ought to positively provide worth to members who discover enchantment in these selections.
Different adjustments in 2026
In the meantime, American plans to proceed increasing the power for members to redeem miles for sporting occasions. We’ve already seen AAdvantage redemptions for U.S. soccer matches forward of the FIFA World Cup.
The service expects to supply comparable redemptions for the upcoming PGA Championship.
Later in 2026, American may also roll out redemptions for present playing cards to retailers and different institutions, although — as all the time — we’ll warning members to weigh the worth you’d get with these redemptions in opposition to what you’d get on a flight redemption.
Free Wi-Fi rollout
Final however not least, the most important change of all for AAdvantage members in 2026 will be the addition of free inflight Wi-Fi to American’s planes.
As TPG reported Tuesday, the brand new complimentary onboard web is anticipated to be on 100% of the service’s mainline narrow-body and two-cabin regional jet fleet by the tip of January.
You’ll additionally see free Wi-Fi on sure wide-body planes within the coming months.
All you’ll want to hook up with the service is an AAdvantage account.
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