Have you ever dreamt of that elite travel experience – priority boarding, complimentary upgrades, free checked bags, and even lounge access? American Airlines' AAdvantage program, with its focus on Loyalty Points, has made achieving elite status more accessible than ever. Gone are the days of complex Elite Qualifying Miles (EQMs), Segments (EQSs), and Dollars (EQDs). Now, it's all about accumulating Loyalty Points. And the best part? You can earn them not just by flying, but through a variety of everyday activities!
This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know about earning American Airlines Loyalty Points, paving your way to a more rewarding travel journey.
Step 1: Embark on Your AAdvantage Journey – Join the Program!
Before you can start accumulating those valuable Loyalty Points, you need to be a part of the American Airlines AAdvantage program. Are you already a member? Fantastic! You can skip this step. If not, don't worry, it's quick and easy to sign up.
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Visit the Official American Airlines Website: Head over to aa.com.
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Locate the "Join" Option: You'll typically find this in the top right corner of the homepage.
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Complete the Enrollment Form: You'll be asked for basic information such as your name, date of birth, and contact details. Ensure this information matches your government-issued ID to avoid any issues with earning points or flying in the future.
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Receive Your AAdvantage Number: Once registered, you'll get a unique AAdvantage number. Keep this handy, as you'll need it for all future point-earning activities.
Congratulations! You're now officially on your path to American Airlines elite status.
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| How Do You Get American Airlines Loyalty Points |
Step 2: The Core of Earning – Understanding Loyalty Points
American Airlines has simplified its elite status qualification. Instead of multiple metrics, it's now primarily about Loyalty Points.
2.1 What are Loyalty Points?
Loyalty Points are the new currency for achieving AAdvantage elite status. Essentially, for almost every eligible AAdvantage mile you earn, you'll also earn one Loyalty Point. This direct correlation makes tracking your progress toward status incredibly straightforward. The more eligible AAdvantage miles you accumulate, the more Loyalty Points you earn, and the closer you get to unlocking valuable elite benefits.
2.2 Loyalty Point Requirements for Status
To give you an idea of what to aim for, here are the Loyalty Point thresholds for each AAdvantage elite status tier:
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AAdvantage Gold: 40,000 Loyalty Points
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AAdvantage Platinum: 75,000 Loyalty Points
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AAdvantage Platinum Pro: 125,000 Loyalty Points
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AAdvantage Executive Platinum: 200,000 Loyalty Points
Your Loyalty Point qualification year runs from March 1st to the last day of February of the following year. Your status will then be valid from the moment you qualify through March 31st of the next full year.
Step 3: Flying High – Earning Loyalty Points Through Air Travel
While not the only way to earn, flying remains a significant contributor to your Loyalty Point balance.
3.1 Flying American Airlines and American Eagle
When you fly on American Airlines and American Eagle, the number of Loyalty Points you earn is generally based on the price of your ticket (excluding government-imposed taxes and fees).
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General AAdvantage Members: Earn 5 Loyalty Points per dollar spent on eligible American Airlines airfare.
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Basic Economy Tickets: Earn a reduced rate of 2 Loyalty Points per dollar spent.
Remember, any status bonuses you earn (e.g., as a Gold or Platinum member) also count as Loyalty Points! This means if you already have status, you'll accelerate your earning even faster.
3.2 Flying on Partner Airlines (oneWorld and Others)
You can also earn Loyalty Points by flying on American's extensive network of partner airlines, including the oneWorld alliance members and other strategic partners.
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oneWorld Alliance Members: This includes airlines like British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Finnair, Iberia, Japan Airlines, Qantas, Qatar Airways, and more. When flying on oneWorld partners, Loyalty Point earnings are typically based on the distance of the flight and the fare class booked, similar to how AAdvantage miles are earned on these flights.
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Other Partner Airlines: American also has partnerships with airlines such as Aer Lingus, Air Tahiti Nui, GOL Airlines, and more. Earning rules may vary by partner, so it's always a good idea to check the specific earning charts on the American Airlines website for these partners.
Pro Tip: Always ensure your AAdvantage number is added to your booking when flying with partner airlines to ensure your Loyalty Points are credited.
Step 4: Swiping Your Way to Status – American Airlines Credit Cards
For many, using American Airlines co-branded credit cards is one of the fastest and easiest ways to accumulate a significant number of Loyalty Points.
4.1 How Credit Card Spending Translates to Loyalty Points
Generally, you'll earn 1 Loyalty Point for every $1 spent on eligible purchases using an American Airlines co-branded credit card. This applies to most Citi/AAdvantage cards and Barclays Aviator cards.
Important Note: While some credit cards offer bonus miles for spending in specific categories (like dining or gas), these bonus miles typically do not translate into additional Loyalty Points. You'll still earn 1 Loyalty Point per dollar spent, regardless of the bonus mile category.
4.2 Popular American Airlines Credit Cards
There are several American Airlines credit cards available, each with its own benefits and earning structures. Some popular options include:
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Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®: Offers miles on everyday spending and often comes with a generous sign-up bonus.
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AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard®: Another solid option for earning miles and Loyalty Points, often with unique welcome offers.
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Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®: This card comes with Admirals Club lounge membership and can offer additional Loyalty Points bonuses after reaching certain spending thresholds.
Consider your spending habits and travel goals when choosing the right AAdvantage credit card for you.
Step 5: Beyond the Airport – Earning Loyalty Points with Partners
American Airlines has a vast network of partners that allow you to earn AAdvantage miles and, consequently, Loyalty Points, without even stepping foot on a plane.
5.1 AAdvantage eShopping Portal
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The AAdvantage eShopping portal is a fantastic way to earn Loyalty Points on your everyday online purchases.
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How it Works: Simply log in to the AAdvantage eShopping portal with your AAdvantage account, search for your desired retailer (there are over 1,200 participating stores!), and click through to their website. Make your purchase as usual, and the miles (and corresponding Loyalty Points) will be credited to your account.
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Earning Rates: Earning rates vary by retailer and can range from 1 mile per dollar to significantly more, especially during special promotions.
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Bonus Tip: Keep an eye out for bonus promotions where you can earn even more miles per dollar spent!
5.2 AAdvantage Dining Program
Love to dine out? The AAdvantage Dining program lets you earn Loyalty Points while enjoying your favorite meals.
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How it Works: Link your credit or debit cards to your AAdvantage Dining account. When you use a linked card at a participating restaurant, bar, or club, you'll automatically earn miles (and Loyalty Points) on your purchase.
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Earning Rates: Typically, you can earn 1 to 5 miles per dollar spent, with bonus miles for new members or frequent diners.
5.3 SimplyMiles
SimplyMiles offers another way to earn miles and Loyalty Points by activating personalized offers with your linked Mastercard.
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How it Works: Sign up for SimplyMiles, link your Mastercard(s), and activate offers from participating brands. When you make a qualifying purchase with your linked card at an activated merchant, you'll earn miles.
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This can be a great way to double-dip on earnings if you're already using an American Airlines co-branded Mastercard.
5.4 Hotel and Car Rental Partners
American Airlines partners with various hotel chains and car rental companies, allowing you to earn Loyalty Points on your stays and rentals.
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Hotel Partners: Earn miles by booking through AAdvantage Hotels or directly with partner chains like Hyatt, Marriott, Hilton, and more.
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Car Rental Partners: Companies like Avis and Budget also offer opportunities to earn AAdvantage miles and Loyalty Points on your rentals.
5.5 American Airlines Vacations and Cruises
Booking vacation packages through American Airlines Vacations or cruises through AAdvantage Cruises can also net you a significant amount of Loyalty Points. These often come with base mileage earnings that directly translate to Loyalty Points.
Step 6: Maximizing Your Earning Potential – Strategic Tips
Now that you know the various ways to earn Loyalty Points, let's look at some strategies to maximize your accumulation.
6.1 Consolidate Your Spending
Wherever possible, channel your everyday spending through your American Airlines co-branded credit card. From groceries to utilities to online shopping, every dollar spent contributes 1 Loyalty Point.
6.2 Stack Your Earnings
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Look for opportunities to "stack" your earnings. For example, if you're shopping online, go through the AAdvantage eShopping portal and pay with your American Airlines credit card. This allows you to earn miles from both the portal and the credit card, all of which generally convert to Loyalty Points.
6.3 Monitor Promotions
American Airlines and its partners frequently offer bonus promotions for earning AAdvantage miles. Keep an eye on your email, the AAdvantage website, and reputable travel blogs for these limited-time offers. These bonuses can significantly accelerate your Loyalty Point earning.
6.4 Understand Earning Rules and Exclusions
While most eligible AAdvantage miles count toward Loyalty Points, there are some exceptions. For instance, miles earned from welcome bonuses on credit cards or transferred from other loyalty programs typically do not count as Loyalty Points. Always review the terms and conditions for specific earning activities.
6.5 Consider Loyalty Point Rewards
As you accumulate Loyalty Points, you'll also unlock Loyalty Point Rewards at various thresholds before reaching elite status. These rewards can include additional Loyalty Points, redeemable miles, systemwide upgrades, and more, further propelling your status journey.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are 10 common questions about earning American Airlines Loyalty Points, along 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 or through the American Airlines mobile app.
How to ensure my flights earn American Airlines Loyalty Points?
Always make sure your AAdvantage number is added to your reservation when booking flights with American Airlines or any of its partner airlines.
How to earn Loyalty Points without flying?
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You can earn Loyalty Points without flying by using an American Airlines co-branded credit card for everyday purchases, shopping through the AAdvantage eShopping portal, dining through AAdvantage Dining, or engaging with other AAdvantage partners like hotels and car rentals.
How to link my credit card to AAdvantage Dining?
Visit the AAdvantage Dining website, create an account, and link your eligible credit or debit cards to start earning Loyalty Points when you dine at participating restaurants.
How to find participating stores on AAdvantage eShopping?
Go to the AAdvantage eShopping website and browse or search for your favorite retailers. Make sure you log in with your AAdvantage number before clicking through to shop.
How to earn Loyalty Points faster?
Focus on high-spending activities like using an American Airlines credit card for all your purchases, taking advantage of bonus offers on the eShopping portal, and flying premium cabins on American Airlines.
How to know which AAdvantage miles count as Loyalty Points?
Generally, most "eligible AAdvantage miles" earned from flying, credit card spending, and partner activities (like shopping and dining) count as Loyalty Points. Miles from credit card welcome bonuses or transfers from other programs typically do not.
How to qualify for AAdvantage elite status with Loyalty Points?
To qualify for AAdvantage elite status, you need to earn a specific number of Loyalty Points within the qualification year (March 1st to the last day of February). For example, Gold requires 40,000 Loyalty Points.
How to redeem Loyalty Points?
Loyalty Points are not redeemable for flights or other awards. Their sole purpose is to determine your elite status level within the AAdvantage program. Redeemable miles are what you use for flights, upgrades, etc.
How to get a Loyalty Point bonus from an American Airlines credit card?
Some premium American Airlines credit cards, like the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®, offer bonus Loyalty Points after you reach certain spending thresholds within a qualification year. Check your specific card's benefits for details.
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