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9 things frequent fliers need to know about upcoming American/US Airways merger

The FAA will soon issue American Airlines the all-important Single Operating Certificate, which marks the beginning of the end for US Airways.

March 25, 2015

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​Once American is legally able to fly under one operating certificate as a combined airline, the phase-out of US Airways can begin in earnest. The first step as the airline moves to complete the merger will be to blend frequent-flier programs. This process begins on Saturday March 28, and we go into detail below about what to expect.

The airlines will continue to merge over the next two years, with some potential headaches for both carriers as well as travelers, but for now, the only thing to worry about is how this will affect your frequent-flier accounts. Here’s what we know so far:

1. You need to be ready to merge both accounts. If you are a member of both programs, be sure to log-in to either account and follow the prompts to add your account from the other airline. This will ensure that your accounts will be matched and no mileage loss will occur.
2. Since US Airways Dividend Miles program is transitioning into AAdvantage, the program promises to “combine your award mileage, million mile balances and elite-qualifying activity from both programs.” So don’t fret about losing status or other earned perks, as they will be transferred over.
3. During the time of transition, Dividend Miles accounts will only show AAdvantage balances but will be restored once the accounts have been merged.
4. The loyalty program merger should take a few days and will be completed by early April at the latest. During this time, there will be no Dividend Miles redemptions, so if you want to book travel with those miles, now is the time. No more award bookings will be accepted starting March 25.
5. While there will be only one loyalty program, the airlines will still operate two brands. So if you purchase a ticket on US Airways website you will check in there. The flight will earn AAdvantage miles, however.
6. Dividend Miles members will be transitioned to the AAdvantage benefit system, including its unusual 500-mile upgrade system of receiving four 500-mile upgrades for every 10,000 in qualifying miles flown.
7. Credit card holders will be ported to AAdvantage Aviator MasterCards issued by BarclaysCard, and there will be no future cardholders accepted.
8. IMPORTANT: Elite upgrades will vary according to airline even with the newly-merged loyalty programs. This is due to having two reservations systems that can’t speak to each other. To ensure advance upgrade eligibility, book tickets that are marketed and operated by the same airline.
9. Codeshare flights are ineligible for advance or systemwide upgrades and are assigned on a space-available basis at check-in.