AMR Corp.’s American Airlines and UAL Corp.’s United Airlines have several things in common, besides TLA (three-letter-acronym) corporate names. They’re both celebrating 25 years of their frequent flyer mileage programs, which should be painfully obvious to anyone who opted in to the programs’ e-mail communications. But United’s million mile giveaway may have just been bested by AA’s more atttainable benefits:

Yesterday, American kicked off a 25-day celebration of sorts, which thusfar includes some freebie giveaways and some sales. Most notably, certain award travel for North American routes is reduced for the rest of the month. For example, domestic U.S. trips, normally 25,000 miles, are on sale for 18,750. (Book by May 31, travel between August 22 and November 8. Full rules here.)

Check the AAdvantage celebration page for the daily offer. Today’s offer is a cruise special and sweepstakes.

Other benefits may accrue to AA flyers this month as well. On 10 flights yesterday, every passenger was surprised with a gift of 25,000 bonus miles, a move which may have cost the airline 42 million miles. I’d be surprised if they did anything similar soon, but you never know.

(image)