This post talks about the American Airlines AAdvantage program basic, how to earn them with daily spending and how to set your game plan for higher elite status and irresistible benefits.
Before COVID came knocking, American Airlines AAdvantage, was all about racking up frequent flyer miles through air travel. But then, the world changed, and so did American Airlines’ approach. They rolled out Loyalty Points, a fresh take on rewards that puts everyday spending in the spotlight.
Picture this: earning status, rewards and perks without ever setting foot on a plane. Sounds too good to be true? It is happening and it’s time to dive into the details.
How Exactly Do Loyalty Points Work?
Every mile you earn with American Airlines’ AAdvantage program translates into one Loyalty Point. Whether you’re swiping your credit card, shopping online, dining out, or booking a vacation, you’re earning points with every transaction. It’s to turn your everyday activities into golden opportunities for rewards!
But here’s where things get really interesting. With Loyalty Points, you can reach American Airlines’ elite tier membership from Gold to the highest – Executive Platinum, without ever boarding a plane. That’s right – no cramped seats, no airport lines.
What Are The AAdvantage Status And Benefits?
- AAdvantage Gold® status – Earn 40% more miles and Loyalty Points on eligible flights, 1 free checked bag, Group 4 boarding, complimentary upgrades and more
- AAdvantage Platinum® status – Earn 60% more miles and Loyalty Points on eligible flights, 2 free checked bags, Group 3 boarding, complimentary upgrades and more
- AAdvantage Platinum Pro® status – Earn 80% more miles and Loyalty Points on eligible flights, 3 free checked bags, Group 2 boarding, complimentary upgrades and more
- AAdvantage Executive Platinum® status – Earn 120% more miles and Loyalty Points on eligible flights, 3 free checked bags, Group 1 boarding, complimentary upgrades and more
Now, you might be wondering: do I really need American Airlines membership, or am I just suffering from FOMO (Fear of Missing Out)? It’s a valid question, and one that many of you are pondering. With the shift from flight frequency to spending with the airline, it’s important to weigh the benefits against your own travel habits.
- For frequent flyers chasing free upgrades and exclusive perks, American Airlines membership might be a no-brainer
- But if your travel patterns lean towards other airlines or you prefer redeeming miles for business class, it might not be worth the investment
It all boils down to maximizing your rewards and making the most of what American Airlines has to offer.
How Easy To Earn Loyalty Points?
Glad you asked! American Airlines has a plethora of earning opportunities just waiting to be explored. Here are many different ways to earn Award Miles and Loyalty Points.
- Earning Miles with American Airlines Flights: Base members earn 5 miles per dollar. Elite members earn more based on status level and basic economy tickets earn 2 miles per dollar plus elite bonuses
- Earning Miles with Partner Airlines: When you fly with partners, you can earn redeemable miles as well as Loyalty Points. The earning rate is based on the distance flown and booking class
- AAdvantage eShopping: First up, there’s where you can shop your heart out with 1,200 merchants. Just sign up using your AAdvantage number. Pro-tips: install AAdvantage eShopping extension for an extra convenience
- AAdvantage® Dining: If you’re a foodie, AAdvantage Dining is your spot. Just sign up, add your payment cards, and earn points as you dine at local joints. And depending on your member tier, you could score up to 5 points per dollar spent
- AA Vacations: Booking a trip? Hit up AA Vacations with your AAdvantage number for some extra points based on your package price
- Fuel Rewards network: Need gas? Shell’s got you covered with the “Fuel Rewards” network. Fill up there and watch those points roll in
- Hotels: And when it comes to hotels, both AAdvantage Hotels and PointsYeah Hotels have your back for earning and redeeming points
- AAdvantage® Events: Got tickets to an event? Book through AAdvantage Events for some extra points. Keep in mind, though, Vivid Seats might offer a better deal, but you’ll still earn some points with AAdvantage Events
- SimplyMiles: SimplyMiles is where you can amp up your points game by linking your AAdvantage number and Mastercards. They throw personalized offers your way, and you can stack them up for even more points
- AAdvantage Business™ program: And if you’re a business owner with three or more employees, you’ve got your own deal with AAdvantage Business™ program. So, plenty of ways to earn those points and enjoy the perks.
- Spending on AAdvantage® credit cards: Let’s not forget about American Airlines AAdvantage credit cards. They’re also in on the Loyalty Points game. But just a heads up, sign-up bonuses don’t count as Loyalty Points, only purchases made with the cards do.
How To Strategize The Loyalty Points Earning
Combining various sources (such as credit card spending and American Airlines shopping portals) can help us quickly accumulate Loyalty Points.
- Strategy 1: all about combining different ways to earn points, kind of like mixing your favorite toppings on a pizza. By using things like shopping portals, SimplyMiles, and special credit card offers, you can rack up a ton of points fast. So, when you join American Airlines program, it’s not just about getting the membership card; it’s like getting a big bag of points you can use for awesome stuff
- Strategy 2: Leveraging third-party shopping guides to accumulate Loyalty Points earned from credit card spending and those earned through shopping portals
Example: How To Turn Daily Spending Into American Airlines Platinum Status!
There’s a whole treasure trove of ways to rack up those coveted American Airlines miles, and each one comes with its own bag of tricks and treats. What’s really nifty is how you can mix and match these deals, like a savvy points maestro, to not just cut down on expenses, but sometimes even snag some miles and Loyalty Points for free!
Let me show you an example reaching Platinum through the “Stackable Fun” (Yes, its how I call it LOL). I was bound for Las Vegas, itching to catch a magic show. Now, I’m all about this little thing called “deal stacking,” and boy, did it pay off! I scooped up tickets for the magic extravaganza through Viator, a gem of a website. And guess what? At the checkout, I hit the mother lode with not one, not two, but three stackable deals:
- Bagged 8 times the miles by cruising through AAdvantage eShopping portal
- Picked up a neat 930 miles thanks to SimplyMiles
- And the cherry on top? A sweet $20 cashback from Citi Bank’s Merchant Offers.
So, even though I shelled out $275 for the tickets, here’s the kicker:
- $20 cashback tucked safely in my Citi Bank’s card statement
- A cool 275 miles if I’m swiping with the Citi Bank’s American Airlines credit card, or a whopping 825 points if I’m rocking the Citi Premier credit card, now called Citi Strata Premier credit card (that’s 3 times the points, folks!)
- A grand total of 2,200 miles from the shopping portal, plus another 930 miles from SimplyMiles, tallying up to 2,930 miles!
After doing the math and subtracting that sweet cashback, I ended up pocketing over 3,000 miles. And hold onto your hats, because I also scored 3,000 Loyalty Points under the new system, all from a purchase I was gonna make anyway!
The magic didn’t stop there. Fast forward to my jaunt to Japan, where I used AAHotels (formerly known as Rocketmiles) to lock in my digs. Now, when you book through AAHotels, you can cash in on American Airlines miles, which, you guessed it, also beef up your Loyalty Points stash. Take my business trip with Japan Airlines, for instance. Room rates were on par with the hotel’s official website, but I walked away with a hefty 8,000 miles and Loyalty Points. Talk about a sweet deal!
And you know what’s really got me flying high? Since March 2022, I’ve been playing the points game like a pro:
- Bagged around 14,000 miles from the “SimplyMiles” website, which also moonlight as Loyalty Points
- Scored a sweet 21,000 miles from my Rocketmiles escapades, also doubling up as Loyalty Points
So, drumroll, please! Through my everyday spending, I’ve racked up a jaw-dropping total of 72,000 miles and a matching 72,000 Loyalty Points! Toss in the miles and Loyalty Points from swiping my American Airlines credit card, and what do you know? I’ve hit Platinum status with American Airlines. Now that’s what I call flying high!
- SimplyMiles: earned 14,000 miles as well as Loyalty Points
- American Airlines Shopping Portal: earned 37,000 miles as well as Loyalty Points
- AAHotels (Formerly known as Rocketmiles) with American Airlines: earned 21,000 miles as well as Loyalty Points
Final Thoughts
Gone are the days when membership status was solely tied to flight frequency. With Loyalty Points, your daily purchases and activities take center stage. It’s a shift towards integrating mileage into your daily life, making it easier and more rewarding to be a loyal American Airlines customer.
