American Airlines Will Not Exclude Third-Party Bookings From Earning Miles

Updated: July 16, 2024, 2:24pm CDT

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American’s Program Changes for 2024
Final Thoughts

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A few months ago, we reported on American Airlines’ major policy change: customers would no longer earn miles and Loyalty Points on third-party bookings from “non-preferred agencies.”

This change was set to go into effect in May 2024 but was subsequently pushed back by another month.

However, American Airlines has reversed its decision. As One Mile at a Time first reported, American’s CEO Robert Isom announced that the airline would no longer slash earnings on these tickets — here’s what you should know.

American’s Program Changes for 2024

American Airlines announced a few program changes earlier this year, most of which were great for travelers. However, today’s news reverses a decision made back in February about earning miles and Loyalty Points for third-party bookings.

Changes to Earning Miles and Loyalty Points

The first big change was regarding how you’d earn AAdvantage miles and Loyalty Points going forward. The good news was that not much changed for travelers who booked tickets directly through American Airlines.

American Airlines Premium Economy. Image Credit: Katie Seemann

However, American was set to roll out big changes for tickets booked through online travel agencies (OTAs). The airline wanted to limit the following tickets to earn American Airlines miles and Loyalty Points:

Tickets purchased directly through American Airlines (and eligible partners)
Tickets booked by AAdvantage Business members or contracted corporate travelers
Tickets booked through preferred travel agencies, not including Basic Economy fares

The one thing that was crystal clear was that American wanted customers to book directly with the airline rather than through third-party websites. There was some confusion about the initial announcement because American Airlines didn’t publish its list of preferred travel agencies, so we never knew how extensive the changes would actually be in practice.

Hot Tip:

Other ways American Airlines AAdvantage members earn miles and Loyalty Points, including through AAdvantage eShopping, American Airlines Dining, Simply Miles, and American Airlines Vacations, are not affected by these changes.

Increased Bag Fees

In February, American Airlines announced another modification that passengers wouldn’t like — increased baggage fees. These new fees went into effect for flights booked beginning February 20, 2024.

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	First bag (previous cost)	First bag (cost for flights booked on or after February 20, 2024)	Second bag (previous cost)	Second bag (cost for flights booked on or after February 20, 2024)
Domestic flights	$30	$40 ($35 if purchased online)	$40	$45
Short-haul international flights	$30	$35	$40	$45

Furthermore, if you travel with a furry friend, the charge for bringing your pet inside the cabin has increased from $125 to $150.

There’s some good news, however — some fees for overweight and oversized baggage decreased. These new fees went into effect on April 17, 2024, regardless of when the ticket was purchased.

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	Current price	Travel from April 17, 2024
Overweight bags: over 50 lbs to 70 lbs	$100 to $200	Over 50 lbs to 53 lbs: $30 53 lbs to 70 lbs: $100 to $200
Oversized bags: over 62 linear inches	Over 62 inches to 126 inches: $200 to $450	Over 62 inches to 65 inches: $30 Over 65 inches to 115 inches: $150 to $200
Items that are both oversized and overweight (over 50 lbs to 70 lbs)	$250 to $400	$30 to $200
Items that are both oversized and overweight (over 70 lbs to 100 lbs)	$350 to $650	$200 to $450

Hot Tip:

If you fly American Airlines and check bags even just once or twice a year, it makes sense to get an American Airlines credit card, as most of them come with free checked bags as a benefit. American Airlines elite members are also eligible for complimentary checked baggage.

Final Thoughts

American Airlines just reversed its February 2024 decision regarding select tickets losing the ability to earn AAdvantage miles and Loyalty Points. Customers will be thrilled to know that tickets booked through third parties, such as online travel agencies, will continue to earn American Airlines miles and Loyalty Points as usual.