Latest news with #AAdvantage
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
American Airlines (AAL) Rated as a ‘Buy' at Citi on Strong Premium Demand
American Airlines Group Inc. (NASDAQ:AAL) is one of the best airline stocks to buy according to hedge funds. On June 26, Citi reiterated a 'Buy' rating on the stock and an $18.25 price target. The research firm remains confident about the airline's long-term prospects amid a resilient international long-haul and premium demand in the sector. Pixabay/Public Domain Nevertheless, Citi has warned about softness in the domestic main cabin demand across the entire airline sector, which could affect margins. However, the research firm has touted American Airlines' operations and balance sheet, which are seen as moving in the right direction. Citi expects American Airlines to benefit from significant co-branded card remuneration. Additionally, it has reflected declining leverage, which is a positive indicator of the airline's financial health. According to the research firm, the company's earnings leverage and free cash flow have improved significantly from the lows experienced in 2020/2021. American Airlines Group Inc. (NASDAQ:AAL) is a major airline that provides passenger and cargo air transportation services. It operates an extensive network of domestic and international flights, serving over 350 destinations in more than 60 countries. In addition to flights, American Airlines also offers services such as baggage handling and ground services, and operates the AAdvantage loyalty program. While we acknowledge the potential of AAL as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: Goldman Sachs REIT Stocks: Top 12 Stock Picks and Goldman Sachs Healthcare Stocks: Top 10 Stock Picks. Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Axios
4 days ago
- Business
- Axios
New American Airlines lounge to open at Charlotte airport
American Airlines will introduce a new lounge at Charlotte Douglas International Airport this summer. Why it matters: This will be the airline's first Provisions by Admirals Club lounge, which is designed for travelers who need to keep it moving but still want a quick break. American will have three lounges total at CLT. What to expect: You'll find the roughly 2,000-square-foot lounge in Concourse A near gate A1. The lounge will have minimal furniture beyond high-top standing tables to help travelers get in and out quickly. Food options will include sandwiches, salads, snacks and fresh fruit, plus vegetarian sandwiches and salads. American Airlines representatives will be on-site to assist travelers. By the numbers: Charlotte is American's second-largest hub. It operates most of CLT's flights, with more than 670 peak-day departures to more than 170 destinations in 27 countries, per a release from the airline. How it works: You can access the Provisions by Admirals Club lounge the same way you would an Admirals Club location, including buying a one-day pass for 24 hours for $79 or 7,900 AAdvantage miles. Domestic passengers can access the lounge through an Admirals Club membership, a qualifying frequent flyer program Oneworld status, or the Citi / AAdvantage executive credit card. Eligible AAdvantage status members may access the lounge on qualifying international flights. What they're saying: "Charlotte plays a significant role in the connectivity of the airline, serving millions of customers every year as they travel to, from and through CLT to destinations across our global network," Ralph Lopez Massas, American's senior vice president of CLT operations, said in a statement.
Time of India
09-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Reimagining loyalty programs in the age of MarTech
Loyalty programs have come a long way from the traditional 'earn and burn' model, where customers were rewarded with points for repeat purchases and could redeem them for discounts or freebies. While the purpose was to drive repeat engagement, this transactional approach is no longer enough. In today's experience-first economy, fuelled by data and modern marketing technology , loyalty has evolved into a powerful engine for emotional connection, personalisation and lifestyle relevance. From copper tokens in the 18th century to frequent flyer miles in the 1980s, loyalty initiatives have always sought to keep customers connected but expectations have dramatically shifted. The first loyalty programs was introduced in 1981 when American Airlines launched the AAdvantage programs. Customers could earn points based on miles flown, redeemable for flights. The model, simple, transactional, and effective, became the industry benchmark. Over time, brands across sectors embraced the idea, points for purchase, redeemed for discounts or freebies. It worked, but only to a point. In the age of instant gratification, loyalty has moved far beyond ledger-based rewards. Amazon Prime is a case in point. What began as a shipping benefit evolved into a multifaceted loyalty ecosystem, offering streaming content, exclusive deals, and next-day delivery. It didn't just retain customers, it redefined what they could expect from loyalty programs. A LinkedIn post from a colleague captured consumer expectations from loyalty programs today: 'If I can pay for nine cups of coffee at a café, I can very well pay for the tenth too. The moment a brand assumes I'm buying nine cups just to get the tenth free is the moment the loyalty starts to lose meaning. Instead, charge me for the tenth, but give me an experience that breaks the routine.' 'Airlines, credit cards, and hotels often get this right. I book economy tickets to my hometown and travel five times a year. There's no chance I'll pay for premium economy or business class. But when you upgrade me, or better yet, let me gift an upgrade to my parents, that's when you truly delight me.' Consumers no longer perceive value the way they once did. Tangible freebies and discounts are losing their charm, while intangible experiences, those that resonate personally or emotionally, carry far greater meaning. Loyalty today is less about monetary savings and more about creating memorable moments that align with a consumer's lifestyle, values, and aspirations. 'Loyalty tech has evolved from being siloed and transactional to platforms that understand people,' said Dilpreet Singh, head of loyalty, CRM and partnerships at ITC Hotels . 'It's no longer about tracking spend. It's about anticipating needs, interpreting intent and building meaningful, long-term relationships.' He pointed out that the martech stack was once fragmented, with limited data consolidation, often relying on basic POS (point of sale) integrations and CRM ( customer relationship management ) systems that tracked history but didn't predict behaviour. 'Personalisation, if any, was rule-based and one-size-fits-all, leading to low engagement and higher point liability,' he said. 'Today's martech stack helps brands listen at scale, unifying data to create genuinely personal experiences. It's no longer about rewarding purchases, but about showing customers they're truly seen,' he explained. KPMG's report 'The Evolution of Loyalty programs' reflected this shift. The study highlighted how customers now seek recognition over rewards and prefer programs that deliver consistent value across experiences. Emotional connection, flexibility, and omnichannel accessibility are fast becoming key performance indicators of successful loyalty frameworks. India's loyalty programs are following suit with rapid innovation. Marriott Bonvoy , one of the country's leading loyalty platforms in hospitality, boasted over 1.3 million members in India alone, part of a global membership base of 228 million. The program's emphasis is on 'moments money can't buy', like exclusive access to celebrity chefs, IPL experiences, and front-row music events. 'If you can drive both perceived and tangible value aligned with what the consumer wants, that's your competitive edge,' said Khushnooma Kapadia, VP marketing at Marriott International India. 'We're not just about stay benefits, we offer curated experiences across entertainment, sports, and music.' She added that loyalty now played a year-round strategic role, powered by an evolved tech backbone that integrated web, app, WhatsApp, and even co-branded credit cards. 'The rise in digital tech has played a significant role in boosting loyalty programs as well as giving us the tech capability to make sure that everything is a click away. Everything is seamless and very available to the consumer.' 'Modern martech stacks allow us to engage across touchpoints, from booking to post-stay,' said Singh. 'The program becomes a concierge, not a coupon machine.' He elaborated further, 'Talking specifically about the hospitality industry, one can now track not just room nights, but preferences, intent signals, sentiments, travel context, and even emotional behaviour across touchpoints, from booking to post-stay. As a traditional industry, hospitality has been very strong in the journey from 'Warm Welcome' to 'Fond Farewell', but martech has really helped to fill in the gap beyond this journey, which is enabled by deploying dynamically triggered personalised offerings, content, or experiences at the right time to the right person, making the loyalty programs feel like a concierge and not a coupon machine.' A significant enabler of modern loyalty strategies is the co-branded credit card. 'These cards are no longer just spend enablers, they're data goldmines,' remarked Singh. 'They offer insight into lifestyle preferences, not just transactions.' 'Instead of targeting 'travellers aged 35–50', we now reach people who value sustainability, dine premium, or travel impulsively,' he added. Khushnooma noted that Marriott's co-branded credit cards helped bridge the gap between physical and digital touchpoints, enabling loyalty across the entire journey, from travel and shopping to entertainment. Loyalty programs today are evolving into ecosystems, open, interoperable, and experience-driven. Strategic partnerships with other brands, modular architecture for rewards, and plug-and-play integrations are helping loyalty programs remain relevant to increasingly demanding consumers. As Singh put it, 'It's a shift from transactional loyalty to experiential affinity.' In today's dynamic landscape, agility and speed to market are critical, and software-as-a-service (SaaS) models have shown what's possible. Singh suggested envisioning a future shaped by something similar, 'LaaS', or Loyalty as a Service . This concept would enable brands to deploy plug-and-play APIs for redemptions and accruals, create modular rewards architectures tailored to varied life stages and personas, and co-create value with partners aligned on shared brand values and customer expectations. Such a model not only reduces point liability but also drives incremental business from partners, delivering both profitability and genuine customer delight. 'Real loyalty is earned when customers feel seen, not sold to,' concluded Singh.
Yahoo
02-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
American Airlines Officially Reinstates Old Rule in July
American Airlines is bringing back an old policy just in time for the summer. In March 2024, American Airlines announced that it was limiting standby access to AAdvantage members. This move incentivized travelers to sign up for the airline's frequent flyer program. As you'd expect, not everyone was on board with that move. Fast forward roughly 16 months later, and American Airlines has already reversed its decision. Starting on July 1, standby access is eligible for all American Airlines travelers regardless of their membership status. "All customers are eligible to list for same-day standby with an agent up to 45 minutes prior to departure – regardless of AAdvantage membership or status. The policy is only applicable to domestic flights and segments," American Airlines said. "We are continuously looking for ways to enhance the travel journey for our customers and this update gives all customers the convenience of a flexible itinerary, space permitting." This move puts American Airlines on par with Delta Air Lines and United Airlines when it comes to standby access. Even though American Airlines is reverting back to its old policy, it won't diminish the value of an AAdvantage membership. The policy states that AAdvantage members are eligible for same-day standby up to 15 minutes before departure. After all, American Airlines has added a few more destinations in an effort to help out its membership numbers. 'American is focused on giving our customers the most options to pick the perfect vacation destination, and now there are even more ways to turn travel dreams into reality' Jason Reisinger, American's Managing Director of Global Network Planning said in a statement. 'Earning AAdvantage miles and status with American's new summer routes is the perfect setup to planning winter holidays with friends and family.' American Airlines Officially Reinstates Old Rule in July first appeared on Men's Journal on Jul 1, 2025
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Bask Bank review (2025): Earn more interest on your savings balance with this online bank
Summary: The online division of Texas Capital Bank, Bask Bank launched in 1999 as the first online-only savings bank in the United States. It offers high-yield savings accounts and certificates of deposit (CDs). The Bask Bank Interest Savings Account is an online high-yield savings account, which ranks among our list of the 10 best high-yield online savings accounts. This account doesn't charge any monthly account fees or impose any minimum balance requirements. However, it's important to note that Bask Bank does not offer ATM or debit cards, so withdrawals must be made electronically or via wire transfer. Right now, this account offers an impressive 4.20% APY — more than 10 times the national average. The Bask Mileage Savings Account is a rewards savings account that allows account holders to earn 2 American Airlines AAdvantage miles for every $1 saved annually. Miles accrue daily and are awarded monthly based on your average monthly balance. Bask Bank's CD accounts offer an alternative to its high-yield and rewards savings options for savers who have a specific goal and timeline in mind. These CDs range in term from three to 24 months and boast APYs as high as 4.35%. Savers are required to make a deposit of $1,000 to get embedded content is not available in your region. Bask Bank doesn't charge many bank fees, but you may incur certain fees based on your account usage and needs. Here's a closer look at Bask's fee structure: Here are some of the major pros and cons to be aware of before banking with Bask: Pros: Competitive rates: Bask's savings accounts and CDs offer APYs well above 4% APY in certain cases. That's significantly higher than the national average interest rate for traditional savings accounts and CDs. No monthly fees or minimum deposit requirements: Bask Bank doesn't charge any monthly maintenance fees or require a minimum amount to open a savings account. There is also no minimum deposit required to open a CD, but your account must be funded within 10 days of opening to avoid account closure. Cons: No physical locations: Bask is an online bank with no physical branches for customers to visit. Limited account offerings: Bask only offers two types of accounts — high-yield savings accounts and CDs. This could be a drawback for customers with various banking needs who may want a checking account option, credit cards, or other types of products. Bask Bank customers can contact a customer service representative via telephone Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. CT and Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. CT. You can also reach a customer service representative via secure messaging or by submitting an online request. The Bask Bank mobile app is available for download on the App Store and Google Play and has an average rating of 4.7 and 4.5 stars, respectively. Customers can use the app to check account balances and transaction history, move money between accounts, schedule recurring deposits, and contact customer support. Yes. Bask Bank is an online division of Texas Capital Bank, which is an FDIC-insured institution. Deposits are protected up to $250,000 per depositor, per ownership category. Bask Bank's routing number is 111026177. Bask Bank is headquartered in Dallas, Texas. Yes. Bask Bank is one of the oldest online banks, operating since 1999. It offers reputable high-interest, low-fee deposit accounts. Bask Bank is a division of Texas Capital Bank, an FDIC-insured bank headquartered in Dallas. Bask Bank has been operating since 1999.
