Have you ever dreamt of transforming your everyday spending and travel into amazing flights, upgrades, and exclusive perks? Well, with American Airlines' AAdvantage program, that dream is entirely within reach! This comprehensive guide will walk you through every step of how to earn Loyalty Points, the key to unlocking elite status and a world of benefits with American Airlines.
Let's dive in and start accumulating those valuable Loyalty Points!
Unlocking the Skies: Your Guide to Earning Loyalty Points on American Airlines
American Airlines' AAdvantage program is designed to reward its most frequent and loyal customers. The core of this reward system lies in Loyalty Points. Unlike redeemable miles, which you use for flights and other awards, Loyalty Points are what determine your elite status. The more Loyalty Points you earn, the higher your status, and the better your travel experience becomes!
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| How Do You Get Loyalty Points On American Airlines |
Step 1: Join the AAdvantage Program (If You Haven't Already!)
This is the absolute first and most crucial step. Without an AAdvantage account, you can't earn Loyalty Points or miles.
How to Enroll:
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Visit the American Airlines Website: Head to aa.com and look for the "AAdvantage" section.
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Sign Up for Free: The AAdvantage program is completely free to join. You'll be asked to provide some basic personal information.
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Receive Your AAdvantage Number: Once registered, you'll immediately receive your unique AAdvantage number. Keep this number handy – it's your key to earning!
Tip: Even if you're a casual traveler, signing up is a no-brainer. You never know when a short trip might earn you some valuable points!
Step 2: Fly American Airlines and Its Partners
This is the most traditional way to earn Loyalty Points. When you fly with American Airlines, American Eagle, oneworld® alliance airlines, or other partner airlines, you'll earn eligible AAdvantage miles, and crucially, one Loyalty Point for every eligible AAdvantage mile earned.
Sub-heading: Earning on American Airlines Operated Flights
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Based on Fare and Status: For flights marketed and operated by American Airlines, the number of miles (and thus Loyalty Points) you earn is primarily based on the base fare of your ticket (excluding government-imposed taxes and fees) and your AAdvantage status.
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General Member: Earns 5 miles per U.S. dollar spent on eligible base fares.
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AAdvantage Gold®: Earns a 40% mileage bonus (7 miles per dollar).
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AAdvantage Platinum®: Earns a 60% mileage bonus (8 miles per dollar).
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AAdvantage Platinum Pro®: Earns an 80% mileage bonus (9 miles per dollar).
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AAdvantage Executive Platinum®: Earns a 120% mileage bonus (11 miles per dollar).
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Basic Economy tickets issued on or after January 1, 2023, for travel on or after March 1, 2023, earn miles at a lower rate of 2 miles per dollar.
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Always Provide Your AAdvantage Number: Ensure your AAdvantage number is added to your reservation before you fly to guarantee you receive credit.
Sub-heading: Earning on Partner Airlines
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oneworld® Alliance: American Airlines is a proud member of the oneworld® alliance, which includes airlines like British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Iberia, Japan Airlines, Qantas, and more. When you fly on these airlines, you can earn AAdvantage miles and Loyalty Points.
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Other Partner Airlines: American also has partnerships with other airlines outside of oneworld, such as Hawaiian Airlines and Etihad.
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Earning Calculation Varies: For partner airlines, mileage earning often depends on the distance flown and the fare class purchased, rather than the dollar amount spent. Always check the specific earning charts for each partner airline on the American Airlines website to understand how many miles you'll accrue.
Tip: Stop when confused — clarity comes with patience.
Step 3: Utilize American Airlines AAdvantage Credit Cards
This is a game-changer for earning Loyalty Points, especially for those who don't fly constantly. American Airlines partners with various banks (primarily Citi and Barclays in the U.S.) to offer co-branded credit cards.
Sub-heading: How Credit Card Spending Earns Loyalty Points
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1 Mile = 1 Loyalty Point: With most U.S.-issued AAdvantage credit cards, you'll earn one Loyalty Point for every eligible AAdvantage mile earned from purchases made on your card. This is incredibly straightforward and powerful.
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Bonus Categories: Many AAdvantage credit cards offer bonus miles on specific spending categories, such as American Airlines purchases, restaurants, gas stations, or grocery stores. While the bonus miles themselves might not always count as Loyalty Points, the base miles earned from these purchases typically do. Always review the specific terms and conditions of your credit card to confirm Loyalty Point eligibility.
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Sign-Up Bonuses: Many credit cards offer substantial sign-up bonuses in the form of AAdvantage miles after meeting a certain spending threshold. Important Note: Miles earned from sign-up bonuses generally do not count as Loyalty Points.
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No Expiration for Miles: A fantastic perk of being a primary AAdvantage credit card holder is that your AAdvantage miles will not expire as long as your card account remains open.
Consider getting an AAdvantage credit card if you're serious about accumulating Loyalty Points. The everyday spending can add up quickly!
Step 4: Engage with AAdvantage Partners (Beyond Flying)
American Airlines offers numerous ways to earn AAdvantage miles (and thus Loyalty Points) through a wide array of partners, even when you're not flying. These can be excellent ways to boost your Loyalty Point balance.
Sub-heading: AAdvantage eShoppingSM
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Online Shopping Portal: This is a fantastic way to earn miles on purchases you'd already be making. By logging into your AAdvantage eShoppingSM account and clicking through to participating online retailers, you can earn a certain number of miles per dollar spent.
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Loyalty Point Earning: Most miles earned through AAdvantage eShoppingSM will count as Loyalty Points. Always check the specific offer, as some special bonus mile promotions might not.
Sub-heading: AAdvantage DiningSM
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Dine Your Way to Miles: Link your credit or debit cards to your AAdvantage DiningSM account. When you dine at participating restaurants and pay with your linked card, you'll earn AAdvantage miles.
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Loyalty Point Earning: Miles earned through AAdvantage DiningSM do count as Loyalty Points.
Sub-heading: AAdvantage Hotels™
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Book Hotel Stays: When you book eligible hotel stays through aadvantagehotels.com, you can earn a significant number of AAdvantage miles, often 10 miles per dollar spent.
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Loyalty Point Earning: Miles earned from eligible hotel bookings through AAdvantage Hotels™ do count as Loyalty Points. This can be a very lucrative earning method!
Sub-heading: Car Rentals
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Partner Agencies: Earn miles and Loyalty Points when you rent cars from American Airlines' preferred partners like Avis, Budget, Hertz, Thrifty, and others.
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Bonus Offers: Look out for special promotions that offer bonus miles on rentals, which can further accelerate your Loyalty Point accumulation.
Sub-heading: SimplyMiles™
Tip: Slow down at important lists or bullet points.
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Card-Linked Offers: SimplyMiles™ allows you to earn miles when you activate offers and shop with participating brands in-store and online using your linked credit card.
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Loyalty Point Earning: Miles earned through SimplyMiles™ do count towards Loyalty Points.
Sub-heading: American Airlines Vacations
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Bundle and Save: When you book a vacation package (flight + hotel, or flight + car, etc.) through American Airlines Vacations, you'll earn AAdvantage miles and Loyalty Points.
Sub-heading: Other Partners
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Utilities, Flowers, and More: American Airlines has a variety of other partners, including utility providers, floral delivery services, and more, where you can earn miles and Loyalty Points. Explore the "Earn Miles" section on the AAdvantage website to discover the full range of opportunities.
Step 5: Understand Loyalty Point Rewards and Elite Status Tiers
Earning Loyalty Points isn't just about reaching elite status; it's also about unlocking Loyalty Point Rewards along the way. These rewards offer immediate benefits even before you hit a specific status tier.
Sub-heading: Loyalty Point Reward Tiers (Examples)
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15,000 Loyalty Points: May unlock benefits like Group 5 boarding.
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60,000 Loyalty Points: Could offer a Loyalty Point bonus with select partners or Avis Preferred Plus status.
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Higher Tiers: As you accumulate more Loyalty Points, you'll unlock increasingly valuable rewards, such as Systemwide Upgrades, bonus miles, and more.
Sub-heading: AAdvantage Elite Status Tiers
The ultimate goal of earning Loyalty Points for many is to achieve elite status. This unlocks a suite of benefits that significantly enhance your travel experience.
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AAdvantage Gold® (40,000 Loyalty Points):
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40% mileage bonus on eligible flights
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Complimentary upgrades on domestic flights within North America (when available)
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First checked bag free
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Priority check-in, security, and Group 4 boarding
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oneworld® Ruby status
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AAdvantage Platinum® (75,000 Loyalty Points):
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60% mileage bonus on eligible flights
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Complimentary upgrades on domestic flights within North America (higher priority than Gold)
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First two checked bags free
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Priority check-in, security, and Group 3 boarding
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oneworld® Sapphire status
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AAdvantage Platinum Pro® (125,000 Loyalty Points):
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80% mileage bonus on eligible flights
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Complimentary upgrades on domestic and international flights
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First three checked bags free
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Priority check-in, security, and Group 2 boarding
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oneworld® Emerald status
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AAdvantage Executive Platinum® (200,000 Loyalty Points):
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120% mileage bonus on eligible flights
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Highest priority for complimentary upgrades
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First three checked bags free
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Priority check-in, security, and Group 1 boarding
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Complimentary food and drinks in Main Cabin
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oneworld® Emerald status (highest alliance status)
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Remember, the qualification period for Loyalty Points runs from March 1st to the last day of February of the following year.
Step 6: Monitor Your Progress and Maximize Earnings
Keeping track of your Loyalty Points and strategically planning your earning activities is key to success.
Sub-heading: Check Your AAdvantage Account Regularly
Tip: Make mental notes as you go.
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Online Account: Log in to your AAdvantage account on aa.com or through the American Airlines app. You can view your Loyalty Point balance, progress towards status, and upcoming trips.
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Mileage and Loyalty Point Posting:
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For American Airlines flights: Miles and Loyalty Points typically post within 1-3 days of travel.
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For partner airlines and other partner transactions: Allow up to 30 days for activity to post. It's always a good idea to keep receipts until your points are credited.
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Sub-heading: Strategize Your Spending
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Concentrate Spending: If you have an AAdvantage credit card, try to concentrate your everyday spending on it to maximize Loyalty Point earnings.
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Leverage Bonuses: Take advantage of any bonus mile offers from AAdvantage partners (e.g., eShopping, Dining) to accumulate Loyalty Points faster.
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Consider Loyalty Point Bonuses: At certain Loyalty Point thresholds, you may unlock Loyalty Point bonuses for future partner spending, making it even easier to reach higher tiers.
Earning Loyalty Points on American Airlines is a marathon, not a sprint. By consistently flying with American and its partners, strategically using your AAdvantage credit card, and leveraging the wide network of AAdvantage partners, you'll be well on your way to enjoying the fantastic benefits of elite status and making your travel experience truly rewarding!
Frequently Asked Questions about American Airlines Loyalty Points
Here are 10 common questions about earning Loyalty Points on American Airlines, with quick answers:
How to check my American Airlines Loyalty Point balance?
You can check your Loyalty Point balance by logging into your AAdvantage account on the American Airlines website (aa.com) or through the American Airlines mobile app.
How to earn Loyalty Points without flying?
You can earn Loyalty Points without flying by using an AAdvantage co-branded credit card for everyday purchases, shopping through AAdvantage eShopping, dining with AAdvantage Dining, booking hotels through AAdvantage Hotels, and renting cars with AAdvantage car rental partners.
How to know which credit card purchases earn Loyalty Points?
Generally, all eligible base miles earned from purchases on U.S.-issued AAdvantage credit cards count as Loyalty Points. However, bonus miles from sign-up offers or accelerated earning categories typically do not. Always refer to your specific credit card's terms and conditions.
How to make sure my flights count for Loyalty Points?
Ensure your AAdvantage number is added to your reservation before you fly. For partner airlines, verify their earning policies on the American Airlines website.
Tip: A slow skim is better than a rushed read.
How to merge multiple AAdvantage accounts to consolidate Loyalty Points?
If you have duplicate AAdvantage accounts, you can request to merge them by logging into the account you wish to keep and following the instructions to merge it with your other account on aa.com.
How to keep my AAdvantage miles from expiring?
As long as you have qualifying activity (earning or redeeming miles) at least once every 24 months, your miles will not expire. Primary AAdvantage credit cardmembers also have their miles' expiration waived as long as their account is open.
How to understand the AAdvantage elite status qualification period?
The qualification period for earning Loyalty Points for elite status runs from March 1st through the last day of February of the following year.
How to earn Loyalty Points faster?
Focus on high-earning activities such as flights with American and its partners (especially if you have elite status), maximizing spending on your AAdvantage credit card, and utilizing AAdvantage Hotels, eShopping, and Dining programs.
How to use Loyalty Point Rewards?
As you accumulate Loyalty Points, you'll automatically unlock Loyalty Point Rewards at specific thresholds. American Airlines will notify you when you've reached a reward level, and you can usually select your desired reward through your AAdvantage account online.
How to find out which American Airlines partners earn Loyalty Points?
Visit the "Earn Miles" section on the American Airlines AAdvantage website (
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