20
Jul
By now you’ve probably read that American will be converting AAdvantage Miles earned before July 1, 1989 into “regular” AAdvantage Miles. From AA.com:
In order to streamline our program, we are announcing a change to all AAdvantage miles earned before July 1, 1989 (Miles With No Expiration).
Starting on November 1, 2012, these miles will be converted to Miles Subject to Expiration, and if you have Miles With No Expiration in your account, you will automatically earn a 25% mileage bonus when these miles are converted.
Redeeming Miles With No Expiration
If you have more than 10,000 Miles With No Expiration, then you may redeem these miles for “Regular” Awards from the original AAdvantage award structure by calling AAdvantage Reservations at 800-882-8880 (“Regular” Awards start at 10,000 Miles With No Expiration).
If you have less than 10,000 Miles With No Expiration, then you can combine these miles with any Miles Subject to Expiration to claim awards from our current structure on AA.com. On November 1, the original AAdvantage award structure will be discontinued, and miles may no longer be redeemed for those awards.
Receiving the Conversion Bonus
To have your miles converted and to earn the mileage bonus, you do not need to take any action. Please note that after the conversion, as long as you earn or redeem AAdvantage miles at least once every 18 months, your miles will not expire, just like all miles earned today
Back in 1989 most of my travel was on $29 – $59 Southwest Airlines student fares (those were the days….) and my only frequent flyer program was Southwest’s Company Club. I didn’t join AAdvantage until 1990.
Actually, I joined AAdvantage twice: I sort of lost track of that original account, and when I switched from Delta to American ten years ago, I opened a new AAdvantage account and have been earning AA miles ever since.
A few years ago I found a box of old airline tickets and timetables in my parents’ garage. Also inside that box was a 1990 AAdvantage membership guide, and reading about these old miles reminded me that I still have it, so I decided to scan it and put it online.
Here’s a look at the cover.
The guide has a metallic silver ink cover. That must have been expensive.
American and American Eagle Award Chart.
Back then it cost the same number of miles round-trip or one-way.
Companion Awards and Upgrade Chart.
Partner Awards
Notice that Singapore was a partner back then.
How to earn miles: Airline Partners
This must have been before the had an elite program – no mention of elite qualifying miles.
How to earn miles: Hotel Partners
From 6 to more than 76 partners.
How to earn miles: Car rental
Redeeming Awards
Since there was no “online” back 1990 awards were redeemed at a ticket counter or through the mail.
Wow, how times have changed. That was many years and many miles ago….and that brings me to the reader giveaway.
Reader Giveaway
I’m giving away 1,000 Free AAdvantage Miles and a 10 percent discount code!
The miles are courtesy courtesy American Airlines (thank you) and the discount comes from a reader.
Thanks WIS!!
To enter, just tell me when you joined AAdvantage by leaving the year in the comments section. I’ll have a random drawing on Monday. One entry per person. The deadline to enter is Sunday, July 22 at 11:59 PM Pacific Time.
Good luck and have a great weekend!!
Austin said,
1982! Even I’m shocked!
emmgofly said,
I finally converted over from Qantas’ frequent flyer program to AA in 2011. Should have done it much earlier than that!
Fred said,
Joined AAdvantage Miles Program in 1982 and I have burned through a lot of them over the years
Joel said,
Mid-1990s, I think.
patrick said,
1989…
Joseph said,
2008
Daniel Rubenstein said,
Member since Monday, February 26, 2001
Big T said,
2000
Ryan said,
2007
David said,
1986 – but those miles have long been burned!
Jason said,
2012
Sebastian said,
I think was in 2000
Deedeema said,
1990-seems like a long time ago!
oneeyejack said,
1986
Rama said,
I joined in 2012.
matthew said,
1988
Steve said,
New addition – 2011
Alexis L said,
June 1991
BDM said,
1999 I think.
Jonathan C said,
2001
ORD-TGU said,
Friday, June 18, 1993….back when AA gave you a 500 mile bonus when booking online!
Jessica said,
2007!
Mary Elizabeth said,
gosh – probably around 2001! Not long ago…
TerryH said,
1980
chris said,
2011- newbie in the miles world
Witold Pawlowicz said,
Wednesday, August 26, 1998, 1,805,042 miles ago…..
Trent said,
2000
Lea said,
I joined in 1990 too
Nishanth said,
2008
Fosij said,
2009
Simon said,
2011
Simon said,
2011
Chris D. said,
2012! Just getting into the game.
pegs said,
2000
RobP said,
2008
Stuart Falk said,
1981
Greg Hansen said,
2012
Kenny said,
2002
liv said,
2008… though I wish I would have done it sooner.
Nadine said,
1989 – my junior year in college
James P said,
1991
Cameron said,
2006
Ahmed A said,
2011
Eddy said,
1995 for me — coincides with the third time I had ever traveled by plane
Catherine said,
August 2005- when I started college
Nik said,
2010. Late to the party.
Andres Lau said,
2007
Chad M said,
1990, same as you! Love that the guide you posted references the Concorde.
Kathryn said,
2003
Dale W said,
2012
Dave W said,
Also 1990 – my parents signed me up. I was 10.
Ben said,
Since 2005, my spouse signed me up
David said,
1981
Scott M. said,
1992, give or take a couple of years.
David said,
1987, in my first semester of graduate school, for a trip back home across the country.
Adam said,
Sadly, I joined in 2007. Oh, if I knew then what I know now!
Ivy said,
Lots of flying ago……1987
Andrew said,
2009
A. DYE said,
2009
Reb said,
2005
Doug said,
Like you, I think I’ve had a couple of iterations. I’m pretty sure my current one dates to 2001, as a conversion from TWA’s program.
Joel said,
I joined the AAdvantage program as a college student in 2010 after going to Chile and learning that you could get miles for flying. I’ve been hooked since!
Marc W said,
1993 – not as long as some others but being that I’m only 26 it is a pretty long time for me.
James H said,
2005
David said,
2012 yes I am slow to join the game need every extra point
peggyB said,
22 Jan 1985
Rich said,
1985
Jeff W said,
1997. A good year!
Jenny said,
I joined in 2009.
Jessy said,
2004
Ralph L said,
1988
Ada said,
2007
James said,
1992. Mine begins with a letter!
Gregory said,
Member Since: Tuesday, December 27, 1988
Kevin said,
May 25, 1988 and was a member of TWA’s program since March, 1986.
dmel said,
Member Since: Tuesday, July 8, 2003
Hao Tran said,
2010, a bit of a rookie in the miles game
pat said,
Well, I just looked mine up.. and it was Dec 26, 1985!!!!
Susan said,
I think it was in the late 80′s.
David said,
1989, but none of those miles are left…
Z said,
2011, I’m a noob.
bk3day said,
2004 (thanks for making me look) pretty sure I belonged in early 80s, a carryover from TWA but foolishly forgot about the account
FlyerM said,
2006!
Ari said,
1988
Dave said,
1998. Fingers crossed
Larry said,
1998
Leia said,
2002
Dennis said,
1999
CharlesG said,
April, 1991. AA and I go waaay back!
skr said,
2003
Keengolfer said,
Summer of 2010, but already crossed the 2/3 mark to a million miler
David E. said,
2011
G-flyer said,
1995
Francisco Pardo said,
2005, to earn miles on my flights home from college at GW – DCA/MIA rt a few times a year.
Kaveh said,
2011
Jeremy B. said,
2010
Joseph F. said,
Wow!
“Member Since: Wednesday, August 1, 1990″
Ed Chandler said,
1998
imfr33 said,
Member since 2001
B-Rad said,
2011
GM said,
2012!
BrewerSEA said,
2010
BradInToronto said,
Member Since: Wednesday, April 28, 1999
Kevin said,
July 1999 but I didn’t put as much emphasis on earning as I did spending … so I haven’t acheived lifetime status yet
Michael H.(oldfox) said,
2009
Zeke said,
2012, on my way to Gold the first year after this next flight.
Chris said,
I was born 4-27-86. My dad signed me up the day after I was born, thanks dad!
glenn said,
I have been holding 78,000 miles on the old program. I always understood that they were for 2 free round trip first class tickets anywhere in the 50 united states. Now I am trying to redeem and the rep is telling me that they are for 2 free first class tickets not round trip. Are they right? Thanks
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