The days of American Airlines' award charts look to be numbered
U.S. carriers have used the downtime associated with the coronavirus pandemic to make adjustments to their loyalty programs.
American was slow out of the gate compared to Delta and United, but the Fort Worth-based carrier is quickly catching up. At this point, we've seen AA make several updates that aren't necessarily customer-friendly, depending on how you use your miles.
Nonetheless, there's one common theme across all the changes: AA is likely gearing up to remove award charts.
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Adjustments to the award fee structure
As part of its elite status extension announcement, American buried a change to the award fee structure that might be bad news for you.
Previously, you could change MileSAAver awards for free, as long as the origin, destination and airline(s) remained the same. Similarly, AA waived the change fees for AAnytime (standard) awards, even if you made a change to the origin and destination. These fee-free changes could be made any time before scheduled departure.
Come June 1, AA has a new structure for anyone making changes to award tickets. Within 60 days of departure, fees vary from $50 to $150 per ticket depending on your status and even apply to changes that used to be free.
Furthermore, when it comes to reinstating miles for a canceled award, the fee was previously $150 for the first ticket and $25 for any other redeposits done at the same time into the same account. Now there won’t be any discounts for each additional ticket — a real devaluation for families who travel together.
Related: Redeeming American Airlines AAdvantage miles
Aside from the update itself, there's something more telling here — it's clear that American is beginning to loop all award tickets into one bucket. When changing or canceling an award, there's now little difference whether you booked a MileSAAver, AAnytime or Web Special award. (The only difference being that Web Specials still can't be changed).
As the line gets blurred between award types, it gives AA free rein to remove its award charts.
Though we reached out to the carrier to ask for its perspective, we haven't heard back yet and will update this post if we do.
Removal of the legacy search tool
On May 19, we were the first to report that American quietly removed one of its most beloved award search tools. This legacy booking system clearly delineated the availability by category.
Before AA decided to remove this useful search engine, you could easily check what type of award you were booking. After all, it was designed when award charts were still alive and well.
American's new award search tool is purpose-built for an era when award charts are a relic of the past. The new interface simply displays a price in miles on the search results page. If you want to know what type of award you're booking, you need to make a selection and check on the next screen.
Related: American Airlines just removed one of its most beloved award tools
For a while the two systems lived in parallel, often displaying different prices depending on your search criteria. But now that American's removed the old system, it's a perfect time to double down on dynamic pricing — and remove its award charts.
Unprecedented Web Special award availability
When AA introduced Economy Web Special awards, we knew that this move represented the carrier's experiment with revenue-based dynamic pricing. Though AA initially reserved Web Specials for coach redemptions, it's since expanded them to premium cabins too.
Over the last few months, American's offered a plethora of great award sales, but only as Web Special awards. Generally, even when the sales were available, AA didn't load MileSAAver award space into the system. That means you couldn't book seats through partners. But more telling is the fact that AA's investing in the Web Special system at the expense of the old award types and charts.
Similarly, AA's built an unforgiving married-segment algorithm that stands in stark contrast to the existence of award charts. With married-segment logic, you may be able to find a 25,000-mile business-class award from Boston to New York to Los Angeles on the carrier's swanky Airbus A321T. But if you search for the same flight from New York to Los Angeles, the cheapest you'd find for that same seat would likely be much more than 25,000 miles.
With award charts, countries are generally grouped into regions, and prices don't vary based on individual states within a country. Without award charts though, AA's free to charge whatever it wants.
Related: The best sweet spots with American Airlines AAdvantage miles
Bottom line
The writing is on the wall. American's latest moves set the stage for the day that it pulls its award charts.
Between the new award fee structure, the removal of the legacy search engine and the unprecedented Web Special award availability, it can't be that long before AA says goodbye to its award charts.
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| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | 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. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
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Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- 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.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- 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.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $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.
- Terms Apply.