American Airlines Loyalty Points are the cornerstone of achieving elite status and accessing premium travel perks within the AAdvantage program. They serve as a measure of customer loyalty, rewarding both frequent flyers and everyday spenders who engage with the airline and its partners.
What Are Loyalty Points?
Introduced in March 2022, Loyalty Points are the exclusive metric used to determine AAdvantage elite status. Replacing the older system of elite qualifying miles (EQMs) and elite qualifying dollars (EQDs), Loyalty Points streamline how American measures customer loyalty.
Loyalty Points are status points, not a reward currency. They track your progress towards earning elite status rather than being redeemable for flights or upgrades. Once earned, they determine your elite qualification but reset annually on March 1.
Loyalty Points consolidate all qualifying activity into a single revenue-based measurement, emphasizing spend over distance traveled and simplifying progress tracking for elite status. Unlike traditional frequent flyer models that primarily reward distance traveled, Loyalty Points emphasize broader customer engagement by awarding points for various activities, including non-flight spending.
Jan-2024 Updates to Loyalty Points
In Jan-2024, American Airlines introduced enhancements to the Loyalty Points program, adding new rewards and ways to earn:
- Bonus Loyalty Points Perks: At certain Loyalty Point thresholds, members can now choose additional Loyalty Points. For example:
- 15,000 Loyalty Points: 1,000 bonus Loyalty Points.
- 175,000 Loyalty Points: 5,000 bonus Loyalty Points.
- 250,000 Loyalty Points: 15,000 bonus Loyalty Points.
- Expanded Upgrade Options: Members can now use miles for partner airline upgrades, making redeemable miles more versatile.
- Paid Upgrades Count: Travelers can now earn Loyalty Points and redeemable miles when paying cash for premium cabin upgrades on American Airlines flights.
How to Earn Loyalty Points
Loyalty Points can be earned through various activities, rewarding both travel and non-travel engagement:
- Flying with American Airlines: Earn points based on the ticket price (base fare and carrier fees) and elite bonuses. Gold members, for instance, earn 7 Loyalty Points per dollar spent, while Executive Platinum members earn 11.
- Partner Airline Flights: Earn Loyalty Points when flying eligible Oneworld and select partner airlines, often based on fare class and distance flown.
- AAdvantage Credit Cards: Earn 1 Loyalty Point per dollar spent on eligible purchases using co-branded credit cards.
- Hotel, Car Rental, and Retail Partners: Loyalty Points can be earned through partnerships with brands like Hyatt, Marriott, and Avis.
- World of Hyatt Partnership: Members can earn AAdvantage elite status through the World of Hyatt program. If AAdvantage Status is granted through this partnership, it is non-transferable and cannot be exchanged. The status awarded aligns with the qualification period and membership year in which the reward is selected.
What Doesn’t Earn Loyalty Points?
While most AAdvantage miles earned translate directly into Loyalty Points, there are some exceptions where activities do not count towards Loyalty Points:
- Bonus miles earned from special promotions.
- Buying, gifting, or transferring miles.
- Government taxes, fees, and other charges associated with ticket purchases.
- Transferring points from other loyalty programs (e.g., Marriott or Citi).
- Bonus miles on AAdvantage credit card purchases beyond base spending.
- New account bonuses, welcome bonuses, or spending bonuses on AAdvantage credit cards.
Loyalty Points and Elite Status Tiers
Loyalty Points determine your elite status level in the AAdvantage program. The thresholds for each tier are:
- Gold: 40,000 Loyalty Points
- Platinum: 75,000 Loyalty Points
- Platinum Pro: 125,000 Loyalty Points
- Executive Platinum: 200,000 Loyalty Points
Each status tier unlocks increasingly valuable benefits, including complimentary upgrades, priority boarding, enhanced mileage earnings, and lounge access.
Loyalty Point Rewards
Beyond elite status, American Airlines offers Loyalty Point Rewards, providing perks as members reach key milestones. Key rules and terms include:
- Eligibility: Only customers who meet published qualification requirements are eligible for Loyalty Point Rewards.
- Selection Period: Members qualifying starting March 1, 2024, can choose rewards until March 31, 2025.
- Admirals Club Membership: May only be selected once per membership year and requires two reward choices.
- Expiration and Terms: Expiration dates vary by reward, and selections are final and cannot be changed or transferred.
- Credit Card Bonuses: Additional 5,000 and 10,000 bonus miles are available at the 175,000 and 250,000 Loyalty Point thresholds for eligible credit card holders.
Tracking and Expiration
- Annual Reset: Loyalty Points reset annually on March 1.
- Expiration Policy: Loyalty Points expire if no qualifying activity occurs for 24 months.
Strategies for Maximizing Loyalty Points
Maximize your Loyalty Points earnings with these strategic approaches:
- Focus on Everyday Spending: Use AAdvantage credit cards for routine purchases to accumulate points effortlessly.
- Leverage Promotions: Keep an eye on seasonal offers from American and its partners.
- Bundle Travel Services: Book flights, hotels, and car rentals through American’s portals to maximize points.
- Fly Premium Cabins: Booking business or first-class tickets often earns significantly more points.
Pitfalls to Avoid
Avoid common mistakes that could impact your progress:
- Overlooking Expiry Dates: Loyalty Points expire without qualifying activity, so plan your earning strategies carefully.
- Focusing Only on Flights: Broaden your earning channels with credit cards and partner activity.
- Spending Just to Earn Status: Avoid unnecessary expenses just to reach a status threshold.
- Misinterpreting Partner Contributions: Not all partner transactions contribute equally to points accumulation.
Why Loyalty Points Matter
Loyalty Points have transformed how travelers earn elite status, emphasizing a holistic approach to customer loyalty. The program rewards both frequent flyers and everyday spenders, making it more inclusive and flexible than traditional frequent flyer models.
By understanding how Loyalty Points work and leveraging them strategically, you can unlock significant travel benefits, from premium upgrades to priority services, ensuring a more rewarding journey with American Airlines.
If I just booked a AA flight for April first class using my AA Advantage CC will I get the loyalty points before March 1 or will it not be calculated until I complete the flight?
American Airlines Loyalty Points are typically earned based on when the flight is completed, not when the booking is made. This means that even though you purchased the ticket using your AAdvantage credit card, the Loyalty Points from the flight itself will not be credited until after you fly in April. While you may get points for paying for the flight, the reward for taking the flight is after.