American Airlines and Shell have partnered to offer discounts on gas and other rewards for AAdvantage members. While the deal is a win-win, some are questioning the airline’s decision not to cover the cost of fuel with miles earned from flying.
Your Mileage Account Won’t Be Fueled By The American AAdvantage Partnership With Shell Gas
on December 11, 2021 by Gary Leff
American AAdvantage is marketing its connection with Shell for gas rewards. It’s better than a hole in the skull, as my late grandpa, who was prone to Yiddishisms, used to remark.
- With your first fill-up after enrolling, you’ll be able to go 100 miles. Because they’re afraid about you gaming them for 100 miles, you must be new to Fuel Rewards and fill up with at least 5 gallons.
- Then, up to 20 gallons each fill up, get 2 miles per gallon at participating Shell sites.
There are a few reasons why I’m not impressed.
- Other airline gas collaborations have proven to be more profitable. For example, the former United-BP program allowed you to earn 3 miles per gallon when you purchased premium petrol.
- By earning AAdvantage miles on Shell petrol, you’re giving up much too much. You may immediately enroll in Shell’s program and get 5 cents per gallon back on petrol. (Even if you don’t fill up with Shell on a regular basis, you’ll get 3 cents back in the worst case scenario.)
As a ‘Gold’ member, you earn 5 cents per gallon back for 6 months. Starting in your second three-month period, you must fill up 6 times in those three months to maintain Gold; else, you will be demoted to Silver and lose 3 cents.
You’re basically spending 5 cents to get 2 AAdvantage miles. The value of AAdvantage miles is not 2.5 cents per mile. It’s closer to a wash if you don’t fill up with Shell on a regular basis and subsequently qualify for just 3 cents back, however I don’t appreciate AAdvantage miles at 1.5 cents either.
If Shell’s Fuel Rewards were to become a Loyalty Points-earning partner, the use case may alter somewhat, albeit it would still be a modest means to acquire status.
- Assume you use 15 gallons of gas every week. That’s a lot more than I’d ever need, but go ahead and use it.
- This equates to 30 miles every week.
- And a total of 1560 miles each year
- Which I’d estimate to be worth $20.28.
You may safely ignore this if you drive one of these.
Shell is eager to pay American Airlines for customer access, and you receive something in return – but not as much as you would if you went to Shell directly for their program. If you receive nothing else for your gas purchases, it’s worth it, but it’s unlikely to make a difference in your mileage account. If you’re 21 years old or older, it’s one method to protect your miles from expiring. So there you have it.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How can I get free American Airlines miles?
A: You cant get American Airlines miles for free. To earn them, you will need to purchase a ticket and fly with American themselves.
How long does it take for AAdvantage miles to post?
A: The time that takes for AAdvantage miles to post varies from person to person. However, it usually takes about 2-3 weeks after the completion of a trip for them to post.
How do I renew my AA miles?
A: To renew your miles, you need to go online and sign into AAs website. Click the Membership Rewards tab on the home page. Here is what it should look like in this case:
