Airline ups miles needed for free trips

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — It could soon cost you more miles to earn a free trip on American Airlines.

American, which invented the mileage program 25 years ago, said Thursday it will raise fees and mileage requirements for upgrades and free trips.

Under changes that take effect Oct. 1, an upgrade from economy coach on a domestic flight will cost $50, plus the 15,000 miles that was already required.

Miles and fees for upgrades were also raised on international flights.

The airline told members of its AAdvantage frequent-flier program of the changes in an e-mail message. Its moves follow changes at Delta Air Lines Inc.’s mileage program last week.

Delta said it would give frequent fliers a guaranteed ability to redeem miles for a free trip but sometimes at the cost of many more miles. Under a new three-tier program, fliers who spend more miles will get a better shot at winning one of the limited number of seats set aside for reward tickets.

Airlines are raising fares and a variety of fees to cover higher jet fuel costs, but most U.S. carriers are still losing money. American parent AMR Corp. lost nearly $1.8 billion in the six months of this year after earning profits in 2006 and 2007.