Alaska and American Adjust Oneworld Elite Status for 2021
Joe Cortez December 10, 2020
American and Alaska Tails
Ahead of Alaska Airlines’ full membership into Oneworld, the Seattle-based airline and American Airlines are changing around how their benefits match up to the alliance’s elite program. MileagePlan MVP miles will gain Oneworld Emerald, Sapphire, or Ruby status, while American Platinum Pro members will be upgraded to Emerald.
With Alaska Airlines months away from joining the Oneworld alliance, both U.S.-based members are changing how their elite programs will align with the global elite status scheme. Alaska announced which status will gain what level in the global program, while American is changing up benefits for their top-tier elites.
AAdvantage Platinum Pro and Executive Platinum Align with Emerald, Gain New Choice Rewards
Starting with the 2021 qualifying year, American AAdvantage Platinum Pro and Executive Platinum elites will both align with Emerald, the highest tier in the Oneworld global elite program. In addition, members of each tier will also get to select new bonus gifts when they qualify in the new year.
For AAdvantage Platinum Pro elites, members will be able to choose one additional gift from a list including one systemwide upgrade, bonus AAdvantage miles, or a travel voucher. Those more socially-minded can also choose a carbon emission offset or a $200 donation on their behalf to one of 10 partner charities. Executive Platinum elites have all the same options as Platinum Pro elites, with the addition of gifting Gold status to another flyer, 10,000 bonus Elite Qualifying Miles, or a choice of Bang & Olufsen products. Flyers can also use both of their choices to get an individual Admirals Club membership.
Image courtesy: American Airlines
“Our Platinum Pro and Executive Platinum members spend almost as much time in the air as they do on the ground,” Rick Elieson, president of the AAdvantage program, said in a press release. “We’re extremely grateful American is their airline of choice and providing more flexibility with elite choice rewards is another way we’re showing our appreciation for the time they spend with us.”
In October 2020, American was the first of the legacy carriers to announced reduced elite status requirements for the upcoming year. Platinum Pro status is earned after spending $7,000 in elite qualifying dollars and flying 60,000 elite qualifying miles or flying 70 segments, while Executive Platinum status requires $12,000 spent in elite qualifying dollars alongside 80,000 elite qualifying miles or 95 elite qualifying segments.
Alaska Announces Alignment with Oneworld Tier Status
Alaska Mileage Plan flyers now know where their status will sit when they become a full Oneworld member on March 31, 2021. MVP Gold 75K members will earn top-tier Emerald status, MVP Gold members will earn Sapphire status, while MVP elites will get Ruby status.
Elite flyers recognized as Oneworld Emerald and Sapphire members can get access to lounges, fast track security lanes, and priority when boarding and on wait lists. Alaska MVP Gold and Gold 75K flyers will have access to their respective extended benefits when flying across all of the Oneworld member airlines.
Far and away, the most valuable thing up there are the SW upgrades.
Does this mean that Platinum Pro will get 3 luggages when flying AA? How about in a domestic F itinerary? Does anybody know?
I have no interest in flying AA. Poor customer service and uncomfortable planes? No thanks. I've had my AS Mileage Plan account since the mid 90's. Unfortunately flights from many west coast cities to the midwest and east coast on AS require an overnight layover/connection in Seattle. Having to pay for a hotel room during a layover doesn't make flying AS cost effective. I am flying DL more and more now. They can get me to the east coast in the shortest amount of time with a superior product and pleasant employees. WN also get a fair amount of my business when their flight schedules work.
At the end of the day we AS FF's will not be where we use to be! Sad maybe Parker will leave,