By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2026-08-12 17:44:41 | Updated at 2026-08-12 19:56:40
2 hours ago
American Airlines customers are not happy about new changes to the carrier's rewards program.
Starting August 25, American Airlines frequent flyers who use the AAdvantage program will not be getting the same upgrades they've become used to.
For select flights to and from Hawaii and on transcontinental routes, customers will now be added to an upgrade list for premium economy - instead of elite business class seats.
American Airlines confirmed that frequent flyers would still be eligible for a business class upgrade in certain instances, such as when they purchased a premium economy ticket, premium economy was not available on their flight or they paid for an 'instant upgrade' to premium economy.
And customers can still be upgraded from business class to first class under the new system, or from main cabin or premium economy to the next class.
'We'll do our best to accommodate your seating preferences, though options may vary depending on aircraft type and availability,' American Airlines wrote on its website.
As soon as the news dropped, American Airlines frequent fliers took to social media to share their their disappointment.
In one Reddit thread, a commenter described the changes as a 'big downgrade,' while another said the new arrangement was being presented as 'something exciting' despite replacing upgrades on certain routes.
American Airlines is getting rid of its business class upgrade option for many passengers
American Airlines lists New York JFK to Los Angeles and San Francisco, Boston to Los Angeles, and several Hawaii routes among those eligible for domestic upgrades.
One Reddit user wrote that the 'most complimentary upgrades I've got this year have ended with the flight being canceled. My theory is that I only got those upgrades because the plane was undersold and they blamed imaginary weather for the cancelations.'
Another customer wrote that most of these new changes are 'for the worst.'
'I buy many of my flights months in advance and part of the calculation are the terms of the various frequent flyer programs,' they added. 'I think their changes so far have screwed enough of us over that it warrants a class action lawsuit.'
The carrier is rolling out additional changes to its AAdvantage program. US members will be able to book domestic flights on American using a combination of cash and miles, with more routes expected to be available in the future.
There are also new Loyalty Point Rewards, including two food and beverage coupons at 15,000 Loyalty Points, while higher tiers can offer credits toward American Airlines Vacations, AAdvantage Exchange gifts and, later this year, New York Times subscriptions.
But the airline has also removed some rewards. As of March 1, 2026, the 30 percent Loyalty Point bonus at the 100,000-point level was discontinued, along with Bang & Olufsen reward choices at the 250,000, 400,000, 550,000 and 750,000-point levels.
American Airlines customers say that 'miles plus cash' is an option most other airlines already offer passengers
That mixture of new perks and downgrades benefits has left some of American's most committed customers questioning whether the AAdvantage program is really giving them more.
'Miles plus cash is what everyone else is doing... it's about time,' one Reddit user said.
'But that also means that redemption values are just gonna be a straight cash equivalent.'
'Nothing they do is in our favor,' another added. 'It’s all just different varieties of how to increase profits which ultimately devalue loyalty. All the airlines do it. It is what it is.'
For flyers who have long chased the possibility of a coveted premium-cabin upgrade, the biggest question may be what happens on those select Hawaii and transcontinental flights when the new rules take effect on August 25.
