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Just weeks after American Airlines Announce positive changes For its loyalty program, the airline has Announce Two negative changes to how miles are earned and how much checked bag fees are.
First, the airline will soon encourage travelers to book direct. When a customer makes a reservation through an online travel agency e.g ExpediaThe airline must pay the company a commission for every flight booked. America will stop giving Premium miles On flights booked through several travel agencies in an attempt to get travelers to book directly with the airline.
The airline too Increased fees for checked bags and pets Across the board, making travel more expensive for those who don't have an American Airlines credit card or Elite status With the airline.
Let's take a look at these changes and how to avoid their negative impact on your travel experience.
American Airlines
Soon, you'll only earn AAdvantage miles on American flights if you book directly with the airline or through a preferred partner.
To encourage travelers to book direct, American Airlines will soon Change how you earn miles On flights booked with an external travel agency.
Starting May 1, 2024, AAdvantage members will earn miles and Loyalty points When booking flights in one of three ways:
- Book directly with eligible US and partner airlines.
- Book through preferred travel agencies.
- Travel anywhere book as Business advantage Member or traveler of a contracted company.
Additionally, even if you book through a preferred travel agency, basic economy fares will not be eligible to earn miles. For these fares, the only way to earn miles is to book directly with the airline (or an eligible partner airline).
The airline also states that the list of preferred travel agencies will not be available until late April.
American Airlines is the first US airline to implement such a policy to discourage travelers from booking through a third-party system. And when one airline makes a big change, we often see several other major airlines join the party in the following months.
While most airline loyalists already book direct, this is a big change for the rare cases A traveler who may use an online travel agency to compare airfare prices across multiple airlines.
It may also be a hit for travelers who book through it American Express Travel, Capital One Travel or Chase Travel With their credit card rewards. Now, you will earn miles when you book an American ticket through these portals. However, we are still unsure whether these agencies will be considered preferred travel agencies once the change occurs.
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American just raised its checked bag fees.
In addition to American Airlines Announce Changes to the checked baggage policy – and not for the better.
For travel booked on or after February 20, 2024, passengers will pay up to an additional $10 when checking their first or second bag on select flights. For domestic flights (including Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands), your first bag will cost you $35 when purchased online and $40 when purchased at the airport. The second bag check fee is now $45, regardless of whether you purchased online or at the airport.
For flights to Canada and short-haul international flights (such as Central America and the Caribbean), checked baggage fees have increased to $35 for the first checked bag and $45 for the second checked bag.
It's also becoming more expensive to bring your pet on board. Bringing your pet on board will now cost $150, a significant increase from the previous price of $125.
However, there have been no changes to the checked baggage policy that you receive as a benefit for many of American Airlines' co-branded credit cards. For example, those who have Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® Bag can be checked for free on all flights.
With these newly announced changes, it is very clear that direct booking and Packing is as light as possible (or existence Airline credit card) is the way to go. We have already seen some airlines Increased checked baggage feesBut American Airlines is the first major US airline to implement a policy to stop awarding miles when booking through a third-party system.
Hopefully, American Airlines' list of preferred travel agencies will include several popular online travel agencies and credit card travel portals, but we'll have to wait until April to find out.
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