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Jun 14, 2023

American Airlines Imposes Cuts On Elite Status Membership Kits

by Gary Leff on August 30, 2023 I received my American Airlines AAdvantage Executive Platinum status renewal membership kit last week and noticed several things about it. My kit didn’t contain any

by Gary Leff on August 30, 2023

I received my American Airlines AAdvantage Executive Platinum status renewal membership kit last week and noticed several things about it.

My kit didn’t contain any employee recognition certificates, but I’m told other members received theirs.

In 2020 American Airlines stopped sending out physical elite membership cards and luggage tags to members promoting their “fully digital experience.” It was a cost-cutting move, taking something of emotional value away from top customers.

Then a year later physical membership kits were restored for Platinum Pro and Executive Platinum elite members.

Now the membership card has been dropped, luggage tags reduced by half, and employee recognition certificates ended as part of these kits. They’re just a cheaper self-mailer with less personalization and at lower cost.

I’m especially glad that the employee recognition cards are still supposed to be included. Each coupon is a raffle entry. They used to be called “Round of Applause” certificates, often referred to by frequent flyers as “AAplause” certificates. Each month American would draw winners of prizes of AAdvantage frequent flyer miles (and before that the You’re SomeOne Special or “SOS” program gave positive space travel). They moved to the US Airways system of quarterly drawings for cash, and handing out entries was still a nice way to say thank you to employees who provide ‘above and beyond’ service.

American Airlines confirmed to me that they no longer produce membership cards (for Executive Platinum and Platinum Pro members) since “AAdvantage membership cards are now digital and available online / within the app” and also that “1 bag tag is correct.”

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