Earning American Airlines Loyalty Points is your ticket to unlocking valuable AAdvantage® elite status and a world of travel perks. Forget complicated calculations – American Airlines has streamlined its program so that almost every eligible AAdvantage® mile you earn also counts as a Loyalty Point. This makes it easier than ever to climb the status ladder!
So, are you ready to elevate your travel experience? Let's dive in!
Step 1: Your Foundation – Join the AAdvantage® Program!
Before you can start accumulating those precious Loyalty Points, you need to be a member of American Airlines' frequent flyer program, AAdvantage®.
How to Join:
Visit the American Airlines Website: Head over to aa.com and look for the "Join" or "Sign Up" option, usually located in the top right corner.
Provide Your Information: You'll need to input some basic details like your name, date of birth, and address. Ensure this information matches your government-issued ID to avoid any issues with your future travel.
Receive Your AAdvantage® Number: Once registered, you'll get your unique AAdvantage® number. This is your key to earning!
Engage with us right now! Have you already joined AAdvantage®? If not, take a moment to sign up – it's quick, free, and the essential first step on your journey to elite status!
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| How To Earn American Airlines Loyalty Points |
Step 2: The Core – Earning Loyalty Points Through Flights
Flying with American Airlines and its partners is a primary way to earn Loyalty Points. The more you fly, and the more you spend on eligible tickets, the faster you'll accrue them.
Sub-heading 2.1: Flying American Airlines
When you fly on flights marketed and operated by American Airlines, your Loyalty Point earnings are primarily based on the fare you pay.
Base Miles = Loyalty Points: For most eligible fares, you'll earn 5 AAdvantage® miles (and thus 5 Loyalty Points) for every U.S. dollar spent on the base fare and carrier-imposed fees (excluding government taxes and fees).
Basic Economy Exception: For Basic Economy tickets, you'll earn 2 AAdvantage® miles (and 2 Loyalty Points) per U.S. dollar spent.
Elite Status Bonuses: If you already hold AAdvantage® elite status, you'll earn a bonus on your base miles, and these bonus miles also count as Loyalty Points!
AAdvantage Gold®: 40% mileage bonus
AAdvantage Platinum®: 60% mileage bonus
AAdvantage Platinum Pro®: 80% mileage bonus
AAdvantage Executive Platinum®: 120% mileage bonus
Example: If a Platinum member spends $500 on an eligible American Airlines fare, they would earn 5 base miles/dollar * $500 = 2,500 base miles. With their 60% bonus, they'd get an additional 1,500 bonus miles, for a total of 4,000 AAdvantage® miles and 4,000 Loyalty Points.
Sub-heading 2.2: Flying Partner Airlines
American Airlines is a proud member of the oneworld® alliance, and also partners with other airlines. You can earn Loyalty Points when flying with these partners.
oneworld® Alliance Members: This includes airlines like British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Finnair, Iberia, Japan Airlines, Qantas, Qatar Airways, and more.
Other Partner Airlines: American also has partnerships with airlines like Aer Lingus, GOL, Hawaiian Airlines, and others.
Earning on Partners: For partner flights, Loyalty Points (and miles) are generally earned based on a percentage of the distance flown, determined by your fare class. Cabin class multipliers and existing elite status bonuses also apply to your Loyalty Point earnings on partner flights.
Tip: Always provide your AAdvantage® number when booking or checking in for flights with American or its partners to ensure your Loyalty Points are credited.
QuickTip: Skim slowly, read deeply.
Step 3: Unleashing the Power of American Airlines Credit Cards
One of the easiest and fastest ways to rack up Loyalty Points, even without flying frequently, is through co-branded American Airlines credit cards.
Sub-heading 3.1: Citi® / AAdvantage® Credit Cards
Citi issues a range of personal and business AAdvantage® credit cards.
1 Loyalty Point per Dollar: For nearly all purchases made on these cards, you will earn 1 Loyalty Point for every $1 spent on eligible purchases. This is crucial because it means your everyday spending directly contributes to your elite status!
Bonus Categories: Some cards offer bonus miles on specific spending categories (e.g., dining, gas, American Airlines purchases). While you earn bonus miles in these categories, it's important to note that only the base miles from these purchases will typically count as Loyalty Points. For example, if a card offers 2 miles per dollar on dining, you'll earn 2 AAdvantage® miles, but only 1 Loyalty Point per dollar spent on dining.
Welcome Offers: Generous welcome bonuses often come with these cards, providing a large sum of AAdvantage® miles. However, these bonus miles typically do NOT count as Loyalty Points. Focus on meeting the spending requirements to earn the bonus miles, but understand that the Loyalty Points earned from those purchases will be at the standard rate.
Examples of Popular Cards:
Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite™ Mastercard®: Often a good entry point with bonus miles on AA purchases, restaurants, and gas stations.
Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite™ Mastercard®: Comes with Admirals Club® lounge membership and offers a higher earning rate on American Airlines purchases. This card can also offer Loyalty Point bonuses after reaching certain spending thresholds within a qualification year.
AAdvantage® MileUp® Mastercard®: A no-annual-fee option that still earns Loyalty Points.
Sub-heading 3.2: Barclays AAdvantage Aviator Mastercards
Barclays also offers a suite of AAdvantage® credit cards. Similar to Citi cards, these cards typically offer:
1 Loyalty Point per Dollar: For every $1 spent on eligible purchases, you'll earn 1 Loyalty Point.
Annual Fee Cards: Often come with benefits like free checked bags, preferred boarding, and sometimes even a companion certificate.
No Annual Fee Options: Like the Citi MileUp card, there are often no-annual-fee options that allow you to earn Loyalty Points on your everyday spending.
Key Takeaway: If your goal is AAdvantage® elite status, using an American Airlines co-branded credit card for all your regular spending is a highly effective strategy.
Step 4: Beyond Flights and Cards – Leveraging AAdvantage® Partners
American Airlines has an extensive network of partners where you can earn AAdvantage® miles that also convert into Loyalty Points. Don't leave any points on the table!
Sub-heading 4.1: AAdvantage® eShopping Portal
Shop Online and Earn: This is a fantastic way to earn Loyalty Points for purchases you'd make anyway. Simply visit aadvantageeshopping.com, log in with your AAdvantage® number, and then click through to your favorite online retailers.
Thousands of Stores: The portal features over 1,200 online stores, from major department stores to specialty shops.
Bonus Offers: Look out for increased mileage rates during special promotions, which can significantly boost your Loyalty Point earnings. Remember, the base miles earned through the portal count as Loyalty Points, but any special bonus miles for meeting spending thresholds usually do not.
Sub-heading 4.2: AAdvantage® Dining Program
Tip: Write down what you learned.
Dine Out and Earn: Link your credit or debit cards to your AAdvantage® Dining account. When you dine at participating restaurants (in-person or takeout/delivery) and pay with a linked card, you'll earn AAdvantage® miles and Loyalty Points.
Frequent Bonuses: New member bonuses and extra miles for frequent diners are common.
Sub-heading 4.3: Hotel Stays
American Airlines partners with various hotel chains and booking platforms.
Direct Hotel Partners: Earn miles and Loyalty Points when booking directly with partners like Hyatt, Marriott Bonvoy, and IHG.
AAdvantage® Hotels: Book through aadvantagehotels.com (powered by Booking.com) to earn miles and Loyalty Points on your hotel stays. This often provides higher earning rates than direct bookings.
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Sub-heading 4.4: Car Rentals
Rent a Car and Earn: Partner with major car rental companies like Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Hertz, and more. When you book and complete your rental, ensure your AAdvantage® number is added to earn miles and Loyalty Points.
Sub-heading 4.5: Cruises and Vacation Packages
Vacation and Earn: Book cruises or complete vacation packages through American Airlines Vacations or partner cruise lines to earn miles and Loyalty Points.
Sub-heading 4.6: SimplyMiles®
Activate Offers: Link your Mastercard® to your SimplyMiles® account and activate personalized offers from various merchants. When you make an eligible purchase with your linked card, you'll earn AAdvantage® miles and Loyalty Points. It's like a targeted shopping portal for your existing credit cards.
Sub-heading 4.7: Other Retail and Lifestyle Partners
Home Services, Utilities, and More: American Airlines has a diverse range of partners, from utility providers to home security services, even wine clubs (Vinesse's American Cellars Wine Club). Explore the "Earn Miles" section on aa.com to find unique opportunities to earn.
AAdvantage® Events: A newer platform that allows you to earn Loyalty Points (and miles) on tickets to concerts, sporting events, theater, and more.
Step 5: Understanding Loyalty Point Qualification Periods
It's important to know when your Loyalty Points count towards status qualification.
Qualification Year: The American Airlines AAdvantage® status qualification year runs from March 1st to the last day of February of the following year.
Status Period: Once you qualify for a certain status, it's generally valid from the date you qualify through March 31st of the following year.
Credit Card Postings: Loyalty Points from credit card spending are based on the transaction date and post according to your statement closing date. American Airlines has specific rules for how credit card Loyalty Points earned around the March 1st cut-off are allocated to the correct qualification year. Be aware that Loyalty Points earned from transactions made between your February statement close date and February 28th will count towards the current status year, while those from March 1st onwards will count towards the next.
Step 6: Tracking Your Progress and Reaching Status Tiers
American Airlines makes it easy to monitor your Loyalty Point earnings.
QuickTip: Revisit this post tomorrow — it’ll feel new.
Your AAdvantage® Account: Log in to your AAdvantage® account on aa.com or through the American Airlines app. You'll see your current Loyalty Point balance and progress towards the next elite status tier.
Elite Status Tiers and Requirements:
AAdvantage Gold®: 40,000 Loyalty Points
AAdvantage Platinum®: 75,000 Loyalty Points
AAdvantage Platinum Pro®: 125,000 Loyalty Points
AAdvantage Executive Platinum®: 200,000 Loyalty Points
Loyalty Point Rewards: Even before you hit elite status, you can unlock Loyalty Point Rewards at various thresholds (e.g., 15,000, 30,000 Loyalty Points). These rewards can include bonus Loyalty Points, systemwide upgrades, Admirals Club® One Day Passes, and more, further enhancing your journey.
Step 7: Maximizing Your Loyalty Point Earnings
To truly fast-track your way to American Airlines elite status, consider these strategies:
Consolidate Spending: Use your American Airlines co-branded credit card for all your everyday purchases, from groceries to bills. This is arguably the most straightforward way to earn a significant number of Loyalty Points.
Utilize Shopping and Dining Portals: Before making any online purchase, check the AAdvantage® eShopping portal. Similarly, link your cards to AAdvantage® Dining and patronize participating restaurants. These are easy wins for earning.
Targeted Offers: Keep an eye out for special promotions from American Airlines and its partners that offer bonus miles, as these often translate directly into bonus Loyalty Points.
Fly Smart: If you have flight flexibility, choose American Airlines or its oneworld® partners. Consider fare classes that offer higher mileage accrual if elite status is a priority.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) on Earning American Airlines Loyalty Points
Here are 10 common questions with quick answers to help you further master the art of earning American Airlines Loyalty Points:
How to earn Loyalty Points by flying American Airlines?
You earn Loyalty Points based on the fare you pay for eligible tickets. Generally, it's 5 Loyalty Points per U.S. dollar spent on the base fare and carrier-imposed fees, with Basic Economy earning 2 Loyalty Points per dollar. Elite status bonuses also convert to Loyalty Points.
How to earn Loyalty Points with American Airlines credit cards?
For nearly all eligible purchases, you earn 1 Loyalty Point for every $1 spent on your American Airlines co-branded credit card (Citi or Barclays). Welcome bonuses on new cards typically do not count as Loyalty Points, but the spending required to earn them does.
How to earn Loyalty Points through partner airlines?
You earn Loyalty Points when flying with oneworld® alliance members and other American Airlines partners. The earning rate is typically based on a percentage of the flight distance and your fare class, with cabin class and elite status bonuses also applying.
How to use the AAdvantage® eShopping portal to earn Loyalty Points?
QuickTip: Read a little, pause, then continue.
Visit aadvantageeshopping.com, log in, and click through to your desired online retailer. Any eligible miles earned from your purchases will automatically convert into Loyalty Points.
How to earn Loyalty Points with AAdvantage® Dining?
Link your credit/debit cards to your AAdvantage® Dining account. When you pay with a linked card at participating restaurants, you'll earn miles and Loyalty Points.
How to earn Loyalty Points on hotel stays?
Book hotels through aadvantagehotels.com or directly with partner hotel chains like Hyatt, Marriott Bonvoy, and IHG to earn AAdvantage® miles and corresponding Loyalty Points.
How to earn Loyalty Points from car rentals?
Rent from American Airlines' car rental partners (e.g., Avis, Budget, Hertz) and ensure your AAdvantage® number is added to your reservation to earn miles and Loyalty Points.
How to check my current Loyalty Point balance?
Log in to your AAdvantage® account on aa.com or through the American Airlines mobile app. Your Loyalty Point balance and progress towards status will be clearly displayed.
How to understand the Loyalty Point qualification year?
The AAdvantage® status qualification year runs from March 1st to the last day of February of the following year. Loyalty Points earned during this period determine your status for the subsequent year.
How to maximize Loyalty Point earnings quickly?
Prioritize using an American Airlines co-branded credit card for all your spending, actively use the AAdvantage® eShopping and Dining portals, and consolidate your flight activity on American Airlines and its partners. Look for special promotions that offer bonus miles, as these often translate to Loyalty Points.
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