Per USA Today and Flyertalk, American Airlines is launching a new bonus earning structure for those who purchase First and Business Class fares.

Below is the chart that was posted on Flyertalk

AAdvantage Executive Platinum & Dividend Miles Chairman’s Preferred:

• First / Business Fare classes: F, A, P, C, J, R, D:
  • 12,000 bonus miles on longer flights*
  • 1,000 bonus miles for all other flights
• First / Business Fare classes Z, I:
  • 3,500 bonus miles on longer flights*
  • 1,000 bonus miles for all other flights

AAdvantage Gold, Platinum & Dividend Miles Silver, Gold, Platinum:

• First / Business Fare classes: F, A, P, C, J, R, D:
  • 6,000 bonus miles on longer flights*
  • 500 bonus miles for all other flights
• First / Business Fare classes Z, I:
  • 1,000 bonus miles on longer flights*
  • 250 bonus miles for all other flights

Non-status AAdvantage & Dividend Miles members:

• First / Business Fare classes: F, A, P, C, J, R, D:
  • 3,000 bonus miles on longer flights*
  • 250 bonus miles for all other flights
• First / Business Fare classes Z, I:
  • No bonus miles

*Longer flights are those over 3,000 miles plus JFK-LAX/SFO flights.

Bottom Line

I think these changes are positive changes, and it will be interesting to see if United or Delta decide to offer anything similar. My guess is not since, they are both going to revenue based programs, whereas American isn’t so while this isn’t a revenue based program, it does reward those who spend more with American.

What are your thoughts on these changes?