Now that American Airlines AAdvantage has switched to its new Loyalty Points scheme – click here for further details – it has updated the earning rates for some partner airlines. In particular, flying on British Airways and Iberia in Business or First Class appears to be particularly rewarding…
British Airways
The new earning chart for British Airways looks like this:
For reference, for flights in 2021 you would have earned:
What Has Changed?
- First Class – instead of earning 150% of miles flown, you will now earn 250-300%
- Business Class – instead of earning 125% of miles flown, you will now earn 150-250%
- Premium Economy – instead of earning 110% of miles flown on expensive W fares, you will now earn 150%
- Economy – instead of earning 50% of miles flown on expensive H fares, you will now earn 100%
Iberia
A very similar situation applies to Iberia:
For reference, for flights in 2021 you would have earned:
What Has Changed?
- First Class – instead of earning 150% of miles flown, you will now earn 250-300%
- Business Class – instead of earning 125% of miles flown, you will now earn 150-250%
- Premium Economy – instead of earning 110% of miles flown on expensive W fares, you will now earn 150%
- Economy – instead of earning 50% of miles flown on expensive H fares, you will now earn 100%
*note that Iberia doesn’t offer a First Class cabin, but does offer First Class fares when codesharing on British Airways and American Airlines flights…
Status Bonuses
Before you get all excited, you won’t be able to supercharge your mileage earning by also having elite status.
On American Airlines flights, your “base miles” are the 5 miles per US dollar spent (pre-tax).
But on British Airways and Iberia flights, your “base miles” will be 100% of miles flown on all fares except the cheapest Economy fares. So your AA status won’t earn you quite as many bonus miles as you might have hoped…
Bottom Line
AAdvantage members – with or without status – will clearly earn more redeemable miles (than in prior years) when flying in a premium fare/cabin on British Airways and Iberia.
An American elite member is also very likely to earn more “Loyalty Points” from BA/IB premium cabin flights than EQM under the old system. However, some further analysis is required to determine whether this change is ultimately neutral… due to the substantially higher number of “Loyalty Points” needed to renew your elite status, versus the old EQM/EQD system.
Of course… what does this also look like? How Alaska Mileage Plus rewards its members flying on British Airways and Iberia… 😉
