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Customization is the brand new “in” factor for loyalty packages. Rather than all members incomes the identical rewards, extra airways and resort packages provide loyal members their alternative from an inventory of perks. And that is simply what American Airlines gives elite standing members by way of Loyalty Choice Rewards.

Here’s how to earn these useful Loyalty Choice Rewards perks and your decisions at every of the 5 reward ranges.

Loyalty Choice Rewards vs. Elite Choice Rewards

In late 2020, American Airlines introduced a brand new “Elite Choice Rewards” program. Rather than incomes systemwide upgrades, AAdvantage Executive Platinum elites would get to select from a menu of rewards. To sweeten this system, American Airlines added a rewards possibility when vacationers earned Platinum Pro elite standing.

But Elite Choice Rewards can be short-lived. In its change to the brand new Loyalty Points program, American launched “Loyalty Choice Rewards” — the same however barely totally different program.

Like its predecessor, Loyalty Choice Rewards gives personalized rewards for higher-tier AAdvantage elite standing members. One main distinction: AAdvantage members want to meet new flight qualification necessities to earn Loyalty Choice Rewards.

How to earn Loyalty Choice Rewards

AAdvantage members primarily earn Loyalty Choice Rewards based mostly on the variety of Loyalty Points earned. However, you will additionally want to full a sure variety of qualifying flights to unlock Loyalty Choice Rewards.

American Airlines requires that AAdvantage members fly 30 eligible flight segments to unlock Loyalty Choice Rewards. That signifies that you will not give you the chance to earn Loyalty Choice Rewards with out flying, regardless of what number of Loyalty Points you earn.

Eligible flight segments embody paid fares on the next airways:

Award flight segments on American Airlines are additionally eligible however provided that booked by way of the AAdvantage program. American Airlines award flights booked by way of one other loyalty program will not rely towards the Loyalty Choice Reward requirement.

AAdvantage members earn the primary tier of Loyalty Choice Rewards after incomes 30 flight segments and 125,000 Loyalty Points. Not coincidentally, that is the identical Loyalty Point threshold required for AAdvantage Platinum Pro elite standing. At this level, you will get one alternative from the listing of Level 1 rewards.

After that, you will earn two Loyalty Choice Rewards at every of the next thresholds:

If you attain the 750,000 Loyalty Point threshold, you will earn a complete of 9 Loyalty Choice Rewards. Depending on what perks you worth essentially the most, you may select a complete of 11 systemwide upgrades, 54 Admirals Club day passes or $1,800 in American Airlines journey credit. But that is essentially the most that you will earn. American Airlines would not reward AAdvantage members for earnings past 750,000 Loyalty Points.

Loyalty Choice Rewards choices

American Airlines gives 5 ranges of Loyalty Choice Rewards. Frustratingly, the alternatives are barely totally different between every degree. However, you’ll be able to typically select between just a few key journey perks:

• Admirals Club day passes or an annual membership (beginning at Level 2).

• $200 American Airlines journey credit score.

• One-time 15% award low cost (solely at Level 1).

• Gift of AAdvantage elite standing.

If you need to forgo these journey perks, you may make a charitable donation, offset your carbon emissions or choose a Bang & Olufsen product.

After unlocking Loyalty Choice Rewards and incomes 125,000 Loyalty Points, you will have a alternative among the many following eight rewards:

3. Six Admirals Club one-day passes.

4. $200 American Airlines journey credit score.

5. One-time 15% off award low cost.

6. Gift of AAdvantage Gold standing.

8. $200 donation to your alternative of 10 accomplice charities.

Each traveler will worth perks a bit in a different way — which is likely one of the advantages of giving vacationers their alternative. But, we really feel that the bonus miles possibility ought to set your minimal. NerdWallet’s baseline valuation is 1.5 cents per AAdvantage mile. At this charge, the bonus miles possibility is value a minimum of $300, up to $375 for AAdvantage cardholders.

NerdWallet calculates that AAdvantage Gold elite standing gives round $849 in advantages. However, this worth assumes that the traveler enjoys these perks whereas holding elite standing. A good friend or member of the family may not use the perks of Gold standing sufficient to justify utilizing your one Loyalty Choice Reward.

Upon hitting 200,000 Loyalty Points in a 12 months, you will earn AAdvantage Executive Platinum standing plus earn two extra Loyalty Choice Rewards. The listing of choices at this reward degree is barely totally different:

2. 20,000 AAdvantage bonus miles — or 30,000 miles for AAdvantage credit score cardholders.

3. Six Admirals Club one-day passes.

4. Admirals Club particular person membership (requires each decisions).

5. $200 American Airlines journey credit score.

6. Gift of AAdvantage Gold standing.

8. $200 donation to your alternative of 10 accomplice charities.

9. Choice of 1 Bang & Olufsen premium product (requires each decisions).

At this degree, the systemwide improve possibility is doubled. That means you’ll be able to choose up to 4 systemwide upgrades through the use of each of your decisions. Travelers can use systemwide upgrades to improve to enterprise or top notch anyplace American Airlines flies.

That makes selecting systemwide upgrades a best choice. However, vacationers that discover these upgrades tough to use would possibly take into account a special possibility.

If you are an AAdvantage credit score cardholder — which it’s best to take into account should you’re a top-tier elite — the 30,000 bonus miles is a tempting possibility. At NerdWallet base valuation, that is $450 value of miles. You can choose this feature twice to get 60,000 miles, value a minimum of $900.

The Admirals Club membership may be a tempting possibility. However, this reward prices you each decisions. That means you are giving up 4 systemwide upgrades or up to 60,000 bonus miles to get this lounge membership. Remember that you may get Admirals Club membership (plus extra perks) for a $450 annual price by way of the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®.

Loyalty Choice Rewards choices

Here’s an outline of Loyalty Choice Rewards choices in any respect 5 reward ranges:

American Airlines Choice Loyalty Rewards, recapped

American Airlines gives its frequent flyers a alternative of advantages after flying 30 qualifying segments and incomes a minimum of 125,000 Loyalty Points. Then you’ll be able to earn further rewards by reaching set Loyalty Points thresholds.

Loyalty Choice Reward choices differ at every degree. However, vacationers can typically select between systemwide upgrades, bonus miles, Admirals Club day passes, American Airlines journey credit score and different journey and non-travel-related rewards. This lets vacationers customise the rewards that they earn, slightly than merely incomes systemwide upgrades that not all vacationers can maximize.

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