Overview
- Basic Economy tickets purchased at or after 12:00 a.m. CT on Dec. 17, 2025 earn no AAdvantage miles, no Loyalty Points, and no elite-status credit.
- Tickets bought before Dec. 17 remain under the prior policy, while Main Cabin fares continue to earn at least 5x miles and Loyalty Points per dollar.
- American’s move aligns with Delta’s no-earn policy on basic fares and contrasts with United, which still grants limited accrual on its basic economy.
- AAdvantage elites and eligible co-branded cardholders reportedly keep perks such as upgrades and Main Cabin Extra access on basic fares, though they will earn zero miles.
- The change was spotted by aviation watcher JonNYC on the updated AA webpage rather than via a formal announcement, and the underlying fare restrictions otherwise remain in place.