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 basically tied to your spending as a substitute of how a lot you fly. Because of this, you’d theoretically be capable of spend your option to top-tier Government Platinum standing with out stepping foot on a aircraft — not that we essentially suggest doing that.

Past flying, you possibly can earn Loyalty Factors by spending and fascinating with American Airways’ companions. American 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 Factors rewards and the flexibility to earn Loyalty Factors for upgrades.

Listed here are among the greatest methods to earn Loyalty Factors to earn American Airways elite standing.

Earn Loyalty Factors by flying American Airways

The standard option 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 instances and 11 instances your base ticket value.

• Common 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 basic 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 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 need not maintain observe of elite qualifying miles, {dollars} or segments. One redeemable mile earned from flying on American will translate to 1 Loyalty Level.

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

Earn Loyalty Factors by flying on accomplice airways

When flying with one among American’s airline companions, issues get slightly extra sophisticated.

For flights marketed and operated by a lot of the airline’s Oneworld companions, redeemable miles (and subsequently Loyalty Factors) are earned based mostly 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 based mostly on the worth of their tickets as a substitute of distance flown and fare class.

It is necessary to notice that American’s partnership with JetBlue is coming to an finish in early 2024. Flyers on JetBlue-operated flights will solely obtain American Airways advantages if their AAdvantage or TrueBlue Mosaic member quantity was added previous to July 21, 2023, and if the journey was booked by way of Jan. 31, 2024.

Moreover, when crediting a accomplice flight to American AAdvantage that hasn’t been purchased straight with American, you may need to have a look at the earnings tables on American’s devoted accomplice webpage. As soon as you’ve got recognized your fare class and flight distance, you possibly can compute what number of redeemable miles you may 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, for those who 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 e book Qatar Airways Qsuite awards with American AAdvantage miles?

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 alteration shall be carried out within the upcoming membership yr.

You will now have the choice to pick Loyalty Level bonuses at sure Loyalty Level thresholds, all counting towards standing. As an example, 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 may 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 now earn redeemable miles and extra Loyalty Factors when paying with money to improve to a premium cabin.

Now, flyers will be capable of earn Loyalty Factors for his or her improve price, identical to they’d earn on an ordinary paid ticket.

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

Associated: Listed here are 5 the explanation why I am thrilled with the AAdvantage adjustments

This one is fairly easy: For each base mile you earn on a cobranded American Airways bank card, you may earn 1 Loyalty Level. American Airways notes that base miles differ by bank card kind and issuing financial institution. Whereas the vast majority 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 outdoors the U.S. (although you may need to contact your issuer for its actual phrases).

Some standard cobranded American playing cards embody:

The knowledge for the CitiBusiness AAdvantage Platinum Choose , Citi AAdvantage Platinum Choose, American Airways AAdvantage MileUp, and AAdvantage Aviator Crimson 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 simple to earn elite standing by way of spending alone.

Sadly, sign-up bonuses, limited-time spending gives 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 enhance on choose playing cards

These playing cards will earn bonus Loyalty Factors after hitting sure spending thresholds:

• AAdvantage Aviator Silver Mastercard cardmembers: Per the phrases and circumstances, from March 1, 2024, and thru the top of February 2025, the first cardholder can earn as much as 15,000 extra Loyalty Factors for assembly sure spending thresholds throughout the standing qualification interval. As an example, you possibly can earn a further 5,000 Loyalty Factors for those who make $20,000 in purchases throughout the qualification interval. Earnings improve as more cash is spent on the cardboard, as you possibly can earn a further 5,000 Loyalty Factors if $40,000 is spent throughout the qualification interval, and also you earn a further 5,000 Loyalty Factors (totaling the utmost 15,000 Loyalty Factors bonus) throughout the qualification interval for those who spend $50,000 on the cardboard throughout the qualification interval.
• Citi / AAdvantage Government World Elite Mastercard: Earn 10,000 Loyalty Factors after reaching 50,000 Loyalty Factors in a standing qualification yr. The cardholder will obtain one other bonus of 10,000 Loyalty Factors after reaching 90,000 Loyalty Factors in a standing qualification yr.

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 would possibly even be capable of eat your approach towards elite standing. The miles you earn by way of the AAdvantage Eating program depend as Loyalty Factors.

Taking part within the eating rewards program is easy. Simply join an account and hyperlink your favourite bank cards. Then, you may earn miles if you dine at a taking part restaurant or order takeout straight.

You may earn 5 AAdvantage miles per greenback spent for those who’re a VIP member (earned if you make 11 transactions in a calendar yr and you choose to obtain e-mail communication from AAdvantage Eating), 3 AAdvantage miles per greenback spent as a web-based member (for those who 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 usually are not eligible for Loyalty Factors accrual.

Associated: Full information to airline and resort eating rewards applications

Earn Loyalty Factors by way of a buying portal

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

Miles earned by way of these buying portals depend towards incomes Loyalty Factors at a 1:1 fee.

The AAdvantage eShopping on-line buying portal is only one of many on-line buying portals you possibly can click on by way of earlier than making on-line purchases with choose retailers corresponding to House Depot, Apple, Walmart, Finest Purchase and a whole bunch extra. If you accomplish that, you may earn American Airways miles on the acquisition — sometimes as a multiplier of the price of your buy.

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

The SimplyMiles program is just like Amex Presents in that it helps you to add merchant-specific gives to a credit score or debit card and earn AAdvantage miles if you use that card to make a web-based or in-store buy with the service provider. For the SimplyMiles program, you may have to dwell 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 if you make a purchase order with the taking part service provider.

Associated: How one can earn frequent flyer miles buying in shops — and why these applications matter

Earn Loyalty Factors on resort stays

It is typically straightforward to overlook, however American Airways AAdvantage members can earn miles when staying at resorts. We do not sometimes advise doing that because you typically miss out on incomes resort factors, however it might probably 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 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 instances extra base miles on resort 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 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 to 2 miles per greenback 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 way of this on-line journey company.

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

Associated: Do not e book resort 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 applications to earn bonus factors and miles on stays and flights. Those that are elite in each applications can double rewards on qualifying American flights and Hyatt stays.

You may earn 1 World of Hyatt bonus level for each eligible greenback spent on eligible American flights, and you may also 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 sometimes earned on stays and the AAdvantage miles earned on flights.

So for those who’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 may rack up numerous additional AAdvantage miles, and thus Loyalty Factors in your resort bookings. Nevertheless, whilst you can switch numerous resort factors to AAdvantage, these transfers won’t depend towards incomes Loyalty Factors per this system guidelines.

Associated: We examined incomes American Airways miles for 3 completely different resort stays — this is what we discovered

Earn Loyalty Factors with trip packages

American Airways has lengthy provided a trip bundle service that allows you to bundle flights, resorts and rental vehicles or any mixture. These packages typically provide barely higher offers than for those who had been to e book your flight, resort and automotive individually.

Plus, you’ll earn 1,000 AAdvantage miles for each trip bundle you e book on-line and might earn as much as 20,000 miles if you e book featured resorts.

As at all times, run the numbers earlier than you e book a trip bundle over reserving straight. Additionally, notice that you almost certainly will not earn resort factors and elite standing on resorts booked as part of a bundle.

Associated: The whole information to reserving all-inclusive resorts with American Airways Holidays

Earn Loyalty Factors by reserving cruises

American gives the flexibility to e book cruises by way of its web site, and any miles you earn will depend towards Loyalty Factors. You may 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.

If you happen to’re a cruiser seeking to accumulate AAdvantage miles and Loyalty Factors, it could pay to make a reservation by way of American’s cruise portal.

AAdvantage miles earned with rental vehicles will depend as Loyalty Factors. The variety of Loyalty Factors and redeemable AAdvantage miles you may earn relies on the rental automotive accomplice you e book with.

For instance, Avis and Price range members can earn no less than 2 base miles for each greenback spent on all qualifying leases at taking part airport rental areas within the U.S., Canada, Europe, the Center East, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean. Plus, you may earn extra base miles with an American Airways cobranded bank card.

Relying on how typically you lease vehicles, this might be a great way to pad your Loyalty Factors stability. Do not forget that you will not normally earn rental automotive factors if you credit score leases to American, so think about whether or not that is price 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 may obtain 3 miles per gallon of gasoline, which depend 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 provide is just legitimate by way of Aug. 1.

Associated: Earn airline miles for gasoline purchases

American presently companions with the next three utility corporations: Xoom, NRG Vitality and Reliant Vitality.

American has confirmed that exercise by way of these companions will depend towards Loyalty Factors, making this a straightforward option to earn standing with out a lot legwork. Simply bear in mind that a number of of those corporations provide electrical energy at variable charges, so there may be some volatility in your month-to-month payments. Additionally, these providers are solely accessible in choose states.

Word that these providers provide welcome bonuses, however it’s possible you’ll not earn Loyalty Factors from mentioned bonuses.

Associated: The best option to prime up your factors and miles with out spending a dime

Moreover, there’s presently an American Airways standing choice for Delta SkyMiles Platinum Medallion and Diamond Medallion members and United MileagePlus Premier Platinum and Premier 1K members. The standing match is predicated in your 2022 account exercise. You will want to register together with your private info, together with a snapshot of your present membership card (expiring on both Jan. 31, 2024, or Jan. 31, 2025), to see if you’re 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 may qualify for matched standing for the remainder of the yr.

Associated: Present airline elite standing match and problem choices you need to find out about

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 depend towards incomes Loyalty Factors. As an example, 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 if you donate $25 or extra right here. The donation touchdown web page particularly states: “Bonus miles don’t depend towards standing qualification.”

Associated: Watch out: 9 instances you will not earn American Airways Loyalty Factors, even for those who earn miles

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

You will have to take a look at your elite standing targets and deliberate journey for the remainder of the standing yr and resolve whether or not the chance value of committing to American’s non-travel companions is price it to qualify for AAdvantage elite standing.