When I earned 1 Million miles on United almost 10 years ago (yikes). Despite being annoyed with what was then a poorly run airline, I was very excited to hit that summit. There is the feeling of accomplishment, but also some real benefits to those that reach 1 (and more) million miles with United. Since that time, while I still fly United, American has become my primary airline. I made the change back when the AAdvantage program was strong, and United was in the midst of merger issues. Neither are still true. Still, I find American to be my best option, for my needs, but I don’t love it, or anywhere close. But now I’m an American Million Miler…
American Million Miler
With mostly business travel getting me there, I recently crossed over 1 million miles with American. My million mile flight was on an old A320, in economy, and the flight attendant was over the top friendly and welcoming to me, thanking me for my loyalty. Nice but, I don’t think this had anything to do with me crossing that threshold. A week or so on, no acknowledgment from the airline, beyond a new flag under my name when I log in to my account online (see above). Definitely didn’t have Sam Elliott congratulate me.
American has by far the weakest Million miler program among American legacy carriers. Both Delta and United have paths to top tier status based on long time loyalty. American offers Gold status for 1MM, and Platinum Status for 2MM, and then 4 System Wide Upgrades for each additional million miles accrued. WEAK
Part of the issue here is that prior to 2011, American counted all miles earned towards MM status. So there are some people with multi-Million miler status who earned them primarily on credit card spend or other promotions. Since then AA Million miler is truly “Butt-in-seat” miles only. Which I think is fair (especially since that is how I earned it). Somehow AA should remedy this, make a true incentive to stay loyal beyond 1 or 2 MM. At least provide real benefits to 3 or 4 million mile butt in seat flyers and give them higher status, but I’m not optimistic this will happen.
Another great perk of United’s MM program is the ability to nominate one other person to the same status level as the MM flyer. So in my case, my wife has United Gold status, and on her occasional travel on United gets all the benefits of that, including rare upgrades. My favorite perk of United Gold status is that it maps to Star Alliance Gold, meaning lounge access when flying on alliance flights outside the US. AA Gold is only Oneworld Ruby, with no lounge benefit. Meh.
1 Million Miles on American, now what?
Everyone like perks, and while I did get 35,000 American for crossing 1MM, along with lifetime gold status, the program lags far behind competitors. Gold status on American is their most basic status. It means preferred seats at booking or Main Cabin Extra within the check in window. Better than nothing, but just barely after a lot of travel with American. While I was approaching 1 Million Miles on United, I was genuinely excited to earn this. I planned to leave and focus my loyalty elsewhere, and I have done so. Now it is great having United Gold status as my backup plan. Now with AA gold status I don’t feel the same way. It is not nearly the same level of perk.
I do not look at my lifetime American Gold status as a great value. I mean, its not nothing, but I’m not excited about it. Sure, maybe I’ll take advantage of it eventually, but while I maintain higher status on American year to year, this isn’t beneficial at all to me now.
Maybe I’ll get some new luggage tags that show my new status, although the past versions I’ve gotten most years as an Executive Platinum are so thin and cheap, they break and fall off my bags, so I haven’t bothered to use them at all. How about you? Any thoughts on the weak American Million Miler program?
