Passengers can now buy AAdvantage Miles
A new meaning has been given to the 'currency' of frequent flyer miles. American Airlines (which celebrates its 75th anniversary this year) has announced that AAdvantage® members can now purchase frequent flier miles online for themselves, friends and family members using the buyAAmiles(SM) programme and the giftAAmiles(SM) programme.
Each member can purchase up to 15,000 miles per calendar year at a rate of US$0.0275 per mile up to 5,000 miles, and $0.025 per mile from 6,000 to 15,000 miles, plus taxes and a US$25 fee for each transaction. Purchases can be made in 1,000 mile increments. The products are now available to US and Canadian residents until January 31, 2002. In addition each member can receive up to 15,000 AAdvantage miles as a gift.
Website upgraded Meanwhile, American Airlines' website (www.aa.com) has been upgraded. Through a partnership with Worldwide Travel Exchange, it now offers more than 40,000 hotel properties, and it also lists all the major national car rental companies. Customers are offered special negotiated hotel rates in more than 300 domestic and foreign markets. According to John Samuel, American's vice president of customer technology: "In addition to the car and hotel booking service, visitors can access other relevant travel planning information such as destination details - including what to see and where to eat - weather updates and flight status information." The new service accepts loyalty programme numbers for car rentals and most hotel bookings.
Frequent travelers also have the option of saving their preferences in a profile, eliminating the need to supply them each time they reserve a car or hotel. Site users who log in with an AADVANTAGE(R) number and password get news, information and specials that are personalized to their preferred airports, destinations and AADVANTAGE programme travel partners.
The AAAdvantage(R) programme has been running for some twenty years; it was the forerunner of the many thousands of loyalty programmes now in existence. It began in 1981 with 283,000 members; it now boasts more than 43 million members worldwide.
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