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In early March 2022, American Airways switched from elite qualifying miles, {dollars} and segments to Loyalty Points, its new elite standing qualifying metric.
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’ll theoretically have the ability to spend your strategy to top-tier Government Platinum standing with out stepping foot on a airplane — not that we essentially advocate doing that.
Past flights, you’ll have the ability to earn Loyalty Factors by spending and fascinating with American Airways’ companions. Goodbye last-minute mileage runs and hi there strategic flower orders.
Listed here are a few of the finest methods to earn Loyalty Factors to earn American Airways elite standing.
Flying American Airways
The normal strategy to earn elite standing — by flying on the airline — has been revamped as a part of this system’s overhaul.
Now, you’ll earn 1 Loyalty Level for every redeemable AAdvantage mile from flying on American. Relying in your standing tier, redeemable miles are awarded at a multiplier between 5 occasions and 11 occasions 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.
- Government Platinum: 11 miles per greenback.
For easy math, if you happen to 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 normal member with no elite standing. If a top-tier American Government Platinum member booked the identical ticket, they’d earn 2,200 AAdvantage miles and a couple of,200 Loyalty Factors.
You’ll now not must hold 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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Flying on companion airways
When flying with certainly one of American’s airline companions, issues get a bit extra sophisticated. You’ll proceed to earn redeemable AAdvantage miles based mostly on the cabin bought, the gap flown and your elite standing for companion tickets. The one exception is JetBlue, which earns miles based mostly on ticket value.
When crediting a companion flight to American AAdvantage that hasn’t been purchased instantly with American, you’ll need to take a look at the earnings tables on American’s dedicated partner webpage. When you’ve recognized your fare class and flight distance, you may compute what number of redeemable miles you’ll earn from a given flight.
All of the redeemable miles you earn will contribute to your Loyalty Factors steadiness at a 1:1 ratio.
For instance, if you happen to splurged for a reduced British Airways enterprise class fare from New York to London, you’d earn 5,177 redeemable miles (3,451 base miles for the flight distance with a 50% cabin bonus), which interprets to five,177 Loyalty Factors.
Suppose you’re a top-tier Government Platinum member. In that case, you’d additionally obtain a 120% elite bonus on the miles earned, bringing your complete redeemable miles to eight,455 (3,451 base miles multiplied by the 1.20 elite bonus + 4,314) — and your Loyalty Factors to eight,455.
American’s distinctive partnership with JetBlue awards miles (and due to this fact Loyalty Factors) based mostly on the ticket fare utilizing the identical framework as if you happen to flew American.
Bank card spending
This one is fairly easy: For each greenback you spend on a cobranded American Airlines credit card, you’ll earn 1 Loyalty Level. Eligible playing cards embrace all Citi AAdvantage, Barclays AAdvantage Aviator bank cards (apart from the no-annual-fee AAdvantage Aviator Mastercard, which earns 0.5 Loyalty Factors per greenback on purchases) and AAdvantage playing cards issued outdoors the U.S. (although you might need to contact your issuer for his or her actual phrases).
Some widespread cobranded American playing cards embrace:
The data for the CitiBusiness AAdvantage Platinum Choose 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 offered by the cardboard issuer.
With this alteration, American made it extra easy to earn elite standing via spending alone. Notice that you just nonetheless should fly 30 segments per yr to have the ability to choose elite selection rewards on the Platinum Professional and Government Platinum ranges.
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 increase on choose playing cards
These playing cards will earn bonus Loyalty Factors after hitting sure spending thresholds:
- AAdvantage Aviator Silver Mastercard cardmembers: Between Jan. 1, 2022, and Feb. 28, 2023, spend $20,000 on eligible purchases and earn 5,000 further Loyalty Factors. Then, earn one other 5,000 Loyalty Factors if you happen to spend $40,000 on purchases and one other 5,000 Loyalty Factors if you happen to spend $50,000 or extra on purchases on this timeframe. So if you happen to spend $50,000 in your card through the qualification interval, you’ll earn 15,000 Loyalty Factors.
- Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®: Earn 10,000 further Loyalty Factors after you spend $40,000 in purchases through the qualifying standing yr.
The data 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 offered by the cardboard issuer.
Associated: The best credit cards for American Airlines flyers
Eating out (or ordering in)
Relying on how a lot you dine out, you would possibly even have the ability to eat your means towards elite standing. The miles you earn via the AAdvantage Dining program depend as Loyalty Factors.
Taking part within the eating rewards program is easy. Simply join an account and hyperlink your favourite bank cards. Then, you’ll earn miles while you dine at a collaborating restaurant or order takeout instantly. You’ll be able to earn 5 AAdvantage miles per greenback spent if you happen to’re a VIP member (earned while you make 11 transactions in a calendar yr and you have chose to obtain e-mail communication from AAdvantage Eating), 3 AAdvantage miles per greenback spent as a web based member (if you happen to elect to obtain e-mail communication from AAdvantage Eating) and 1 AAdvantage mile per greenback spent as an everyday member.
AAdvantage Eating usually affords a welcome bonus for brand new members, although these miles should not eligible for Loyalty Factors accrual.
Associated: Complete guide to airline and hotel dining rewards programs
Procuring
Likewise, you may earn Loyalty Factors via the AAdvantage eShopping online shopping portal or the SimplyMiles program.
Miles earned via these buying applications depend towards incomes Loyalty Factors at a 1:1 charge. And actually, you may probably stack the earnings within the applications to make elite progress shortly with the proper affords.
The AAdvantage eShopping on-line buying portal is only one of many online shopping portals you may click on via earlier than making on-line purchases with choose retailers corresponding to House Depot, Apple, Walmart, Finest Purchase and a whole bunch extra. Once you achieve this, you’ll earn American Airways miles on the acquisition — sometimes as a multiplier of the price of your buy.
Nevertheless, use a shopping portal aggregator to make sure one other buying portal isn’t providing a considerably higher payout.
The SimplyMiles program is much like Amex Offers in that it permits you to add merchant-specific affords to a credit score or debit card and earn AAdvantage miles while you use that card to make a web based or in-store buy with the service provider. For the SimplyMiles program, you’ll must dwell within the U.S., maintain a legitimate Mastercard, and enroll. As soon as enrolled, you may browse affords and activate those that you just need to use. Miles are credited to your account while you make a purchase order with the collaborating service provider.
Additional, American has confirmed that you just’ll earn factors when buying instantly via retailers like Vinesse, FTD and Vivid Seats.
Associated: How to earn frequent flyer miles shopping in stores — and why these programs matter
Resort stays
It’s typically straightforward to neglect, however American Airways AAdvantage members can earn miles when staying at hotels. We don’t sometimes advise doing that because you usually miss out on incomes resort factors, however it will probably make sense if you happen to’d get extra use out of American miles than resort factors.
Any “base miles” earned from spending with resort companions will depend 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:
- Bookaahotels.com: This portal is powered by Reserving.com, and by making reservations instantly via it, you may earn as much as 10,000 miles per night time (although, in actuality, most bookings earn far much less).
- Hyatt: Earn 500 miles every keep, with the chance to earn extra with elite standing (extra on American’s partnership with Hyatt later).
- Marriott: Earn 1-2 AAdvantage miles per greenback spent on qualifying expenses. Upscale manufacturers like Ritz-Carlton and JW Marriott earn 2 miles per greenback, whereas funds manufacturers like Aloft and Moxy earn simply 1 mile per greenback.
- IHG: Earn 1-2 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 should log in to your resort loyalty program account and decide to earn miles with AAdvantage as a substitute of resort factors. Be sure you take that step earlier than reserving if Loyalty Factors are your incomes precedence.
Associated: Don’t book hotel stays directly if you want to earn maximum American Loyalty Points
American Airways-Hyatt partnership
American Airlines 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. American elite members earn 1 AAdvantage mile per greenback spent on Hyatt stays and Hyatt elite members earn bonus factors on American flights.
So if you happen to’re already an American Airways elite and also you have a tendency to remain at Hyatt properties (or can change your journey plans to take action), you could possibly rack up a whole lot of additional AAdvantage miles, thus Loyalty Factors, in your resort bookings. Nevertheless, when you can switch numerous resort factors to AAdvantage miles, these transfers is not going to depend towards incomes Loyalty Factors per this system guidelines.
Once you register by Dec. 28, there is a standing problem for Explorist and Globalist members, however extra on that later.
Associated: We tested earning American Airlines miles for 3 different hotel stays — here’s what we found
Trip packages
American Airways has lengthy provided a trip bundle service that allows you to bundle flights, accommodations, rental vehicles, or any mixture. These packages typically provide barely higher offers than if you happen to have been to ebook your flight, resort and automotive individually.
Plus, you’ll earn 1,000 AAdvantage for each trip bundle you ebook and may earn as much as 25,000 miles while you book featured hotels.
As all the time, run the numbers earlier than you ebook a trip bundle over reserving instantly. Additionally, word that you almost certainly received’t earn resort factors and elite standing on accommodations booked as part of a bundle.
Associated: The complete guide to booking all-inclusive hotels with American Airlines Vacations
Cruises
American affords the flexibility to ebook cruises instantly via its web site; any miles you earn will depend towards Loyalty Factors. You’ll be able to earn 1 AAdvantage mile per greenback spent on cruise sailings via Dec. 31, 2024, as much as 10,000 AAdvantage miles. As well as, these with an AAdvantage cobranded bank card earn a further mile per greenback spent.
If you happen to’re a cruiser trying to accumulate AAdvantage miles and Loyalty Factors, it might pay to make a reservation via American’s cruise portal.
Renting vehicles
AAdvantage miles earned with rental cars will depend as Loyalty Factors. The variety of Loyalty Factors and redeemable AAdvantage miles you’ll earn is dependent upon the rental automotive companion you ebook with.
For instance, with Avis and Price range members can earn no 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’ll earn 1 Loyalty Level for each AAdvantage base mile earned.
Relying on how usually you lease vehicles, this could possibly be a great way to pad your Loyalty Factors steadiness.
Keep in mind that you received’t normally earn rental automotive factors while you credit score leases to American, so think about whether or not that’s value it. It’s possible you’ll come out forward with American miles on shorter leases however earn extra rental automotive factors on longer and dearer leases.
Filling up your automotive
American participates within the Fuel Rewards program by Shell. When filling up at a Shell location, you’ll obtain 2 miles per gallon of gasoline, which counts as Loyalty Factors. New members earn 100 miles only for becoming a member of and finishing their first fill-up at Shell, however these 100 miles will not earn Loyalty Factors.
Associated: Earn airline miles for gas purchases
Paying utility payments
American at present companions with three utility corporations: NRG Power, Reliant Power and Xoom.
American has confirmed that exercise via these companions will depend towards Loyalty Factors, making this a straightforward strategy to earn standing with out a lot legwork. Simply bear in mind that a number of of those corporations provide electrical energy at variable charges, so there may be some volatility in your month-to-month payments. Additionally, word that these providers are solely out there in choose states.
Notice that these providers provide welcome bonuses, however chances are you’ll not earn Loyalty Factors from mentioned bonuses.
Taking surveys
Miles for Opinions permits you to earn American Airways miles for finishing surveys on numerous matters. American has confirmed that miles earned via this companion will depend towards Loyalty Factors.
There’s no financial value to take part, so that you’ll earn Loyalty Factors for “free.” Nevertheless, bear in mind that it takes a whole lot of answering inquiries to earn a small variety of miles this manner, so think about the worth of your time.
Associated: The easiest way to top up your points and miles without spending a dime
Standing match and problem
American has relationships with many corporations, so chances are you’ll be eligible for a standing match or problem via your employer’s company journey company. Ask your journey division to see if you happen to’re eligible.
Moreover, there’s at present an American Airline standing choice for World of Hyatt Explorist and Globalist members. Once you register by Dec. 28, Hyatt Explorist and Globalist members who have linked (or will link their accounts by Dec. 12) are eligible for American Airlines status from American’s Instant Status Pass. Explorist and Globalist members obtain immediate Platinum and Platinum Professional standing, respectively. 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 one more 4 months.
Associated: Current airline elite status match and challenge options you should know about
What exercise doesn’t depend
Sadly, not all mileage incomes counts as Loyalty Factors.
As talked about, you received’t earn Loyalty Factors for cobranded bank card sign-up bonuses, limited-time spending affords or multipliers on sure classes, like grocery shops and eating. As mentioned, most AAdvantage cardholders will earn 1 mile per greenback spent, no matter the kind of buy.
Additional, you received’t earn Loyalty Factors for miles earned from particular promotions or these accrued via purchase, reward or switch transactions. This restriction contains miles transferred between particular person accounts and people transformed from one other loyalty program foreign money, corresponding to Marriott Bonvoy.
Sadly, American confirmed that you just wouldn’t earn Loyalty Factors via Bask Financial institution curiosity. A Bask Bank mileage savings account permits you to rack up American Airways miles as a substitute of money in your financial savings. That mentioned, via Dec. 15, while you deposit $25,000, you may earn 5,000 AAdvantage Loyalty Factors after sustaining the steadiness for 105 consecutive days.
Lastly, American’s periodic donation campaigns don’t depend towards incomes Loyalty Factors. As an illustration, if you wish to earn American AAdvantage miles whereas donating to charity, you may earn 10 miles for each greenback you give to Stand Up To Most cancers while you donate $25 or extra here. The donation touchdown web page particularly states, “Bonus miles don’t depend towards elite-status qualification.”
Associated: Be careful: 9 times you won’t earn American Airlines Loyalty Points, even if 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 could spend extra time and/or cash crediting American Airways companion transactions to this system than you beforehand would have, there are actually many extra choices than there have been within the earlier program.
Moreover, having a cobranded AAdvantage credit card might be extraordinarily helpful with the brand new qualification scheme. That mentioned, non-cardholders will nonetheless have the ability to progress towards standing by participating with American’s different companions, together with the eating reward program and on-line buying portal.
You’ll have to take a look at your elite standing objectives and deliberate journey for the remainder of the standing yr and resolve whether or not the chance value of committing to American’s non-travel companions is value it to qualify for AAdvantage elite standing.
Extra reporting by Ehsan Haque, Andrew Kunesh, Chris Dong, Eric Rosen, Katie Genter, Zach Griff and Kyle Olsen.
