More Benefits, Less Stress: Top Travel Creators Are Making the Switch to This Airline

Summer vacation season is approaching and let’s just say—we are beyond ready for a getaway. Just as soon as we start daydreaming about sipping a piña colada on the beach, though, we quickly remember there’s some actual planning that goes into getting there. Naturally, we like the planning part to feel as seamless as possible, which means choosing an airline that gets us where we want to go quickly, conveniently and enjoyably. Enter: American Airlines. We were already clued in to the new perks they’re offering—from status match to the upcoming free WiFi—but wanted to find out what the travel pros thought. So we partnered with some of our favorite creators to share a breakdown of American’s benefits and why you should make the switch in time for your next trip. Check it out below.

As an avid traveler and photographer, Karlie Place (@karlieplace) loves experiencing new things—and that includes finding a better way to fly. Karlie goes through some of American’s great new offerings, including our personal favorite: Enhanced Status Match to join the award-winning AAdvantage loyalty program. AAdvantage is widely known as having the most valuable points and miles with ton of opportunities to earn and upgrade your experiences—not only with American, but with their partners. (Psst: They’re even matching Southwest status with a higher American status tier.) And getting approval for Instant Status Pass promotion is super easy, but it is only for a limited time. Just head to their site for the details. “Trust me when I say: There’s never been a better time to break up with your current airline partner…you can thank me later,” says Karlie.

Whether she’s attending fashion shows in Paris or skiing out west, Lilly Sisto (@lillysisto) is always on the move. And since she’s such an arbiter of good taste, she’s loyal to American. Imagine her excitement then about status match and their newest announcement: free WiFi. Beginning January 2026, thanks to a sponsorship by AT&T, American is offering complimentary inflight Wi-Fi to AAdvantage members on all aircraft equipped with Viasat and Intelsat high-speed satellite connectivity—aka roughly 90 percent of their fleet, on more than 2 million flights per year. That’s free inflight connectivity on more planes than any other domestic carrier out there and it’s only available to members of the AAdvantage loyalty program—aka you, after getting status match. Lilly’s verdict? “American should be your top-tier airline of choice.”

Chelsea Davis (@chelseadoestravel) has already been to over one hundred countries, so we’d happily take her advice on pretty much everything that has to do with travel. She loves that American flies to more than one thousand destinations around the world, all with the same premium experience. And the fact that even if you’re not yet a member, American’s Basic Economy fares are worth it for the low price, not to mention you still get a free carry-on, free snacks, soft drinks and inflight entertainment. “If you’re all about maximizing comfort, value and benefits,” Chelsea recommends booking your next flight with American. We can’t wait to see where she goes next.

As a member of the AAdvantage program for over half a decade, creator Lya Mariella (@lyamariella) was thrilled to share an inside peek at her recent trips with American—from the gorgeous airport lounge to her enviable setup on board. Lya and her partner like that you can get complimentary checked bags through eligible AAdvantage status or most cobranded credit cards, plus upgrades for eligible customers. American makes it seriously easy for Lya to upgrade her travel game.

Frequent flyer Dr. Nabila Ismael (@doseoftravel) says it best: Suffering in silence shouldn’t be part of airline travel. With American you get status match, ditch the extra fees, and enjoy better boarding thanks to earlier boarding times and technology that keeps the gate area clear as groups are called to board the plane. Sounds simple but makes such a big difference.  

The message is pretty clear: Stop stressing and get more on your next trip by flying American Airlines. Head to their site to get status match and book your flight right now.