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In this blog post, I will walk you through how to earn American Airlines Loyalty Points so you can inch closer to achieving American Airlines Elite Status.
As a frequent traveler, you might wonder how to earn American Airlines Elite status in 2024.
The American Airlines Advantage program is one of the best airline loyalty programs in the world.
Having American Airlines’ elite status can be a game-changer as it means priority boarding, complimentary upgrades, and much more.
Previously, earning elite status with American Airlines involves a long and challenging process.
One had to complete numerous flights and endure lengthy layovers just to get a bump in status.
Thankfully, American Airlines loyalists can now achieve elite status more effortlessly by accumulating American Airlines Loyalty Points.
In this blog post, I will list several ways to earn American Airlines Loyalty Points, which will help you inch closer to achieving American Airlines Elite Status.
Why Should You Consider Earning American Airlines Elite Status?
Before you start earning American Airlines Loyalty Points, let’s examine what American Airlines offers its loyal customers.
1. Enhanced Travel Experience:
Frequent flier elite status enhances your overall travel experience.
You typically get priority check-in and security screening, ensuring a stress-free start to your journey.
Plus, you’ll be among the first to board the plane, which means more space for your carry-on and a more relaxed boarding process.
2. Complimentary Upgrades:
One of the sweetest perks of elite status is the potential for complimentary upgrades.
Depending on your status level and availability, you may find yourself in the front of the plane, enjoying extra legroom, better meals, and a more comfortable seat without spending extra miles or cash.
3. Bonus Miles and Baggage Benefits:
Elite status comes with bonus miles, which can be a way to earn free flights faster.
Additionally, you can wave goodbye to those pesky baggage fees, as elite status often includes free checked bags, allowing you to pack more without breaking the bank.
4. Access to Lounges:
I value airport lounges.
I love being able to unwind before my flight with complimentary snacks, drinks, and a quiet space to catch up on work or relaxation.
Once you attain American Airlines Platinum, Platinum Pro, or Executive Platinum status, you will automatically earn an equivalent Oneworld status.
This status gives you access to Oneworld lounges around the globe when traveling internationally on Oneworld carriers, even when flying in economy.
5. Priority Customer Service:
When things don’t go as planned, having elite status can make all the difference.
You’ll have access to priority customer service lines, which can be a lifesaver in case of flight cancellations or other travel hiccups.
American Airlines Loyalty Points
Gaining American Airlines AAdvantage elite status is now all about earning American Airlines Loyalty Points.
You earn Loyalty Points when you generate eligible American Airlines AAdvantage miles from flights, use an AAdvantage credit card for purchases, or earn eligible miles with AAdvantage partners.
Your status eligibility is calculated based on the Loyalty Points earned in your account during the 12 months starting from March 1st of each year.
| Status Timelines | Dates To Remember |
|---|---|
| Elite Qualification Period | March 1st of the current year through the last day of February of the following year. |
| Elite Status Expiration | March 31st of the following year |
| 2023 Elite Qualification Period | March 1st 2023- February 28th 2024 |
| 2024 Elite Qualification Period | March 1st 2024- February 28th 2025 |
As shown in the table above, even though the status qualification period ends on the last day of February, your AAdvantage status will last through March 31st of the following year.
In other words, American Airlines will give all American Airlines elites an extra month to enjoy their status.
In this blog post, I will list all of the methods for earning American Airlines Loyalty points so you can become an American Airlines elite soon.
Understanding American Airlines Elite Status Tiers
Before we start chasing American Airlines’ elite status, let’s discuss what that actually means.
As mentioned above, American Airlines has four elite status tiers:
- Gold,
- Platinum,
- Platinum Pro, and
- Executive Platinum
Each tier offers various benefits, including bonus miles, free checked bags, and access to premium lounges.
Again, earning these tiered elite statuses will depend on the number of Loyalty Points (LPs) a member earns between March 1st and the last day of February of the following year.
Below is a table that summarizes the required Loyalty Points per tier.
| American Airlines Status | Equivalent One World Status | Loyalty Points Required |
|---|---|---|
| Gold | Ruby | 40,000 |
| Platinum | Sapphire | 75,000 |
| Platinum Pro | Emerald | 125,000 |
| Executive Platinum | Emerald | 200,000 |
Redeemable Miles Versus Loyalty Points
You will generate redeemable miles and loyalty points each time you spend on American Airlines, its credit cards, and its partners.
But what’s the difference?
American Airlines Redeemable Miles are what you use to purchase award travel.
American Airlines Loyalty Points are what American Airlines uses to determine your particular AA elite status.
| Reedemable Miles | Loyalty Points |
|---|---|
| What you use to purchase award travel | What American Airlines uses to determine elite status |
For example, if you purchase a $50 Amazon gift card using an American Airlines credit card, the purchase will simultaneously earn the following;
a. 50 redeemable miles that you can redeem for free or discounted travel
b. 50 loyalty points that AA will count toward determining your elite status.
American Airlines Elite Status Benefits
American Airlines Gold (40,000 Loyalty Points)
Highlights:
- Complimentary upgrades on American and Alaska Airlines (subject to availability)
- 24-hour upgrade window
- 40% status mileage bonus
- Complimentary Main Cabin Extra Seats at check-in
- Complimentary Preferred Seats
- One free checked bag
- Same-day standby priority
- Priority Check-in, Security & Boarding
- Dedicated American Airlines Gold Phone Service Desk
- Oneworld Ruby Status: Oneworld priority check-in and standby
| Gold Benefits | American Airlines Gold Status (Oneworld Ruby) |
|---|---|
| Loyalty Points Required | 40,000 |
| Complimentary upgrades on American and Alaska Airlines | ✔ |
| 24-hour upgrade window | ✔ |
| Mileage Bonus | 40% |
| Complimentary Main Cabin Extra Seats | At check-in |
| Complimentary Preferred Seats | ✔ |
| Free Checked Bags | 1 |
| Same-Day Standby Priority | ✔ |
| Priority Check-in, Security & Boarding | ✔ |
| Access to Service Desk | ✔ |
| Discounted Admirals Club Membership | ✔ |
| Complimentary upgrade for 1 companion traveling with you on the same flight | ✔ |
| Upgrades confirmed before departure | 24 hours |
| Complimentary same-day flight change | X |
| Guaranteed availability in the Main Cabin | X |
| Waitlist priority for purchased First or Business Class | X |
| Complimentary alcoholic beverage and snack in the Main Cabin | X |
| oneworld® priority check-in and standby | ✔ |
| oneworld® priority boarding | X |
| oneworld® priority security | X |
| oneworld® partner lounge access | X |
American Airlines Platinum (75,000 Loyalty Points)
Highlights:
- Complimentary upgrades on American and Alaska Airlines
- 48-hour upgrade window
- 60% status mileage bonus
- Complimentary Main Cabin Extra and Preferred Seats
- Two free checked bags
- Priority bag delivery
- Same-day standby priority
- Priority Check-in, Security & Boarding
- Dedicated American Airlines Platinum Phone Service Desk
- Discounted Admirals Club membership
- Oneworld Sapphire Status: Oneworld priority check-in and standby, priority boarding, and priority security.
- Oneworld partner lounge access: Business Class & frequent flier lounges
| Platinum Benefits | American Airlines Platinum Status (Oneworld Sapphire) |
|---|---|
| Loyalty Points Required | 75,000 |
| Complimentary upgrades on American and Alaska Airlines | ✔ |
| Mileage Bonus | 60% |
| Complimentary Main Cabin Extra Seats | ✔ |
| Complimentary Preferred Seats | ✔ |
| Free Checked Bags | 2 |
| Same-Day Standby Priority | ✔ |
| Priority Check-in, Security & Boarding | ✔ |
| Access to Service Desk | ✔ |
| Discounted Admirals Club Membership | ✔ |
| Unlimited, auto-requested complimentary upgrades including award tickets | ✔ |
| Complimentary upgrade for 1 companion traveling with you on the same flight | ✔ |
| Upgrades confirmed before departure | 48 hours |
| Complimentary same-day flight change | X |
| Guaranteed availability in the Main Cabin | X |
| Waitlist priority for purchased First or Business Class | X |
| Complimentary alcoholic beverage and snack in the Main Cabin | X |
| oneworld® priority check-in and standby | ✔ |
| oneworld® priority boarding | ✔ |
| oneworld® priority security | ✔ |
| oneworld® partner lounge access | Business Class Lounge |
American Airlines Platinum Pro (125,000 Loyalty Points)
Highlights:
- Complimentary upgrades on American and Alaska Airlines
- 72-hour upgrade window
- 80% status mileage bonus
- Complimentary Main Cabin Extra and Preferred Seats
- 3 free checked bags
- Priority bag delivery
- Same-day standby priority
- Priority Check-in, Security & Boarding
- Dedicated American Airlines Platinum Pro Phone Service Desk
- Discounted Admirals Club membership
- Oneworld Emerald Status: Oneworld priority check-in and standby, priority boarding, and priority security.
- Oneworld partner lounge access: First and Business Class and frequent flyer lounges
| Platinum Pro Benefits | American Airlines Platinum Pro Status (Oneworld Emerald) |
|---|---|
| Loyalty Points Required | 125,000 |
| Complimentary upgrades on American and Alaska Airlines | ✔ |
| Mileage Bonus | 80% |
| Complimentary Main Cabin Extra Seats | ✔ |
| Complimentary Preferred Seats | ✔ |
| Checked Bags | 3 |
| Same-Day Standby Priority | ✔ |
| Priority Check-in, Security & Boarding | ✔ |
| Access to Service Desk | ✔ |
| Discounted Admirals Club Membership | ✔ |
| Unlimited, auto-requested complimentary upgrades including award tickets | ✔ |
| Complimentary upgrade for one companion traveling with you on the same flight | ✔ |
| Upgrades confirmed before departure | 72 hours |
| Complimentary same-day flight change | ✔ |
| Guaranteed availability in the Main Cabin | ✔ |
| Waitlist priority for purchased First or Business Class | X |
| Complimentary alcoholic beverage and snack in the Main Cabin | X |
| oneworld® priority check-in and standby | ✔ |
| oneworld® priority boarding | ✔ |
| oneworld® priority security | ✔ |
| oneworld® partner lounge access | Business & First Class Lounges |
American Airlines Executive Platinum (200,000 Loyalty Points)
Highlights:
- Complimentary upgrades on American and Alaska Airlines
- 100-hour upgrade window
- 120% status mileage bonus
- Complimentary Main Cabin Extra and Preferred Seats
- 3 free checked bags
- Priority bag delivery
- Same-day standby priority
- Priority Check-in, Security & Boarding
- Dedicated American Airlines Executive Platinum Phone Service Desk
- Discounted Admirals Club membership
- Oneworld Emerald Status: Oneworld priority check-in and standby, priority boarding, and priority security.
- Oneworld partner lounge access: First and Business Class and frequent flyer lounges
| Executive Platinum Benefits | American Airlines Executive Platinum (Oneworld Emerald) |
|---|---|
| Loyalty Points Required | 200,000 |
| Complimentary upgrades on American and Alaska Airlines | ✔ |
| 24-hour upgrade window | ✔ |
| Mileage Bonus | 120% |
| Complimentary Main Cabin Extra Seats | ✔ |
| Complimentary Preferred Seats | ✔ |
| Checked Bags | 3 |
| Same-Day Standby Priority | ✔ |
| Priority Check-in, Security & Boarding | ✔ |
| Access to Service Desk | ✔ |
| Discounted Admirals Club Membership | ✔ |
| Unlimited, auto-requested complimentary upgrades including award tickets | ✔ |
| Complimentary upgrade for 1 companion traveling with you on the same flight | ✔ |
| Upgrades confirmed before departure | 100 hours |
| Complimentary same-day flight change | ✔ |
| Guaranteed availability in the Main Cabin | ✔ |
| Waitlist priority for purchased First or Business Class | ✔ |
| Complimentary alcoholic beverage and snack in the Main Cabin | ✔ |
| oneworld® priority check-in and standby | ✔ |
| oneworld® priority boarding | ✔ |
| oneworld® priority security | ✔ |
| oneworld® partner lounge access | Business & First Class Lounges |
Loyalty Points Rewards
American Airlines also gives Loyalty Points Rewards after meeting certain thresholds, in addition to the elite status it provides.
The table below lists the additional rewards available to American Airlines elites after meeting specific goalposts.
| Milestone | Rewards |
|---|---|
| 15,000 Loyalty Points | Group 5 boarding Choose 1: Priority Privileges & Group 4 boarding (1 trip) OR 5 Preferred Seat Coupons |
| 40,000 Loyalty Points | American Airlines AAdvantage Gold Oneworld Ruby (Benefits in the preceding section) |
| 60,000 Loyalty Points | AVIS Preferred Plus Status 20% Loyalty Points bonus when spending with select partners |
| 75,000 Loyalty Points | American Airlines AAdvantage Platinum Oneworld Sapphire (Benefits in the preceding section) |
| 100,000 Loyalty Points | AVIS President’s Club Status 30% Loyalty Point bonus when spending with select partners |
| 125,000 Loyalty Points | American Airlines AAdvantage Platinum Pro Oneworld Emerald (Benefits in the preceding section) |
| 175,000 Loyalty Points | Choose 1: Systemwide Upgrades (2) 20,000 AAdvantage Bonus Miles (25,000 if an AAdvantage credit cardholder) 6 Admirals Club One-Day Passes $200 American Airlines Trip Credit (1) ($250 if an AAdvantage credit cardholder) 35,000 AAdvantage miles toward a Priceless Experience 15% off Award Discount (rebate post travel) 2 Gifts of AAdvantage Gold status Carbon emissions offset $250 Charitable Donation |
| 200,000 Loyalty Points | American Airlines AAdvantage Executive Platinum Oneworld Ruby (Benefits in the preceding section) |
| 250,000 Loyalty Points | Choose 2: Systemwide Upgrades (2) 20,000 AAdvantage Bonus Miles (30,000 if an AAdvantage credit cardholder) 6 Admirals Club One-Day Passes Admirals Club Membership (requires 2 choices) $200 American Airlines Trip Credit (1) ($250 if an AAdvantage credit cardholder) 35,000 AAdvantage miles toward a Priceless Experience 15% off Award Discount (rebate post travel) 2 Gifts of AAdvantage Gold status Carbon emissions offset $250 Charitable Donation 1 Flagship Lounge Single Visit (2 Flagship Lounge Visits if a cardholder) Bang & Olufsen product (requires 2 choices) |
| 400,000 – 3,000,000 Loyalty Points | Visit AA.com for details |
How to Earn American Airlines Loyalty Points
1. Fly With American Airlines and its Partners
Flying on American Airlines and its partners is the most straightforward way to earn American Airlines miles and loyalty points.
Make sure to type in your American Airlines AAdvantage account number when prompted to select where you want to credit your miles when flying with American Airlines partners.
| American Airlines OneWorld Alliance Partners |
|---|
| Alaska Airlines British Airways Cathay Pacific FinnAir Iberia Japan Airlines Malaysia Airlines Qantas Qatar Airways Royal Air Maroc Royal Jordanian SriLankan Airlines Fiji Airways (OneWorld Connect) Oman Air (Future Member) |
| American Airlines Codeshare Partners |
|---|
| Air Tahiti Nui Cape Air China Southern Airlines Etihad Airways Fiji Airways GOL Airlines Hawaiian Airlines IndiGo JetBlue Silver Airways |
2. American Airlines Credit Cards
Every dollar you spend using American Airlines credit cards will earn 1 Loyalty Point.
The more you spend, the closer you are to achieving American Airlines’ elite status.
Free Travel Miles and Points Facebook Group
If you are unsure which credit card to sign up for, please get in touch with us at our Travel Miles and Points Facebook Group or fill out this Credit Card Consultation Form. They are both free!
3. Shop Through The American Airlines AAdvantage Shopping Portal
By making purchases through the American Airlines shopping portal, you can earn redeemable miles and loyalty points from every purchase – sometimes even 5-12 miles & loyalty points per dollar at select merchants.
AAdvantage Shopping Portal Steps:
First, log in to the AAdvantage Shopping portal using your American Airlines AAdvantage account credentials.
Then, browse through thousands of popular retailers that offer bonus miles and loyalty points on purchases.
To visit a participating merchant’s website, click their name on the American Airlines AAdvantage shopping portal.
You will be automatically directed to the merchant’s website.
Then, shop as you normally would and expect to receive your bonus miles & loyalty points in your AAdvantage account within a few weeks, although it may happen sooner.
| Pro-Tips When Using the American Airlines Shopping Portal |
|---|
| Read the terms and conditions before purchasing. Some merchants only offer American Airlines bonus miles once per lifetime. |
| Shopping trips are only tracked when using Google Chrome, so ensure you opt for this browser. Also, consider installing the American Airlines shopping portal Google Chrome extension for alerts when purchasing at participating merchants. |
| If your bonus miles from the AA shopping portal did not show up, reach out to Customer Service. They have been pretty efficient in tracking shopping trips and awarding missing miles. |
Free to Sign Up: American Airlines AAdvantage Shopping Portal
4. Shop Through The SimplyMiles Shopping Portal
In addition to the American Airlines AAdvantage Shopping Portal, SimplyMiles is another portal that can generate American Airlines miles and loyalty points.
At present, SimplyMiles is compatible exclusively with Mastercard credit cards.
To receive American Airlines miles and loyalty points, you must first enroll your Mastercard credit card before making any purchases.
You don’t necessarily need an American Airlines AAdvantage co-branded Mastercard credit card to earn on SimplyMiles.
Linking any Mastercard, such as the Chase Freedom Flex® on SimplyMiles, can earn AA miles and loyalty points.
SimplyMiles Steps:
- Join SimplyMiles: Sign up using your AAdvantage number and Mastercard.
- Activate Offers: Activate your personalized and everyday offers.
- Earn Miles: Shop to earn miles for travel. Make sure you use the Mastercard you have enrolled in SimplyMiles.
Next time you shop online, check out the American Airlines AAdvantage Shopping Portal and SimplyMiles.
These avenues offer fantastic opportunities to accumulate American Airlines miles and Loyalty Points.
Enroll Your Mastercard on SimplyMiles
5. Book Your Hotels Through AAdvantage Hotels
BookAAHotels.com or AAdvantageHotels.com are online hotel booking portals that allow anyone to effortlessly earn American Airlines miles and loyalty points per night on qualifying stays.
All you need to do is create an account, link it to your American Airlines account, reserve your hotels, and wait for the miles and loyalty points to enter your American Airlines AAdvantage account after you complete your stay.
Lastly, these portals will also give extra miles if you own an American Airlines Credit Card and/or have American Airlines Status. Check out the table below.
| Credit Card/Elite Status | Extra Base Miles |
|---|---|
| No AA Credit Card / No Elite Status | No Extra Miles |
| AA Credit Card Holder | Earn up to 5 times more base miles on hotels |
| AA Elite | Earn up to 5 times more base miles on hotels |
| AA Credit Card Holder + AA Elite Status | Earn up to 10 times more base miles on hotels |
6. Link Your Account With Hyatt
American Airlines and Hyatt partnered in 2019, allowing AAdvantage and World of Hyatt members to earn miles and loyalty points on their flights and hotel stays.
Even if you don’t plan to fly soon, you can still receive miles for Hyatt hotel bookings if you have AAdvantage elite status.
Link Your American Airlines & Hyatt Accounts Here
7. Rent a Car with an American Airlines Partner
Many car rental companies like Avis and Budget partner with American Airlines.
By renting a car with one of these AA car rental partners, you don’t only earn redeemable miles for every dollar you spend, but you earn loyalty points as well.
Remember to indicate your American Airlines AAdvantage account number when renting a car.
8. Complete a Survey
Filling out a survey is a simple but effective way to earn redeemable miles and loyalty points.
In fact, the American Airlines AAdvantage program partners with various survey providers, rewarding members with redeemable miles and loyalty points for their time to fill out surveys.
Plus, survey-taking can be a convenient activity that can be completed from the comfort of your home.
So, if you want to earn American Airlines miles and loyalty points, consider taking advantage of the survey-taking opportunities offered by the AAdvantage program.
Earn Miles by Answering Surveys
9. Dine at a Participating Restaurant on the American Airlines Dining Portal
Dining at an American Airlines partner restaurant is a fantastic way to earn miles and loyalty points.
By registering your credit card with the American Airlines Dining Program and dining at a participating restaurant, you can earn miles and loyalty points for every dollar spent on your meals.
So next time you’re heading out to eat, check if the restaurant is an American Airlines partner so you can earn loyalty points towards American Airlines’ elite status.
| Pro-Tip |
|---|
| Sign up for the dining program using your American Airlines Advantage credentials and link your credit or debit card to earn bonus miles when dining at participating restaurants. Make sure to link a credit card that earns extra points when dining, such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or the American Express® Gold Card. |
Sign Up for the American Airlines Dining Portal
10. American Airlines Vacation Packages & Cruises
If you’re seeking to gain more miles and elite status and prolong the lifespan of your American Airlines AAdvantage miles, you can consider reserving your vacations or voyages directly with AA partners.
American Airlines offers packages through American Airlines Vacations or American Airlines Cruises, which can earn you a considerable number of bonus miles and loyalty points toward status.
| AA Vacations/AA Cruises | Points Earned |
|---|---|
| One Dollar | One Loyalty Point |
| American Airlines Credit Card Spend | An additional one Loyalty Point per dollar until Dec 2025 |
11. Link AA with Shell Fuel Rewards
American Airlines and Shell have recently entered into a partnership that will benefit customers of both companies.
Through the partnership, American Airlines customers can earn American Airlines miles and loyalty points when they purchase fuel at participating Shell stations.
Customers who enroll in the program will receive 2 American Airlines miles and Loyalty Points for every gallon of fuel purchased.
This offers American Airlines customers another way to earn miles for free flights, AA status, and other travel perks.
How Fuel Rewards Works:
- Join the AAdvantage program if you are not already a member
- Link your AAdvantage account to your Fuel Rewards account
- Ensure your first name and last name of your Fuel Rewards account match your AAdvantage account
- Earn 2 miles for each gallon of Shell fuel purchased at participating locations
- When selecting to earn AAdvantage miles, you will forfeit your Gold or Silver status fuel savings
Join the Shell Fuel Rewards Program
Final Thoughts
Earning American Airlines loyalty points and achieving elite status isn’t rocket science, but it does require a strategic approach to your travels and spending habits.
By flying strategically, using the right credit cards, leveraging partner programs, dining out wisely, and keeping an eye on promotions, you can work your way up the elite status ladder with American Airlines.
So, get out there, explore new destinations, and enjoy the perks that come with your elite status.
Safe travels, and may your American Airlines loyalty points soar as high as your dreams!
EDITORIAL DISCLOSURE – Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. The content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
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