American Airlines has announced the introduction of a new loyalty program for businesses and their travelers, called AAdvantage Business. The program, which will replace the existing Business Extra program, aims to reward both the companies and the individuals who book business travel on American’s website or app.
AAdvantage Business: A Simple and Rewarding Program
According to American Airlines, AAdvantage Business is a simple and rewarding program that requires no minimum spend and is open to companies with at least five employees. For every $1 spent on eligible business travel, businesses earn 1 AAdvantage mile to redeem on travel and more, including hotels, car rentals, Admirals Club lounges, and other experiences for employees. For that same $1 spent, eligible individual travelers earn 1 Loyalty Point that counts toward their accrual for achieving status as an AAdvantage member. These Loyalty Points are in addition to any miles or Loyalty Points the traveler earns as an AAdvantage member.
The program also offers a faster pathway to a more rewarding experience for companies and travelers alike. For example, a traveler who spends $5,000 on business travel in a year would earn 5,000 Loyalty Points, which is enough to reach Gold status in the AAdvantage program. Gold status comes with benefits such as priority boarding, free checked bags, complimentary preferred seats, and more.
CitiBusiness/AAdvantage Platinum Select Mastercard: A Way to Earn More Rewards
Businesses who apply for the CitiBusiness/AAdvantage Platinum Select Mastercard can further accelerate rewards for their company and help their employees reach status when they use the card. The card offers 2 AAdvantage miles per $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases, telecommunications merchants, cable and satellite providers, car rental merchants and gas stations; and 1 AAdvantage mile per $1 spent on other purchases. The card also offers a welcome bonus of 65,000 AAdvantage bonus miles after spending $4,000 in purchases within the first 4 months of account opening.
Additionally, the card allows travelers to earn more Loyalty Points when they use it for eligible purchases. For example, a traveler who spends $10,000 on the card in a year would earn an additional 10,000 Loyalty Points, which is enough to reach Platinum status in the AAdvantage program. Platinum status comes with benefits such as complimentary upgrades, waived change fees, and more.
A Fully Digital Program with Online Tools and Access to Best Fares and Servicing
Another benefit of AAdvantage Business is that the program allows travel managers and their travelers to conveniently track business trips all in one portal and easily switch between business and personal travel when booking. Program members can also access online tools, including reporting, traveler management, duty of care and more for convenient business travel management.
Moreover, AAdvantage Business members can enjoy access to American’s best fares and servicing, including flexible tickets with no change fees on most fares; complimentary same-day flight changes on eligible tickets; access to Preferred Seats; free standby; and more.
How to Join AAdvantage Business
Companies can learn more and begin registering now for the AAdvantage Business program at aa.com/aadvantagebusiness. The registration process is simple and takes only a few minutes. Once registered, companies can invite their employees to join the program and start earning rewards for their business travel.
The existing Business Extra program will no longer accept new members as of October 16, 2023, with the program’s benefits ending by January 31, 2024. Current Business Extra members can transfer their account balance to the new AAdvantage Business program by visiting aa.com/aadvantagebusiness/transfer.
