American Airlines shareholder flight discounts and loyalty status benefits remain unconfirmed. Its parent trades as AAL; the old AMR shares were cancelled in 2013.
AAdvantage starts with membership
AAdvantage’s terms provide no way to earn miles or status by holding AAL shares. Customers join the loyalty programme and earn rewards through eligible travel and other qualifying transactions.
Customer flight discounts
American’s products FAQ points customers looking for flight discounts to Citi / AAdvantage offers. Those offers have their own customer terms.
Old AMR shares and today’s AAL shares
American’s FAQ says all AMR equity instruments, including its common shares, were cancelled on 9 December 2013. Former AMR shareholders received distributions of AAL shares under the reorganisation plan. Each outstanding US Airways share converted into the right to receive one AAL share.
Company story
A shareholder wanted AAdvantage spun off
FL Group saw AAdvantage as a business worth separating from the airline. Reuters reported in September 2007 that the Icelandic investor, which owned 8.25% of American’s then parent AMR, had urged the board to spin off the loyalty programme. FL Group argued that the move could add more than $4 billion in shareholder value.
The proposal would have left AMR in effective control at first, giving the company and investors time to get used to the new structure.
Source: Reuters (CNBC), September 2007
Where to look instead
These companies offer shareholder perks. Each page explains who qualifies and how to claim.