American Airlines Ends Miles Earning for Basic Economy Tickets

If you’re flying in the U.S. for a visa interview, a green card medical exam, a USCIS biometrics appointment, or a court date, you may be trying to keep costs down. Basic Economy can look like the cheapest safe choice.

Starting December 17, 2025, American Airlines is changing what you get for that lower price. If you buy a Basic Economy ticket on or after that date, you will not earn AAdvantage miles or Loyalty Points on that ticket. That can matter if you use miles to pay for future trips, or if you’re working toward airline status for baggage and seat benefits during frequent travel.

This guide shows you what to do so you don’t get surprised when booking urgent immigration travel.

Who this guide is for (and what to confirm first)

This guide is for you if any of these apply:

• You travel often for immigration steps (USCIS, immigration court, consular processing, attorney meetings).
• You collect AAdvantage miles to reduce future travel costs.
• You’re comparing Basic Economy vs Main Cabin and you want the best tradeoff.
• You already bought a Basic Economy ticket and want to know what will happen.

Before you take any action, confirm:

• Your purchase date and time (not your travel date).
• Your exact fare type: Basic Economy vs Main Cabin (or another cabin).
• Whether earning miles or Loyalty Points matters to you on this trip.

Why the purchase timestamp matters

The rule turns on when you bought the ticket, not when you fly.

• If you bought your Basic Economy ticket on or before 11:59 p.m. CT on December 16, 2025, it remains eligible for miles and Loyalty Points under the prior rules.
• If you bought your Basic Economy ticket on or after 12:00 a.m. CT on December 17, 2025, it will not earn AAdvantage miles or Loyalty Points.

If you’re booking close to the cutoff, pay attention to Central Time (CT). Don’t assume your local time zone matches CT.

Step-by-step: How to book the right American Airlines fare after December 17, 2025

Step 1 — Find your ticket purchase timestamp

• The policy depends solely on the purchase timestamp.
• Confirm the exact time and make sure you convert it to Central Time (CT) if needed.

Step 2 — Decide if miles or Loyalty Points are worth paying extra

Miles can reduce the cost of follow-up trips; Loyalty Points help you keep or reach elite status benefits (baggage, seat selection, flexibility).

• For non-elite members, Main Cabin fares earn five AAdvantage miles per dollar spent.
• If earning matters, avoid Basic Economy after the cutoff and compare the price difference to Main Cabin.

Step 3 — Compare Basic Economy vs Main Cabin using your trip needs

Basic Economy still includes core onboard amenities like a free personal item, a free carry-on bag, complimentary snacks and soft drinks, and inflight entertainment.

Step 4 — Check whether your status or card benefits change the math

Some elite benefits tied to status still apply on Basic Economy for eligible AAdvantage members, depending on your elite level and any cardmember exemptions.

Before you buy:

• Review your AAdvantage status level benefits.
• Check whether your AAdvantage credit card includes travel perks you rely on.
• Decide whether those perks are enough even without earning miles and Loyalty Points.

Step 5 — If you already bought Basic Economy, confirm whether you should change it

If you bought Basic Economy on/after the cutoff and you want miles or Loyalty Points, your option is to move into a higher fare class (for example, Main Cabin) where earning continues.

When reviewing your booking, focus on:

• The price difference to change fare.
• Any restrictions tied to your current fare.
• Whether you’ll need to travel again soon for your case.

For many immigration timelines, you’ll face follow-up travel. Think beyond this single flight.

Step 6 — Plan your immigration travel like a “two-trip” problem

A common pattern is one trip now, then another later:

• Biometrics now, interview later.
• Medical exam now, consular interview later.
• Hearing now, continued hearing later.

Estimate whether you’ll likely book more travel within the next year. If yes, earning miles on each paid trip may matter more than saving a small amount today.

Step 7 — Protect your schedule with extra buffer

Immigration appointments can be strict. A missed check-in, late arrival, or flight issue can create serious stress.

No matter which fare you choose:

• Fly in the day before if the appointment is high-stakes.
• Keep screenshots or printouts of your appointment notice.
• Carry your identity documents in your personal item.

If you’re flying to comply with a deadline, treat schedule reliability as part of the “cost.”

⚠️ Important: If you are not a U.S. citizen, think twice before traveling without documents that show who you are and why you are here lawfully.

Documents to carry for immigration-related domestic flights

Airline rules and immigration rules are not the same. Still, if you’re traveling inside the U.S. while you have a pending case, carry documents that help you prove identity and explain your status.

Bring what fits your situation:

• Unexpired passport (even for domestic travel, it’s a strong ID document)
• U.S. visa in your passport (if you have one)
• Form I-94 record information (your lawful admission record)
• Permanent Resident Card (green card), if you have it
• Employment Authorization Document (EAD), if you have it
• USCIS receipt notices for pending cases (e.g., I-485, I-765, I-130 receipts)
• Appointment notices (biometrics, interview, court hearing)
• Your attorney’s contact details, if represented

For official U.S. government travel and entry information, review CBP’s travel guidance.

Fees and timing: Key dates and amounts

• Effective cutoff: 12:00 a.m. CT on December 17, 2025
• Last moment to buy and still earn on Basic Economy under prior rules: 11:59 p.m. CT on December 16, 2025
• Main Cabin earning for non-elite members: five AAdvantage miles per dollar spent

You only need to know when you purchased your Basic Economy ticket, down to the time and time zone.

Common mistakes that cost travelers miles (and cause immigration travel stress)

1. Mixing up purchase date with travel date — this policy is about when you bought the ticket.
2. Forgetting the cutoff is in Central Time (CT) — late-night purchases in other time zones can cross the cutoff.
3. Assuming all cheap fares still earn points — after December 17, 2025, Basic Economy won’t earn AAdvantage miles or Loyalty Points.
4. Buying Basic Economy for a case that will require repeat travel — missed miles now can increase future costs.
5. Not checking whether you can change to Main Cabin — act early to review options and costs.
6. Flying without a document plan — don’t rely on a single phone screenshot; bring paper backups and keep documents in your personal item.

Next steps: A simple action plan you can do today

1. Pull up your American Airlines receipt email and record the purchase date and time in CT.
2. Check your fare label in your reservation. Confirm whether it says Basic Economy.
3. If your purchase is on/after December 17, 2025 and you care about earning, price out Main Cabin for the same itinerary before you lock in the trip.
4. Build your travel document folder for immigration-related flights. Use the checklist above and add your appointment notice.
5. If your travel supports a filing or appointment deadline, arrive a day early and keep your documents on you.
6. If you want more practical immigration travel guides, visit VisaVerge.com and keep a running checklist for each trip you take.

Key takeaway: If you’ll need follow-up travel or value AAdvantage miles/Loyalty Points, don’t assume Basic Economy saves you money overall — check purchase time (in CT), compare Main Cabin prices, and plan your documents and schedule carefully.