Elite status on airlines rewards big spenders with perks like complimentary upgrades and free checked bags. First things first: American Airlines isn't changing the requirements to earn elite status at the airline in the coming earning year. Loyalty programs were a lifeline for airlines during the Covid pandemic when travel slowed to a trickle. Carriers have been grappling with a surge in elite travelers, repeatedly increasing the requirements to earn status, and tweaking benefits. For customers striving for elite status, the airline will give them bonus loyalty points after they've earned 15,000.

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