FORT WORTH, Texas, Aug. 31 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- With its continuing commitment to improve the travel experience for customers and revolutionize award travel, American Airlines has earned yet another accolade, this time from Budget Travel magazine. American is being recognized with Budget Travel's "Extra Mile Award," which will be announced Sept. 22 in the magazine's October issue.

"The fifth annual Extra Mile Award is a celebration of companies and destinations that are working hard to improve travelers' lives," according to Nina Willdorf, editor-in-chief of Budget Travel. "Our Extra Mile Award winners have demonstrated real innovation over the past 12 months."

Budget Travel said that American was chosen for going "the extra mile," specifically with the introduction of its AAdvantage(R) One-Way Flex Awards. Introduced in May of this year, the One-Way Flex feature enables AAdvantage members to combine different types of travel awards to best fit their preferences. For example, customers can fly one portion of a roundtrip on a MileSAAver(R) award, which requires the least amount of miles to redeem - with an AAnytime(R) award - which has greater flexibility but requires more miles to redeem. Or, customers can combine Economy class award travel with First or Business class travel. They can even travel one way using a one-way mileage rate. American was the first major domestic airline to offer this flexibility, which Budget Travel calls "truly valuable for travelers."

American's innovative changes to the AAdvantage program - coupled with technology enhancements to AA.com - make redeeming One-Way Flex Awards quick, easy and convenient. Now on AA.com, members can book multi-city award trips, which is especially helpful for members who need to travel to more than one city in a single trip or who need to travel into one city and return from another. For example, a customer can use One Way Flex Awards to travel to London and return from Paris.

"We're honored that Budget Travel has recognized our efforts to lead the industry and keep the AAdvantage program at the forefront of the best loyalty programs in the world," said Rob Friedman, American's President - AAdvantage Marketing Programs. "We designed our One-Way Flex Awards and enhancements to AA.com with customers in mind. As always, we're striving to deliver the convenience they so greatly value."

To further highlight the benefits of One-Way Flex Awards and the ease of booking on AA.com, American is currently running the "Pioneers of Flight" sweepstakes. For details on the sweepstakes visit www.aa.com/promo. For more information on One-Way Flex Awards and to view an online demo visit www.aa.com/flexawards.

About the AAdvantage Program

The AAdvantage program was the first frequent flyer program. Established in 1981, the program now has more than 60 million members. Members can earn miles at more than 1,000 participating companies, which include more than 30 hotel chains representing more than 60 brands, more than 20 airlines, eight car-rental companies, 12 financial companies, and over 250 brand name retailers. In addition, members can earn miles when making purchases with one of more than 100 affinity card products in over 40 countries. In 2008, AAdvantage members redeemed more than 155 billion miles to claim more than 4.8 million awards for flights, upgrades and car rentals. For more information and a listing of AAdvantage program participating companies, visit www.aa.com/aadvantage.

About AA.com

With more than 1.6 million site visits per day, AA.com is American's largest distribution channel and the best place to do business online with the airline, 24-7. At AA.com you can conveniently search for and book low fares and award travel; select seats; make hotel, rental car and cruise reservations; get flight arrival and departure information; sign up for flight status notification and even check in and print boarding passes. You can also manage your AAdvantage account at AA.com, as well as sign up to receive emails from American and get customized DealFinder(SM) alerts and other special offers. Additionally, customers who purchase tickets at AA.com get a lowest-fare guarantee. AA.com has twice received the World Travel Award for World's Leading Airline Internet Site and has received multiple site awards from various organizations.

About American Airlines

American Airlines, American Eagle and AmericanConnection((R)) serve 250 cities in 40 countries with, on average, more than 3,400 daily flights. The combined network fleet numbers more than 900 aircraft. American's award-winning Web site, AA.com((R)), provides users with easy access to check and book fares, plus personalized news, information and travel offers. American Airlines is a founding member of the oneworld((R)) Alliance, which brings together some of the best and biggest names in the airline business, enabling them to offer their customers more services and benefits than any airline can provide on its own. Together, its members serve nearly 700 destinations in more than 130 countries and territories. American Airlines, Inc. and American Eagle Airlines, Inc. are subsidiaries of AMR Corporation. AmericanAirlines, American Eagle, AmericanConnection, AA.com, We know why you fly and AAdvantage are registered trademarks of American Airlines, Inc. (NYSE: AMR)

AmericanAirlines((R)) We know why you fly((R))

Current AMR Corp. news releases can be accessed via the Internet.

The address is http://www.aa.com

SOURCE American Airlines

Billy Sanez, Corporate Communications of American Airlines, Fort Worth, Texas, +1-817-967-1577, mediarelations@aa.com