To protect your Miles, be careful how you book

Earlier this month, American Airlines announced that from May 1, travelers will have to book directly with the airline, partner airlines or ‘preferred travel agents’ to receive points in the loyalty program.

The unprecedented move confused many travelers eager to protect their mileage currency, prompting reports like this on

In an email, an airline representative said the approved list of travel agents would not be published until April.

While much remains to be decided about the new policy, a battle for customers has emerged between the airline and third-party ticket sellers, including online travel agencies like Orbitz. Here’s what travelers need to know before booking their next flight.

What are the new points rules at American?

Currently, the largest domestic airlines — inclusive Delta Airlines, United Airlines, Southwest Airlines and American: Points and miles are awarded to members of their loyalty programs on most tickets, regardless of where they are sold.

American is new regulations declare that in order to receive miles and points, travelers must book through its website, A world partner airline or approved travel agents (excluding those registered with it company program, which focuses on small businesses or with a corporate contract).

Also, starting May 1, flyers who book basic economy fares, the airline’s cheapest fares, can only earn points by booking through American’s website or its airline partners.

What’s behind the switch?

Analysts say this is largely a behind-the-scenes battle over technology.

Travel agencies have long used distribution systems such as Saber and Amadeus to sell airline tickets. But many airlines are interested in using an emerging channel developed by the International Air Transport Association called New distribution options. It gives airlines a more direct way to communicate with passengers, whom they can target with personalized fares or bundled offers not available in traditional systems, providing opportunities to sell more services.

The “preferred” agencies that American says it will announce in April will be those that make a significant number of bookings on the new platform.

“American is determined to become a more efficient airline and reduce sales costs, so they have issued this new edict and travel agents who choose not to participate will find themselves on the losing side of the battle,” said Henry Harteveldt. a travel industry analyst and the founder of the Atmosphere Research Group.

Many travel agents are objecting to the speed of adoption of a technology they say still has bugs. In a recent letter to the 18,000 member agencies of the American Association of Travel AdvisorsThe trade association’s president and CEO Zane Kerby called it “an underdeveloped technology,” with “basic maintenance issues,” including problems with cancellations, booking multiple people on the same itinerary and rebooking.

Mr Kerby cited an increased risk for most business travelers who use third-party agencies to make their bookings. “It feels like American Airlines is disenfranchising or willing to disenfranchise its most profitable and lucrative segment, which is the frequent business traveler,” he said.

In American’s new requirement that basic economy flyers book directly with the airline to earn miles, Brian Sumers writes the aviation observer newsletter, sees an attempt to increase loyalty from frugal travelers at a time when many airlines have abandoned them. Deltafor example, no longer awards points to basic economy passengers. United limits basic economy fliers to one personal item carried on board when flying domestically.

American wants those passengers in the basic economy, Mr. Sumers said. “The end goal is to get people excited about having AAdvantage points and using them all the time because that’s where they make money.”

How do I book to ensure I receive miles for US flights?

If you are used to booking directly with the airline online, earning miles will not be compromised.

If you use a travel agency, including online sites like Expedia or Orbitz, check the list of approved agencies when it is published in April.

But even for travelers accustomed to do-it-yourself booking, the new U.S. policy threatens mileage earning. If you are using a travel agent to plan a more complicated trip, for example an African safari or a trek to Machu Picchu in Peru, make sure the agency is approved by American or be prepared to make the booking yourself to earn miles to deserve.

“American is counting on travelers who are involved with AAdvantage to want to stay involved, so that if their travel agent is not on board, the customer will find another travel agent or choose to book directly,” said Mr. Harteveldt.

Will other airlines follow suit?

Experts say commercial aviation is a copycat industry; if a policy is successful, others are likely to follow. But in this case, it may not happen anytime soon.

“There are some very expensive tickets being processed through the older system,” Mr Sumers said, describing other airlines as “taking a wait-and-see approach” to see if any defections from former US customers would boost their revenue .