Ready to unlock a world of travel possibilities? Earning Loyalty Points with American Airlines isn't just about accumulating miles; it's your direct pathway to elite status and all the amazing perks that come with it. Forget the old "miles flown" system – American Airlines has revolutionized how you qualify for status, making it more accessible through various everyday activities. So, let's dive into how you can start racking up those Loyalty Points and elevate your travel experience!
Your Comprehensive Guide to Earning American Airlines Loyalty Points
Loyalty Points are the single metric American Airlines uses to determine your elite status. The more Loyalty Points you earn within a qualification year (March 1st to the last day of February), the higher your status, and the better your benefits. It's a straightforward system: for almost every AAdvantage® mile you earn, you also earn one Loyalty Point. However, there are some important nuances and exceptions, which we'll cover in detail.
Step 1: Join the AAdvantage Program – Your First Flight Towards Status!
Are you already an AAdvantage member? If not, this is your absolute first and most crucial step! Without an AAdvantage account, you can't earn any Loyalty Points.
How to Get Started:
Visit the American Airlines Website: Head over to aa.com.
Find the "Join" Button: Look for the "Join" or "Sign Up" option, usually located in the top right corner.
Fill in Your Details: You'll need to provide basic information like your name, date of birth, and address. Ensure this information matches your government-issued ID to avoid any issues with future travel.
Receive Your AAdvantage Number: Once registered, you'll receive your unique AAdvantage number. Keep this handy, as you'll use it for all your earning activities!
Pro Tip: Signing up is completely free and takes just a few minutes. Don't delay – every eligible mile you earn from this point forward can count towards valuable Loyalty Points!
Step 2: Fly with American Airlines and Partners – The Foundation of Your Loyalty Points
While not the only way to earn, flying is still a significant method for accumulating Loyalty Points. The amount you earn is primarily based on the price of your ticket (excluding government taxes and fees) and your AAdvantage elite status.
Sub-heading 2.1: Earning on American Airlines Flights
When you book directly with American Airlines, your Loyalty Point earnings are directly tied to the cost of your fare.
General Member Earnings: As a general AAdvantage member (no elite status), you'll earn 5 Loyalty Points for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines airfare.
Basic Economy Exception: For Basic Economy tickets, you'll earn a lower rate of 2 Loyalty Points per $1 spent. Be mindful of this if you're chasing status!
Elite Status Bonuses: This is where flying gets really rewarding! If you already have AAdvantage elite status, you'll earn a bonus on your base miles, which also count as Loyalty Points.
AAdvantage Gold: Earn 7 Loyalty Points per $1 (40% bonus)
AAdvantage Platinum: Earn 8 Loyalty Points per $1 (60% bonus)
AAdvantage Platinum Pro: Earn 9 Loyalty Points per $1 (80% bonus)
AAdvantage Executive Platinum: Earn 11 Loyalty Points per $1 (120% bonus)
Sub-heading 2.2: Earning on Partner Airline Flights
American Airlines is part of the oneworld® alliance and also has various other airline partners. You can earn Loyalty Points when flying with these airlines too!
oneworldAlliance Members: Airlines like British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Finnair, Iberia, Japan Airlines, Qantas, Qatar Airways, and more.
Other Partner Airlines: This includes airlines like Alaska Airlines, Etihad Airways, Hawaiian Airlines, and JetBlue (for specific routes/partnerships).
Earning Structure for Partners: For partner flights, your Loyalty Point earnings are typically based on the distance of the flight and the fare class you book. Elite status bonuses also apply here. Always check the specific earning charts for each partner airline on the American Airlines website to understand the exact accrual rates.
Important Note: Always ensure your AAdvantage number is included in your booking when flying with American or its partners to ensure your Loyalty Points are credited.
Step 3: Maximize with American Airlines Co-branded Credit Cards – Everyday Spending, Everyday Earning!
This is one of the fastest and easiest ways to earn Loyalty Points without even stepping foot on a plane! American Airlines offers a range of co-branded credit cards through partners like Citi and Barclays.
The General Rule: For almost every eligible AAdvantage® mile earned from purchases on your American Airlines co-branded credit card, you'll earn 1 Loyalty Point. This means if your card earns 1 mile per dollar on everyday spending, you'll also earn 1 Loyalty Point per dollar. If it earns 2 miles per dollar in a bonus category, you'll still typically earn 1 Loyalty Point per dollar spent (welcome bonuses and accelerators usually do not count towards Loyalty Points, only base miles).
Sub-heading 3.1: Choosing the Right Card
Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®: A popular choice for everyday earning.
American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® Card: A no-annual-fee option, great for getting started.
Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®: This card often comes with Admirals Club® membership and can offer bonus Loyalty Points after reaching certain spending thresholds, making it excellent for status qualification.
AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard®: Another common option with varying benefits.
Key Takeaway: Put all your eligible everyday spending on your AAdvantage credit card. Groceries, gas, bills – anything that earns AAdvantage miles will generally earn you Loyalty Points!
Step 4: Shop and Dine Your Way to Status – Leveraging AAdvantage Partners
American Airlines has a fantastic ecosystem of partners that allow you to earn Loyalty Points on purchases you'd likely make anyway.
Sub-heading 4.1: AAdvantage eShopping Portal
This is a powerhouse for earning Loyalty Points quickly.
How it Works:
Visit AAdvantageeShopping.com: Log in with your AAdvantage account.
Find Your Favorite Stores: Browse over 1,200 participating online retailers.
Click Through the Portal: Click on the store link from the AAdvantage eShopping site. This tracks your purchase.
Shop as Usual: Make your purchase directly on the retailer's website.
Earn Miles and Loyalty Points: You'll earn AAdvantage miles (and thus Loyalty Points) for every dollar spent, based on the rate offered by the retailer (e.g., 2 miles/$1, 5 miles/$1).
Hot Tip: Keep an eye out for bonus promotions where retailers offer significantly increased mileage rates! This can lead to a huge influx of Loyalty Points. Look for special offers like earning thousands of bonus miles for signing up for certain services (e.g., meal kit subscriptions, online newspapers).
Sub-heading 4.2: AAdvantage Dining Program
Turn your meals out (or in!) into Loyalty Points.
How it Works:
Register Your Credit Cards: Sign up for the AAdvantage Dining program at AADining.com and link your credit or debit cards.
Dine at Participating Restaurants: Use your linked card at thousands of participating restaurants, bars, and clubs.
Earn Miles and Loyalty Points: Earn miles for every dollar spent. The earning rate varies by your dining activity level:
Basic Tier: 1 mile per $1
Select Tier: 3 miles per $1 (by opting in for email communications)
VIP Tier: 5 miles per $1 (by making 11 qualifying transactions in a calendar year and opting in for emails)
Don't Forget: You'll often find welcome bonuses for new members, like earning extra miles after your first qualifying dine.
Sub-heading 4.3: SimplyMiles™
This is another card-linked offer program that can help you earn.
How it Works:
Enroll Your Mastercard: Link your eligible Mastercard(s) to your SimplyMiles account.
Activate Offers: Browse available offers from various merchants and activate the ones you're interested in.
Shop In-Store or Online: Make qualifying purchases with your linked and activated Mastercard.
Earn Miles and Loyalty Points: The miles earned from these offers will also count towards Loyalty Points.
Step 5: Explore Other AAdvantage Partners – Hotels, Car Rentals, and More!
American Airlines has a wide network of partners where you can earn Loyalty Points for various travel-related and lifestyle activities.
Sub-heading 5.1: Hotel Partners
AAdvantage Hotels™ Platform: Book hotels directly through American's dedicated hotel platform (
AA.com/hotels Direct Hotel Partners: Certain hotel loyalty programs allow you to earn AAdvantage miles (and thus Loyalty Points) on eligible stays, or even convert their points to AAdvantage miles. Examples include World of Hyatt (earn miles on stays, convert Hyatt points to AAdvantage miles) and Marriott. Be aware that booking through third-party portals might not earn you elite night credits with the hotel's own loyalty program.
Sub-heading 5.2: Car Rental Partners
Participating Rental Companies: American Airlines partners with major car rental companies like Avis, Budget, Alamo, and Thrifty.
Earn Miles per Rental: You can earn a set number of miles (e.g., 50 base miles per rental day) or miles per dollar spent on your rental. Always provide your AAdvantage number when booking or at the counter.
Sub-heading 5.3: Other Partners and Activities
Cruises: Book cruises through AAdvantage Cruises.
Vacations: Book vacation packages through American Airlines Vacations.
Special Offers: Keep an eye out for limited-time promotions with various partners that offer bonus miles, which translate to Loyalty Points. This could include things like signing up for financial services or subscriptions.
Step 6: Monitor Your Progress and Unlock Loyalty Point Rewards!
Staying on top of your Loyalty Point earnings is key to achieving your desired elite status.
Sub-heading 6.1: Tracking Your Loyalty Points
AAdvantage Account Online: Log in to your AAdvantage account on AA.com to view your current Loyalty Point balance and track your progress towards status. The status qualification year runs from March 1st to the last day of February.
AAdvantage App: Use the American Airlines app to conveniently check your Loyalty Point totals on the go.
Sub-heading 6.2: Loyalty Point Rewards
As you accumulate Loyalty Points, American Airlines rewards you at various thresholds before you even hit a new elite status tier. These "Loyalty Point Rewards" offer valuable perks like:
Priority boarding
Avis Preferred Plus status
Admirals Club® One Day Passes
Systemwide Upgrades (SWUs)
Bonus AAdvantage Miles
Trip Credits
These rewards add significant value and motivate you to keep earning!
Step 7: Understand What Doesn't Count Towards Loyalty Points
While many activities earn Loyalty Points, it's crucial to know what doesn't to avoid disappointment.
Bonus Miles from Credit Card Welcome Offers: While these are great for award flights, the large mile bonuses you receive when opening a new AAdvantage credit card typically do not count towards Loyalty Points. Only the base miles earned from everyday spending on the card do.
Miles Purchased, Gifted, or Transferred: Buying miles directly from American Airlines, gifting miles, or transferring miles to another AAdvantage account will not earn you Loyalty Points.
Redeemed Miles: Using your AAdvantage miles for award flights or other redemptions does not earn Loyalty Points.
Government Taxes and Fees: When flying, Loyalty Points are earned on the base fare and carrier-imposed fees, not on government taxes and fees.
Certain Promotional Bonuses: While many shopping portal bonuses count, always double-check the terms and conditions of specific promotions.
By following these steps and strategically utilizing all available earning methods, you can efficiently accumulate American Airlines Loyalty Points, climb the elite status ladder, and enjoy a much more rewarding travel experience! Happy earning!
10 Related FAQ Questions
How to check my American Airlines Loyalty Point balance?
You can check your American Airlines Loyalty Point balance by logging into your AAdvantage account on the American Airlines website (aa.com) or via the American Airlines mobile app.
How to earn American Airlines Loyalty Points without flying?
You can earn American Airlines Loyalty Points without flying by using AAdvantage co-branded credit cards for everyday spending, shopping through the AAdvantage eShopping portal, dining through the AAdvantage Dining program, and utilizing other partners like hotels and car rentals.
How to qualify for American Airlines AAdvantage elite status?
To qualify for American Airlines 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 status requires 40,000 Loyalty Points.
How to earn bonus Loyalty Points with American Airlines credit cards?
While welcome bonuses typically don't count, some premium American Airlines co-branded credit cards, like the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®, offer additional Loyalty Points after reaching specific annual spending thresholds.
How to use the AAdvantage eShopping portal to earn Loyalty Points?
To use the AAdvantage eShopping portal, visit aadvantageshopping.com, log in with your AAdvantage account, find your desired retailer, click through the portal to the store's website, and make your purchase as usual. The miles (and thus Loyalty Points) will be credited to your account.
How to link my credit card to AAdvantage Dining?
To link your credit card to AAdvantage Dining, visit aadining.com, sign up for the program, and register your credit or debit cards. Once linked, you'll automatically earn miles (and Loyalty Points) when you dine at participating restaurants.
How to earn Loyalty Points when flying with American Airlines partners?
When flying with American Airlines partner airlines (like oneworld® alliance members), ensure your AAdvantage number is on your reservation. Loyalty Point earnings are typically based on the flight distance and fare class, with elite status bonuses applying.
How to get more Loyalty Point Rewards from American Airlines?
You earn Loyalty Point Rewards automatically as you accumulate Loyalty Points throughout the qualification year. These rewards are granted at specific point thresholds (e.g., 15,000, 30,000, 60,000 Loyalty Points) and offer various benefits like upgrades or lounge passes.
How to ensure my Loyalty Points are credited for my activity?
Always ensure your AAdvantage number is accurately provided for all eligible activities (flights, credit card purchases, shopping, dining). Allow sufficient time for points to post (sometimes a few weeks for partner activities), and keep records of your transactions.
How to understand what types of miles don't count as Loyalty Points?
Miles from credit card welcome bonuses, miles purchased, gifted, or transferred, and miles redeemed for awards typically do not count as Loyalty Points. Only eligible base miles earned through qualifying activities accrue Loyalty Points.
