AA & US Mileage Accounts Will Be Merged In April

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Here’s the latest as per the email sent by US Airways about the merger.  In addition to the below, I would like to point out that if you have an award trip planned that is within the 330 day booking window that is more advantageous to book with US miles than AA miles, you have about 3-4 weeks to do it.

  • Trips that require crossing a 3rd zone.  Example LAX – HKG – SYD – HKG – LAX.   AA will charge you for 2 awards, LAX – HKG &  HKG – SYD.
  • Trips that require using a stopover.  Example LAX – SYD – BNE – HKG – LAX with BNE or SYD being the stopover.  While AA will allow open jaws and one ways, you would pay extra to add BNE in addition to SYD as a stopover.

Moving to the AAdvantage program

Once we combine programs, we’ll begin transferring your Dividend Miles mileage balance, Preferred-qualifying activity and million mile balance into your AAdvantage account on a one-to-one ratio. We’ll determine your elite status level by looking at your combined elite-qualifying activity for 2014, and separately, your combined 2015 year-to-date elite-qualifying activity. It may take a few days to transfer everything, but we’ll email you once it’s completed.

As a member of the most rewarding airline loyalty program, you’ll continue earning miles when you fly on American, US Airways, oneworld® and other participating airlines, as well as with over 1,000 partners. And, you’ll still be able to redeem miles for flights, upgrades on American and US Airways, car rentals, hotel stays and more.
Benefits of the AAdvantage program »

Booking award travel

Dividend Miles award bookings and mileage upgrade requests will be disabled a few days before we combine programs to allow us to integrate your accounts. If you plan to redeem Dividend Miles for an upcoming trip, we encourage you to book now. Once our programs are combined, Dividend Miles will be converted into AAdvantage miles, and you’ll be able to redeem AAdvantage miles with American.

Upgrading your experience

Once we combine programs, your elite benefits will initially work differently for American and US Airways flights, as we’ll still operate as two separate airlines. We’ll adopt the American upgrade process for all flights when we have a single reservation system later this year.
How upgrades will work »

To upgrade, you should book flights that are marketed and operated by the same airline – either American or US Airways. If you’re booked on a codeshare flight, you’ll only be able to upgrade when you check in based on availability.
What is a codeshare? »

Soon after we combine programs, qualifying Dividend Miles Preferred members will receive 500-mile upgrades to use on American flights.
How to calculate 500 mile-upgrades »

Benefiting with your card

** I happen to be a cardmember.  If you aren’t, now is a good time to apply as Barclays will not be allowed to issue new cards once the programs are merged.

As a US Airways Dividend Miles MasterCard® cardmember, you’ll begin enjoying your first eligible checked bag free and Group 1 boarding on domestic American flights once we combine programs. This is in addition to the current benefits you’re already receiving on US Airways.