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American Airways is likely one of the largest airways on the earth, and its AAdvantage loyalty program is widespread with many vacationers. Whereas AAdvantage has seen some adjustments over the previous couple of years — together with the removing of printed award charts — you may nonetheless get a ton of worth from this system, particularly if you happen to can make the most of its candy spots.
In 2022, American fully overhauled how flyers qualify for AAdvantage elite standing. Fairly than being primarily based solely on flying, you now earn Loyalty Factors throughout varied actions within the AAdvantage program — together with spending on American Airways cobranded bank cards, purchasing by on-line purchasing portals and eating.
Plus, American introduced a slew of massive adjustments to its AAdvantage program in February. Amongst these adjustments, that are set to enter impact on tickets issued from Might 1, American will solely award AAdvantage miles and Loyalty Factors for flights booked immediately with American, eligible Oneworld and associate airways, and most popular journey businesses.
After this alteration, flights booked with non-eligible companions or businesses is not going to earn miles or Loyalty Factors except you are registered with AAdvantage Enterprise or have a contracted company settlement with the airline. American will launch its full checklist of most popular journey businesses in April, so the change’s full impact stays to be seen.
This is all the things it is advisable know concerning the American AAdvantage loyalty program.
American Airways companions
American Airways is a part of the Oneworld alliance. Subsequently, you may earn and redeem miles with a handful of worldwide companions. American elite members usually get advantages, reminiscent of lounge entry and an additional baggage allowance, when flying with these associate airways:
- Alaska Airways
- British Airways
- Cathay Pacific
- Fiji Airways (Oneworld Join member)
- Finnair
- Iberia
- Japan Airways
- Malaysia Airways
- Oman Air (future member)
- 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:
- Aer Lingus
- Air Tahiti Nui
- Cape Air
- China Southern Airways
- Etihad Airways
- Gol Airways
- Hawaiian Airways
- IndiGo
- JetSmart
- Silver Airways
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Nonetheless, every associate has its personal standards on how one can earn or redeem miles with American, so you’ll want to overview the precise associate web page for full particulars.
American Airways elite standing
American AAdvantage has 4 public ranges of elite standing — Gold, Platinum, Platinum Professional and Govt Platinum — plus an invite-only stage referred to as Concierge Key.
AAdvantage members earn Loyalty Factors after they fly on American or spend with a cobranded bank card or with choose AAdvantage companions. Upcoming adjustments to the AAdvantage program in Might will make it so AAdvantage miles and Loyalty Factors are solely earned whenever you transact immediately with American, choose associate airways and most popular journey businesses, which is necessary to notice if you happen to’re seeking to accumulate standing.
On the whole, 1 eligible AAdvantage mile earned is the same as 1 Loyalty Level. So, if you happen to 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.
This is the variety of Loyalty Factors you should earn through the present qualification interval — March 1, 2023, to Feb. 29, 2024 — for every elite standing tier:
- Gold: 40,000 Loyalty Factors
- Platinum: 75,000 Loyalty Factors
- Platinum Professional: 125,000 Loyalty Factors
- Govt Platinum: 200,000 Loyalty Factors
As an AAdvantage Gold member, you may get a 40% mileage bonus, complimentary Primary Cabin Additional seats inside 24 hours of departure, complimentary most popular seats at check-in (when obtainable) and one free checked bag on itineraries marketed and operated by American Airways.
In the meantime, Platinum members get a 60% mileage bonus, complimentary Primary Cabin Additional and most popular seats at reserving (when obtainable), and two free checked baggage on itineraries marketed and operated by American Airways.
Platinum Professional members get an 80% mileage bonus, complimentary Primary Cabin Additional and most popular seats at reserving (when obtainable), and three free checked baggage on itineraries marketed and operated by American Airways.
Lastly, Govt Platinum members get a 120% mileage bonus, complimentary Primary Cabin Additional and most popular seats at reserving (when obtainable), and three free checked baggage on itineraries marketed and operated by American Airways.
All AAdvantage elite members have entry to complimentary upgrades on American-marketed and -operated flights inside the U.S. (together with Hawaii) and between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, the Bahamas, Bermuda, the Caribbean and Central America for themselves and one companion. Complimentary upgrades on award flights can be found to elite members, although it’s not a assure that you’ll safe an improve in your flight.
AAdvantage elite members get Oneworld standing, which supplies perks when flying on different Oneworld airways. Particularly, AAdvantage Gold members get Oneworld Ruby, Platinum members get Oneworld Sapphire, and Platinum Professional and Govt Platinum members get Oneworld Emerald standing.
Even when you do not have elite standing with American, there are some notable perks to being an AAdvantage member. American AAdvantage introduced the next unique advantages for AAdvantage members in 2024 (together with entry-level members with no elite standing):
- The flexibility to voluntarily cancel fundamental financial system tickets for a partial journey journey credit score for a $99 payment
- Complimentary 24-hour ticket holds
- The flexibility to buy single-use Admirals Membership and Flagship Lounge entry
- The flexibility to take an earlier flight on the identical day at no additional value
Additionally new in 2024 is the flexibility to redeem Loyalty Level Rewards for extra Loyalty Factors to assist members attain their elite standing objectives.
You possibly can select:
- 1,000 bonus Loyalty Factors (after incomes 15,000 Loyalty Factors)
- 5,000 bonus Loyalty Factors (after incomes 175,000 Loyalty Factors)
- 15,000 bonus Loyalty Factors (after incomes 250,000 Loyalty Factors)
Associated: American Airways unveils 10 adjustments to the AAdvantage program
Coming later in 2024 is the flexibility to earn redeemable miles and extra Loyalty Factors on premium cabin upgrades paid with money.
earn AAdvantage miles
There are numerous methods to earn AAdvantage miles. Beneath is a abstract of the highest methods.
Fly on American Airways
Whenever you fly on an American-marketed flight, you may often earn miles based on your ticket’s base worth — with out taxes and charges. Nonetheless, it is necessary to notice that after American’s adjustments roll out Might 1, you may need to guide the flight immediately with the airline, an eligible Oneworld or associate airline, or a most popular journey company to earn miles and Loyalty Factors.
The miles you earn additionally range primarily based in your AAdvantage elite standing. The upper your standing, the extra miles you’ll earn.
This is what number of miles every standing tier earns per greenback spent:
- Member (no standing): 5 miles
- Gold: 7 miles
- Platinum: 8 miles
- Platinum Professional: 9 miles
- Govt Platinum: 11 miles
Associated: earn miles within the American Airways AAdvantage program
Fly on associate airways
It’s also possible to earn AAdvantage miles on flights marketed by American’s companions. Beginning Might 1, you may need to guide these flights by the associate or an eligible journey company to earn miles or Loyalty Factors for the journey.
For many companions, you may earn miles and Loyalty Factors primarily based on flight distance. Nonetheless, the precise incomes fee depends upon the fare class of your ticket. This is an instance of the incomes chart for Qantas-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. This is a listing of present provides:
- Citi® / AAdvantage® Govt World Elite Mastercard® (see charges and charges): Earn 70,000 miles after you spend $7,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening. Earn 4 miles per greenback on eligible American Airways purchases. Earn 10 miles per greenback spent on eligible automobile leases and resorts booked by American’s automobile rental and resort reserving websites. Earn 1 mile per greenback spent on different purchases. Earn 10,000 bonus Loyalty Factors after reaching 50,000 Loyalty Factors in a standing qualification yr. Earn one other 10,000 bonus Loyalty Factors after reaching 90,000 Loyalty Factors in the identical standing qualification yr.
- 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 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, automobile leases, and gasoline stations. Earn 1 mile per greenback on different purchases.
- American Airways AAdvantage® MileUp®: Earn 10,000 bonus miles 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 Pink World Elite Mastercard: Earn 60,000 bonus miles after making your first buy and paying the annual payment in full within the first 90 days. 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 2 AAdvantage miles per greenback on workplace provide, choose telecom, automobile rental and eligible American Airways purchases, and 1 mile per greenback on different purchases. Earn a 5% AAdvantage mileage bonus yearly after your account anniversary date primarily based on the entire variety of miles earned with the cardboard.
The data for the Citi AAdvantage Platinum Choose World Elite Mastercard, CitiBusiness AAdvantage Platinum Choose Mastercard, American Airways AAdvantage MileUp, AAdvantage Aviator Pink World Elite Mastercard and AAdvantage Aviator World Elite Enterprise Mastercard has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or offered by the cardboard issuers.
Keep in mind that the sign-up bonuses and bonus class earnings will not get you Loyalty Factors towards AAdvantage elite standing. You may solely earn 1 Loyalty Level per greenback spent on American Airways playing cards.
Associated: Selecting the perfect bank card for American Airways flyers
Switch Bilt factors
American AAdvantage companions with only one program with a transferable foreign money: Bilt Rewards. You possibly can switch your Bilt factors to your AAdvantage account at a 1:1 ratio, so if you happen to’re at present incomes Bilt factors by paying hire, this could be a nice choice to your rewards.
Click on by the AAdvantage purchasing portal earlier than purchasing on-line
Whenever you click on by the AAdvantage purchasing portal, you may earn additional miles when making purchases with choose on-line retailers. Utilizing the portal is easy: Join an account and click on by the portal to your service provider of selection earlier than purchasing on-line.
Associated: Maximizing purchasing portals to your on-line purchases
Use SimplyMiles
American provides a program referred to as SimplyMiles that permits you to earn miles when purchasing on-line or in individual with choose retailers. You may first want to enroll in SimplyMiles, hyperlink a number of Credit cards to your profile and enroll in provides.
Then, whenever you use a linked Mastercard to make an eligible buy at a service provider for which you’ve got enrolled in a proposal, you may earn AAdvantage miles.
Dine at eating places that take part in AAdvantage Eating
AAdvantage Eating is just like the AAdvantage purchasing portal however for consuming at eating places. Simply join an account and hyperlink your favourite bank cards for eating. When you accomplish that, you may earn miles whenever you dine at collaborating eating places.
You possibly can 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 fundamental member.
Ebook by AAdvantage journey companions
American Airways companions with main automobile rental corporations so its members can earn miles on automobile leases. Try AAdvantage’s automobile rental associate web page for data on companions and incomes charges.
It’s also possible to earn AAdvantage miles on resort stays as follows:
- AAdvantage Inns: Earn as much as 10 instances extra base miles on resorts.
- Hyatt: Earn 500 miles every keep at choose properties.
- IHG: Earn 2 miles per greenback spent on qualifying room charges.
- Marriott: Earn 2 miles per greenback spent on qualifying expenses.
Moreover, Hyatt and American loyalists can earn extra rewards by linking accounts. After linking accounts, AAdvantage elite members can earn 1 AAdvantage mile for each eligible greenback spent on qualifying Hyatt stays and experiences.
Along with the resort and rental automobile 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
In the event 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 possibly can learn our evaluation right here: Introducing Bask Financial institution, a brand new technique 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. Look ahead to promotions that permit you to purchase American Airways miles with a bonus or a reduction.
Associated: Ebook an expensive suite or flight for a fraction of the associated fee: Factors promotions to save lots of you cash
redeem AAdvantage miles
You may often get the perfect worth whenever you redeem your American AAdvantage miles for flights. TPG’s most up-to-date valuations estimate American miles to be value 1.55 cents every, so attempt to get not less than this worth when redeeming miles.
Redeeming miles for American-operated flights
To learn how many miles an American-operated flight will value, head to the American Airways web site or cellular app and do an award search.
AAdvantage redemptions for journey on American are actually solely priced dynamically, permitting the airline to regulate the award fee for any flight.
In 2024, Platinum Professional, Govt Platinum and Concierge Key members will be capable of redeem miles to go to the Flagship First eating facility, although the mileage value just isn’t but recognized.
Accomplice awards
American companions with over a dozen airways, many world-renowned for his or her glorious premium-cabin merchandise.
Nonetheless, these flights aren’t at all times obtainable to associate airways, because the working service should launch saver-level award stock.
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, many awards can supply spectacular worth. These “candy spots” usually get you effectively over TPG’s valuation of AAdvantage miles.
Listed here are only a few of those terrific redemptions.
Quick-haul flights to the Caribbean
Flights to the Caribbean can value you tons of of {dollars} every method.
As an alternative, you may guide flights from New York to the sunny island of Barbados for simply 8,000 AAdvantage miles plus $7.10 in charges and taxes.
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 reminiscent of Japan Airways. So, you may guide JAL top quality from Chicago to Tokyo for less than 80,000 miles.
Associated: Finest candy spots within the American Airways AAdvantage program
Etihad enterprise class to the Maldives
You possibly can redeem simply 70,000 AAdvantage miles for a flight from the US to the Maldives through Abu Dhabi in Etihad’s enterprise class, with flights from Chicago’s O’Hare Worldwide Airport (ORD) that includes the service’s incredible new A350 product.
Whereas in idea you may guide the identical itinerary flying Qatar Airways in its award-winning Qsuite, sadly, Qatar is at present solely releasing business-class availability from the US on the final minute to AAdvantage members.
Award pricing
Whereas American eradicated saver and anytime awards in 2023, it is not eradicating award charts totally.
As an alternative, American’s refreshed award chart shows preliminary values for flight awards.
| Area | Primary Cabin beginning at | Premium financial system beginning at | Enterprise/first beginning at |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contiguous 48 U.S. states and Canada | 7,500 miles | N/A | 15,000 miles |
| Mexico, the 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, the Center East and the South Pacific | 35,000 miles | 60,000 miles | 95,000 miles |
Backside line
The American Airways AAdvantage program is much from good. But when you know the way to make it work, there’s nonetheless loads of worth, significantly for redemptions on associate airways, the place wise award charts nonetheless exist.
It is necessary to notice the adjustments coming in 2024 to incomes AAdvantage miles and Loyalty Factors. When these adjustments go into impact Might 1, American will start limiting earnings to journey booked immediately with American and eligible associate airways, reserving by most popular journey businesses and reserving wherever as an AAdvantage Enterprise member or as a contracted company traveler.
In the event you’re contemplating incomes miles with the AAdvantage program, we suggest 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 flexibility to proceed to earn miles together with your each day spending. It is also value utilizing the AAdvantage purchasing portal and SimplyMiles, particularly if you wish to earn Loyalty Factors and qualify for American Airways elite standing.