Chasing American Airways elite standing? Listed below are 14 methods to earn Loyalty Factors
In early March 2022, American Airways switched from elite qualifying miles, {dollars} and segments to Loyalty Factors, its new elite standing qualifying metric.
These days, the variety of Loyalty Factors you earn is basically tied to your spending as an alternative of how a lot you fly. Consequently, you’ll theoretically be capable of spend your approach all the best way to top-tier Govt Platinum standing with out stepping foot on a aircraft — not that we essentially suggest doing that.
Past flights, you’ll be capable of earn Loyalty Factors by spending and fascinating with American Airways’ companions. Goodbye last-minute mileage runs and whats up strategic flower orders.
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Listed below are a few of the finest methods to earn Loyalty Factors to earn American Airways elite standing.
Flying American Airways
The normal solution to earn elite standing — by flying on the airline — has been revamped as a part of this system’s overhaul.
Now, you’ll earn 1 Loyalty Level for every redeemable AAdvantage mile that you just earn from flying on American. Relying in your standing tier, redeemable miles are awarded at a multiplier between 5 instances and 11 instances your base ticket worth.
- Basic member: 5 miles per greenback.
- Gold: 7 miles per greenback.
- Platinum: 8 miles per greenback.
- Platinum Professional: 9 miles per greenback.
- Govt Platinum: 11 miles per greenback.
For easy math, for those who 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 basic member with no elite standing. If a top-tier American Govt Platinum member booked the identical ticket, they’d earn 2,200 AAdvantage miles and a pair of,200 Loyalty Factors.
You’ll not have to preserve observe of elite qualifying miles, {dollars} or segments. One redeemable mile earned from flying on American will translate to 1 Loyalty Level.
Flying on associate airways
Issues get a little bit extra difficult whenever you’re flying with one among American’s airline companions. You’ll proceed to earn redeemable AAdvantage miles primarily based on the cabin bought, the gap flown and your elite standing for associate tickets. The one exception is JetBlue, which earns miles primarily based on the price of a ticket.
When crediting a associate flight to American AAdvantage, you’ll need to have a look at the earnings tables on American’s devoted associate webpage. When you’ve recognized your fare class and your flight distance, you’ll be able to compute what number of redeemable miles you’ll earn from a given flight.
All of the redeemable miles that you just earn will contribute to your Loyalty Factors steadiness at a 1:1 ratio.
For instance, for those who splurged for a reduced British Airways business-class fare from New York to London, you’d earn 4,314 redeemable miles (3,451 base miles for the flight distance with a 25% cabin bonus), which interprets to 4,314 Loyalty Factors.
Should you’re a top-tier Govt Platinum member, you’d additionally obtain a 120% elite bonus on the miles earned, bringing your whole redeemable miles to eight,455 (3,451 base miles multiplied by the 1.20 elite bonus + 4,314) — and your Loyalty Factors to eight,455.
American’s distinctive partnership with JetBlue awards miles (and subsequently Loyalty Factors) primarily based on the ticket fare utilizing the identical framework as for those who flew American itself.
Bank card spending
This one is fairly easy: For each greenback that you just spend on a cobranded American Airways bank card, you’ll earn 1 Loyalty Level. Eligible playing cards embody all Citi AAdvantage and Barclays AAdvantage Aviator bank cards, in addition to AAdvantage playing cards issued outdoors the U.S. (although you may need to contact your issuer for his or her precise phrases).
Some widespread cobranded American playing cards embody:
The data for the CitiBusiness AAdvantage Platinum Choose and AAdvantage Aviator Pink 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.
With this alteration, American made it extra simple to earn elite standing by spending alone. Notice that you just nonetheless need to fly 30 segments per 12 months to have the ability to choose elite selection rewards on the Platinum Professional and Govt Platinum ranges.
Sadly, sign-up bonuses, limited-time spending affords and bonus class multipliers (groceries, gasoline, eating, and many others.) are excluded from incomes Loyalty Factors, so you’ll earn 1 Loyalty Level per greenback you spend.
Loyalty Factors increase on choose playing cards
Choose AAdvantage playing cards have traditionally provided an extra increase to elite qualifying miles and/or elite qualifying {dollars}, each of that are being phased out later this 12 months. As a substitute, these playing cards will earn bonus Loyalty Factors after hitting sure spending thresholds:
- AAdvantage Aviator Silver Mastercard cardmembers: Between Jan. 1, 2022, and Feb. 28, 2023, spend $20,000 on eligible purchases and earn 5,000 further Loyalty Factors. Then, earn one other 5,000 Loyalty Factors for those who spend $40,000 on purchases and one other 5,000 Loyalty Factors for those who spend $50,000 or extra on purchases on this time-frame. So for those who spend $50,000 in your card throughout the qualification interval, you’ll earn 15,000 Loyalty Factors.
- Citi® / AAdvantage® Govt World Elite Mastercard®: Earn 10,000 further Loyalty Factors after you spend $40,000 in purchases throughout the qualifying standing 12 months.
The data 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 most effective bank cards for American Airways flyers
Eating out (or ordering in)
Relying on how a lot you dine out, you would possibly even be capable of eat your approach towards elite standing. The miles you earn by the AAdvantage Eating program depend as Loyalty Factors.
Collaborating within the eating rewards program is easy. Simply join an account and hyperlink your favourite bank cards. Then, you’ll earn miles whenever you dine at a taking part restaurant or order takeout immediately. You may earn 5 AAdvantage miles per greenback spent for those who’re a VIP member (earned whenever you make 11 transactions in a calendar 12 months and you have chose to obtain electronic mail communication from AAdvantage Eating), 3 AAdvantage miles per greenback spent as a web based member (for those who elect to obtain electronic mail communication from AAdvantage Eating) and 1 AAdvantage mile per greenback spent as an everyday member.
AAdvantage Eating usually affords a welcome bonus for brand spanking new members, although these miles are usually not eligible for Loyalty Factors accrual.
Associated: Full information to airline and resort eating rewards packages
Buying
Likewise, you’ll be able to earn Loyalty Factors when procuring by the AAdvantage eShopping on-line procuring portal or the SimplyMiles program.
Miles earned by these procuring packages depend towards incomes Loyalty Factors at a 1:1 charge. And actually, you’ll be able to probably stack the earnings within the packages to make elite progress in a rush with the suitable affords.
The AAdvantage eShopping on-line procuring portal is only one of many on-line procuring portals which you can click on by earlier than making on-line purchases with choose retailers resembling Residence Depot, Apple, Walmart, Greatest Purchase and a whole lot extra. While you accomplish that, you’ll earn American Airways miles on the acquisition — sometimes as a multiplier of the price of your buy.
Nonetheless, use a procuring portal aggregator to make sure one other procuring portal isn’t providing a considerably higher payout.
The SimplyMiles program is much like Amex Presents in that it helps you to add merchant-specific affords to a credit score or debit card and earn AAdvantage miles whenever you use that card to make a web based or in-store buy with the service provider. For the SimplyMiles program, you’ll have to dwell within the U.S., maintain a legitimate Mastercard and enroll in this system. As soon as enrolled, you’ll be able to browse affords and activate those that you just need to use. Miles are credited to your account whenever you make a purchase order with the taking part service provider.
Additional, American has confirmed that you just’ll earn factors when procuring immediately by retailers like Vinesse, FTD and Vivid Seats.
Associated: How you can earn frequent flyer miles procuring in shops — and why these packages matter
Resort stays
It’s typically straightforward to overlook, however American Airways AAdvantage members can earn miles when staying at motels. We don’t sometimes advise doing that because you usually miss out on incomes resort factors, however it could make sense for those who’d get extra use out of American miles than resort factors.
Any “base miles” earned from spending with resort companions will depend towards Loyalty Factors.
Select to earn miles as an alternative of factors
As a fast recap, you earn the next variety of factors with the next chains:
- Bookaahotels.com: This portal is powered by Reserving.com, and by making reservations immediately by it, you’ll be able to earn as much as 10,000 miles per night time (although in actuality, most bookings earn far much less).
- Hyatt: Earn 500 miles every keep, with the chance to earn extra with elite standing (extra on American’s partnership with Hyatt later).
- Marriott: Earn 1-2 AAdvantage miles per greenback spent on qualifying prices. Upscale manufacturers like Ritz-Carlton and JW Marriott earn 2 miles per greenback, whereas price range manufacturers like Aloft and Moxy earn simply 1 mile per greenback.
- IHG: Earn 1-2 miles per greenback spent on qualifying room prices. 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 this on-line journey company.
When reserving with Hyatt, Marriott and IHG, it’s essential to log in to your resort loyalty program account and choose to earn miles with AAdvantage as an alternative of resort factors. Be sure you take that step earlier than reserving if Loyalty Factors are your incomes precedence.
Associated: Don’t e book resort stays immediately 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. American elite members earn 1 AAdvantage mile per greenback spent on Hyatt stays and Hyatt elite members earn bonus factors on American flights.
So for those who’re already an American Airways elite and also you have a tendency to remain at Hyatt properties (or can change your journey plans to take action), you possibly can rack up plenty of further AAdvantage miles, and thus Loyalty Factors, in your resort bookings.
One final thing: When you can switch numerous forms of resort factors to AAdvantage miles, these transfers is not going to depend towards incomes Loyalty Factors per this system guidelines.
Associated: We examined incomes American Airways miles for 3 totally different resort stays — right here’s what we discovered
Trip packages
American Airways has lengthy provided a trip bundle service that permits you to bundle flights, motels and rental automobiles, or any mixture of the three. These packages typically provide barely higher offers than for those who have been to e book your flight, resort and automobile individually.
Plus, you’ll earn 1,000 AAdvantage for each trip bundle you e book and might earn as much as 25,000 miles whenever you e book featured motels.
As all the time, run the numbers earlier than you e book a trip bundle over reserving immediately. Additionally, word that you almost certainly gained’t earn resort factors and elite standing on motels booked as part of a bundle.
Associated: The whole information to reserving all-inclusive motels with American Airways Holidays
Cruises
American affords the power to e book cruises immediately by its web site and any miles you earn will depend towards Loyalty Factors. You may at the moment earn 1 AAdvantage mile per greenback spent on cruise sailings by Dec. 31, 2024, as much as 10,000 AAdvantage miles. As well as, these with an AAdvantage cobranded bank card earn an extra mile per greenback spent.
Should you’re a cruiser who can be trying to accumulate AAdvantage miles, it might pay to make a reservation by American’s cruise portal.
Renting automobiles
AAdvantage miles earned with rental automobiles will depend as Loyalty Factors. The variety of Loyalty Factors and redeemable AAdvantage miles you’ll earn depends upon the rental automobile associate you e book with.
For instance, with Avis and Price range members can earn a minimum of 2 base miles for each greenback spent on all qualifying leases at taking part airport rental areas within the U.S., Canada, Europe, Center East, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean. Plus, you’ll earn 1 Loyalty Level for each AAdvantage base mile earned.
Relying on how usually you lease automobiles, this may very well be a great way to pad your Loyalty Factors steadiness.
Keep in mind that you gained’t normally earn rental automobile factors whenever you credit score leases to American, so it’s best to suppose by whether or not or not that’s price it. Chances are you’ll come out forward with American miles on shorter leases, however earn extra rental automobile factors on longer and costlier leases.
Filling up your automobile
American participates within the Gas Rewards program by Shell. When filling up at a Shell location, you’ll obtain 2 miles per gallon of gas, which depend as Loyalty Factors. Though these don’t depend towards standing, new members additionally earn 100 miles only for becoming a member of and finishing their first fill-up at Shell.
Associated: Earn airline miles for gasoline purchases
Paying utility payments
American at the moment companions with three utility firms: NRG Power, Reliant Power and Xoom.
American has confirmed that exercise by these companions will depend towards Loyalty Factors, making this a straightforward solution to earn standing with out a lot legwork. Simply remember that a number of of those firms provide electrical energy at variable charges so there may be some volatility in your month-to-month payments. Additionally, word that these companies are solely accessible in choose states.
Notice that these companies typically provide welcome bonuses, however you could not earn Loyalty Factors from mentioned bonuses.
Taking surveys
Miles for Opinions permits you to earn American Airways miles for finishing surveys on numerous matters. American has confirmed that miles earned by this associate will depend towards Loyalty Factors.
There’s no financial value to take part so that you’ll be incomes Loyalty Factors for “free.” Nonetheless, remember that it takes plenty of answering inquiries to earn a small variety of miles this fashion, so think about the worth of your time as properly.
Associated: The best solution to high up your factors and miles with out spending a dime
Standing match and problem
Proper now, American would not provide a public standing match. Nonetheless, you could be eligible for one by your employer’s company journey company, so ask your journey division to see for those who’re eligible.
Additionally do not forget that because of the Hyatt-American partnership famous above, in case you are a World of Hyatt Explorist or Globalist, you could be eligible for a particular standing problem with American. In reality, some Globalist elites have even been gifted Govt Platinum standing totally free, so it by no means hurts to test what you could be eligible for with Hyatt.
Associated: Present airline elite standing match and problem choices it’s best to find out about
What exercise doesn’t depend
Sadly, not all mileage incomes counts as Loyalty Factors.
As talked about, you gained’t earn Loyalty Factors for cobranded bank card sign-up bonuses, limited-time spending affords or multipliers on sure classes, like grocery shops and eating. As mentioned, most AAdvantage cardholders will earn 1 mile per greenback spent, no matter the kind of buy.
Additional, you gained’t earn Loyalty Factors for miles earned from particular promotions or these accrued by purchase, reward or switch transactions. This restriction contains each miles transferred between particular person accounts, in addition to ones transformed from one other loyalty program forex, resembling Marriott Bonvoy.
Sadly, American confirmed that you just gained’t earn Loyalty Factors by Bask Financial institution. A Bask Financial institution mileage financial savings account permits you to rack up American Airways miles as an alternative of money in your financial savings.
Lastly, American’s periodic donation campaigns don’t depend towards incomes Loyalty Factors. For example, if you wish to earn American AAdvantage miles whereas donating to charity, you’ll be able to earn 10 miles for each greenback you give to Stand Up To Most cancers whenever you donate $25 or extra right here. The donation touchdown web page particularly states, “Bonus miles don’t depend towards elite-status qualification.”
Backside line
There are a number of methods to earn American elite standing with out stepping foot on a aircraft. Though you finally could find yourself spending extra time and/or cash crediting American Airways associate transactions to this system than you’d have prior to now, there are actually many extra choices than there have been within the earlier program.
On the finish of the day, you’ll have to check out your elite standing objectives and deliberate journey for remainder of the standing 12 months, and determine whether or not the chance value of committing to American’s non-travel companions is price it to qualify for AAdvantage elite standing.
Further reporting by Ehsan Haque, Andrew Kunesh, Chris Dong, Eric Rosen, Katie Genter and Zach Griff.
