In late 2023, American Airways AAdvantage introduced that bank card spending would earn Loyalty Factors based mostly on buy date.
However after the newest AAdvantage elite standing qualification 12 months ended Feb. 29, there’s been lots of consternation from American Airways flyers (together with me). Fb teams have been filled with confused AAdvantage members who’re questioning why they obtained base miles from their bank card spending this month however not Loyalty Factors.
As you’ll be able to see from the screenshot under, I earned greater than 10,000 base miles on my most up-to-date Citi® / AAdvantage® Government World Elite Mastercard® (see charges and charges) assertion. However discover the massive zero below Loyalty Factors.
That is what the exercise tracker often appears like when my AAdvantage bank card spending posts.
So, the place are the Loyalty Factors? They’re coming — regardless of what my assertion at the moment reveals.
American Airways has this banner on its web site below the account info overview. The provider additionally gave frequent flyers a proper discover through e mail that had the identical language (although I by no means obtained that e mail).
It is unclear why the Loyalty Factors needed to be posted individually this time. To shed some gentle on the scenario, we reached out to American Airways to study extra.
In keeping with a provider spokesperson, “To make sure all AAdvantage members get their miles and Loyalty Factors deposited appropriately and in a well timed method, this 12 months the method entailed a number of separate actions. All Loyalty Factors earned in February shall be posted in March, and all Loyalty Factors earned in March shall be posted in April. The method leads to extra members incomes standing and Loyalty Level Rewards. As the brand new program 12 months ramps up, we sit up for our members unlocking Loyalty Level Rewards and standing towards a good higher journey expertise.”
I think about splitting the Loyalty Factors into two totally different standing years was no small IT process.
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For added perception, you will discover the next explainer on how March statements work on the American Airways web site:
For example, in case your month-to-month AAdvantage® bank card assertion closes on March 5 (which incorporates purchases posted to your bank card account between February 6 and March 5), all of the Loyalty Factors earned from purchases made between February 6 by 29 will depend towards 2024 standing. All Loyalty Factors earned between March 1 and 5 depend towards the 2025 qualification 12 months.
It might take as much as 8 – 10 weeks after March 5 to submit to your account on this instance.
In different phrases, all of your Loyalty Factors earned till Feb. 29, 2024, depend towards reaching standing for the earlier qualification 12 months and all of the Loyalty Factors earned starting March 1, 2024, will depend for the present qualification 12 months.
I assume that each one my Loyalty Factors for the earlier qualification 12 months (which ended Feb. 29, 2024) will finally present up within the tracker on the high of my account overview (as you’ll be able to see under), however that raises extra questions that we do not have solutions for but.
As you’ll be able to see, I earned 240,479 Loyalty Factors within the earlier qualification 12 months, however I am nonetheless confused about how lots of the 10,431 Loyalty Factors I earned on my most up-to-date bank card assertion will go towards my earlier qualification 12 months. I am so near 250,000 Loyalty Factors for the earlier qualification 12 months that it could unlock two extra rewards if I made it.
Will I get two extra systemwide improve certificates, the identical perk I selected once I reached 175,000 Loyalty Factors and earned AAdvantage Government Platinum standing? Solely time will inform. It will be beautiful to get two extra.
One other wrinkle to contemplate is that frequent flyers should select their Loyalty Level Rewards by April 5, 2024. So what occurs if the Loyalty Factors do not submit by then? Having them seem eight to 10 weeks from now can be effectively previous the April 5 deadline, so I might seemingly be out of luck.
There’s some hypothesis that you will have to name customer support for help in selecting your award if the Loyalty Factors do not submit earlier than the April 5 deadline to decide on awards. If we discover out extra about this from American Airways, we’ll make sure to let .
It doesn’t matter what occurs, bear in mind to make any excellent Loyalty Level Rewards decisions which may be ready in your account.
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