As part of American’s plan to extend elite status through January 31, 2022, the airline shared that they would be offering up to $400 credits with American Airlines Vacations.
This benefit will vary from $300 to $400 depending on level of elite status held on June 30.
| Elite status | Credit amount |
|---|---|
| Gold | $300 |
| Platinum and Platinum Pro | $350 |
| Executive Platinum | $400 |
A one-time credit will become available on July 1, 2020 for use towards an American Airlines Vacations package. Redemption will have to occur by phone (800-321-2121).
- Package must include roundtrip flights and hotel (you do not have to stay in one hotel the entire trip)
- $2500 minimum spend required
- Travel must start by December 20, 2021
- This combines with the standard 1000 mile booking bonus (awarded to the first passenger’s account after travel is complete) however it does not combine with other bonus mile offers, sales, or credit card discounts.
- The hotel in the package must be located in the passenger’s vacation destination, so you can’t buy a business class flight to Europe and combine with a cheap hostel in Southeast Asia.
I like AA Vacations for booking business class tickets that are often cheaper than buying directly through the airline. I don’t like AA Vacations for booking hotels, which means you’re giving up elite status benefits, elite credit earning, and points-earning at the property. That means it’s often better for independent hotels than for chains.
$400 off $2500 is a 16% discount. That’s good, but you probably won’t find a trip that runs exactly $2500 so the discount compared to your actual total will be lower. Make sure you’re getting the best deal on the parts of your package if you take advantage of this.
Ultimately this will be most worthwhile for those who would have booked through AA Vacations anyway.
Great news can’t wait to delete them 😉
AAVacations never really appealed to me but we had a recent weekend long trip to HNL (Oahu was our only option as we had to depart the east coast after noon) and it’s no secret the chain hotels on Oahu sucks with ridiculous resort fees and terrible breakfast credits. We booked the trip through AAVacations and everything worked out well.
Also AAVacation bookings can be attractive from a mileage earning perspective if you book a premium fare that earns under the old system. Vegas is another domestic destination where chain hotels generally suck.
This is a great idea. With cruises shut down ( I have an amazing credit with Princess at the moment), a trip to Hawaii or to visit Hilton Head when this all settles down, we will for sure you this credit.
You like to pound AA but they have done more about fixing their operations first and going above and beyond awarding their best customers (as we knew they would). They took are of their employees (the FA on our flights have just about had it with the union so don’t listen to their president) and now giving us some benefit to travel and fly (which after all this we all need a good vacation!).
Thanks AA for leading.
It is kind of ironic that the changes in the AAdvantage program are possible only because of the provision I hate most about ff programs – the stipulation that terms of the program can be made without notice. FF programs have used that provision to foist on us many program devaluations that take effect immediately. In this situation, it is to our benefit that no time must elapse before these changes take effect. On balance, I’d still like to see notice required for all changes.
Some programs require 6 months’ notice of program termination. That notice requirement is illusory because the same terms also provide that program terms (including the notice requirement for program termination) can be changed without notice.
MY wife is a Gold and I’m a platinum, can we combine our credits into one trip?