Aeromexico Rewards, formerly known as Club Premier, may not be the first loyalty program that comes to mind for many international travelers. However, for those in the know, especially frequent flyers within the SkyTeam alliance, it presents a wealth of opportunities to enhance travel experiences. As U.S. legacy carriers increasingly shift towards revenue-based earning structures and elite status qualifications, looking towards foreign carriers like Aeromexico and their airline partners becomes strategically advantageous for savvy travelers seeking value. This is particularly relevant for those already invested in the SkyTeam alliance, who have witnessed devaluations in programs like Delta SkyMiles and Air France-KLM Flying Blue – programs that were early adopters of dynamic award pricing.
If you’re exploring a robust loyalty program for your SkyTeam travels, Aeromexico Rewards and its extensive network of airline partners deserve your attention. This guide will delve into everything you need to know about efficiently earning and redeeming Aeromexico Rewards points, understanding the elite status tiers, and leveraging the benefits offered by Aeromexico Airline Partners to elevate your travel strategy.
Related: SkyTeam alliance guide: Member airlines, lounges and elite status
Understanding Aeromexico Rewards and its Airline Partners
Aeromexico, a founding member of the SkyTeam alliance, holds the distinction of being the first airline in Latin America to introduce a frequent flyer program. While its predecessor, Club Premier, offered considerable value, it also had its quirks, notably using kilometers as its rewards currency, which sometimes led to confusion for those accustomed to miles.
The revamped Aeromexico Rewards program represents a significant upgrade. Now operating with Aeromexico Rewards points (independent of distance), the program has eliminated points expiration and expanded redemption options for award travel. Importantly, members can accumulate and redeem points, and access elite benefits across Aeromexico flights and those operated by its SkyTeam airline partners. This interconnectedness with airline partners is a cornerstone of the program’s appeal, providing a broader spectrum of earning and burning opportunities.
Related: Best frequent flyer programs for US travelers
Exploring Aeromexico Rewards Elite Status and SkyTeam Benefits
NICK ELLIS/THE POINTS GUYAeromexico Rewards features four elite status tiers: Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Titanium. Advancement through these tiers is based on either eligible points earned or eligible flight segments flown within a calendar year, whichever milestone is reached first. This structure is designed to reward frequent flyers and loyal customers.
A common thread across all Aeromexico elite tiers is the provision of priority check-in and a complimentary checked bag (or an additional bag if already included in the fare). Elite members also earn bonus points on flights, with base members earning 8 points per U.S. dollar spent. Let’s examine the specific benefits associated with each elite level, keeping in mind the enhanced recognition these statuses provide when flying with Aeromexico airline partners within SkyTeam.
Silver Status: Your Entry into Elite Benefits
The Silver tier, the most accessible elite level, requires 25,000 eligible points or 25 eligible flight segments. Silver status benefits include:
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- Bonus Points: Earn an additional 2 points per U.S. dollar spent on flights, accelerating your points accumulation when flying with Aeromexico and its partners.
- Advance Seat Selection: Select preferential seats (located behind AM Plus rows, near the front of the main cabin), emergency exit seats, and economy seats starting 24 hours before your flight. Note that AM Plus seating is not included at this tier.
- Complimentary Upgrades: Enjoy complimentary upgrades to Premier Class on domestic routes, based on availability, when requested at the gate. This perk can enhance your travel experience within Mexico.
- Priority Boarding: Zone 3 priority boarding, allowing you to board earlier and settle in.
- SkyTeam Elite Status: Silver status grants you SkyTeam Elite status, unlocking reciprocal benefits when flying with any Aeromexico airline partners within the SkyTeam alliance. This includes benefits like priority check-in, preferred seating, and extra baggage allowance across the SkyTeam network.
Gold Status: Enhanced Comfort and Recognition Across SkyTeam
Gold status, requiring 50,000 eligible points or 50 flight segments, builds upon the Silver benefits with more significant perks:
- Increased Bonus Points: Earn an additional 3 points per U.S. dollar spent on flights, further accelerating your rewards earning.
- Expanded Seat Selection Window: Select AM Plus fares 24 hours before your flight or preferential seats, emergency exit seats, and economy seats 48 hours in advance. This provides greater flexibility in choosing your preferred seat.
- Automatic Upgrades: Automatic upgrades to Premier Class for you and one companion 24 hours prior to flights on domestic, U.S., Canada, Central America, Caribbean, and North-South America routes (subject to availability). This valuable benefit significantly improves your travel comfort.
- Priority Boarding: Zone 2 priority boarding, moving you further up the boarding sequence.
- SkyTeam Elite Status: Gold status maintains SkyTeam Elite status, ensuring consistent benefits across Aeromexico airline partners and the broader SkyTeam alliance.
Platinum Status: Premium Travel Privileges with SkyTeam Elite Plus
Reaching Platinum status, at 80,000 points or 80 flight segments, unlocks a suite of premium benefits, including the coveted SkyTeam Elite Plus status:
- Higher Bonus Points: Earn an additional 5 points per U.S. dollar spent on flights, maximizing your points earnings.
- Seat Selection at Booking: Select seats, including AM Plus, preferential, emergency exit, and economy seats, during booking or check-in at no extra cost. This ensures you secure your preferred seating well in advance.
- Upgrades for You and a Companion: Automatic upgrades to Premier Class for you and one companion 72 hours prior to flights on domestic, U.S., Canada, Central America, Caribbean, and South America routes (subject to availability). Enjoy enhanced comfort with a travel partner.
- Lounge Access: Access to Premier and SkyTeam lounges for you and one companion. This provides a comfortable and relaxing airport experience, particularly beneficial during layovers or flight delays when traveling with Aeromexico airline partners.
- Priority Boarding: Zone 2 priority boarding.
- Priority Baggage Handling: Priority baggage delivery and reception, ensuring your luggage is among the first to arrive.
- SkyTeam Elite Plus Status: Platinum status elevates you to SkyTeam Elite Plus, the highest tier within the alliance. This status provides premium benefits across all Aeromexico airline partners and SkyTeam members, including lounge access, SkyPriority services (priority check-in, boarding, baggage handling), and more.
Titanium Status: The Pinnacle of Aeromexico Rewards and SkyTeam Recognition
Titanium, the top-tier status, requires 100,000 eligible points or 100 flight segments and offers the most comprehensive benefits:
- Maximum Bonus Points: Earn an additional 8 points per U.S. dollar spent on flights, the highest earning rate within the program.
- Unrestricted Seat Selection: Select any seat, including AM Plus, preferential, emergency exit, and economy seats, at booking, check-in, or at a kiosk at no additional cost. Total seat selection freedom.
- Enhanced Baggage Benefit: While still one additional free checked bag, you gain the flexibility to upgrade it to sporting equipment at no cost.
- Upgrades on Long-Haul Routes: Automatic upgrades to Premier Class for you and one companion five days prior to your flight, expanded to include Aeromexico routes within Europe and Asia, in addition to North America, South America, Central America, and the Caribbean (subject to availability). Experience premium cabins on even more routes.
- Top Priority Boarding: Zone 1 priority boarding, ensuring you are among the first to board.
- Priority Baggage Handling: Priority baggage delivery and reception.
- Extensive Lounge Access: Access to Premier lounges for you and two companions or SkyTeam lounges for you and one companion. Share lounge access with family or travel companions.
- Award Ticket Perks: Waived service charge on one award ticket per year and one award ticket with guaranteed availability on Aeromexico once a year if there is physical space on the plane. This unique guaranteed award ticket benefit is exceptionally valuable for securing travel during peak times.
The guaranteed award ticket perk at the Titanium level is a standout feature in the loyalty program landscape. The assurance of an award ticket, provided there’s physical space on the plane, is a significant advantage rarely offered by other airlines and underscores the value Aeromexico places on its top-tier members.
Related: What exactly is elite status in travel — and how can I get it?
Qualifying for Aeromexico Elite Status through Flights with Airline Partners
Earning Aeromexico elite status is achieved through accumulating eligible points or flight segments within a calendar year (January 1 to December 31). Crucially, these points and segments can be earned not only on Aeromexico flights but also on flights operated by Delta and other SkyTeam airline partners. This significantly broadens the avenues for qualification, especially for travelers who frequently fly with SkyTeam carriers.
| Status tier | Requirements (per calendar year) |
|---|---|
| Silver | Earn at least 25,000 eligible points or fly at least 25 segments on Aeromexico, Delta and/or SkyTeam airlines. |
| Gold | Earn at least 50,000 eligible points or fly at least 50 segments on Aeromexico, Delta and/or SkyTeam airlines. |
| Platinum | Earn at least 80,000 eligible points or fly at least 80 segments on Aeromexico, Delta and/or SkyTeam airlines. |
| Titanium | Earn at least 100,000 eligible points or fly at least 100 segments on Aeromexico, Delta and/or SkyTeam airlines. |
Earning elite status “eligible points” are those accrued from flying with Aeromexico and its SkyTeam partners. Only base points count towards status; bonus points earned through elite status itself do not. A “flight segment” is defined as a flight between two cities. For instance, a round-trip flight with one layover each way constitutes four segments.
Similar to many airlines, basic economy fares (Class V or equivalent) are typically excluded as eligible flight segments and do not earn eligible points towards status. Furthermore, basic economy fares often restrict access to many elite status benefits.
Once you reach the required points or segments for a new status tier, your benefits are activated immediately and remain valid through December 31 of the following year. Aeromexico also offers a “Recover Your Level” program, allowing members to request to retain their current or a lower status for another year in extraordinary circumstances that have limited their flying activity.
Related: How to earn last-minute airline elite status — and whether or not it’s worth it
Earning Aeromexico Rewards Points Through Flights and Partner Transfers
ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUYAeromexico Rewards provides various avenues for point accrual, although it may not have the extensive earning ecosystem of some U.S. carriers. For example, it lacks a dedicated shopping portal, and its co-branded credit cards are primarily beneficial for residents of Mexico. However, earning points through flying and leveraging airline partners remains a robust strategy.
Earning Points by Flying with Aeromexico and SkyTeam Partners
Aeromexico has transitioned from a distance-based earning system (kilometers in Club Premier) to a more straightforward revenue-based system for earning points on flights.
Basic Aeromexico Rewards members earn 8 points per dollar spent on the base fare of flights (excluding taxes and fees). Elite status holders earn bonus points on top of this base earning: Silver (+2 points/$), Gold (+3 points/$), Platinum (+5 points/$), and Titanium (+8 points/$).
Points can also be earned on flights operated by any SkyTeam airline partner. When booking through a SkyTeam partner’s website, ensure you select Aeromexico Rewards as your frequent flyer program before finalizing your purchase. Aeromexico also has codeshare agreements with non-SkyTeam partners like LATAM and WestJet, expanding earning opportunities further.
It’s important to note that the points earning structure differs slightly when flying with partner airlines, whether within or outside SkyTeam. Each partner airline has its own earning chart based on fare class and miles flown, which can be found on the Aeromexico Rewards website. Understanding these charts is key to maximizing points earning on partner flights.
Related: The best airline award chart sweet spots
Transferring Points from Partner Programs: A Fast Track to Aeromexico Rewards
Even if you don’t frequently fly with Aeromexico or its partners, transferring points from partner programs offers a convenient method to accumulate a substantial Aeromexico Rewards balance. Aeromexico Rewards partners with several major transferable rewards currencies, providing flexibility and value. The most advantageous transfer partners include:
| Transfer partner | Transfer ratio |
|---|---|
| American Express Membership Rewards | 1 Membership Rewards point: 1.6 Aeromexico Rewards points |
| Capital One | 1 Capital One mile: 1 Aeromexico Rewards point |
| Citi ThankYou Rewards | 1 ThankYou point: 1 Aeromexico Rewards point |
| World of Hyatt | 5 World of Hyatt points: 4 Aeromexico Rewards points Plus 5,000 bonus Aeromexico points when you convert 50,000 or more Hyatt points |
These transfer partnerships offer significant opportunities to boost your Aeromexico Rewards balance without flying.
American Express Membership Rewards stands out with a 1:1.6 transfer ratio, one of the most favorable airline transfer ratios available. Cards like The Platinum Card® from American Express and the American Express® Gold Card are excellent for earning Membership Rewards points.
Capital One miles and Citi ThankYou points provide a solid 1:1 transfer ratio. Popular cards earning these currencies include the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card, Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, and Citi Strata Premier℠ Card (see rates and fees).
While World of Hyatt’s 5:4 transfer ratio is slightly less direct, it’s valuable because Hyatt is a transfer partner of Bilt Rewards and Chase Ultimate Rewards, neither of which directly transfer to Aeromexico. This indirect route allows travelers collecting Bilt Points or Ultimate Rewards to convert them to Aeromexico points via Hyatt.
Transferring Aeromexico points from other hotel programs is generally less recommended due to less favorable transfer ratios, such as ALL – Accor Live Limitless (2:1), Marriott Bonvoy (3:1), and Hilton Honors (50:13).
Related: When does it make sense to transfer Marriott points to airlines?
Credit Cards and Hotel Stays: Additional Earning Avenues
Aeromexico offers co-branded credit cards, primarily through American Express. However, these are mostly targeted at residents of Mexico, with welcome bonuses often restricted to cards issued within Mexico.
For U.S.-based travelers, utilizing credit cards that earn transferable rewards and then transferring those rewards to Aeromexico Rewards is often a more practical and rewarding strategy. This approach maximizes earning potential and provides greater redemption flexibility.
Earning Aeromexico Rewards points through hotel stays is also possible. Several hotel programs allow you to earn Aeromexico points instead of hotel points for your stays:
| Hotel program | Aeromexico Rewards points earned |
|---|---|
| IHG One Rewards | 1.1 or 2.1 points per dollar, depending on the hotel brand |
| Marriott Bonvoy | 1 or 2 points per dollar, depending on the hotel brand |
| World of Hyatt | 1,000 points per stay |
Generally, opting to earn hotel points is more advantageous, as hotel points often offer greater value and flexibility. For example, a four-night stay at a Hyatt property costing $250/night would earn at least 5,000 Hyatt points for a base member, compared to just 1,000 Aeromexico points.
However, for short stays at hotel chains where the hotel currency is less useful, choosing to earn Aeromexico points might be preferable. To do so, you typically need to adjust your earning preferences within your hotel account settings.
Related: Using Rocketmiles to earn points, miles or gift cards on hotel stays
Car Rentals and Vacation Packages
Aeromexico Rewards partners with car rental agencies, allowing you to earn points on rentals. By entering your Aeromexico Rewards number when booking with these companies, you can earn:
| Rental company | Aeromexico Rewards points earned |
|---|---|
| Firefly | – One-day rental: 350 points – Two-day rental: 500 points – Three days or more: 600 points |
| Hertz | 1,000 points for renting a car from Hertz in Mexico or 80 points per day when renting a car in the United States |
Similar to hotel stays, earning rates on car rentals may not be highly lucrative and might mean foregoing rental car rewards programs.
Booking hotels, rental cars, or vacation packages through Aeromexico Vacations is also an option, but only the flight portion of vacation packages will earn Aeromexico points.
Related: How you can redeem points and miles for car rentals
Redeeming Aeromexico Rewards Points for Maximum Value
The most valuable redemption for Aeromexico Rewards points is undoubtedly award flights. These can be booked on Aeromexico flights or those operated by SkyTeam partners, with slightly different booking processes for each.
Redeeming Points for Aeromexico Flights
Aeromexico Rewards retains a form of award chart, offering two types of award fares: “Classic Aeromexico Rewards Ticket” and “Aeromexico Rewards Ticket with a dynamic fare.” Classic tickets adhere to a published award chart, available on Aeromexico’s website, which prices fares based on destination, cabin class, and seasonality (low vs. high season). High season periods include Easter, Summer, and Christmas, while low season encompasses all other dates.
Aeromexico indicates that availability of these fixed-price Classic award tickets is limited.
Dynamic fares, applicable to flights with Aeromexico, Delta, KLM, and Air France, fluctuate in price based on factors like destination, cabin class, flight availability, and demand. Dynamically priced award tickets generally have wider availability.
When searching for Aeromexico flight redemptions, you may encounter both Classic and dynamic pricing options for the same route. For example, flights from John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to Mexico City International Airport (MEX) might show both a Classic award price of 30,000 points and a dynamic price of 36,700 points on the same day in March.
AEROMEXICO.COMThis variability in award pricing, similar to other airlines employing dynamic pricing models, necessitates some searching to identify the most favorable deals and routes that align with the Classic award chart pricing.
Award flight searches can be initiated on Aeromexico’s site (via this link, while logged into your account). However, technical issues can sometimes arise during searches. If you encounter difficulties, consider using external award search tools like Seats.aero or partner airline websites to identify award availability and then calling Aeromexico to book the desired ticket.
Related: Dynamic airline award pricing is out of control — here are some ways to beat it
Redeeming Points with SkyTeam Airline Partners: Unlock Alliance-Wide Travel
Redeeming Aeromexico points for flights on SkyTeam airline partners is possible, but it requires a phone booking. Online booking for partner awards is not currently available. You must first search for award availability on the partner airline’s website and then call Aeromexico to complete the booking over the phone.
Despite the extra step of calling, redeeming through airline partners can offer significant value. For instance, a Delta flight from Atlanta to Mexico City might cost 24,000 SkyMiles, but the same flight could potentially be booked for only 18,000 Aeromexico points based on Aeromexico’s award chart for partner airlines.
DELTA.COMRelated: The best websites for searching SkyTeam award availability
Alternative Redemption Options
Beyond award flights, Aeromexico points can also be used for seat upgrades, checked baggage fees, and other travel extras. These options can be accessed and added to existing bookings via the Aeromexico website or app under the “My Trips” section, “Personalize.” These redemptions provide flexibility, especially when you have a smaller balance of points.
Aeromexico previously offered a unique “Round the World Pass” bookable with points, allowing travel to up to 15 countries in a single itinerary. Unfortunately, this distinctive offering appears to have been discontinued.
Related: Your guide to round-the-world award tickets
The Bottom Line: Aeromexico Rewards and its Partner Network – A Valuable Program for SkyTeam Flyers
Aeromexico Rewards, while perhaps not as widely recognized as some loyalty programs, offers substantial value, particularly for travelers within the SkyTeam alliance. The program provides numerous avenues to earn points, including flying with Aeromexico and its extensive network of airline partners, transferring points from major rewards programs, and even through hotel stays and car rentals.
While the redemption landscape includes both fixed and dynamic award pricing, strategic use of Aeromexico Rewards points, especially for flights with Aeromexico airline partners and SkyTeam, can unlock significant savings and enhanced travel experiences. For travelers seeking alternatives to programs like Delta SkyMiles or Flying Blue, Aeromexico Rewards presents a compelling option to explore, offering a pathway to valuable rewards and elite status benefits within the SkyTeam alliance.
