American Airlines has introduced a new business loyalty programme which rewards both companies and their travellers and is designed to encourage direct bookings.
Called AAdvantage Business, the scheme gives members additional Loyalty Points for booking business travel on aa.com or on the American Airlines app.
It also allows companies who apply and are approved for the CitiBusiness/AAdvantage Platinum Select Mastercard to earn rewards even faster.
The launch comes after American pulled as much as 40% of its EDIFACT fares, restricting them to NDC platforms.
Scott Laurence, American’s Senior Vice President of Partnerships and Retailing, said it has designed a simple programme “that goes above and beyond in delivering rewards and tools that benefit everyone”.
The scheme will replace the existing Business Extra programme for SMEs, which will end on December 14. All Business Extra points must be redeemed by January 31 2024.
AAdvantage Business is open for businesses of at least five employees, without any minimum spending requirement.
For every $1 spent on eligible business travel, businesses earn 1 AAdvantage mile to redeem on travel and more including hotels, car rentals, Admirals Club lounges, and other experiences for employees.
For that same $1 spent, eligible individual travellers earn 1 Loyalty Point that counts toward their accrual for earning status as an AAdvantage member.
These Loyalty Points are in addition to any miles or Loyalty Points the traveller is earning as an AAdvantage member.
On all eligible American Airlines purchases, new CitiBusiness/AAdvantage Platinum Select Mastercard cardmembers will earn twice the miles for their company plus the cardmember will earn an additional Loyalty Point toward their AAdvantage status for every $1 spent on their business card.
Plus, businesses will earn miles for all other business purchases on the card, including twice the miles for telecommunications, cable and satellite providers and twice the miles on car rental and at petrol stations.
A single portal allows travel managers and their travellers to track business trips and switch between business and personal travel when booking on American Airline’s website.
Members also have access to a suite of online tools, including reporting, traveller management and duty of care.
