In early March 2022, American Airways switched from elite qualifying miles, {dollars} and segments to Loyalty Factors because the qualifying metric to earn elite standing.
These days, the variety of Loyalty Factors you earn is essentially tied to your spending as a substitute of how a lot you fly. Consequently, you’d theoretically be capable to spend your solution to top-tier Govt Platinum standing with out stepping foot on a airplane — not that we essentially advocate doing that.
Past flying, you’ll be able to earn Loyalty Factors by spending and interesting with American Airways’ companions. American added a couple of new strategies of incomes Loyalty Factors in 2024 when it unveiled 10 adjustments to the AAdvantage program, together with new Loyalty Factors rewards and the flexibility to earn Loyalty Factors for upgrades.
Listed here are a number of the greatest methods to earn Loyalty Factors to earn American Airways elite standing.
Earn Loyalty Factors by flying American Airways
The standard solution to earn elite standing — by flying on the airline — continues to be relevant beneath American’s Loyalty Factors program.
You earn 1 Loyalty Level for every eligible AAdvantage mile from flying on American. Relying in your standing tier, redeemable miles are awarded at a multiplier between 5 instances and 11 instances your base ticket worth.
- Common member: 5 miles per greenback
- Gold: 7 miles per greenback
- Platinum: 8 miles per greenback
- Platinum Professional: 9 miles per greenback
- Govt Platinum: 11 miles per greenback
In simple arithmetic, when you paid $200 for a ticket (earlier than taxes) from New York to Los Angeles, you’d earn 1,000 AAdvantage miles and 1,000 Loyalty Factors as a basic member with no elite standing. If a top-tier American Govt Platinum member booked the identical ticket, they’d earn 2,200 AAdvantage miles and a pair of,200 Loyalty Factors.
You needn’t maintain monitor of elite qualifying miles, {dollars} or segments. One redeemable mile earned from flying on American will translate to 1 Loyalty Level.
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Associated: Final-minute methods for incomes American AAdvantage elite standing
Earn Loyalty Factors by flying on associate airways
When flying with one in all American’s airline companions, issues get a little bit extra sophisticated.
For flights marketed and operated by many of the airline’s Oneworld companions, redeemable miles (and subsequently Loyalty Factors) are earned primarily based on distance flown, fare class and the airline.
Nevertheless, that modified in October 2023 for flights on British Airways and Iberia, which now earn miles and Loyalty Factors primarily based on the value of their tickets as a substitute of distance flown and fare class.
It is necessary to notice that American’s partnership with JetBlue is coming to an finish in early 2024. Flyers on JetBlue-operated flights will solely obtain American Airways advantages if their AAdvantage or TrueBlue Mosaic member quantity was added previous to July 21, 2023, and if the journey was booked via Jan. 31, 2024.
Moreover, when crediting a associate flight to American AAdvantage that hasn’t been purchased instantly with American, you will need to take a look at the earnings tables on American’s devoted associate webpage. As soon as you have recognized your fare class and flight distance, you’ll be able to compute what number of redeemable miles you will earn from a given flight.
All of the redeemable miles you earn will contribute to your Loyalty Factors stability at a 1:1 ratio.
For instance, when you splurged for a Qatar Airways business-class fare from New York to Doha, you’d earn 10,040 redeemable miles (6,693 base miles for the flight distance with a 50% cabin bonus), which interprets to 10,040 Loyalty Factors.
Suppose you are a top-tier Govt Platinum member. In that case, you’d additionally obtain a 120% elite bonus on the miles earned, incomes a further 8,032 redeemable miles (6,693 base miles multiplied by the 1.20 elite bonus) — translating to eight,032 Loyalty Factors.
Associated: Can you continue to e-book Qatar Airways Qsuite awards with American AAdvantage miles?
Redeem Loyalty Level bonus rewards
In 2024, American Airways introduced a brand new perk for Loyalty Level collectors, permitting you to redeem a Loyalty Level Reward to earn extra Loyalty Factors towards elite standing. This transformation will likely be carried out within the upcoming membership yr.
You may now have the choice to pick Loyalty Level bonuses at sure Loyalty Level thresholds, all counting towards standing. As an example, you’ll be able to choose 1,000 bonus Loyalty Factors on the 15,000 Loyalty Level threshold, 5,000 bonus Loyalty Factors on the 175,000 Loyalty Level threshold, and 15,000 bonus Loyalty Factors on the 250,000 Loyalty Level threshold.
You may choose the choice to obtain bonus Loyalty Factors over different perks at every Loyalty Level threshold.
Earn Loyalty Factors by paying in money to improve
American additionally introduced in 2024 that flyers can now earn redeemable miles and extra Loyalty Factors when paying with money to improve to a premium cabin.
Now, flyers will be capable to earn Loyalty Factors for his or her improve charge, identical to they’d earn on a regular paid ticket.
As of January, the airline had but to set a date for this transformation.
Associated: Listed here are 5 the explanation why I am thrilled with the AAdvantage adjustments
Earn Loyalty Factors with bank card spending
This one is fairly easy: For each base mile you earn on a cobranded American Airways bank card, you will earn 1 Loyalty Level. American Airways notes that base miles range by bank card sort and issuing financial institution. Whereas the vast majority of AAdvantage playing cards earn 1 base mile per greenback spent on eligible purchases, some earn .5 base miles per greenback, and others may earn as much as 2 miles per greenback.
Eligible playing cards embody all Citi AAdvantage playing cards, AAdvantage Aviator playing cards and AAdvantage playing cards issued exterior the U.S. (although you might need to contact your issuer for its precise phrases).
Some in style cobranded American playing cards embody:
The knowledge for the CitiBusiness AAdvantage Platinum Choose , Citi AAdvantage Platinum Choose, American Airways AAdvantage MileUp, and AAdvantage Aviator Purple playing cards has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or supplied by the cardboard issuer.
American has made it fairly simple to earn elite standing via spending alone.
Sadly, sign-up bonuses, limited-time spending affords and bonus class multipliers (groceries, fuel, eating, and so on.) are excluded from incomes Loyalty Factors, so you’ll earn 1 Loyalty Level per greenback you spend.
Loyalty Factors enhance on choose playing cards
These playing cards will earn bonus Loyalty Factors after hitting sure spending thresholds:
- AAdvantage Aviator Silver Mastercard cardmembers: Per the phrases and circumstances, from March 1, 2024, and thru the top of February 2025, the first cardholder can earn as much as 15,000 extra Loyalty Factors for assembly sure spending thresholds inside the standing qualification interval. As an example, you’ll be able to earn a further 5,000 Loyalty Factors when you make $20,000 in purchases inside the qualification interval. Earnings improve as extra money is spent on the cardboard, as you’ll be able to earn a further 5,000 Loyalty Factors if $40,000 is spent inside the qualification interval, and also you earn a further 5,000 Loyalty Factors (totaling the utmost 15,000 Loyalty Factors bonus) inside the qualification interval when you spend $50,000 on the cardboard inside the qualification interval.
- Citi / AAdvantage Govt World Elite Mastercard: Earn 10,000 Loyalty Factors after reaching 50,000 Loyalty Factors in a standing qualification yr. The cardholder will obtain one other bonus of 10,000 Loyalty Factors after reaching 90,000 Loyalty Factors in a standing qualification yr.
The knowledge for the AAdvantage Aviator Silver card has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or supplied by the cardboard issuer.
Associated: The perfect bank cards for American Airways flyers
Earn Loyalty Factors by eating out (or ordering in)
Relying on how a lot you dine out, you may even be capable to eat your method towards elite standing. The miles you earn via the AAdvantage Eating program rely as Loyalty Factors.
Collaborating within the eating rewards program is straightforward. Simply join an account and hyperlink your favourite bank cards. Then, you will earn miles once you dine at a collaborating restaurant or order takeout instantly.
You may earn 5 AAdvantage miles per greenback spent when you’re a VIP member (earned once you make 11 transactions in a calendar yr and you choose to obtain e mail communication from AAdvantage Eating), 3 AAdvantage miles per greenback spent as a web-based member (when you elect to obtain e mail communication from AAdvantage Eating) and 1 AAdvantage mile per greenback spent as an everyday member.
AAdvantage Eating typically affords a welcome bonus for brand spanking new members, although these miles will not be eligible for Loyalty Factors accrual.
Associated: Full information to airline and lodge eating rewards applications
Earn Loyalty Factors via a purchasing portal
Likewise, you’ll be able to earn Loyalty Factors via the AAdvantage eShopping on-line purchasing portal or the SimplyMiles program.
Miles earned via these purchasing portals rely towards incomes Loyalty Factors at a 1:1 charge.
The AAdvantage eShopping on-line purchasing portal is only one of many on-line purchasing portals you’ll be able to click on via earlier than making on-line purchases with choose retailers comparable to Residence Depot, Apple, Walmart, Greatest Purchase and tons of extra. If you achieve this, you will earn American Airways miles on the acquisition — sometimes as a multiplier of the price of your buy.
Nevertheless, use a purchasing portal aggregator to make sure one other purchasing portal is not providing a considerably higher payout.
The SimplyMiles program is much like Amex Provides in that it allows you to add merchant-specific affords to a credit score or debit card and earn AAdvantage miles once you use that card to make a web-based or in-store buy with the service provider. For the SimplyMiles program, you will have to reside within the U.S., maintain a sound Mastercard and enroll. As soon as enrolled, you’ll be able to browse affords and activate those that you simply need to use. Miles are credited to your account once you make a purchase order with the collaborating service provider.
Associated: Methods to earn frequent flyer miles purchasing in shops — and why these applications matter
Earn Loyalty Factors on lodge stays
It is typically straightforward to overlook, however American Airways AAdvantage members can earn miles when staying at inns. We do not sometimes advise doing that because you typically miss out on incomes lodge factors, however it could make sense when you’d get extra use out of American miles than lodge factors.
Any base miles earned from spending with lodge companions will rely towards Loyalty Factors.
Select to earn miles as a substitute of factors
As a fast recap, you earn the next variety of factors with the next chains:
- Aadvantagehotels.com: This portal is powered by Reserving.com, and by making reservations via it, you’ll be able to earn as much as 10 instances extra base miles on lodge stays.
- Hyatt: Earn 500 miles on every keep at choose properties, with the chance to earn extra with elite standing
- Marriott: Earn 1 to 2 AAdvantage miles per greenback spent on qualifying expenses. Upscale manufacturers like Ritz-Carlton and JW Marriott earn 2 miles per greenback, whereas finances manufacturers like Aloft and Moxy earn simply 1 mile per greenback.
- IHG: Earn 1 to 2 miles per greenback on qualifying room expenses. Stays at Candlewood Suites and Staybridge Suites earn 1 mile per greenback, whereas different manufacturers earn 2 miles per greenback.
- Rocketmiles: Earn as much as 10,000 miles per night time reserving via this on-line journey company.
When reserving with Hyatt, Marriott and IHG, you will need to log in to your lodge loyalty program account and choose to earn miles with AAdvantage as a substitute of lodge factors. Be sure you take that step earlier than reserving if Loyalty Factors are your incomes precedence.
Associated: Do not e-book lodge stays instantly if you wish to earn most American Loyalty Factors
American Airways-Hyatt partnership
American Airways AAdvantage and World of Hyatt launched a partnership in 2019 to permit elite members from each loyalty applications to earn bonus factors and miles on stays and flights. Those that are elite in each applications can double rewards on qualifying American flights and Hyatt stays.
You may earn 1 World of Hyatt bonus level for each eligible greenback spent on eligible American flights, and you can too earn 1 AAdvantage base mile (and 1 Loyalty Level) for each greenback spent on eligible Hyatt stays and experiences. These earnings are in tandem with the World of Hyatt factors sometimes earned on stays and the AAdvantage miles earned on flights.
So when you’re already an American Airways elite member and also you have a tendency to remain at Hyatt properties (or can change your journey plans to take action), you possibly can rack up plenty of further AAdvantage miles, and thus Loyalty Factors in your lodge bookings. Nevertheless, whilst you can switch numerous lodge factors to AAdvantage, these transfers won’t rely towards incomes Loyalty Factors per this system guidelines.
Associated: We examined incomes American Airways miles for 3 totally different lodge stays — this is what we discovered
Earn Loyalty Factors with trip packages
American Airways has lengthy supplied a trip package deal service that permits you to bundle flights, inns and rental automobiles or any mixture. These packages typically provide barely higher offers than when you had been to e-book your flight, lodge and automotive individually.
Plus, you’ll earn 1,000 AAdvantage miles for each trip package deal you e-book on-line and might earn as much as 20,000 miles once you e-book featured inns.
As at all times, run the numbers earlier than you e-book a trip package deal over reserving instantly. Additionally, observe that you probably will not earn lodge factors and elite standing on inns booked as part of a package deal.
Associated: The entire information to reserving all-inclusive inns with American Airways Holidays
Earn Loyalty Factors by reserving cruises
American affords the flexibility to e-book cruises via its web site, and any miles you earn will rely towards Loyalty Factors. You may earn 1 AAdvantage mile per greenback spent on cruise sailings via Dec. 31, 2025, as much as 10,000 AAdvantage miles. As well as, these with an AAdvantage cobranded bank card earn a further mile per greenback spent via Dec. 31, 2025.
When you’re a cruiser seeking to accumulate AAdvantage miles and Loyalty Factors, it might pay to make a reservation via American’s cruise portal.
Earn Loyalty Factors by renting automobiles
AAdvantage miles earned with rental automobiles will rely as Loyalty Factors. The variety of Loyalty Factors and redeemable AAdvantage miles you will earn relies on the rental automotive associate you e-book with.
For instance, Avis and Funds members can earn not less than 2 base miles for each greenback spent on all qualifying leases at collaborating airport rental places within the U.S., Canada, Europe, the Center East, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean. Plus, you will earn extra base miles with an American Airways cobranded bank card.
Relying on how typically you lease automobiles, this might be a great way to pad your Loyalty Factors stability. Do not forget that you will not often earn rental automotive factors once you credit score leases to American, so contemplate whether or not that is value it.
Earn Loyalty Factors by filling up your automotive
American participates within the Gas Rewards program by Shell. When filling up at a Shell location, you will obtain 3 miles per gallon of gasoline, which rely as Loyalty Factors. New members earn 250 miles only for becoming a member of and finishing their first fill-up at Shell, however this particular provide is barely legitimate via Aug. 1.
Associated: Earn airline miles for fuel purchases
Earn Loyalty Factors by paying utility payments
American at present companions with the next three utility firms: Xoom, NRG Vitality and Reliant Vitality.
American has confirmed that exercise via these companions will rely towards Loyalty Factors, making this a simple solution to earn standing with out a lot legwork. Simply remember that a number of of those firms provide electrical energy at variable charges, so there may be some volatility in your month-to-month payments. Additionally, these providers are solely out there in choose states.
Be aware that these providers provide welcome bonuses, however you could not earn Loyalty Factors from mentioned bonuses.
Earn Loyalty Factors by taking surveys
Miles for Opinions lets you earn American Airways miles for finishing surveys on numerous matters. American has confirmed that miles earned via this associate will rely towards Loyalty Factors.
There is not any financial price to take part, so you will earn Loyalty Factors for “free.” Nevertheless, remember that it takes plenty of answering inquiries to earn a small variety of miles this fashion, so contemplate the worth of your time.
Associated: The simplest solution to high up your factors and miles with out spending a dime
Standing match and problem
American has relationships with many firms, so you could be eligible for a standing match or problem via your employer’s company journey company. Ask your journey division to see when you’re eligible.
Moreover, there’s at present an American Airways standing possibility for Delta SkyMiles Platinum Medallion and Diamond Medallion members and United MileagePlus Premier Platinum and Premier 1K members. The standing match relies in your 2022 account exercise. You will want to register together with your private info, together with a snapshot of your present membership card (expiring on both Jan. 31, 2024, or Jan. 31, 2025), to see if you’re eligible for American Airways’ standing match.
Platinum Medallion and Premier Platinum members will obtain Platinum Professional standing in AAdvantage, whereas Diamond Medallion and Premier 1K members will obtain Govt Platinum standing. Standing is legitimate for 4 months after registering, and you will have to earn a sure variety of Loyalty Factors to increase or improve your standing for 4 extra months. When you meet all three Loyalty Level targets, you will qualify for matched standing for the remainder of the yr.
Associated: Present airline elite standing match and problem choices you need to find out about
What exercise doesn’t rely?
Sadly, not all mileage incomes counts towards Loyalty Factors.
As talked about, you will not earn Loyalty Factors for cobranded bank card sign-up bonuses, limited-time spending affords or multipliers on sure classes, comparable to grocery shops and eating. As mentioned, most AAdvantage cardholders will earn 1 mile per greenback spent, no matter the kind of buy.
Moreover, you will not earn Loyalty Factors for miles earned from particular promotions or these accrued via purchase, reward or switch transactions. This restriction consists of miles transferred between particular person accounts and people transformed from one other loyalty program foreign money, comparable to Marriott Bonvoy.
Sadly, American confirmed that you simply would not earn Loyalty Factors via Bask Financial institution curiosity. A Bask Financial institution mileage financial savings account lets you rack up American Airways miles as a substitute of money in your financial savings.
Lastly, American’s periodic donation campaigns don’t rely towards incomes Loyalty Factors. As an example, if you wish to earn American AAdvantage miles whereas donating to charity, you’ll be able to earn 10 miles for each greenback you give to Stand Up To Most cancers once you donate $25 or extra right here. The donation touchdown web page particularly states: “Bonus miles don’t rely towards standing qualification.”
Associated: Watch out: 9 instances you will not earn American Airways Loyalty Factors, even when you earn miles
Backside line
There are a number of methods to earn American elite standing with out stepping on a airplane. Though you in the end might spend extra time and/or cash crediting American Airways associate transactions to this system than you beforehand would have, there are a lot of extra choices than within the earlier elite qualifying program.
You may have to take a look at your elite standing targets and deliberate journey for the remainder of the standing yr and resolve whether or not the chance price of committing to American’s non-travel companions is value it to qualify for AAdvantage elite standing.