Travel rewards
What is American AAdvantage?
Definition snippet
American AAdvantage is American Airlines' frequent flyer program, letting members earn miles on flights, credit card spending, hotel stays, dining and shopping, then redeem them for award flights on American and its partner airlines. Members also earn Loyalty Points toward elite status, which has four published tiers.
Key takeaways
- What it is: AAdvantage is American Airlines’ loyalty program. Members earn miles by flying American or its partners, spending on AAdvantage credit cards and using everyday partners, then redeem them on American and many Oneworld and nonalliance partner airlines.
- Miles vs. Loyalty Points: Miles are what you redeem for flights and other rewards. Loyalty Points qualify you for elite status and reset on March 1 each year.
- Miles can expire: Miles expire after 24 consecutive months without qualifying account activity, unless you are the primary cardmember on an open AAdvantage credit card or are under 21.
- Best use of miles: Award flights, especially on partner airlines, typically return the most value.
- TPG’s valuation: TPG values AAdvantage miles at 1.45 cents each as of October 2026.
How to earn AAdvantage miles
You earn AAdvantage miles on paid flights marketed by American Airlines and select partners when you add your AAdvantage number to your booking (Note that flights must be completed to earn miles). Miles are based on the ticket price, excluding government-imposed taxes and fees, and elite members earn more. Basic economy fares no longer earn miles or Loyalty Points.
| Status tier | Base miles per dollar spent |
|---|---|
| General member | 5 miles per dollar spent |
| AAdvantage Gold | 7 miles per dollar spent |
| AAdvantage Platinum | 8 miles per dollar spent |
| AAdvantage Platinum Pro | 9 miles per dollar spent |
| AAdvantage Executive Platinum | 11 miles per dollar spent |
Off the plane, you can earn through AAdvantage cobranded credit cards, the AAdvantage eShopping portal, SimplyMiles, AAdvantage Dining, AAdvantage Hotels and car rental partners. Citi ThankYou Rewards points also transfer to AAdvantage, at a 1:1 ratio on select cards.
How to redeem AAdvantage miles
Redeeming miles for flights usually gives the best value. American prices award seats on its own flights dynamically, so rates vary by route, when you book and when you travel. Partner airline awards are more predictable, with published award charts that offer strong rates in all cabins when saver space is available.
Miles also cover upgrades, Admirals Club memberships and gifts to other members, but those typically return about 1 cent per mile, well below TPG’s 1.45-cent valuation as of October 2026. See TPG’s monthly points and miles valuations.
AAdvantage elite status tiers
AAdvantage elite status has four published tiers: Gold, Platinum, Platinum Pro and Executive Platinum. There is also an invitation-only tier called ConciergeKey. You qualify by earning Loyalty Points during a 12-month qualification period that runs from March 1 through the end of February.
| Tier | Loyalty Points | Oneworld tier | Mileage bonus |
|---|---|---|---|
| AAdvantage Gold | 40,000 | Ruby | 40% |
| AAdvantage Platinum | 75,000 | Sapphire | 60% |
| AAdvantage Platinum Pro | 125,000 | Emerald | 80% |
| AAdvantage Executive Platinum | 200,000 | Emerald | 120% |
Every tier earns bonus miles on American flights and gets perks such as preferred seating, priority boarding and free checked bags on American-operated itineraries. Higher tiers add earlier boarding groups, more free bags, same-day flight changes and complimentary food and drinks in the main cabin. Reaching Loyalty Point milestones also unlocks Loyalty Point Rewards, which are separate from your status tier.
Frequently asked questions about American AAdvantage
Do American AAdvantage miles expire?
Miles expire if your account has no qualifying activity for 24 consecutive months. Earning miles or redeeming miles, shopping, dining, or a Citi ThankYou Rewards transfer resets the clock. Miles also stay active as long as you are the primary cardmember on an open AAdvantage credit card or are under 21.What is the difference between AAdvantage miles and Loyalty Points?
AAdvantage miles are what you redeem for flights, upgrades and seats. Loyalty Points are what you earn to qualify for elite status and Loyalty Point Rewards. Loyalty Points reset to zero every March 1, while miles do not.Is AAdvantage worth it if I don't fly American often?
It can be. You can earn miles without flying American through credit card spending, shopping and dining programs. Then, redeem miles on partner airlines such as Alaska Airlines, British Airways, Japan Airlines and more.How does AAdvantage compare to Delta SkyMiles and United MileagePlus?
All three let you earn on a wide range of partner airlines, and all price awards on their own flights dynamically. AAdvantage stands out for redemptions on high-quality partner airlines at fixed, chart-based rates. The best fit depends on where you live and which airlines you fly.How do you earn AAdvantage elite status?
You earn status by accumulating Loyalty Points during the March 1 to end-of-February qualification period. Loyalty Points come from eligible flights, AAdvantage credit card spending and partners such as AAdvantage Hotels and Dining. Each tier has its own Loyalty Point threshold, and you must requalify every year.
