TLC Jet ties up with American Airlines for AAdvantage

Airline tier programmes are at the top of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Business Travel Needs for a reason (above hotel programmes, air miles and preferred car hire status). You only get access to the best airport lounges, the special welcome and the extra glass of Taittinger by spending hours sitting on planes (you do get it faster travelling in more expensive cabins). Not just putting your groceries on a credit card.

American Airlines invented the first airline frequent flyer scheme in 1981. It worked. One of the main problems for new business class-only carriers (like Eos and Maxjet that launched and failed) is that business passengers are so loyal to their airline loyalty programmes. Business jet companies have tried to replicate airline reward flights but have found it hard to compete.

Most airlines now award points based on dollar spend, but in the past, a small group of status-obsessed travellers completing “tier-point-runs” would happily spend a weekend catching connecting flights to Timbuktu without leaving any airport. They firmly believed that that 48 hours in coach was worth it to keep gold status.

One of the reasons for Delta Air Line’s investment in Wheels Up was to keep its most important customers (its SkyMiles Medallion members) in a single aviation company. But it took time to integrate the two platforms and introduce shared miles and bookings.

Wheels Up members can achieve Delta Diamond Medallion Status (this is particularly coveted as you do not need to take off a Diamond Medallion to go through security, unlike a metal one or you shoes) by spending $100,000 with Wheels Up. Wheels Up’s charter customers get Delta Diamond status if they spend $125,000. You can get the same status by spending $28,000 on Delta flights.

TLC Jet, the US broker and operator, this week announced that it had agreed a deal with Delta rival American Airlines. Customers flying with TLC now earn AAdvantage miles and loyalty points.

“Today’s travellers are seeking more premium experiences,” said Steve Johnson, American’s vice chair and chief strategy officer. “As a leading premium airline, we’re committed to exploring new ways we can elevate the journey for our customers both in the services we offer and those of our partners.”

This scheme will have cost American a lot less than Delta’s investment in Wheels Up. The architect behind it is Justin Firestone, founder and president, TLC Jet (and a founder of Wheels Up and before that at Marquis Jet). He launched TLC Jet in May 2025 with backing from family office 313 Equity Partners (which already owned Toledo Jet).      

“This partnership bridges two worlds—the flexibility and efficiency of flying private with TLC Jet and the global reach of American Airlines, an iconic airline reaching more than 350 destinations in more than 60 countries,” stated Justin Firestone, Founder and President, TLC Jet. “Our mutual clientele can now optimize every dollar spent, whether traveling privately or commercially, while enjoying an elevated travel experience.”

TLC Jet customers get one AAdvantage mile for every dollar spent. And crucially the same with loyalty points.  A return flight from Scottsdale to Aspen pretty much gets you Gold status. Two trans-Atlantic charter trips gets you Platinum – although you could do this a lot cheaper on American.