Jan 27, 2016, 7:50 am
Last edit by: JDiver
Earning AA Award ("Redeemable") Miles / RDM earning as of 01 Aug 2016
on American Airlines and its partner airlines
on American Airlines and its partner airlines
Note: Earning RDM / Award Miles changed 1 Aug 2016 -
Award Mile changes: American Airlines announced 1 Aug 2016 they have implemented a revenue-based scheme for earning what American is calling Award Miles (previous AA terms have included "Prize-winning miles", also frequently referred to as Redeemable Miles (RDM) in this forum).
This means miles that can be spent on awards are now earned on the basis of price paid (base fare plus carrier-imposed fees such as fuel surcharges, not including government-imposed fees and taxes such as airport passenger service fees, etc.) times a factor determined by one's status. This change applies only to AA-"marketed" flights -- that is, flights booked with an "A" flight number -- with exceptions described under "Special Fares".
Partner-marketed flights (flights with a flight number other than an "AA" one) continue to earn based on miles. See below. This change applies to all flights flown on or after 1 Aug 2016, regardless of when the ticket was purchased.
Elite Qualifying Miles / EQM are merely mile posts to count for status qualification as of 01 January 2016. NOTE: some airline partner EQM changes occur 1 Aug 2016. See here. These are no longer Redeemable.
Bonus Miles: The earning of Bonus Miles (which are always Award or Redeemable Miles, never Elite Qualifying), has changed as a result of the new system. Cabin service / fare class bonus miles may be earned on flights marketed by AA airline partners; see the mileage earning chart for 1 Aug 2016 for each airline partner on aa.com.
See Earning AA Elite Qualifying Miles / EQM on AA, oneworld, partners 2016 for more about earning EQM.
Link to aa.com page "AAdvantage program updates".
Award Miles (also called Redeemable miles)
Earning as of 01 Aug 2016 and beyond
Earn miles
To earn AAdvantage® miles when you fly on American and American Eagle marketed flights (including flights sold as AA codeshare flights operated by other airlines):
Calculating award miles
For travel beginning August 1, 2016, you'll earn miles based on ticket price (base fare plus carrier-imposed fees, not including government-imposed taxes and fees). The more you spend, and the higher your elite status, the more you'll earn.
Or, as mchensel said in another post, to clarify:
AAdvantage® member – 5 miles for every U.S. dollar*
Gold member – 7 miles/U.S. dollar* (5 miles + 2 miles, 40% bonus)
Platinum member – 8 miles/U.S. dollar* (5 miles + 3 miles, 60% bonus)
Platinum Pro member - 9 miles/U.S. dollar* (5 miles + 4 miles, 80% bonus)
Executive Platinum member – 11 miles/U.S. dollar* (5 miles + 6 miles a 120% bonus)
*dollar spent on basic fare and carrier imposed fees only - not government fees or taxes, ancillary fees such as baggage, upgrade, changes, etc.
NOTE: You can earn a maximum of 75,000 award miles per E-Ticket. Note that a single PNR might have more than one E-Ticket, and various kinds of changes may cause an E-Ticket to be re-issued, which we believe resets the maximum mileage counter.
Earning award miles for travel on most flights marketed by partner airlines is based on a percentage of the flight distance and the fare class purchased. Updated tables were posted 15 Jul 2016 and reflect new award earning rates on partner / fare class combinations.
See here.
Elite bonuses on partners: Earning on flights marketed by Alaska and almost all oneworld partners will also use those same elite status bonus ratios (40%/60%/80%?/120%), as announced by AA on 1 Aug 2016. See here.
Special Fares: AA has specified a set of "Special Fares", which includes AA Vacations. NOTE: Award Miles earning varies for "Special Fares" (e.g. AA Vacations), and the chart for those changes on 11 Jan 2017. See here.
Initial reports have revealed interesting cases which apparently fall under that final "fare isn't disclosed" catch-all, and therefore earn according to the Special Fares mileage-based table:
Again, these reports are few and preliminary. Further data points to confirm or refute these, or to add to the list, are welcome.
Elite Bonuses on Special Fares: The Special Fares page also says, "AAdvantage elite member bonuses will be applied in addition to the percentages shown for award miles." These bonuses are the same as for partner flights.
See the "Special Fares" earning chart (and note the chart for those changes on 11 Jan 2017). See here.
BE SURE to read the FAQs here.
Sample calculation
AAdvantage member flying round-trip on an American marketed flight from Dallas (DFW) to London-Heathrow (LHR) (NOTE: All $ figures are USD / U.S. Dollars)
In the example below, in Costa Rican Colones so used only for illustrative purposes, the airport and countered fees and taxes would be excluded from RDM calculations:
Bonus miles
Bonus (award) Miles are no longer earned as before - see earnings for EQM, A/RDM (and for 2017 EQD) here and from other partner activities such as hotel stays, auto rentals, purchases from AA shopping portal vendors and partners, credit cards, etc.
(NOTE: Bonus miles are Award / Redeemable, not Elite Qualifying, miles)
Earning as of 01 Aug 2016 and beyond
Earn miles
To earn AAdvantage® miles when you fly on American and American Eagle marketed flights (including flights sold as AA codeshare flights operated by other airlines):
- Buy an eligible published fare ticket in an eligible booking code
- Fly an eligible route
- Specific flights, routes or cities that are excluded from earning miles or award travel are listed as exceptions if applicable.
Calculating award miles
For travel beginning August 1, 2016, you'll earn miles based on ticket price (base fare plus carrier-imposed fees, not including government-imposed taxes and fees). The more you spend, and the higher your elite status, the more you'll earn.
- AAdvantage® member – 5 miles for every U.S. dollar
- Gold member – 7 miles/U.S. dollar (40% bonus)
- Platinum member – 8 miles/U.S. dollar (60% bonus)
- Platinum Pro member (New in 2017) - 9 miles/U.S. dollar (80%bonus)
- Executive Platinum member – 11 miles/U.S. dollar (120% bonus)
Or, as mchensel said in another post, to clarify:
AAdvantage® member – 5 miles for every U.S. dollar*
Gold member – 7 miles/U.S. dollar* (5 miles + 2 miles, 40% bonus)
Platinum member – 8 miles/U.S. dollar* (5 miles + 3 miles, 60% bonus)
Platinum Pro member - 9 miles/U.S. dollar* (5 miles + 4 miles, 80% bonus)
Executive Platinum member – 11 miles/U.S. dollar* (5 miles + 6 miles a 120% bonus)
*dollar spent on basic fare and carrier imposed fees only - not government fees or taxes, ancillary fees such as baggage, upgrade, changes, etc.
NOTE: You can earn a maximum of 75,000 award miles per E-Ticket. Note that a single PNR might have more than one E-Ticket, and various kinds of changes may cause an E-Ticket to be re-issued, which we believe resets the maximum mileage counter.
Earning award miles for travel on most flights marketed by partner airlines is based on a percentage of the flight distance and the fare class purchased. Updated tables were posted 15 Jul 2016 and reflect new award earning rates on partner / fare class combinations.
See here.
Elite bonuses on partners: Earning on flights marketed by Alaska and almost all oneworld partners will also use those same elite status bonus ratios (40%/60%/80%?/120%), as announced by AA on 1 Aug 2016. See here.
Special Fares: AA has specified a set of "Special Fares", which includes AA Vacations. NOTE: Award Miles earning varies for "Special Fares" (e.g. AA Vacations), and the chart for those changes on 11 Jan 2017. See here.
Some fares (such as bulk or consolidator fares) earn award miles and Elite Qualifying Dollars (EQDs) at a modified rate based on a percentage of the distance flown as determined by the booking code.
Special fares are often purchased through a specialized agent, third party or as part of a package including air transportation and lodging.
Examples:
Special fares are often purchased through a specialized agent, third party or as part of a package including air transportation and lodging.
Examples:
- Bulk fares
- Cruise fares
- Consolidator fares
- Discounted or inclusive tour packages
- Vacation packages, including American Airlines Vacations® (AAV) packages
- Other tickets where the fare isn't disclosed, excluding bookings made through priceline.com or hotwire.com where the carrier isn't disclosed before buying
- At least some purchases made with Citi TYPs and the like
- At least some reissues, whether changed beforehand or due to IROPS
Elite Bonuses on Special Fares: The Special Fares page also says, "AAdvantage elite member bonuses will be applied in addition to the percentages shown for award miles." These bonuses are the same as for partner flights.
See the "Special Fares" earning chart (and note the chart for those changes on 11 Jan 2017). See here.
BE SURE to read the FAQs here.
Sample calculation
AAdvantage member flying round-trip on an American marketed flight from Dallas (DFW) to London-Heathrow (LHR) (NOTE: All $ figures are USD / U.S. Dollars)
Code:
Elite status Base fare Carrier imposed fees Miles/USD Award miles earned AAdvantage member $1,436 $458 5 9,470 Gold $1,436 $458 7 13,258 Platinum $1,436 $458 8 15,152 Executive Platinum $1,436 $458 11 20,834
Bonus miles
Bonus (award) Miles are no longer earned as before - see earnings for EQM, A/RDM (and for 2017 EQD) here and from other partner activities such as hotel stays, auto rentals, purchases from AA shopping portal vendors and partners, credit cards, etc.
(NOTE: Bonus miles are Award / Redeemable, not Elite Qualifying, miles)
Certain airline ticket types aren't eligible for mileage accrual regardless of the booking code. These include, without limitation:
- All tickets issued as AAdvantage® awards
- Charter flight tickets
- Companion tickets
- Infant tickets
- Items occupying a purchased seat
- Other free ticket promotions including free or reduced rate tickets
- Tickets purchased through a travel agency where the airline is not disclosed prior to purchase, such as Priceline or Hotwire
- Tickets issued subject to special provisions
- Travel agency/industry reduced rate tickets"
Updated 07 Jan 2017 - JDiver with thanks to spammersarescum
Historical information moved to ARCHIVE thread, link to same renewed. JDiver
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GUIDE: Earning AA Award / Redeemable Miles / RDM on AA, partners 1 Aug 2016
Jul 21, 2016, 8:49 am
#91
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: ELP
Programs: AA EXP/LT PLAT, Marriott Titanium/LT PLAT
Posts: 4,120
If my understanding is correct, for the AA flights, the value will be based on the proportion of the journey that is on AA
Total journey distance there is 21,859 mi.
Miles flown on AA 8674 mi.
Cost $10,000
AA earning for an EP member ( if I have understood it right ) would be (8674 / 21859 ) * 10,000 * 11 = approx 43,650
The non AA flights will earn as per mileage and earning for that airline which is 100% plus 25% COS plus 100% status
Distance on partners would be 13,185 miles, so would earn approx 13,185 + 3,297 + 13,185 = approx 29,669
giving a total earning of approx 73,320 which is just under the cap of 75,000
Total journey distance there is 21,859 mi.
Miles flown on AA 8674 mi.
Cost $10,000
AA earning for an EP member ( if I have understood it right ) would be (8674 / 21859 ) * 10,000 * 11 = approx 43,650
The non AA flights will earn as per mileage and earning for that airline which is 100% plus 25% COS plus 100% status
Distance on partners would be 13,185 miles, so would earn approx 13,185 + 3,297 + 13,185 = approx 29,669
giving a total earning of approx 73,320 which is just under the cap of 75,000
So, I should just buy the way the ticket the same way as before, since it will be under the 75000RDM CAP.
AgaIn, thanks for helping.
Jul 21, 2016, 9:04 am
#92
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Columbia, SC
Programs: AA Plat, SPG/Marriot Gold, HHonors Diamond, Hyatt Expl
Posts: 2,363
If my understanding is correct, for the AA flights, the value will be based on the proportion of the journey that is on AA
Total journey distance there is 21,859 mi.
Miles flown on AA 8674 mi.
Cost $10,000
AA earning for an EP member ( if I have understood it right ) would be (8674 / 21859 ) * 10,000 * 11 = approx 43,650
The non AA flights will earn as per mileage and earning for that airline which is 100% plus 25% COS plus 100% status
Distance on partners would be 13,185 miles, so would earn approx 13,185 + 3,297 + 13,185 = approx 29,669
giving a total earning of approx 73,320 which is just under the cap of 75,000
Total journey distance there is 21,859 mi.
Miles flown on AA 8674 mi.
Cost $10,000
AA earning for an EP member ( if I have understood it right ) would be (8674 / 21859 ) * 10,000 * 11 = approx 43,650
The non AA flights will earn as per mileage and earning for that airline which is 100% plus 25% COS plus 100% status
Distance on partners would be 13,185 miles, so would earn approx 13,185 + 3,297 + 13,185 = approx 29,669
giving a total earning of approx 73,320 which is just under the cap of 75,000
Jul 21, 2016, 9:46 am
#93
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: TPA
Programs: BA Silver; Hilton Gold; IHG Diamond Ambassador; Marriott Gold
Posts: 2,811
If my understanding is correct, for the AA flights, the value will be based on the proportion of the journey that is on AA
Total journey distance there is 21,859 mi.
Miles flown on AA 8674 mi.
Cost $10,000
AA earning for an EP member ( if I have understood it right ) would be (8674 / 21859 ) * 10,000 * 11 = approx 43,650
The non AA flights will earn as per mileage and earning for that airline which is 100% plus 25% COS plus 100% status
Distance on partners would be 13,185 miles, so would earn approx 13,185 + 3,297 + 13,185 = approx 29,669
giving a total earning of approx 73,320 which is just under the cap of 75,000
Total journey distance there is 21,859 mi.
Miles flown on AA 8674 mi.
Cost $10,000
AA earning for an EP member ( if I have understood it right ) would be (8674 / 21859 ) * 10,000 * 11 = approx 43,650
The non AA flights will earn as per mileage and earning for that airline which is 100% plus 25% COS plus 100% status
Distance on partners would be 13,185 miles, so would earn approx 13,185 + 3,297 + 13,185 = approx 29,669
giving a total earning of approx 73,320 which is just under the cap of 75,000
Jul 21, 2016, 9:49 am
#94
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2015
Location: BOS, YVR, ZRH
Programs: *G
Posts: 17,405
Highly unlikely it'll be proportional, but there's just no way to predict what it is as it's so highly dependent on routing etc.
Jul 21, 2016, 10:08 am
#95
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: BOS
Programs: UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 194
I thought I had the math figured out, but now I'm not so sure!
Here's an itin I'm looking at:
JFK-LAX-HKG-DFW-EWR in Y (O to be exact). Total miles estimate at 19,000 and cost is $588.
Am I correct that the RDM is only 6468?
Here's an itin I'm looking at:
JFK-LAX-HKG-DFW-EWR in Y (O to be exact). Total miles estimate at 19,000 and cost is $588.
Am I correct that the RDM is only 6468?
Jul 21, 2016, 10:11 am
#96
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: ORD [formerly] + HKG
Programs: CX Diamond, AA exExPlat, BAEC exGold, HH Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, Starriott Titanium, GE
Posts: 2,966
Probably more like 5500 because taxes do not count.
Jul 21, 2016, 11:28 am
#98
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: TPA
Programs: BA Silver; Hilton Gold; IHG Diamond Ambassador; Marriott Gold
Posts: 2,811
Jul 21, 2016, 2:59 pm
#99
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,623
Originally Posted by AA
How will my award miles and EQDs be calculated if my ticket includes both American marketed and partner marketed flights?
For tickets including both American marketed and partner marketed flights, award miles and EQDs will be calculated based on the policy for each flight – American marketed flights will earn based on your prorated ticket price (base fare plus any carrier-imposed surcharges); partner airline marketed flights will earn based on a percentage of the distance flown as determined by the fare class purchased
For tickets including both American marketed and partner marketed flights, award miles and EQDs will be calculated based on the policy for each flight – American marketed flights will earn based on your prorated ticket price (base fare plus any carrier-imposed surcharges); partner airline marketed flights will earn based on a percentage of the distance flown as determined by the fare class purchased
Jul 21, 2016, 4:22 pm
#100
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: TPA
Programs: BA Silver; Hilton Gold; IHG Diamond Ambassador; Marriott Gold
Posts: 2,811
Got it. "Prorated" = "Proportional to relative distance" makes sense, and I'm not sure what a sensible alternative interpretation would be. Would be nice if they'd been a little clearer.
Jul 24, 2016, 5:56 am
#101
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 10
When will revenue based miles post?
I have a multi-segment itinerary with American that begins after August 1, with the final segment not taking place until 2017. I'm trying to determine whether award miles and EQMs post after each flight segment or not until the final segment is completed. And if they do post segment by segment, for award miles, how would they determine how to "divvy up" the miles between the segments, since the total number of miles would be determined by the fare paid. I've read the terms and conditions of AAdvantage and searched this forum, but I was unable to find an answer, so any help would be appreciated.
Thank you,
David
Thank you,
David
Aug 2, 2016, 12:53 am
#103
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Växjö, SE/Washington, DC
Programs: AA ExPlat, UA 1K (2MM)
Posts: 1,159
Here is the only thing nice about this change, for partners that still warm elite bonuses, Gold and ExecPlats make out much better, Plats get screwed!
*For travel on or after August 1, 2016, Executive Platinum members earn a 120% bonus, Platinum members earn a 60% bonus and Gold members earn a 40% bonus. For travel on or before July 31, 2016, Executive Platinum and Platinum members earn a 100% bonus and Gold members earn a 25% bonus
*For travel on or after August 1, 2016, Executive Platinum members earn a 120% bonus, Platinum members earn a 60% bonus and Gold members earn a 40% bonus. For travel on or before July 31, 2016, Executive Platinum and Platinum members earn a 100% bonus and Gold members earn a 25% bonus
Aug 2, 2016, 1:00 am
#104
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,623
Here is the only thing nice about this change, for partners that still warm elite bonuses, Gold and ExecPlats make out much better, Plats get screwed!
*For travel on or after August 1, 2016, Executive Platinum members earn a 120% bonus, Platinum members earn a 60% bonus and Gold members earn a 40% bonus. For travel on or before July 31, 2016, Executive Platinum and Platinum members earn a 100% bonus and Gold members earn a 25% bonus
*For travel on or after August 1, 2016, Executive Platinum members earn a 120% bonus, Platinum members earn a 60% bonus and Gold members earn a 40% bonus. For travel on or before July 31, 2016, Executive Platinum and Platinum members earn a 100% bonus and Gold members earn a 25% bonus
e.g. B,H used to earn 100% on QR, but now earn 50%
The fares that earned 75% now earn 50%
The fares that earned 50% now earn 25%
Y fares and those earning 25%, now earn more for EP and Gold members, but earning 120% on 25% vs 100% on 50% is not a gain
Aug 2, 2016, 4:50 am
#105
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: London
Programs: AA EXP, 1MM
Posts: 643
depending on the fare paid, they can come out better, but there are cases where the base earnings are now lower
e.g. B,H used to earn 100% on QR, but now earn 50%
The fares that earned 75% now earn 50%
The fares that earned 50% now earn 25%
Y fares and those earning 25%, now earn more for EP and Gold members, but earning 120% on 25% vs 100% on 50% is not a gain
e.g. B,H used to earn 100% on QR, but now earn 50%
The fares that earned 75% now earn 50%
The fares that earned 50% now earn 25%
Y fares and those earning 25%, now earn more for EP and Gold members, but earning 120% on 25% vs 100% on 50% is not a gain
Also, the minimum mileage guarantee for RDM has gone.
The minimum mileage guarantee for EQM remains and now covers all oneworld airlines.