American Airlines offers triple-mile incentives

The airfare war targeting Boston's transcontinental travelers is heating up. American Airlines Inc., the largest carrier at Logan International Airport in Boston based on passengers served, announced today that it will give frequent fliers three times as many miles when they fly nonstop between Boston and San Francisco, Los Angeles, or San Diego this spring.

That means two roundtrip flights will result in a third flight free. Three paid roundtrip flights will earn enough miles for a free roundtrip ticket between Boston and Europe.

No other routes in American's network qualify for triple miles. What ushered in this incentive for the Hub? The hip, discount carrier Virgin America, which last month started flying nonstop between Boston and both San Francisco and Los Angeles.

"We are competing very aggressively in this market with everyone else who flies out of Boston," said spokesman Ned Raynolds. "We intend to maintain and build our following here."

Logan is one of the most competitive airports in the country, where no carrier commands more than a 20 percent share of the market. American also competes with JetBlue Airways Corp. and United Airlines Group Inc. on these transcontinental routes.

To earn triple miles, frequent fliers must book their tickets and travel between now and May 31 and register before flying at www.aa.com/bos3x.
(By Nicole C. Wong, Globe staff)