The Oldest Loyalty Program That Still Exists Today: The Story Of American’s AAdvantage Program

The AAdvantage program, launched on May 1st, 1981, became one of the first airline loyalty programs to be founded, following the 1979 launch of the first one from Texas International Airlines. As of May 2024, American Airlines’ primary frequent flier program remains the world’s largest, with more than 100 million members.