AAAdvantage members have until the end of February to earn enough loyalty points for their desired American Airlines elite status. Therefore, it may seem a little premature to discuss last-minute strategies for securing your desired AAdvantage elite status.
But it’s never too early for AAdvantage status planning. If you haven’t already done so, log into your AAAdvantage account and check how many loyalty points you have. Then, consider how many loyalty points you need for your desired elite status tier and estimate how many you expect to earn by the end of February.
If you’re going to fall short of your goal, here are some strategies you can use to qualify or qualify for AAdvantage status. Remember, many ways to earn loyalty points don’t involve travel.
AAdvantage Elite Status Overview
In 2022, American Airlines began using loyalty points as its metric for earning elite status. You earn loyalty points when you earn base American Airlines miles. However, many Bonus American Airlines miles do not earn you loyalty points. So, consider whether you’re earning Aadhaar or bonus miles on your flights, credit card spending and other partner activities.
To qualify for AAdvantage elite status you need to earn the following amount of loyalty points during the 12 months between the beginning of March and the end of February:
- Gold: 40,000 Loyalty Points
- Platinum: 75,000 Loyalty Points
- Platinum Pro: 125,000 Loyalty Points
- Executive Platinum: 200,000 Loyalty Points
If you earn enough loyalty points for your desired elite status this 12 months, you will retain your status until the end of next March. So, if you achieve your desired status by the end of February 2025, you will retain your status till March 31, 2026.
You can also earn loyalty point rewards when you reach certain loyalty point thresholds. So, even if you’ve earned enough loyalty points for your desired status, it’s worth checking what the loyalty point rewards threshold can be reached if you earn more loyalty points before the end of February.
RELATED: Ways American Airlines Can Maximize Loyalty Points
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Strategies for Earning Loyalty Points
Unlike many other US-based programs, the current The AAAdvantage elite qualification period does not expire on December 31. Instead, you have until the end of February to earn loyalty points for the current qualifying period.
In most cases, loyalty points will be posted to your account based on the date of flight or transaction activity. Here are some ways you can earn loyalty points.
Spend on an AAdvantage credit card
You can earn loyalty points by spending on American Airlines credit cards. However, you will only earn 1 loyalty point per dollar spent regardless of bonus categories. Credit card welcome offers and spending bonuses earn bonus miles that are not eligible for loyalty points.
You can qualify for American Airlines status based on credit card spending alone. For example, placing $40,000 in purchases on Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® (See Rates and Fees) During your qualifying year you will earn enough loyalty points for AAdvantage Gold status.
The AAdvantage Executive Card also offers two tiers of loyalty point bonuses. If you reach 50,000 Loyalty Points (earned in any way) during the qualifying year, you will automatically receive an additional 10,000 Loyalty Points. And if you reach 90,000 loyalty points, you’ll receive another 10,000.
Plus, if you have an AAdvantage® Aviator® Silver World Elite Mastercard®, you can earn up to 15,000 additional loyalty points each qualifying period through purchases on your card. You’ll earn 5,000 additional Loyalty Points after $20,000 in net purchases in the Status Qualification Period, another 5,000 Loyalty Points after $40,000 in net purchases and another 5,000 Loyalty Points after $50,000 or more in net purchases.
Information for the AAdvantage Aviator Silver MasterCard has been independently collected by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
The loyalty points you earn for spending on the AAAdvantage credit card will be posted based on the date of purchase. So, Feb. Purchases posted to your AAdvantage credit card by 28, 2025 will count toward the current qualifying year.
Related: Which Credit Card Should You Use for American Airlines Flights?
Click through the AAdvantage shopping portal
Using the AAdvantage shopping portal is one of the easiest ways to earn loyalty points. Whether you’re hundreds or thousands of loyalty points shy of your desired AAAdvantage elite status, making one or more purchases after clicking through this online shopping portal can help you earn the loyalty points you need.
Add your favorite merchants as favorites in your shopping portal profile. Once you do so, you will receive an email when these merchants offer a higher than normal earning rate.
Use SimplyMiles
Another easy way to earn loyalty points if you have a MasterCard is to use SimplyMiles offers. These offers allow registered MasterCard shoppers to earn American miles and loyalty points when shopping at select merchants for which they have enrolled in the offer.
To get started, register for SimplyMiles, link your Mastercard card to your SimplyMiles account and register for SimplyMiles offers you think you can use. Then, when you make eligible purchases with a registered card at a participating merchant, you’ll earn loyalty points.
Earn loyalty points on hotel stays
You can also pick up some extra loyalty points on hotel stays. There are several ways to earn loyalty points from hotel stays, including:
- Advantage Hotels: Earn loyalty points for stays booked through this platform
- Credit remains for Hyatt AAdvantage: Earn 500 loyalty points per stay
- Credit stays for Marriott or IHG AA Advantage: Earn up to 2 Loyalty Points per dollar spent on qualifying charges
- Link your AAdvantage and World of Hyatt accounts: American Elite members earn 1 loyalty point per dollar spent on eligible Hyatt stays and experiences through December 31, 2024
You’re likely to get elite night credits and benefits when you book through the last three methods, while you’re not likely to when booking through AAdvantage Hotels.
RELATED: If You Want to Earn Maximum American Loyalty Points, Don’t Book Hotel Stays Directly
Book a rental car through AAdvantage
Especially if you don’t get much value from car rental loyalty programs, you may want to earn loyalty points when renting a car.
You can book an Avis or Budget rental car through AAdvantage Cars and earn 2 to 5 base miles and loyalty points per dollar spent. Your earning rate will vary depending on your American Airlines status level.
Related: Earn American Loyalty Points when you stay at hotels and rent cars
Dine with AAdvantage Dining
You can also earn loyalty points through the American Airlines AAdvantage dining program. To do so, enroll in the AAdvantage Dining Rewards Program, add your favorite rewards cards to your AAdvantage Dining Program account, and then use the enrolled card to pay at participating restaurants, bars and clubs.
Depending on your status with the AAAdvantage Dining Program — separate from your AAAdvantage status — you can earn between 1 and 5 loyalty points per dollar spent. The restaurant should register your transaction within five days of your purchase, and then one to two weeks later you should see the miles and loyalty points in your AAdvantage account.
Go on a mileage run
Finally, you can consider booking a mileage run to earn loyalty points.
Unless you either need a lot of loyalty points or don’t mind paying a lot, you’ll likely want to focus on the cheaper premium-cabin fares on American Airlines’ partners — with the exception of British Airways and Iberia, which are now credit-based. . Ticket price – for trips covering multiple distances.
Specifically, you’ll find AAdvantage’s earnings charts for partners Finer, Cathay Pacific And Qantas Attractive because flights in most premium economy fare classes earn at least 100% of flight distance in base miles.
Related: Earn American AA Advantage Status and Loyalty Points Faster with OneWorld Partner Flights
The bottom line
As the end of the year approaches, it’s a good idea to check in on your AAAdvantage elite status plans. Find out where you stand now and calculate the loyalty points you could potentially earn by the end of the eligibility period based on your planned travel and other activities that can earn loyalty points.
Overspending on running mileage or other activities can rob you of your desired AAdvantage status by the end of February. However, it’s best not to wait until the last minute because your activity may not post as you expect (or as quickly as you expect).