American Airlines and AAdvantage® Members Raise More Than $1.2 Million to Support Hurricane Melissa Relief Efforts
American Airlines, in partnership with its loyal AAdvantage® members, has raised more than $1.2 million to aid communities devastated by Hurricane Melissa. The funds, contributed through a coordinated campaign with the American Red Cross, will be used to deliver critical relief services to those most affected by the storm. As recovery needs continue to evolve, the donations will be allocated to areas where support is most urgently required, working through the global Red Cross network to ensure timely and effective deployment of aid.
This significant achievement underscores the deeply rooted commitment American Airlines holds toward its customers and the communities it serves. It also reflects the power of collective action when corporations and individuals partner together to make a meaningful humanitarian impact. The response has been characterized by generosity, empathy, and a shared desire to provide hope amid one of the most challenging weather events of the year.
Supporting Communities: A Core Value
Hurricane Melissa caused widespread destruction across multiple regions, damaging homes, infrastructure, and essential services, and leaving thousands of families displaced. In the wake of the storm, American Airlines swiftly mobilized its resources and leveraged its longstanding partnership with the American Red Cross to provide immediate assistance. The scale of support demonstrates the airline’s dedication to transforming concern into action and highlights the crucial role humanitarian organizations play during natural disasters.
Caroline Clayton, American’s Chief Marketing Officer, emphasized the importance of timely support during times of crisis.
“We are proud to join forces with the Red Cross and Airlink to deliver critical aid to those affected by Hurricane Melissa. Caring for customers extends to supporting the communities we serve in their most heartbreaking and critical hours of need. We’re especially grateful to our AAdvantage® members whose generosity helped make this possible.”
Clayton’s remarks reflect the company’s broader mission: to strengthen and uplift communities not only during daily operations but particularly when disaster strikes. American Airlines’ investment in relief efforts illustrates how airlines can serve as essential partners in the global humanitarian response ecosystem.
Longstanding Partnership with the American Red Cross
American Airlines has been a dedicated member of the Red Cross Annual Disaster Giving Program (ADGP) since 2014. The ADGP comprises forward-thinking donors that enable the Red Cross to be prepared before disasters happen. By providing funds in advance, partners like American help support infrastructure, training, equipment, and coordinated planning that allow the Red Cross to respond quickly and efficiently whenever emergencies arise.
This proactive approach ensures that relief operations can be mobilized rapidly, reducing response time and ultimately saving more lives. American’s continuing involvement in the ADGP also provides evidence of its reliable, long-term commitment to humanitarian resilience.
Fundraising related to Hurricane Melissa remains ongoing. To encourage continued participation, American has extended a unique offering for AAdvantage® members: from now through November 11, members can earn 10 AAdvantage® miles for every dollar donated to the Red Cross, with a minimum donation of $25. Whether large or small, every contribution strengthens the network of support for communities struggling to recover from the hurricane’s devastating impacts. Interested individuals can donate and earn miles by visiting redcross.org/aa.
This offer not only incentivizes giving but also fosters deeper engagement from the airline’s loyal customer base. It recognizes and rewards individuals who choose to make a difference, reinforcing the idea that humanitarian impact is a shared responsibility.
Enabling Humanitarian Missions Through AAdvantage® Miles
Beyond monetary donations, American Airlines also recognizes the vital importance of logistical support in emergency relief. As part of its disaster response partnership, the airline works with Airlink, a rapid-response nonprofit organization that coordinates airlift logistics for humanitarian aid.
To bolster these efforts, American encourages AAdvantage® members to contribute their miles through a program known as Miles for Social Good. Donated miles support flight operations that transport medical personnel, volunteers, and critical supplies to regions affected by disasters both large and small. These missions play an essential role in bridging geographic barriers and ensuring aid reaches communities that may otherwise be inaccessible due to damaged roadways, communication systems, or transportation constraints.
By enabling travel for skilled professionals and equipment, donated miles help accelerate the delivery of urgently needed relief and recovery services. This transformative initiative illustrates how loyalty points—a resource many travelers accumulate regularly—can be redirected to serve life-saving purposes. For many contributors, it offers a meaningful way to support humanitarian operations even when direct financial contributions may not be feasible.
Supporting Children in Crisis Through UNICEF USA
American’s culture of giving extends well beyond the relief efforts for Hurricane Melissa. The airline also partners with UNICEF USA through its Change for Good program—an international alliance between UNICEF and the global airline industry. Since its inception, Change for Good has empowered travelers to donate spare foreign and domestic currency during international flights. These contributions are then used to fund essential services and supplies for children and families in vulnerable communities around the world.
American Airlines joined this global initiative in 1994, and since then, its flight attendants have helped raise more than $18 million for UNICEF’s humanitarian efforts. These funds support a wide range of interventions, including access to clean water, emergency medical supplies, nutrition programs, and educational initiatives.
Proceeds collected aboard American’s international flights have directly contributed to emergency responses in countries such as Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Cuba, and others. These initiatives have made a tangible difference for communities confronting the impacts of poverty, disease outbreaks, natural disasters, and other crises.
The Change for Good partnership underscores American’s steadfast commitment to improving global well-being, especially for children—the most vulnerable population in times of instability. By giving customers an accessible way to contribute, American harnesses the power of collective philanthropy to make the world safer and more equitable for the next generation.
A Unified Effort for Recovery
The widespread support received following Hurricane Melissa highlights the incredible impact that companies and customers can have when working together toward a common goal. The more than $1.2 million raised demonstrates how deeply American Airlines’ employees, customers, and partners care about supporting vulnerable communities in times of need.
As climate-related disasters become more frequent and severe, the importance of collaboration between private-sector organizations, humanitarian nonprofits, and government agencies continues to grow. American Airlines’ contributions—financial, logistical, and operational—play an important role in this ecosystem. Whether moving aid workers across continents, transporting life-saving supplies, or mobilizing millions of dollars in donations, the airline is leveraging its capabilities to support urgent, on-the-ground relief.
Continued Call for Action
Although disaster response efforts have made progress, recovery for many communities impacted by Hurricane Melissa will require sustained support. For countless families, the road to rebuilding remains long and challenging. Homes must be repaired, infrastructure must be rebuilt, and local economies need revitalization. Humanitarian organizations will require additional resources to continue providing shelter, medical care, food, and long-term recovery assistance.
American Airlines is encouraging its customers and the broader public to continue supporting these efforts. Through ongoing fundraising campaigns, opportunities to earn AAdvantage® miles, and the option to donate unused miles, individuals can directly contribute to relief operations that have a lasting, positive impact.
American Airlines’ actions during the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa reflect a corporate philosophy that places compassion, global responsibility, and community resilience at its core. By helping mobilize more than $1.2 million for relief efforts, strengthening partnerships with the Red Cross, Airlink, and UNICEF USA, and empowering customers to join in through donations and loyalty miles, American has demonstrated what is possible when a global company embraces humanitarian leadership.
As recovery continues, American Airlines remains committed to supporting those affected by the hurricane and to fostering long-term resilience in disaster-prone regions. The company’s approach serves as a model for how corporate citizenship, customer engagement, and nonprofit partnerships can work hand-in-hand to create meaningful change.