Effective for flights purchased starting yesterday (12/17/25), American Airlines is no longer awarding any redeemable miles or Loyalty Points for flights in Basic Economy. JonNYC reported this on X and One Mile at a Time flagged it yesterday, and it is certainly bad news for those who prefer to buy the cheapest fares but still want to be rewarded for being loyal to American Airlines.
American Airlines previously awarded 2 redeemable miles and 2 Loyalty Points per dollar spent on Basic Economy tickets (plus elite status bonuses) and 5-11 miles per dollar spent on other fares (depending on elite status). The change as of 12/17/25 only affects Basic Economy, but it entirely eliminates the ability to earn any redeemable miles or Loyalty Points on Basic Economy fares.
On the one hand, this is a terribly customer-unfriendly move as it is a deliberate choice not to recognize or reward loyalty among price-conscious consumers or those unwilling to pay up for add-ons that they don’t need. That stinks.
On the other hand, as One Mile at a Time notes, Basic Economy is a product that seems designed to compete for the segment of customers who might otherwise fly low-cost carriers like Spirit or Frontier. Through that lens, the most price-conscious consumers are likely more loyal to choice than any particular airline. One would assume that American’s internal data must show that, and on the whole, those customers are less engaged in the loyalty program.
One Mile at a Time suggests that the primary goal here is to generate additional revenue from customers who want to earn rewards (by encouraging them to buy up to higher fares) while still filling excess seats with price-loyal customers. One could also hope that perhaps American realizes that Basic Economy customers generally aren’t engaging with the program, so cutting whatever small cost was associated with issuing rewards on those flights (since some of those customers must redeem miles) will enable more generous rewards elsewhere in the program. That’s probably wishful thinking, but toss “American Airlines becomes more rewarding for loyal customers” on the holiday wish list (just don’t hold your breath waiting for it to materialize).
If you have been eyeing Basic Economy fares, be aware that newly-purchased Basic Economy tickets will no longer earn rewards or credit toward elite status.
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I’m Platinum Pro and buy BE fares whenever it makes sense (i.e. flight I feel I am certain to take, with a low enough fare that the extra $100 for a round trip makes no sense versus accepting the risk and the lower miles/LPs, etc.). For flights like that, them taking away the already minimal miles/LPs will not change my decision-making process. The effect for me of the other changes (especially capping at 15K the bonus LPs) will be disengaging from AAdvantage once I hit Platinum. Will no longer even think about going for Plat Pro. So they will lose substantial credit card spend and partner spend from me going forward. If anyone at AA thinks BE buyers don’t include a substantial number of customers like me, they are nuts. But the LP thing is especially a self-inflicted wound. What idiots.
Wow – way to tell loyal fliers they mean nothing to you. Only credit card spenders matter now. I have been a loyal AA flier for 20 years, and now buy 3 tickets for every flight (kids). It’s a good thing I switched half my flights to Allegiant and Southwest this year.
Yeah those rewarding programs at Southworst and Allegiant only get you more Southworst and Allegiant. I guess that’s great if you never want to use your passport or experience anything premium.
I think the far more significant change announced yesterday is the double whammy of capping of the 60k LP bonus for partners at 15k (and raising the bonus to 25%), and removing the 30% bonus at 100k LPs entirely. That change has personally removed pretty much all incentive for me to try and get status above Platinum, since it has the perk I value the most (MCE at booking).