American Airlines AAdvantage elite members can now enjoy benefits when flying Aer Lingus
If you hold elite status within the American Airlines AAdvantage program, you can now enjoy reciprocal benefits when flying to Ireland and beyond on Aer Lingus.
While mileage earning of AAdvantage miles and Loyalty Points between American and Dublin-based Aer Lingus was implemented in December 2023, new benefits are now available for elite members of American's Advantage program when they fly with Aer Lingus and elite Aer Lingus AerClub members when they fly with American.
Keep reading to find out the details below.
Related: American Airlines elite status: What it is and how to earn it
AAdvantage elite members can enjoy perks when flying Aer Lingus
AAdvantage Gold members can enjoy the following new benefits when flying with Aer Lingus:
- 40% bonus miles (a total of 7 miles per dollar spent on base fares and carrier-imposed surcharges)
- Priority check-in
- Priority boarding
AAdvantage Platinum members can enjoy:
- 60% bonus miles (a total of 8 miles per dollar spent on base fares and carrier-imposed surcharges)
- Priority check-in
- Fast-track security
- Priority boarding
- Lounge access with one guest
- One additional checked bag in economy class
AAdvantage Platinum Pro members can enjoy:
- 80% bonus miles (a total of 9 miles per dollar spent on base fares and carrier-imposed surcharges)
- Priority check-in
- Fast-track security
- Priority boarding
- Lounge access with one guest
- One additional checked bag in all classes
AAdvantage Executive Platinum members can enjoy:
- 120% bonus miles (a total of 11 miles per dollar spent on base fares and carrier-imposed surcharges)
- Priority check-in
- Fast-track security
- Priority boarding
- Lounge access with one guest
- One additional checked bag in all classes
Aer Lingus is part of the International Airlines Group, which owns Oneworld partners British Airways and Iberia. From Dec. 2, 2024, AerClub elite members can also enjoy new benefits when flying with British Airways. Members will be notified of the exact benefits in the coming days, according to a press release from Aer Lingus.
Aer Lingus operates its own lounges at Dublin Airport (DUB) — including a new U.S. Preclearance lounge called 51st&Green — plus London's Heathrow Airport (LHR) and New York City's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK). It also allows eligible passengers to access American Airlines Flagship Lounges and Admirals Clubs at all U.S. locations when departing, connecting or arriving on Aer Lingus-operated flights.
The news follows recent expansions to Aer Lingus' U.S. route network. With the delivery of the new Airbus A321XLR aircraft, the airline will launch nonstop service from Nashville International Airport (BNA) to DUB four times per week from April 12, 2025, and from Indianapolis International Airport (IND) to DUB, also four times per week but from May 3, 2025.
The carrier will operate 24 transatlantic routes to North America and the Caribbean in 2025.
At this time, you cannot redeem AAdvantage miles to book award travel on Aer Lingus; however, American's website states that this reciprocal perk is "coming soon."
Bottom line
While the benefits of this airline partnership for travelers have been slow to materialize, it is great to see that elite members of American Airlines' AAdvantage program can now enjoy various travel perks when flying Aer Lingus to Ireland or beyond.
If you hold elite status in the AAdvantage program, remember to add your membership number to your next Aer Lingus booking to take "advantage" of the new perks.
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