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After 41 years, American quietly scraps AirPass program

Dec. 03, 2022
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2 min read
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After 41 years, American quietly scraps AirPass program
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While most travelers purchase airline tickets directly from the carrier or through a third-party booking site, some American Airlines flyers have historically used a special program to make flight bookings.

This program, dubbed AirPass, offered individuals and small businesses the ability to pre-purchase travel with American at fixed rates. The program was designed to help frequent travelers manage travel costs — especially travelers who often made last-minute bookings and changes to their plans.

In fact, AirPass was a great way to pick up a ton of perks for flying with American, without actually stepping foot on a plane. Depending on how much money you deposited (membership typically required at least $10,000 in funding), you could enjoy benefits such as instant upgrades, preferred and Main Cabin Extra seating, Admirals Club access and even AAdvantage status. Deposits of $50,000 or more earned you invite-only Concierge Key status.

American even recently improved the AirPass program with several new perks, including the ability to book AirPass flights on select partners and a complimentary annual Wi-Fi subscription beginning in 2021.

AMERICAN AIRLINES

Now, after 41 years, American is scrapping the program for good. In a statement shared with TPG, a carrier spokesperson said:



Beginning November 30, the AirPass program will no longer accepting any new or renewal contracts or any additional fund deposits. All customers with current contracts will be able to use their remaining funds or request a refund between now and the end of their contract period. American will continue to honor its commitments to Lifetime AirPass members.

Existing AirPass customers can either use their remaining funds or request a refund, which will be processed within three weeks. No new memberships are available for purchase, and the airline's dedicated website has been updated to reflect the cut.

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American posted a detailed FAQ page for affected travelers.

It wasn't clear why American decided to make the cut. Perhaps the program wasn't getting as much business as American hoped, or the airline found that it no longer made sense to maintain the offerings due to the increased demand and high fares we've seen in recent months.

Featured image by ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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  • Solid welcome bonus

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  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
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  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
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  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
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