Travel

Chasing American Airlines elite standing? Here are 14 methods to earn Loyalty Points

December 1, 2022

495

This story has been up to date with new info.

In early March 2022, American Airlines switched from elite qualifying miles, {dollars} and segments to Loyalty Points, its new elite standing qualifying metric.

Nowadays, the variety of Loyalty Points you earn is basically tied to your spending as an alternative of how a lot you fly. As a consequence, you’ll theoretically be capable to spend your option to top-tier Executive Platinum standing with out stepping foot on a aircraft — not that we essentially suggest doing that.

Beyond flights, you’ll be capable to earn Loyalty Points by spending and interesting with American Airlines’ companions. Goodbye last-minute mileage runs and howdy strategic flower orders.

Here are a number of the finest methods to earn Loyalty Points to earn American Airlines elite standing.

Flying American Airlines

The conventional option to earn elite standing — by flying on the airline — has been revamped as a part of this system’s overhaul.

Now, you’ll earn 1 Loyalty Point for every redeemable AAdvantage mile from flying on American. Depending in your standing tier, redeemable miles are awarded at a multiplier between 5 instances and 11 instances your base ticket value.

General member: 5 miles per greenback.
Gold: 7 miles per greenback.
Platinum: 8 miles per greenback.
Platinum Pro: 9 miles per greenback.
Executive Platinum: 11 miles per greenback.

For simple arithmetic, for those who paid $200 for a ticket (earlier than taxes) from New York to Los Angeles, you’d earn 1,000 AAdvantage miles and 1,000 Loyalty Points as a common member with no elite standing. If a top-tier American Executive Platinum member booked the identical ticket, they’d earn 2,200 AAdvantage miles and a couple of,200 Loyalty Points.

You’ll not must preserve monitor of elite qualifying miles, {dollars} or segments. One redeemable mile earned from flying on American will translate to 1 Loyalty Point.

Flying on companion airways

When flying with one in every of American’s airline companions, issues get just a little extra sophisticated. You’ll proceed to earn redeemable AAdvantage miles based mostly on the cabin bought, the space flown and your elite standing for companion tickets. The solely exception is JetBlue, which earns miles based mostly on ticket price.

When crediting a companion flight to American AAdvantage that hasn’t been purchased instantly with American, you’ll need to take a look at the earnings tables on American’s devoted companion webpage. Once you’ve recognized your fare class and flight distance, you possibly can compute what number of redeemable miles you’ll earn from a given flight.

All the redeemable miles you earn will contribute to your Loyalty Points steadiness at a 1:1 ratio.

For instance, for those who splurged for a reduced British Airways enterprise class fare from New York to London, you’d earn 5,177 redeemable miles (3,451 base miles for the flight distance with a 50% cabin bonus), which interprets to five,177 Loyalty Points.

Suppose you’re a top-tier Executive Platinum member. In that case, you’d additionally obtain a 120% elite bonus on the miles earned, bringing your whole redeemable miles to eight,455 (3,451 base miles multiplied by the 1.20 elite bonus + 4,314) — and your Loyalty Points to eight,455.

American’s distinctive partnership with JetBlue awards miles (and subsequently Loyalty Points) based mostly on the ticket fare utilizing the identical framework as for those who flew American.

Credit card spending

This one is fairly easy: For each greenback you spend on a cobranded American Airlines bank card, you’ll earn 1 Loyalty Point. Eligible playing cards embody all Citi AAdvantage, Barclays AAdvantage Aviator bank cards (apart from the no-annual-fee AAdvantage Aviator Mastercard, which earns 0.5 Loyalty Points per greenback on purchases) and AAdvantage playing cards issued outdoors the U.S. (although you may need to contact your issuer for his or her precise phrases).

Some widespread cobranded American playing cards embody:

The info for the CitiEnterprise AAdvantage Platinum Select and AAdvantage Aviator Red playing cards has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or supplied by the cardboard issuer.

With this modification, American made it extra easy to earn elite standing by way of spending alone. Note that you just nonetheless need to fly 30 segments per yr to have the ability to choose elite alternative rewards on the Platinum Pro and Executive Platinum ranges.

Unfortunately, sign-up bonuses, limited-time spending presents and bonus class multipliers (groceries, fuel, eating, and many others.) are excluded from incomes Loyalty Points, so you’ll earn 1 Loyalty Point per greenback you spend.

Loyalty Points enhance on choose playing cards

These playing cards will earn bonus Loyalty Points after hitting sure spending thresholds:

AAdvantage Aviator Silver Mastercard cardmembers: Between Jan. 1, 2022, and Feb. 28, 2023, spend $20,000 on eligible purchases and earn 5,000 further Loyalty Points. Then, earn one other 5,000 Loyalty Points for those who spend $40,000 on purchases and one other 5,000 Loyalty Points for those who spend $50,000 or extra on purchases on this time-frame. So for those who spend $50,000 in your card in the course of the qualification interval, you’ll earn 15,000 Loyalty Points.
Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®: Earn 10,000 further Loyalty Points after you spend $40,000 in purchases in the course of the qualifying standing yr.

The info for the AAdvantage Aviator Silver card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or supplied by the cardboard issuer.

Dining out (or ordering in)

Depending on how a lot you dine out, you may even be capable to eat your means towards elite standing. The miles you earn by way of the AAdvantage Dining program depend as Loyalty Points.

Participating within the eating rewards program is straightforward. Just join an account and hyperlink your favourite bank cards. Then, you’ll earn miles whenever you dine at a taking part restaurant or order takeout instantly. You can earn 5 AAdvantage miles per greenback spent for those who’re a VIP member (earned whenever you make 11 transactions in a calendar yr and you have chose to obtain electronic mail communication from AAdvantage Dining), 3 AAdvantage miles per greenback spent as a web based member (for those who elect to obtain electronic mail communication from AAdvantage Dining) and 1 AAdvantage mile per greenback spent as an everyday member.

AAdvantage Dining usually presents a welcome bonus for brand new members, although these miles aren’t eligible for Loyalty Points accrual.

Shopping

Likewise, you possibly can earn Loyalty Points by way of the AAdvantage eShopping on-line procuring portal or the SimplyMiles program.

Miles earned by way of these procuring packages depend towards incomes Loyalty Points at a 1:1 charge. And in truth, you possibly can doubtlessly stack the earnings within the packages to make elite progress rapidly with the appropriate presents.

The AAdvantage eShopping on-line procuring portal is only one of many on-line procuring portals you possibly can click on by way of earlier than making on-line purchases with choose retailers comparable to Home Depot, Apple, Walmart, Best Buy and lots of extra. When you achieve this, you’ll earn American Airlines miles on the acquisition — sometimes as a multiplier of the price of your buy.

However, use a procuring portal aggregator to make sure one other procuring portal isn’t providing a considerably higher payout.

The SimplyMiles program is much like Amex Offers in that it allows you to add merchant-specific presents to a credit score or debit card and earn AAdvantage miles whenever you use that card to make a web based or in-store buy with the service provider. For the MerelyMiles program, you’ll must stay within the U.S., maintain a legitimate Mastercard, and enroll. Once enrolled, you possibly can browse presents and activate those that you just need to use. Miles are credited to your account whenever you make a purchase order with the taking part service provider.

Further, American has confirmed that you just’ll earn factors when procuring instantly by way of retailers like Vinesse, FTD and Vivid Seats.

Hotel stays

It’s generally simple to overlook, however American Airlines AAdvantage members can earn miles when staying at inns. We don’t sometimes advise doing that because you usually miss out on incomes resort factors, however it could make sense for those who’d get extra use out of American miles than resort factors.

Any “base miles” earned from spending with resort companions will depend towards Loyalty Points.

Choose to earn miles as an alternative of factors

As a fast recap, you earn the next variety of factors with the next chains:

Bookaahotels.com: This portal is powered by Booking.com, and by making reservations instantly by way of it, you possibly can earn as much as 10,000 miles per night time (although, in actuality, most bookings earn far much less).
Hyatt: Earn 500 miles every keep, with the chance to earn extra with elite standing (extra on American’s partnership with Hyatt later).
Marriott: Earn 1-2 AAdvantage miles per greenback spent on qualifying costs. Upscale manufacturers like Ritz-Carlton and JW Marriott earn 2 miles per greenback, whereas price range manufacturers like Aloft and Moxy earn simply 1 mile per greenback.
IHG: Earn 1-2 miles per greenback on qualifying room costs. Stays at Candlewood Suites and Staybridge Suites earn 1 mile per greenback, whereas different manufacturers earn 2 miles per greenback.
Rocketmiles: Earn as much as 10,000 miles per night time reserving by way of this on-line journey company.

When reserving with Hyatt, Marriott and IHG, you will need to log in to your resort loyalty program account and choose to earn miles with AAdvantage as an alternative of resort factors. Make certain you are taking that step earlier than reserving if Loyalty Points are your incomes precedence.

American Airlines-Hyatt partnership

American Airlines AAdvantage and World of Hyatt launched a partnership in 2019 to permit elite members from each loyalty packages to earn bonus factors and miles on stays and flights. American elite members earn 1 AAdvantage mile per greenback spent on Hyatt stays and Hyatt elite members earn bonus factors on American flights.

So for those who’re already an American Airlines elite and also you have a tendency to remain at Hyatt properties (or can change your journey plans to take action), you would rack up lots of additional AAdvantage miles, thus Loyalty Points, in your resort bookings. However, whilst you can switch varied resort factors to AAdvantage miles, these transfers is not going to depend towards incomes Loyalty Points per this system guidelines.

When you register by Dec. 28, there is a standing problem for Explorist and Globalist members, however extra on that later.

Vacation packages

American Airlines has lengthy provided a trip package deal service that permits you to bundle flights, inns, rental vehicles, or any mixture. These packages generally supply barely higher offers than for those who had been to guide your flight, resort and automotive individually.

Plus, you’ll earn 1,000 AAdvantage for each trip package deal you guide and might earn as much as 25,000 miles whenever you guide featured inns.

As all the time, run the numbers earlier than you guide a trip package deal over reserving instantly. Also, notice that you almost certainly received’t earn resort factors and elite standing on inns booked as part of a package deal.

Cruises

American presents the flexibility to guide cruises instantly by way of its web site; any miles you earn will depend towards Loyalty Points. You can earn 1 AAdvantage mile per greenback spent on cruise sailings by way of Dec. 31, 2024, as much as 10,000 AAdvantage miles. In addition, these with an AAdvantage cobranded bank card earn an extra mile per greenback spent.

If you’re a cruiser seeking to accumulate AAdvantage miles and Loyalty Points, it could pay to make a reservation by way of American’s cruise portal.

Renting vehicles

AAdvantage miles earned with rental vehicles will depend as Loyalty Points. The variety of Loyalty Points and redeemable AAdvantage miles you’ll earn is dependent upon the rental automotive companion you guide with.

For instance, with Avis and Budget members can earn not less than 2 base miles for each greenback spent on all qualifying leases at taking part airport rental places within the U.S., Canada, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean. Plus, you’ll earn 1 Loyalty Point for each AAdvantage base mile earned.

Depending on how usually you lease vehicles, this could possibly be a great way to pad your Loyalty Points steadiness.

Remember that you just received’t normally earn rental automotive factors whenever you credit score leases to American, so take into account whether or not that’s value it. You might come out forward with American miles on shorter leases however earn extra rental automotive factors on longer and dearer leases.

Filling up your automotive

American participates within the Fuel Rewards program by Shell. When filling up at a Shell location, you’ll obtain 2 miles per gallon of gas, which counts as Loyalty Points. New members earn 100 miles only for becoming a member of and finishing their first fill-up at Shell, however these 100 miles will not earn Loyalty Points.

Paying utility payments

American at the moment companions with three utility firms: NRG Energy, Reliant Energy and Xoom.

American has confirmed that exercise by way of these companions will depend towards Loyalty Points, making this a straightforward option to earn standing with out a lot legwork. Just bear in mind that a number of of those firms supply electrical energy at variable charges, so there could be some volatility in your month-to-month payments. Also, notice that these providers are solely accessible in choose states.

Note that these providers supply welcome bonuses, however you might not earn Loyalty Points from mentioned bonuses.

Taking surveys

Miles for Opinions means that you can earn American Airlines miles for finishing surveys on varied matters. American has confirmed that miles earned by way of this companion will depend towards Loyalty Points.

There’s no financial price to take part, so that you’ll earn Loyalty Points for “free.” However, bear in mind that it takes lots of answering inquiries to earn a small variety of miles this fashion, so take into account the worth of your time.

Status match and problem

American has relationships with many firms, so you might be eligible for a standing match or problem by way of your employer’s company journey company. Ask your journey division to see for those who’re eligible.

Additionally, there’s at the moment an American Airline standing choice for World of Hyatt Explorist and Globalist members. When you register by Dec. 28, Hyatt Explorist and Globalist members who’ve linked (or will hyperlink their accounts by Dec. 12) are eligible for American Airlines standing from American’s Instant Status Pass. Explorist and Globalist members obtain instantaneous Platinum and Platinum Pro standing, respectively. Status is legitimate for 4 months after registering, and you will have to earn a sure variety of Loyalty Points to increase or improve your standing for an additional 4 months.

What exercise doesn’t depend

Unfortunately, not all mileage incomes counts as Loyalty Points.

As talked about, you received’t earn Loyalty Points for cobranded bank card sign-up bonuses, limited-time spending presents or multipliers on sure classes, like grocery shops and eating. As mentioned, most AAdvantage cardholders will earn 1 mile per greenback spent, no matter the kind of buy.

Further, you received’t earn Loyalty Points for miles earned from particular promotions or these accrued by way of purchase, reward or switch transactions. This restriction consists of miles transferred between particular person accounts and people transformed from one other loyalty program foreign money, comparable to Marriott Bonvoy.

Unfortunately, American confirmed that you just wouldn’t earn Loyalty Points by way of Bask Bank curiosity. A Bask Bank mileage financial savings account means that you can rack up American Airlines miles as an alternative of money in your financial savings. That mentioned, by way of Dec. 15, whenever you deposit $25,000, you may earn 5,000 AAdvantage Loyalty Points after sustaining the steadiness for 105 consecutive days.

Finally, American’s periodic donation campaigns don’t depend towards incomes Loyalty Points. For occasion, if you wish to earn American AAdvantage miles whereas donating to charity, you possibly can earn 10 miles for each greenback you give to Stand Up To Cancer whenever you donate $25 or extra right here. The donation touchdown web page particularly states, “Bonus miles do not count toward elite-status qualification.”

Bottom line

There are a number of methods to earn American elite standing with out stepping on a aircraft. Although you finally might spend extra time and/or cash crediting American Airlines companion transactions to this system than you beforehand would have, there at the moment are many extra choices than there have been within the earlier program.

Additionally, having a cobranded AAdvantage bank card shall be extraordinarily helpful with the brand new qualification scheme. That mentioned, non-cardholders will nonetheless be capable to progress towards standing by partaking with American’s different companions, together with the eating reward program and on-line procuring portal.

You’ll have to have a look at your elite standing targets and deliberate journey for the remainder of the standing yr and determine whether or not the chance price of committing to American’s non-travel companions is value it to qualify for AAdvantage elite standing.

Additional reporting by Ehsan Haque, Andrew Kunesh, Chris Dong, Eric Rosen, Katie Genter, Zach Griff and Kyle Olsen.