Editor’s be aware: We’ve up to date this information with present data.
American Airways is likely one of the largest airways on the earth, and its AAdvantage loyalty program is standard with many vacationers. Whereas American miles have seen some modifications over the previous few years — together with a latest removing of revealed award charts — you may nonetheless get a ton of worth from this system, particularly for those who can make the most of its candy spots.
And final 12 months, American fully overhauled how flyers qualify for AAdvantage elite standing. Quite than being based mostly solely on flying, you now earn Loyalty Factors throughout all kinds of actions within the AAdvantage program — together with by way of bank cards, on-line procuring, eating and extra.
Here is the whole lot it’s essential to know concerning the American AAdvantage loyalty program.
American Airways companions
American Airways is a part of the Oneworld alliance, so you may earn and redeem miles with a handful of worldwide companions. American elite members usually get advantages when flying with companion airways, comparable to lounge entry, an additional baggage allowance and extra on member airways:
- Alaska Airways.
- British Airways.
- Cathay Pacific.
- Fiji Airways (Oneworld Join member).
- Finnair.
- Iberia.
- Japan Airways.
- Malaysia Airways.
- Qantas.
- Qatar Airways.
- Royal Air Maroc.
- Royal Jordanian Airways.
- SriLankan Airways.
The airline additionally companions with a handful of airways outdoors of Oneworld, together with:
- Air Tahiti Nui.
- Cape Air.
- China Southern Airways.
- Etihad Airways.
- Gol Airways.
- Hawaiian Airways.
- IndiGo.
- JetBlue.
- Silver Airways.
Nonetheless, every companion has its personal standards for how one can earn or redeem miles with American, so you’ll want to assessment the precise companion web page for full particulars.
Elite standing
American AAdvantage has 4 public ranges of elite standing — Gold, Platinum, Platinum Professional and Government Platinum — plus an invite-only degree known as Concierge Key.
American Airways fully modified the way you earn AAdvantage elite standing in 2022. Now, you care about only one metric: Loyalty Factors.
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You earn Loyalty Factors once you fly on American, spend with a cobranded bank card or with choose AAdvantage companions. On the whole, one base mile earned is the same as one Loyalty Level. So for those who earn 500 base miles on an American Airways flight, you earn 500 Loyalty Factors. Likewise, spending $1,000 on a cobranded bank card would earn 1,000 Loyalty Factors.
Right here’s the variety of Loyalty Factors you could earn within the present qualification interval — March 1, 2023, by Feb. 29, 2024 — for every elite standing tier:
- Gold: 40,000 Loyalty Factors.
- Platinum: 75,000 Loyalty Factors.
- Platinum Professional: 125,000 Loyalty Factors.
- Government Platinum: 200,000 Loyalty Factors.
As an AAdvantage Gold member, you’ll get a 40% standing mileage bonus, complimentary Important Cabin Additional seats at check-in when out there, complimentary Most popular seats at reserving when out there and one free checked bag on itineraries marketed and operated by American Airways.
In the meantime, Platinum members get a 60% mileage bonus, complimentary Important Cabin Additional and Most popular seats at reserving and two free checked baggage on itineraries marketed and operated by American Airways.
Platinum Professional members get an 80% mileage bonus, complimentary Important Cabin Additional and Most popular seats at reserving when out there and three free checked baggage on itineraries marketed and operated by American Airways.
Lastly, Government Platinum members get a 120% standing mileage bonus, complimentary Important Cabin Additional and Most popular seats at reserving when out there and three free checked baggage on itineraries marketed and operated by American Airways.
All AAdvantage elites have entry to complimentary upgrades on American-marketed and -operated flights inside and between the U.S. (together with Hawaii), Canada, Mexico, the Bahamas, Bermuda, the Caribbean and Central America for themselves and one companion. Nonetheless, solely Government Platinum members get complimentary upgrades on award flights.
AAdvantage Government Platinum and Platinum Professional members additionally get space-available complimentary upgrades on Alaska Airways flights, besides when flying on Alaska Airways Saver Fares.
AAdvantage elites get Oneworld standing, which offers perks when flying on different Oneworld airways. Particularly, AAdvantage Gold members get Oneworld Ruby, Platinum members get Oneworld Sapphire and Platinum Professional and Government Platinum members get Oneworld Emerald standing.
Lastly, American awards a collection of Loyalty Level Rewards as vacationers hit sure thresholds of Loyalty Factors in the course of the qualification 12 months — beginning at 15,000.
Associated: What’s American Airways elite standing value?
The right way to earn AAdvantage miles
There are numerous methods to earn AAdvantage miles. Under is a abstract of the highest methods.
Fly on American Airways
Whenever you fly on an American-marketed flight, you’ll often earn miles in accordance with the bottom value of your ticket — meaning with out taxes and charges. The miles you earn additionally differ based mostly in your AAdvantage elite standing. The upper your standing, the extra miles you’ll earn.
Right here’s what number of miles every standing tier earns per greenback spent:
- No standing: 5 miles.
- Gold: 7 miles.
- Platinum: 8 miles.
- Platinum Professional: 9 miles.
- Government Platinum: 11 miles.
Associated: The right way to earn miles within the American Airways AAdvantage program
Fly on companion airways
You too can earn AAdvantage miles on flights marketed by American’s companions. For many companions, you’ll earn miles and Loyalty Factors based mostly on flight distance. Nonetheless, the precise incomes charge relies on the fare class of your ticket. Right here’s an instance of the incomes chart for British Airways-operated flights:
Get and use American Airways bank cards
One of many best methods to earn American AAdvantage miles is thru American Airways bank cards. Here is an inventory of present gives:
- Citi® / AAdvantage® Government World Elite Mastercard®: Earn 50,000 miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening. Earn 2 miles per greenback on eligible American Airways purchases. Earn 1 mile per greenback spent on different purchases.
- Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Choose® World Elite Mastercard®: Earn 50,000 bonus miles after spending $2,500 on purchases within the first three months of account opening. Earn 2 AAdvantage miles per greenback on gasoline station, restaurant and eligible American Airways purchases and 1 mile per greenback on different purchases.
- CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Choose® Mastercard®: Earn 65,000 American Airways AAdvantage bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases inside the first 4 months of account opening. Earn 2 AAdvantage miles per greenback on eligible American Airways purchases plus telecom retailers, cable and satellite tv for pc suppliers, automotive leases and gasoline stations. Earn 1 mile per greenback on different purchases.
- American Airways AAdvantage® MileUp®: Earn 10,000 bonus miles and a $50 assertion credit score after spending $500 on purchases inside the first three months of account opening. Earn 2 AAdvantage miles per greenback on grocery retailer and eligible American Airways purchases and 1 mile per greenback on different purchases.
- AAdvantage® Aviator® Purple World Elite Mastercard®: Earn 50,000 bonus miles after making your first buy within the first 90 days and paying the annual price. Earn 2 AAdvantage miles per greenback on American Airways purchases and 1 mile per greenback on different purchases.
- AAdvantage® Aviator® World Elite Enterprise Mastercard®: Earn 50,000 AAdvantage bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first 90 days. Plus one other 25,000 bonus miles after spending $10,000 within the first 12 months. Earn 2 AAdvantage miles per greenback on workplace provide, telecom, automotive rental and eligible American Airways purchases, and 1 mile per greenback on different purchases.
The knowledge for the CitiBusiness AAdvantage Platinum Choose, AAdvantage Aviator Purple and AAdvantage Aviator Enterprise playing cards have been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or supplied by the cardboard issuers.
Do not forget that the sign-up bonuses and bonus class earnings received’t get you Loyalty Factors towards AAdvantage elite standing. You’ll solely earn one Loyalty Level per greenback spent on American Airways playing cards.
Associated: Selecting the very best bank card for American Airways flyers
Switch Bilt factors
American AAdvantage companions with only one transferable factors forex: Bilt Rewards. You’ll be able to switch your Bilt factors to your AAdvantage account at a 1:1 ratio, so for those who’re presently incomes Bilt factors by paying lease, this generally is a nice choice on your rewards.
Associated: How (and why) you need to earn transferable factors in 2023
Click on by the AAdvantage procuring portal earlier than procuring on-line
Whenever you click on by the AAdvantage procuring portal, you may earn further miles when making purchases with choose on-line retailers for procuring on-line. Utilizing the portal is easy: Join an account after which click on by the portal to your service provider of selection earlier than procuring on-line.
Associated: Maximizing procuring portals on your on-line purchases
Use SimplyMiles
American gives a program known as SimplyMiles that permits you to earn miles when procuring on-line or in individual with choose retailers. You’ll first want to join SimplyMiles, hyperlink a number of Credit cards to your profile and enroll in gives.
Then, once you use a linked Mastercard to make an eligible buy at a service provider for which you’ve enrolled in a proposal, you’ll earn AAdvantage miles.
Dine at eating places that take part in AAdvantage Eating
AAdvantage Eating is much like the AAdvantage procuring portal however for consuming out. Simply join an account and hyperlink your favourite playing cards for eating. When you accomplish that, you’ll earn miles once you dine at collaborating eating places.
You’ll be able to earn 5 AAdvantage miles per greenback spent as a VIP member, 3 AAdvantage miles per greenback spent as a Choose member and 1 AAdvantage mile per greenback spent as a primary member.
Guide by AAdvantage journey companions
American Airways companions with main automotive rental firms so its members can earn miles on automotive leases. Try AAdvantage’s automotive rental companion web page for data on companions and incomes charges.
You too can earn AAdvantage miles on lodge stays as follows:
- American Airways Inns: Earn as much as 10,000 miles per evening.
- Hyatt: Earn 500 miles every keep.
- IHG: Earn as much as 2 miles per greenback spent at choose motels.
- Marriott: Earn as much as 2 miles per greenback spent at choose motels.
- Rocketmiles: Earn as much as 10,000 miles every evening.
Moreover, Hyatt and American loyalists can earn extra rewards by linking accounts. After linking accounts, AAdvantage elites can earn one AAdvantage mile for each eligible greenback spent on qualifying Hyatt stays and experiences.
Along with the lodge and rental automotive companions talked about above, you may earn miles on trip packages booked at aavacations.com or cruises booked at bookaacruises.com.
Open a financial savings account
Should you open a financial savings account with Bask Financial institution, you may elect to earn AAdvantage miles as an alternative of money because the curiosity in your account. You’ll be able to learn our evaluation right here: Introducing Bask Financial institution, a brand new option to earn miles. Sadly, miles earned with Bask Financial institution don’t rely as Loyalty Factors.
Purchase AAdvantage miles
Lastly, you should purchase American Airways miles. Preserve an eye fixed out for promotions that help you purchase American Airways miles with a bonus or a reduction.
Associated: You’ll be able to presently purchase factors and miles with as much as a 100% bonus — however must you?
The right way to redeem AAdvantage miles
You’ll often get the very best worth from once you redeem your American AAdvantage miles for flights. TPG’s most up-to-date valuations estimate American miles to be value 1.77 cents every, so attempt to get a minimum of this worth when redeeming miles.
Redeeming miles for American-operated flights
To learn the way many miles an American-operated flight will value, head to the American Airways web site or cell app and do an award search.
AAdvantage redemptions for journey on American are actually completely priced dynamically, permitting the airline to regulate the award charge for any flight. It is also value noting that you could’t change these “Flight Awards,” as American now calls them – all modifications should be made by canceling your ticket, redepositing your miles and rebooking a brand new flight.
Associate awards
American companions with over a dozen airways, lots of that are world-renowned for his or her wonderful premium-cabin merchandise. You need to use your American miles to fly merchandise comparable to Japan Airways’ firstclass from New York to Tokyo (80,000 miles every approach) or Qatar Qsuite to the Maldives (70,000 miles every approach).
Nonetheless, these flights aren’t at all times out there to companion airways, because the working provider should launch saver-level award stock.
American Airways Enterprise Additional
The American Airways Enterprise Additional program lets firms with a minimum of three staff earn rewards for his or her staff’ journey.
This program is free, and when you enroll, what you are promoting can “double dip” on American and choose Oneworld flights. Enterprise Additional members earn 1 level per 5 {dollars} spent on qualifying flights on American, British Airways, Iberia and Japan Airways, and Finnair and Qantas flights offered by American.
The redemption choices in this system differ in worth. The perfect worth is utilizing your Enterprise Additional factors without cost flights and upgrades. Redeeming for award journey on American, British Airways, Iberia and Japan Airways can be doable.
Associated: Information to incomes and burning with American Airways’ Enterprise Additional program
AAdvantage Candy spots
Whereas American makes it comparatively straightforward to redeem miles throughout its personal community, there are various awards that may supply spectacular worth. These “candy spots” usually get you nicely over TPG’s valuation of AAdvantage miles.
Here is only a few of those terrific redemptions.
Premium cabin flights to Japan or South Korea
American Airways divides Asia into three award areas: Asia Area 1, Asia Area 2 and South Pacific. Asia 1 covers Japan and Korea, whereas Asia 2 consists of Brunei, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.
The decrease costs on premium flights to Asia 1 apply to Oneworld companions comparable to Japan Airways. So, you may guide JAL firstclass from San Francisco to Tokyo for under 80,000 miles.
Qatar Qsuite to the Center East
One other terrific redemption is Qatar’s improbable Qsuite product — arguably one of the simplest ways to succeed in the Center East on factors and miles.
Awards value 70,000 miles every approach between the U.S. and the Center East or the Indian subcontinent. 75,000 miles every approach from the U.S. will get you to locations in Africa like Seychelles, Mauritius or South Africa.
Off-peak awards
Although American has now eradicated saver and anytime awards, it is not eradicating award charts, a transfer that was popularized by Delta again in 2015 and adopted by United in 2019.
As a substitute, American’s refreshed award chart shows “beginning at” values for Flight Awards and these could be nice worth if you’ll find seats on the lowest ranges.
Area | Important Cabin beginning at | Premium economic system beginning at | Enterprise/first beginning at |
---|---|---|---|
Contiguous 48 U.S. states and Canada | 7,500 miles. | N/A. | 15,000 miles. |
Mexico, Caribbean and Central America | 10,000 miles. | N/A. | 20,000 miles. |
South America, brief haul | 15,000 miles. | N/A. | 30,000 miles. |
Hawaii and Alaska | 20,000 miles. | 40,000 miles. | 60,000 miles. |
Europe | 25,000 miles. | 50,000 miles. | 75,000 miles. |
South America, lengthy haul | 30,000 miles. | 60,000 miles. | 90,000 miles. |
Asia, Center East and South Pacific | 35,000 miles. | 60,000 miles. | 95,000 miles. |
Backside line
The American Airways AAdvantage program is way from good. But when you understand how to make it work, there’s nonetheless loads of worth, specific for redemptions on companion airways, the place smart award charts nonetheless exist.
Should you’re considering of incomes miles with the AAdvantage program, we advocate making use of for an American Airways bank card. Doing so may give you an enormous stash of miles from the sign-up bonus and the power to proceed to earn miles together with your every day spending. It’s additionally value utilizing the AAdvantage procuring portal and SimplyMiles, particularly if you wish to earn Loyalty Factors and qualify for American Airways elite standing.
Extra reporting by Ben Smithson, Ehsan Haque and Andrew Kunesh.