Navigating American Airlines AAdvantage Rewards: A Comprehensive Guide

23.07.2024 - 11:39 / insider.com

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American Airlines boasts the oldest airline loyalty program still in existence today. Originally launched in 1981, the AAdvantage rewards program is also the world's largest, with over 115 million members. 

American partners with more than 30 airlines through the oneworld alliance and other business agreements, so AAdvantage members can earn and redeem their miles flying practically anywhere around the world.

The airline also partners with two major credit card issuers, Citi and Barclays, to offer several co-branded credit cards that can help you rack up extra miles on everyday spending while enjoying elite-like perks such as priority boarding and free checked bags.

With so much potential for travel and other rewards, there's no reason not to take advantage of AAdvantage. Here's everything you need to know about earning, redeeming, and maximizing American Airlines miles.

American Airlines has four tiers of elite membership: AAdvantage Gold, AAdvantage Platinum, AAdvantage Platinum Pro, and AAdvantage Executive Platinum. You can earn these tiers of elite status by earning a certain number of Loyalty Points every twelve calendar months, beginning on March 1 each year. You can earn Loyalty Points from flying on American Airlines, using a co-branded American Airlines credit card, or traveling with American Airlines partners.

AAdvantage Gold elite members enjoy the following benefits:

AAdvantage Platinum members enjoy the following benefits: 

AAdvantage Platinum Pro members receive the following benefits:

There are myriad ways to earn American Airlines AAdvantage miles, from the obvious — such as flying American and its partners — to the more arcane, like making purchases through the AAdvantage online shopping portal.

Here are all the ways you can earn American miles fast and some strategies that can boost your earnings even more.

The easiest and quickest way to rack up American Airlines miles is by using an American Airlines AAdvantage credit card. The airline is unique in that it