Earn Up to 50,000 Bonus Miles Via American Airlines' New Tiered Promotion
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
American Airlines' AAdvantage program just launched a new Holiday Bonus Miles promotion offering up to 50,000 bonus miles — in addition to the miles you'd otherwise earn — for earning miles through certain AAdvantage partners.
Here's how it works: AAdvantage is giving members a "holiday to-do list." You get a bonus for checking items off the list now through December 31. The bonuses get larger as you complete more partner tasks:
Number of partners | Bonus miles awarded | Total miles |
---|---|---|
1 | +500 | 500 |
2 | +1,000 | 1,500 |
3 | +1,500 | 3,000 |
4 | +2,000 | 5,000 |
5 | +4,000 | 9,000 |
6 | +5,000 | 14,000 |
7 | +6,000 | 20,000 |
8 | +8,000 | 28,000 |
9 | +10,000 | 38,000 |
10 | +12,000 | 50,000 |
But, before you can start earning, you need to register first. If this link doesn't auto-fill the promotion code, enter code AAHOL. (Yes, AAHOL.)
Even if you don't think you're going to play along, it can't hurt to register and get a bonus or two from AAdvantage earning partners you'd use otherwise.
So, what are the tasks?
- Start earning early — sign up for Miles for Opinions (earn at least 300 miles)
- Protect your identity before busy season with LifeLock (10,000 miles for signing up)
- Get the kids to call Grandma with Sprint (earn at least 417 miles)
- Book the in-laws a hotel (close to home) with Rocketmiles (earn at least 5,000 miles)
- Stay in your pajamas – shop online with AAdvantage eShopping (earn at least 3,000 miles)
- Fill the mantle with fresh poinsettas from 1-800-FLOWERS (earn at least 2,000 miles)
- Ditch the leftovers – go out with AAdvantage Dining (earn at least 500 miles)
- Skip the stir-crazy stage of family visits – rent a car with Avis or Budget (earn at least 1,500 miles)
- Schedule a wine delivery for your ugly sweater party from Vinesse (earn at least 500 miles)
- Ring in the New Year in style – book at Hilton (earn at least 1,000 miles)
If you complete all tasks, you'll be earning at least 24,217 miles from the promotion plus the 50,000 bonus miles.
Some of these tasks are easier and cheaper than others. The shopping portal option is an easy way of earning bonus miles in addition to miles you already earn from shopping portals. And, it shouldn't be too hard to check off the Miles for Opinions and AAdvantage Dining options.
The mail-order wine and 1-800-FLOWERS options aren't terribly cheap ways to check off additional tasks, but could make sense if you can utilize the purchases. The Hilton, Avis/Budget and Rocketmiles tasks are going to take some traveling, but the required minimums aren't very high so it might be worth going after these.
The last two tasks are going to take a little more of a commitment. If you have non-discounted Sprint service already, make sure to link your Sprint account to your AAdvantage account through the promotional website. You'll earn 417 miles per month, which is enough to trigger the bonus. If you have a discounted Sprint service or another cell phone provider, it's a hard sell to switch carriers just for this bonus.
LifeLock is even more confounding. The terms and conditions note that "new members must earn 7,000 miles during the promotion period to qualify for the bonus." However, LifeLock requires you to be "an active LifeLock member for 91 days to earn AAdvantage miles." So, there's no way of doing that before December 31.
Update: American Airlines has reached out to clarify that "the date that’s taken into account is not when the miles post to your account, but the date of the activity with each partner. In LifeLock’s case, it’s the date you sign up." That means that all you need to do is sign-up for LifeLock before December 31 to check this item off of the list.
Existing LifeLock members who signed up through AAdvantage in the past are in luck, though. If your "anniversary miles" post during the promotion period, you'll complete the task. If your anniversary miles don't post before December 31, you can "contact AAdvantage Customer Service and request to be manually qualified for the promotion by providing proof of current Lifelock membership."
The problem with these two being so difficult is that the last two tasks are the most valuable. Of the 50,000 potential bonus miles, 22,000 of these bonus miles come from completing the final two tasks.
Know what's an easier way of earning 60,000 bonus AAdvantage miles? Signing up for the Citi/AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard. You'll earn that bonus after signing up and spending $3,000 in the first three months. Plus, it's a great card for defeating basic economy. The information for the Citi AAdvantage Platinum card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Bottom Line
It makes sense to register for this promotion and maybe change your purchases around a bit to complete a few tasks. Just go into this promotion with a realistic expectation for how many bonus miles you'll earn.
Top offers from our partners
How we chose these cards
TPG featured card
Rewards
10X | Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel |
5X | 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel. |
2X | 2 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day |
Intro offer
Annual Fee
Recommended Credit
Why We Chose It
The Capital One Venture X card is one of the best all-round travel credit cards ever launched. Not only is it offering a tremendous welcome bonus, but cardholders can earn tons of miles on everyday spending and receive a 10,000-mile anniversary bonus to boot. Its annual fee is $395, but cardholders can count on up to $300 in statement credits toward travel booked through Capital One Travel each year and other valuable benefits like access to Priority Pass lounges and Capital One’s own growing family of airport lounges.Pros
- Excellent welcome offer worth 75,000 miles after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months.
- Up to $300 in annual travel statement credits toward bookings make through Capital One Travel.
- 10,000 bonus miles (worth $100 toward travel) each account anniversary.
Cons
- The $395 annual fee might be expensive for some, but this card’s benefits provide much more value than that.
- If you don’t travel frequently, this might not be the best card for you.
- Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
- Receive up to $300 back annually as statement credits for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of options
- Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary
- Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
- Unlimited complimentary access for you and two guests to 1,300+ lounges, including Capital One Lounges and the Partner Lounge Network
- Receive up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
- Use your Venture X miles to easily cover travel expenses, including flights, hotels, rental cars and more—you can even transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Named editors' choice for "Best New Credit Card of 2021" by The Points Guy
- Earn 10 miles per dollar when you book on Turo, the world's largest car sharing marketplace, through May 16, 2023
Rewards Rate
10X | Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel |
5X | 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel. |
2X | 2 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day |
Intro Offer
Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel75,000 bonus milesAnnual Fee
$395Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO© Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.740-850Excellent
Why We Chose It
The Capital One Venture X card is one of the best all-round travel credit cards ever launched. Not only is it offering a tremendous welcome bonus, but cardholders can earn tons of miles on everyday spending and receive a 10,000-mile anniversary bonus to boot. Its annual fee is $395, but cardholders can count on up to $300 in statement credits toward travel booked through Capital One Travel each year and other valuable benefits like access to Priority Pass lounges and Capital One’s own growing family of airport lounges.Pros
- Excellent welcome offer worth 75,000 miles after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months.
- Up to $300 in annual travel statement credits toward bookings make through Capital One Travel.
- 10,000 bonus miles (worth $100 toward travel) each account anniversary.
Cons
- The $395 annual fee might be expensive for some, but this card’s benefits provide much more value than that.
- If you don’t travel frequently, this might not be the best card for you.
- Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
- Receive up to $300 back annually as statement credits for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of options
- Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary
- Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
- Unlimited complimentary access for you and two guests to 1,300+ lounges, including Capital One Lounges and the Partner Lounge Network
- Receive up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
- Use your Venture X miles to easily cover travel expenses, including flights, hotels, rental cars and more—you can even transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Named editors' choice for "Best New Credit Card of 2021" by The Points Guy
- Earn 10 miles per dollar when you book on Turo, the world's largest car sharing marketplace, through May 16, 2023