Chasing American Airways elite standing? Listed here are 15 methods to earn Loyalty Factors

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. In consequence, you’d theoretically be capable to spend your technique to top-tier Government Platinum standing with out stepping foot on a airplane — not that we essentially advocate doing that.

Past flying, you possibly can earn Loyalty Factors by spending and interesting with American Airways’ companions. The airline 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 Level Rewards advantages and the power to earn Loyalty Factors for upgrades.

American introduced in February that the airline can be altering how prospects earn Loyalty Factors on flights. Beginning Might 1, you will solely earn Loyalty Factors for flights booked straight with American, choose eligible accomplice airways or most well-liked journey companies. The airline acknowledged you can even earn Loyalty Factors for any journey booked as an AAdvantage Enterprise member or as a contracted company traveler. American is ready to announce which journey companies will fall underneath this umbrella in April.

With all this in thoughts, listed here are a number of the finest methods to earn Loyalty Factors to earn American Airways elite standing.

Earn Loyalty Factors by flying American Airways

The standard technique to earn elite standing — by flying on the airline — continues to be relevant underneath 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 occasions and 11 occasions your base ticket value.

• Basic 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

In simple arithmetic, 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 common 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 needn’t hold observe of elite qualifying miles, {dollars} or segments. One redeemable mile earned from flying on American will translate to 1 Loyalty Level.

It is essential to notice that beginning Might 1, American will solely be awarding Loyalty Factors on flights booked straight with the airline, eligible accomplice airways or most well-liked journey companies. You too can earn on any journey booked as an AAdvantage Enterprise member or as a contracted company traveler.

This modification could straight have an effect on flyers who could often guide American flights utilizing transferable bank card factors utilizing their issuer’s platform. Nevertheless, it will not be identified which journey companies rely as “most well-liked” till April.

Associated: Final-minute methods for incomes American AAdvantage elite standing

Earn Loyalty Factors by flying on accomplice airways

When flying with certainly one of American’s airline companions, issues get a bit of 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 the ticket as a substitute of distance flown and fare class.

Moreover, when crediting a accomplice flight to American AAdvantage that hasn’t been purchased straight with American, you will need to take a look at the earnings tables on American’s devoted accomplice webpage. As soon as you have recognized your fare class and flight distance, you possibly can 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, if you happen to 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 Government 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 guide 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 modification can be applied within the upcoming membership 12 months.

You may now have the choice to pick Loyalty Level bonuses at sure Loyalty Level thresholds, all counting towards standing. As an illustration, you possibly can 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’ll be able to 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 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 price, identical to they might earn on a typical paid ticket.

As of January, the airline had but to set a date for this alteration.

Associated: Listed here are 5 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 differ by bank card kind and issuing financial institution. Whereas nearly all 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 may need to contact your issuer for its precise phrases).

Some widespread cobranded American playing cards embody:

The knowledge for the Citi AAdvantage Platinum Choose, CitiBusiness AAdvantage Platinum Choose, AAdvantage Aviator Purple and American Airways AAdvantage MileUp 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.

American has made it fairly easy to earn elite standing by way of spending alone.

Sadly, sign-up bonuses, limited-time spending gives and bonus class multipliers (groceries, fuel, eating, and so forth.) 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® World Elite Silver Mastercard® cardmembers: Per the phrases and situations, from March 1, 2024, and thru the tip 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 illustration, you possibly can earn a further 5,000 Loyalty Factors if you happen to make $20,000 in purchases inside the qualification interval. Earnings improve as extra money is spent on the cardboard, as you possibly can 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 if you happen to spend $50,000 on the cardboard inside the qualification interval.
• Citi / AAdvantage Government World Elite Mastercard: Earn 10,000 Loyalty Factors after reaching 50,000 Loyalty Factors in a standing qualification 12 months. The cardholder will obtain one other bonus of 10,000 Loyalty Factors after reaching 90,000 Loyalty Factors in a standing qualification 12 months.

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 offered by the cardboard issuer.

Associated: The very best 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 manner towards elite standing. The miles you earn by way of the AAdvantage Eating program rely as Loyalty Factors.

Taking part within the eating rewards program is easy. 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 straight.

You’ll be able to earn 5 AAdvantage miles per greenback spent if you happen to’re a VIP member (earned once you make 11 transactions in a calendar 12 months and you choose 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 typically gives a welcome bonus for brand new members, although these miles will not be eligible for Loyalty Factors accrual.

Associated: Essentially the most beneficiant airline and lodge eating rewards packages

Earn Loyalty Factors by way of a procuring portal

Likewise, you possibly can earn Loyalty Factors by way of the AAdvantage eShopping on-line procuring portal or the SimplyMiles program.

Miles earned by way of these procuring portals rely towards incomes Loyalty Factors at a 1:1 price.

The AAdvantage eShopping portal is only one of many on-line procuring portals you possibly can click on by way of earlier than making on-line purchases with choose retailers akin to Dwelling Depot, Apple, Walmart, Greatest Purchase and a whole bunch extra. While you accomplish that, you will earn American Airways miles on the acquisition — usually as a multiplier of the price of your buy.

Nevertheless, use a procuring portal aggregator to make sure one other procuring portal is not providing a considerably higher payout.

The SimplyMiles program is just like Amex Provides in that it permits you to add merchant-specific gives 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 must stay within the U.S., maintain a sound Mastercard and enroll. As soon as enrolled, you possibly can browse gives 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: The right way to earn frequent flyer miles procuring in shops — and why these packages matter

Earn Loyalty Factors on lodge stays

It is generally straightforward to neglect, however American Airways AAdvantage members can earn miles when staying at lodges. We do not usually advise doing that because you typically miss out on incomes lodge factors, however it will possibly make sense if you happen to’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 by way of it, you possibly can earn as much as 10 occasions 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 by way of this on-line journey company.

When reserving with Hyatt, Marriott and IHG, you have to log in to your lodge loyalty program account and choose to earn miles with AAdvantage as a substitute of lodge factors. Be sure to take that step earlier than reserving if Loyalty Factors are your incomes precedence.

Associated: Do not guide lodge stays straight 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 packages to earn bonus factors and miles on stays and flights. Those that are elite in each packages can double rewards on qualifying American flights and Hyatt stays.

You’ll be able to earn 1 World of Hyatt bonus level for each eligible greenback spent on eligible American flights, and you can even 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 usually earned on stays and the AAdvantage miles earned on flights.

So if you happen to’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 can rack up a variety of additional AAdvantage miles, and thus Loyalty Factors in your lodge bookings. Nevertheless, whilst you can switch varied 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 completely 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 allows you to bundle flights, lodges and rental vehicles or any mixture. These packages generally supply barely higher offers than if you happen to had been to guide your flight, lodge and automotive individually.

Plus, you’ll earn 1,000 AAdvantage miles for each trip package deal you guide on-line and might earn as much as 20,000 miles once you guide featured lodges.

As at all times, run the numbers earlier than you guide a trip package deal over reserving straight. Additionally, notice that you probably will not earn lodge factors and elite standing on lodges booked as part of a package deal.

Associated: The entire information to reserving all-inclusive lodges with American Airways Holidays

Earn Loyalty Factors by reserving cruises

American gives the power to guide cruises by way of its web site, and any miles you earn will rely towards Loyalty Factors. You’ll be able to earn 1 AAdvantage mile per greenback spent on cruise sailings by way of 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 by way of Dec. 31, 2025.

For those who’re a cruiser trying to accumulate AAdvantage miles and Loyalty Factors, it might pay to make a reservation by way of American’s cruise portal.

Earn Loyalty Factors by renting vehicles

AAdvantage miles earned with rental vehicles will rely as Loyalty Factors. The variety of Loyalty Factors and redeemable AAdvantage miles you will earn is determined by the rental automotive accomplice you guide with.

For instance, Avis and Funds members can earn at the very least 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 vehicles, this may very well be a great way to pad your Loyalty Factors stability. Keep in mind that you will not normally 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 supply is just legitimate by way of 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 corporations: Xoom, NRG Power and Reliant Power.

American has confirmed that exercise by way of these companions will rely towards Loyalty Factors, making this a simple technique to earn standing with out a lot legwork. Simply remember that a number of of those corporations supply electrical energy at variable charges, so there might be some volatility in your month-to-month payments. Additionally, these providers are solely obtainable in choose states.

Notice that these providers supply welcome bonuses, however chances are you’ll not earn Loyalty Factors from mentioned bonuses.

Earn Loyalty Factors by taking surveys

Miles for Opinions means that you can earn American Airways miles for finishing surveys on varied matters. American has confirmed that miles earned by way of this accomplice 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 a variety of answering inquiries to earn a small variety of miles this fashion, so contemplate the worth of your time.

Associated: The best technique to high up your factors and miles with out 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 by way of 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 Airways standing choice for Delta Air Strains SkyMiles Platinum Medallion and Diamond Medallion members and United Airways MileagePlus Premier Platinum and Premier 1K members. The standing match relies in your 2022 account exercise. You have to to register along with your private data, together with a snapshot of your present membership card (expiring on both Jan. 31, 2024, or Jan. 31, 2025), to see in case you are 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 Government 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 12 months.

Associated: Present airline elite standing match and problem choices it is best to learn 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 gives or multipliers on sure classes, akin 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 by way of purchase, present or switch transactions. This restriction consists of miles transferred between particular person accounts and people transformed from one other loyalty program forex, akin to Marriott Bonvoy factors.

Sadly, American confirmed that you simply would not earn Loyalty Factors by way of Bask Financial institution curiosity. A Bask Financial institution mileage financial savings account means that you can 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 illustration, if you wish to earn American AAdvantage miles whereas donating to charity, you possibly can 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 occasions you will not earn American Airways Loyalty Factors, even if you happen to earn miles

Backside line

There are a number of methods to earn American elite standing with out stepping on a airplane. Though you finally could spend extra time and/or cash crediting American Airways accomplice transactions to this system than you beforehand would have, there are a lot of extra choices than within the earlier elite qualifying program.

Incomes Loyalty Factors will change Might 1, when American makes it so you possibly can solely earn on flights booked straight with the airline, eligible accomplice airways or most well-liked journey companies (listing to be introduced in April). It is possible for you to to earn for journey booked wherever if you happen to’re an AAdvantage Enterprise member or as a contracted company traveler, nevertheless.

Moreover, having a cobranded AAdvantage bank card is helpful with the qualification scheme. That mentioned, non-cardholders will nonetheless be capable to progress towards standing by partaking with American’s different companions, together with the eating reward program and on-line procuring portal.

You may have to take a look at your elite standing targets and deliberate journey for the remainder of the standing 12 months 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.