Airlines

American Airlines Announces Big Changes for AAdvantage Program

AAdvantage® membership is the only way to experience some of the best that American Airlines offers, and unlocks access to some of the airline’s best partner experiences.
AAdvantage members continue to earn miles and Loyalty Points for everyday activities, making it easy to earn flights, customize their travel and achieve status.
American introduces Loyalty Point Rewards, which members earn to unlock further benefits and choose rewards to customize their travel experience.
AAdvantage members can earn new benefits and rewards before reaching status and between and beyond status levels.

American Airlines keeps improving the AAdvantage® programme to give all members greater benefits throughout their journey. Before, between, and beyond status levels, members will take advantage of additional privileges and earn awards.

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Introducing more AAdvantage benefits and Loyalty Point Rewards

In March 2023, American will introduce opportunities to receive benefits and earn rewards more often and give members more options to customize their travel experiences.

For example, members will unlock their first Loyalty Point Reward — formerly known as Loyalty Choice Rewards — after earning only 15,000 Loyalty Points and before reaching AAdvantage Gold® status. These members will receive the benefit of Group 5 boarding for the membership year and the choice between two Loyalty Point Rewards:

Priority check-in, security and Group 4 boarding for one trip.
Five preferred seat coupons.

As a reminder, Loyalty Points are all that members need to achieve status and reset each program year. AAdvantage members earn miles and Loyalty Points when they fly, use an AAdvantage credit card for purchases or engage with more than 1,000 AAdvantage partners.

Members then redeem those miles to elevate their travels and reach status and rewards through Loyalty Points.

AAdvantage Status	Loyalty Points
Gold	40,000
Platinum	75,000
Platinum Pro	125,000
Executive Platinum	200,000

Even beyond the highest levels of status, members have the opportunity to earn even more Loyalty Point Rewards to unlock benefits and choose rewards to customize their travel experience such as systemwide upgrades, Admirals Club® One Day Passes, trip credits, award rebates for flights purchased with miles and more.

American is removing the previous 75,000 limit on miles that a member could earn on a single ticket, making flying with American even more rewarding. Members earn miles for flights based on the ticket price and AAdvantage status. Also, on American and eligible partner flights, AAdvantage members will earn two miles per dollar spent on Basic Economy fares for all tickets issued on or after Jan. 1, 2023, for travel starting March 1, 2023.

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AAdvantage® membership is the only way to experience some of the best that American Airlines offers and unlocks access to some of the airline’s best partner experiences. Starting in March 2023, only AAdvantage members will be able to book and redeem miles for American Airlines Vacations™ packages, which brings customers deals on flights, hotels and car rentals. Also starting March 2023, U.S. American Airlines AAdvantage® Mastercard® credit card holders can redeem miles toward Mastercard® Priceless® Experiences* such as private dinners, sporting events, food festivals, theatrical performances and so much more.

All members will continue to enjoy everyday mileage redemption opportunities. In addition to redeeming miles for flights, members can redeem miles to personalize their travel through experiences like Main Cabin Extra Seats, Five Star Service™ experience and more.

Airlines

Cathay Pacific asks business class customers to bring their own cutlery

In an innovative move towards sustainability, renowned Hong Kong carrier Cathay Pacific has recently floated an unconventional idea to its business class customers.

Bringing their own cutlery sets onboard. This initiative, revealed through a member survey circulated within the airline’s “Cathay Lab” community – a platform comprising frequent business class travelers – has stirred a wave of curiosity within the aviation industry.

With sustainability becoming an increasing concern in aviation, Cathay Pacific’s survey aimed to gauge passengers‘ willingness to partake in various eco-friendly practices during their journeys.

Among the initiatives presented, including refilling reusable water bottles and recycling plastic, the prospect of bringing personal cutlery garnered significant attention. Some members expressed practical concerns, questioning the feasibility of carrying cutlery through airport security and the potential inconvenience for passengers unaware of regulations.

Others suggested that Cathay Pacific should simply provide reusable cutlery onboard instead. Furthermore, there were suspicions among some respondents that the BYO cutlery proposal might be a precursor to introducing additional charges, with one user humorously envisioning a scenario where the airline lends cutlery sets for a fee.

Despite the skepticism surrounding the proposal, Cathay Pacific’s exploration of innovative sustainability measures reflects a broader industry trend towards environmental consciousness.

Airlines

Air India and IndiGo’s Joint Initiative, Plans for 170 Wide-Body Aircraft

In a bold move that underscores their confidence in India’s burgeoning aviation sector, Air India and IndiGo have revealed ambitious plans to acquire a combined total of up to 170 wide-body aircraft.

This strategic investment marks a significant shift in the country’s aviation landscape, as it brings European aircraft manufacturer Airbus into a domain traditionally dominated by American giant Boeing.

With India positioned as one of the world’s fastest-growing aviation markets, the timing couldn’t be more opportune for such expansion endeavors. The aim is clear: to elevate India’s status as a global aviation hub by enhancing connectivity through direct flights between Indian cities and international destinations.

Currently, a substantial portion of India’s international air traffic relies on overseas hubs, particularly in the Gulf region. IndiGo’s announcement of firm orders for 30 A350-900 aircraft, with an option for an additional 70, signals its commitment to capturing a larger share of the long-haul market.

Meanwhile, Air India’s comprehensive order, unveiled last year, encompasses 70 wide-body planes, including a mix of A350 and Boeing 787 models.

Recognizing the potential for disruption in the long and ultra-long haul segments, aviation consultancy CAPA India has emphasized the pivotal role Indian carriers can play in driving innovation and transformation.

With the current combined fleet size of Indian airlines exceeding 700 aircraft, the stage is set for Air India and IndiGo to spearhead a new era of growth and connectivity in the Indian aviation sector.

Airlines

Air China Makes Landmark Deal: Orders 100 C919 Jets from COMAC

In a strategic move that could reshape China’s aviation industry, Air China has inked a monumental deal with Comac, signaling a significant shift in the nation’s commercial aircraft procurement landscape.

The agreement, valued at a staggering $10.8 billion based on list prices, entails the purchase of 100 Comac C919 jets, a resounding endorsement of the homegrown challenger to aerospace giants Airbus and Boeing.

The announcement, disclosed in a filing by Air China, underscores the airline’s commitment to bolstering its fleet with domestically manufactured aircraft. These C919 jets, slated for delivery between 2024 and 2031, are poised to amplify Air China’s operational capabilities and enhance its competitive stance in the global aviation arena.

The C919, a formidable competitor to Boeing’s 737 Max and Airbus’s A320neo, symbolizes China’s ambitious foray into the global aviation market. With Air China’s commitment to acquiring a substantial fleet of C919s, the aircraft is poised to carve out a formidable niche in the industry, challenging the dominance of established players.

Notably, Air China‘s existing fleet comprises an extensive array of Airbus and Boeing aircraft, showcasing its diverse operational portfolio.

With nearly 500 airplanes in service, including models from the A320 family and the 737 series, Air China’s decision to incorporate the C919 into its fleet underscores a strategic diversification strategy.

While Airbus has enjoyed notable success in China, buoyed by its local assembly line, Boeing has faced formidable challenges in recent years. However, Air China’s resolute investment in the C919 signals a paradigm shift, amplifying China’s quest for self-sufficiency in aviation.