American launches new AAdvantage Pass for $5,000 with intriguing possibilities for status and bonus miles
Editor's Note
American Airlines AAdvantage members now have a brand-new shortcut tool to earn status and a boatload miles — but it will cost you a big chunk of cash.
The Fort Worth-based carrier has launched a new "AAdvantage Pass™" that comes with a slew of benefits, including:
- Instant AAdvantage Gold status
- 100,000 bonus AAdvantage miles
- And, 15,000 Loyalty Points that would give you a boost towards the next level of status.
Now, get ready for the sticker shock: This package costs $5,000.
The big question: Is it worth it?
Those AAdvantage bonus miles alone are worth some $1,550, according to TPG's December 2025 valuations.
Related: Your ultimate guide to American Airlines AAdvantage
Gold status on American comes with a slew of benefits, including priority check-in and boarding, a 40% mileage bonus on flights, a free checked bag, complimentary upgrades on domestic flights and complimentary Preferred or Main Cabin Extra seats beginning at 24-hours before your flight.
Other potential benefits that could be valuable are Oneworld Ruby status and upgrades on Alaska Airlines flights.
Related: Best uses of American Airlines AAdvantage miles
Another factor that may encourage you to consider purchasing the pass is the potential for bonus miles on the $5,000 pass purchase price. American Airlines confirmed the new passes will code as an American Airlines purchase, which means you can really rack up some bonus miles and Loyalty Points by using a credit card that rewards you for purchases with American.
If I were to use my Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® (see rates and fees), I'd earn four times the AAdvantage miles on eligible American Airlines purchases, netting me 20,000 AAdvantage miles plus 5,000 Loyalty Points.
We should also point out that right now, there's also a really valuable alternative way to earn a chunk of AAdvantage miles with the new Citi® / AAdvantage® Globe™ Mastercard® (see rates and fees), which allows new cardholders to earn 90,000 AAdvantage miles (after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first four months) with the newest addition to the AAdvantage card portfolio.
With that card, you'd earn 3 miles per dollar spent on eligible American Airlines purchases, which means you'd earn 15,000 AAdvantage miles and another 5,000 Loyalty Points. And then, in what AA calls a "Flight Streak," after four eligible American Airlines flights, you'd earn another 5,000 Loyalty Points (up to three times per year).
It's another thing to consider if you are thinking of buying this pass.
Of course, the biggest consideration of all when it comes to this new AAdvantage pass is the steep price tag.
As someone who is within a few thousand Loyalty Points of requalifying for AAdvantage Executive Platinum status, this offer is probably not enough to make me pull the trigger. But if I didn't have status but planned to fly with the airline frequently, it's certainly something I'd consider.
While, you get instant Gold status, you don't get the 40,000 Loyalty Points that usually requires, so while the 15,000 Loyalty Points that comes with the pass is great, you'd still have a ways to go to get to AAdvantage Platinum.
While $5,000 sounds very steep, if you can maximize the miles and points earning potential and get a lot of use out of Gold status on AA, the expense could ultimately pay for itself.
Related reading:
- Best credit cards for American Airlines flyers
- American Airlines elite status: What it is and how to earn it
- Maximize your airfare: The best credit cards for booking flights
- The best credit cards to reach elite status
- American Airlines basic economy: What you need to know about bags, seats, boarding and more