The best American Airlines Loyalty Point Rewards at every milestone

You can earn more than just elite status when you accumulate American AAdvantage Loyalty Points. At select Loyalty Point thresholds, American Airlines offers Loyalty Point Rewards that let you select perks such as bonus miles, systemwide upgrades, World of Hyatt status, trip credits and lounge benefits.

But the best Loyalty Point Rewards choice at each threshold isn't always obvious. Some rewards offer significant potential value but require flexibility and knowledge to maximize their value. Meanwhile, other rewards are easier to maximize or may make more sense based on your specific situation.

I've reached several of these milestones in recent years. So in this guide, I'll walk through the current Loyalty Point Rewards at each threshold, explain which ones I'd choose and highlight when another option might make more sense for you.

What are American Airlines Loyalty Point Rewards?

American Airlines Loyalty Point Rewards are perks you can select as you reach specific Loyalty Point milestones each status-qualifying year, which runs from March 1 to the end of February. You have until a month after the end of each status-qualifying year to select your Loyalty Point Rewards.

Loyalty Points are the metric through which you earn American Airlines elite status. But Loyalty Point Rewards are tied to Loyalty Point milestones instead of elite status tiers. So if you earn AAdvantage status through a status match or the World of Hyatt milestone rewards program, you will still only earn Loyalty Point Rewards on the number of Loyalty Points you accrue within each status-qualifying year.

Keep in mind that there are many ways to earn Loyalty Points besides flying on American Airlines and its partners. For example, you can earn Loyalty Points by spending on AAdvantage credit cards, using the AAdvantage Dining program, shopping through the AAdvantage eShopping portal, booking stays through AAdvantage Hotels, using SimplyMiles offers and more.

Related: American AAdvantage miles vs. Loyalty Points: What's the difference?

15,000 Loyalty Points milestone

Once you accrue 15,000 Loyalty Points in a status-qualifying year, you'll enjoy Group 5 boarding for the membership year (through March 31 of the calendar year after the end of the status-qualifying year) and be able to choose one of the following Loyalty Point Rewards:

• Personalized limited-edition centennial luggage tag
• 1,000 Loyalty Points
• Priority privileges and Group 4 boarding for a trip
• 5 Preferred Seat coupons (not eligible for use on basic economy fares)
• 2 inflight food and beverage coupons on flights where service is offered
• 12-month New York Times subscription to your choice of Games, Cooking or The Athletic (coming soon)

Daily Newsletter

Reward your inbox with the TPG Daily newsletter

Join over 700,000 readers for breaking news, in-depth guides and exclusive deals from TPG’s experts

Email address

Sign up

Submitting...

By signing up, you will receive newsletters and promotional content and agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe at any time.

My pick: 1,000 Loyalty Points

I've chosen 1,000 Loyalty Points at the 15,000 Loyalty Points milestone each of the last few years, as it lets me reach higher milestones faster, and most of the other options wouldn't provide incremental value. After all, I already get priority privileges, Group 2 boarding and access to Preferred seats at booking as an AAdvantage Platinum Pro member. Plus, my Citi® / AAdvantage® Globe™ Mastercard® (see rates and fees) gives me up to $100 in statement credits on inflight purchases each calendar year when I use it on American Airlines flights.

However, the 1,000 Loyalty Points have never been the difference in qualifying for a specific elite status tier. So, some could say their value is effectively zero. As such, although I don't need a personalized luggage tag or a New York Times subscription, these might provide more tangible value. After all, a 12-month New York Times Games subscription costs $50.

If you aren't sure what to choose, here's what I'd recommend for specific types of travelers who reach the 15,000 Loyalty Points milestone:

• If you don't have AAdvantage status and have plans to fly American Airlines: Preferred seat coupons (Preferred seats often cost $20 to $70 per segment)
• If you frequently find yourself paying for food or beverages on American Airlines flights: Inflight food and beverage coupons
• If you currently subscribe to New York Times Games, Cooking or The Athletic: Subscription (a value of $50 to $60 a year)
• Otherwise: Choose which of the benefits is likely to provide the most value

Keep in mind that you have until a month after the end of each status-qualifying year to select your Loyalty Point Rewards. So, you could wait and see whether choosing 1,000 Loyalty Points in February would elevate you to a higher elite status tier or Loyalty Point Rewards milestone.

60,000 Loyalty Points milestone

By the time you reach the 60,000 Loyalty Points milestone, you'll have passed the 40,000 Loyalty Points threshold at which you earned AAdvantage Gold status.

At the 60,000 Loyalty Points threshold, you'll secure the following as Loyalty Point Rewards:

• Avis Preferred Plus status
• 25% Loyalty Point bonus when you spend with American Airlines Vacations, SimplyMiles, AAdvantage eShopping, AAdvantage Dining, AAdvantage Cruises and AAdvantage Hotels for six months (the six months start after you both qualify and register for this reward; capped at 25,000 Loyalty Points).

You don't need to select either of these Loyalty Point Rewards, but you will need to enroll in the Avis Preferred status and register for the 25% Loyalty Point bonus within 30 days of achieving the milestone.

100,000 Loyalty Points milestone

By the time you reach the 100,000 Loyalty Points milestone, you'll have passed the 75,000 Loyalty Points threshold at which you earned AAdvantage Platinum status.

At the 100,000 Loyalty Points threshold, you'll get the following as Loyalty Point Rewards:

• World of Hyatt Discoverist status
• Avis President's Club status

You don't need to select either of these Loyalty Point Rewards, but you will need to link your AAdvantage and World of Hyatt accounts if you haven't already. Likewise, you'll need to enroll in the Avis President's Club.

175,000 Loyalty Points milestone

By the time you reach the 175,000 Loyalty Points milestone, you'll have passed the 125,000 Loyalty Points threshold at which you earned AAdvantage Platinum Pro status. At this milestone, you can choose one of the following Loyalty Point Rewards:

• World of Hyatt Explorist status
• 5,000 Loyalty Points
• 2 systemwide upgrades
• 20,000 AAdvantage bonus miles, which TPG's September 2026 valuations value at $290 (AAdvantage credit cardmembers can select 25,000 bonus miles, which TPG values at $362)
• $200 trip credit (AAdvantage credit cardmembers can select a $250 trip credit)
• $250 American Airlines Vacations credit
• 75-gallon sustainable aviation fuel allocation
• $250 donation to a select nonprofit organization
• 2 gifts of AAdvantage Gold status
• 1 AAdvantage Exchange gift
• 35,000 AAdvantage miles toward a Mastercard Priceless Experience (only available to AAdvantage credit cardmembers; TPG values 35,000 AAdvantage miles at $507, but keep in mind these miles can only be used toward an eligible experience)
• 12-month New York Times All Access subscription (coming soon; a non-promotional subscription normally costs $429)

My choice: 2 systemwide upgrades

Each time I've reached the 175,000 Loyalty Points threshold, I've chosen two systemwide upgrades. My husband and I have redeemed dozens of systemwide upgrades over the years, all for long-haul flights with lie-flat seats in business class. So, while it can be difficult to use systemwide upgrades if you aren't flexible with your dates or destination, ExpertFlyer's 330-day American systemwide upgrade availability tool (ExpertFlyer is owned by TPG's parent company, Red Ventures) has made it much easier for the average American Airlines elite member to use them.

By pure value, I'd rank two systemwide upgrades first, followed by 35,000 miles toward a Mastercard Priceless Experience (if you're an AAdvantage credit card member) and then a 12-month New York Times All Access subscription. However, if you frequently redeem American miles for significantly more than our valuations, the bonus miles could make sense. Likewise, the 5,000 Loyalty Points, Hyatt Explorist status or the two gifts of AAdvantage Gold status could be the best option in some situations.

If you aren't sure what to choose, here's what I'd recommend for specific types of travelers who reach this Loyalty Point Rewards milestone. Stop once you reach a bullet that sounds like you.

• If you plan to travel long-haul on American Airlines and are willing to put in the effort to use systemwide upgrades: Systemwide upgrades
• If you are an AAdvantage cardholder who wants to book a Mastercard Priceless experience: AAdvantage miles toward a Mastercard Priceless Experience
• If you currently subscribe to the New York Times: New York Times All Access subscription
• If you have two friends or family members who would benefit from AAdvantage Gold status: Gifts of AAdvantage Gold status
• If you would benefit from World of Hyatt Explorist status: World of Hyatt Explorist status
• If you could use 5,000 more Loyalty Points to reach another milestone or status: Loyalty Points
• Otherwise: AAdvantage bonus miles

Related: Which AAdvantage card is right for you? Here are 3 options you should consider

250,000 Loyalty Points milestone

By the time you reach the 250,000 Loyalty Points milestone, you'll have passed the 200,000 Loyalty Points threshold at which you earned AAdvantage Executive Platinum status. At this milestone, you can choose two of the following Loyalty Point Rewards:

• World of Hyatt Explorist status
• 15,000 Loyalty Points
• 2 systemwide upgrades
• 20,000 AAdvantage bonus miles, which TPG values at $290 (AAdvantage credit cardmembers can select 30,000 bonus miles, which TPG values at $435)
• Admirals Club membership (requires 2 choices; typically costs $750 for the first year and $700 for subsequent years as an Executive Platinum member)
• $200 trip credit (AAdvantage credit cardmembers can select a $250 trip credit)
• $500 American Airlines Vacations credit
• 100-gallon sustainable aviation fuel allocation
• $250 donation to select nonprofit organizations
• 2 gifts of AAdvantage Gold status
• 1 AAdvantage Exchange gift
• 1 AAdvantage Exchange premium gift (requires 2 choices)
• 1 Flagship Lounge single visit pass (AAdvantage credit cardmembers can select two Flagship Lounge single visit passes)
• 35,000 AAdvantage miles toward a Mastercard Priceless Experience (only available to AAdvantage credit cardmembers; TPG values 35,000 miles at $507)
• 12-month New York Times All Access subscription (coming soon; a non-promotional subscription normally costs $429)

My choice: 4 systemwide upgrades

I'd choose four more systemwide upgrades at this milestone, for the same reasons I listed above. The most valuable choices are likely 2 systemwide upgrades followed by 35,000 miles toward a Mastercard Priceless Experience (if you're an AAdvantage credit card member) and then the $500 American Airlines Vacations credit. However, if you tend to get great value when redeeming American miles, it could make sense to select 20,000 bonus miles (or 30,000 bonus miles if you're an AAdvantage credit card member).

If you aren't sure what to choose, here's the Loyalty Point Rewards I'd recommend. Keep in mind what you selected at previous milestones, but stop once you see a bullet that sounds like you.

• If you could use more systemwide upgrades on long-haul flights: Systemwide upgrades
• If you are an AAdvantage cardholder who wants to book a Mastercard Priceless experience: AAdvantage miles toward a Mastercard Priceless Experience
• If you plan to book a trip with American Airlines Vacations: American Airlines Vacations credit
• If you currently subscribe to the New York Times: New York Times All Access subscription
• If you have two friends or family members who would benefit from AAdvantage Gold status: Gifts of AAdvantage Gold status
• If you would benefit from World of Hyatt Explorist status: World of Hyatt Explorist status
• If you could use an Admirals Club membership and don't want to sign up for the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Legend Mastercard® (see rates and fees): Admirals Club membership
• If you could use 15,000 more Loyalty Points to reach another milestone or status: Loyalty Points
• Otherwise: Bonus miles

400,000, 550,000 and 750,000 Loyalty Points milestones

At each of the 400,000, 550,000 and 750,000 Loyalty Point Rewards milestones, you can choose two of the following:

• World of Hyatt Category 1-4 free night award (valid for up to a Category 4 'Top' night costing 25,000 points, which TPG values at $400)
• 1 systemwide upgrade
• 25,000 AAdvantage bonus miles, which TPG values at $362
• Admirals Club membership (requires 2 choices; typically costs $750 for the first year and $700 for subsequent years as an Executive Platinum member)
• $200 trip credit (AAdvantage credit cardmembers can select a $250 trip credit)
• $500 American Airlines Vacations credit
• 100-gallon sustainable aviation fuel allocation
• 1 gift of AAdvantage Platinum status
• 1 AAdvantage Exchange gift
• 1 AAdvantage Exchange premium gift (requires 2 choices)
• 2 Flagship Lounge single visit passes
• 1 Flagship First Dining pass
• 40,000 AAdvantage miles toward a Mastercard Priceless Experience (only available to AAdvantage credit cardmembers; TPG values 40,000 miles at $580)
• 12-month New York Times All Access subscription (coming soon; a non-promotional subscription normally costs $429)

My choice: 2 systemwide upgrades

I've never earned more than 250,000 Loyalty Points in a status-qualifying year, but I'd likely choose two more systemwide upgrades at these milestones if I did. However, especially since each choice only gives one systemwide upgrade at these milestones, the $500 American Airlines Vacations credit, 40,000 miles toward a Mastercard Priceless Experience (if you're an AAdvantage credit card member), and 25,000 AAdvantage bonus miles also look appealing.

If you aren't sure what to choose, here's the Loyalty Point Rewards I'd recommend at these milestones. Keep in mind what you selected at previous milestones, but stop once you see a bullet that sounds like you.

• If you could use more systemwide upgrades on long-haul flights: Systemwide upgrades
• If you plan to book a trip with American Airlines Vacations: American Airlines Vacations credit
• If you are an AAdvantage cardholder who wants to book a Mastercard Priceless experience: AAdvantage miles toward a Mastercard Priceless Experience
• If you have a friend or family member who would benefit from AAdvantage Platinum status: Gift of AAdvantage Platinum status
• If you could use a World of Hyatt Category 1-4 free night award: World of Hyatt Category 1-4 free night award
• If you currently subscribe to the New York Times: New York Times All Access subscription
• If you could use an Admirals Club membership and don't want to sign up for the Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Legend Mastercard: Admirals Club membership
• Otherwise: Bonus miles

1,000,000 Loyalty Points milestone

At the 1,000,000 Loyalty Point Rewards milestone, you can choose one of the following:

• World of Hyatt Category 1-7 free night award (valid for up to a Category 7 'Top' night costing 55,000 points, which TPG values at $880)
• 4 systemwide upgrades
• 250-gallon sustainable aviation fuel allocation
• 1 gift of AAdvantage Platinum Pro status
• Up to 100,000 AAdvantage miles back on award redemptions over the next 12 months after you choose this award (worth up to $1,450 based on TPG's valuations)
• 150,000 AAdvantage miles toward a Mastercard Priceless Experience (only available to AAdvantage credit cardmembers; TPG values 150,000 miles at $2,175)

My choice: Up to 100,000 AAdvantage miles back on award redemptions

For travelers who can use them, four systemwide upgrades may offer the most value. However, I would have already earned numerous systemwide upgrades this elite-qualifying year and getting bonus miles as a rebate on mileage redemptions is a way to save miles on travel I'm already doing. Another solid option is to gift Platinum Pro status to a friend or family member, which would give them perks on American Airlines as well as Oneworld Emerald status.

If you aren't sure what to choose, here's the Loyalty Point Rewards I'd recommend at this milestone. Keep in mind what you selected at previous milestones, but stop once you see a bullet that sounds like you.

• If you could use more systemwide upgrades on long-haul flights: Systemwide upgrades
• If you are an AAdvantage cardholder who wants to book an expensive Mastercard Priceless experience: AAdvantage miles toward a Mastercard Priceless Experience
• If you will likely redeem at least 100,000 AAdvantage miles in the next 12 months: Get miles back on award redemptions
• If you have a friend or family member who would benefit from AAdvantage Platinum Pro status: Gift of AAdvantage Platinum Pro status
• Otherwise: World of Hyatt Category 1-7 free night award

3,000,000 Loyalty Points milestone

At the 3,000,000 Loyalty Point Rewards milestone, you can choose one of the following:

• World of Hyatt Category 1-7 free night award (valid for up to a Category 7 'top' night costing 55,000 points, which TPG values at $880)
• 6 systemwide upgrades
• 500-gallon sustainable aviation fuel allocation
• 1 gift of AAdvantage Executive Platinum status
• Up to 300,000 AAdvantage miles back on award redemptions over the next 12 months after you choose this award (worth up to $4,350 based on TPG's valuations)
• 350,000 AAdvantage miles toward a Mastercard Priceless Experience (only available to AAdvantage credit cardmembers; TPG values 350,000 miles at $5,075)

My choice: Up to 300,000 AAdvantage miles back on award redemptions

For the same reasons as above, I'd choose the mileage rebate if I expect to redeem enough miles in the next 12 months to make it worthwhile. However, if I were running short on systemwide upgrades, I'd likely choose that option instead.

If you aren't sure what to choose, here's the Loyalty Point Rewards I'd recommend at this milestone. Keep in mind what you selected at previous milestones, but stop once you see a bullet that sounds like you.

• If you could use more systemwide upgrades on long-haul flights: Systemwide upgrades
• If you are an AAdvantage cardholder who wants to book an expensive Mastercard Priceless experience: AAdvantage miles toward a Mastercard Priceless Experience
• If you will likely redeem at least 300,000 AAdvantage miles in the next 12 months: Get miles back on award redemptions
• If you have a friend or family member who would benefit from AAdvantage Executive Platinum status: Gift of AAdvantage Executive Platinum status
• Otherwise: World of Hyatt Category 1-7 free night award

5,000,000 Loyalty Points milestone

At the 5,000,000 Loyalty Point Rewards milestone, you can choose one of the following:

• World of Hyatt Category 1-7 free night award (valid for up to a Category 7 'top' night costing 55,000 points, which TPG values at $880)
• 10 systemwide upgrades
• 1,000-gallon sustainable aviation fuel allocation
• 1 gift of AAdvantage Executive Platinum status
• Up to 500,000 AAdvantage miles back on award redemptions over the next 12 months after you choose this award (worth up to $7,250 based on TPG's valuations)
• 550,000 AAdvantage miles toward a Mastercard Priceless Experience (only available to AAdvantage credit cardmembers; TPG values 550,000 miles at $7,975)

My choice: Up to 500,000 AAdvantage miles back on award redemptions

My logic here is similar to that at the 1,000,000 and 3,000,000 Loyalty Point Rewards milestones: I'd choose the mileage rebate if I expected to redeem enough miles to make it worthwhile in the next 12 months. But if I needed more systemwide upgrades, I'd choose that instead.

If you aren't sure what to choose, here's the Loyalty Point Rewards I'd recommend at this milestone. Keep in mind what you selected at previous milestones, but stop once you see a bullet that sounds like you.

• If you could use more systemwide upgrades on long-haul flights: Systemwide upgrades
• If you are an AAdvantage cardholder who wants to book an expensive Mastercard Priceless experience: AAdvantage miles toward a Mastercard Priceless Experience
• If you will likely redeem at least 500,000 AAdvantage miles in the next 12 months: Get miles back on award redemptions
• If you have a friend or family member who would benefit from AAdvantage Executive Platinum status: Gift of AAdvantage Executive Platinum status
• Otherwise: World of Hyatt Category 1-7 free night award

How to select your Loyalty Point Rewards

Once you reach a Loyalty Point Rewards threshold, you'll get an email from American AAdvantage. For example, on May 10, I got an email titled "Kathryn, you earned 15,000 Loyalty Points: Now choose your reward."

In the email, there's a button you can click to go to a website where you can choose your reward. The email also notes the date by which you must choose your Loyalty Point Rewards.

Alternatively, you can navigate in the American Airlines app or website to choose your Loyalty Point Rewards. On the website, log in to your account and click on Rewards in the left-hand navigation menu of your account homepage. Scroll down the page until you see a "Choose your reward" section. If you click "Choose reward," a page to select your reward will load.

If you don't select your Loyalty Point Rewards by the stated deadline (March 31, which is one month after the status-qualification period finishes), you'll forfeit the reward.

However, there may be a reason to wait to select your Loyalty Point Rewards. For example, if I select 1,000 Loyalty Points as a Loyalty Point Rewards choice before the end of February 2027, my choice would apply to the qualification year that started on March 1, 2026. But if I wait to choose 1,000 Loyalty Points in March 2027, it would apply toward the qualification year starting March 1, 2027.

Likewise, it can make sense to wait to choose benefits if you aren't sure how many Loyalty Points you'll earn during the status qualification year. After all, knowing you'll get certain choices at higher thresholds may change what you'd choose at lower thresholds. For example, if I knew I'd reach the 250,000 Loyalty Point Rewards milestone and was planning to choose an American Airlines Vacations credit or Loyalty Points at the 175,000 milestone, I might make a different choice and save that selection for the 250,000 milestone, where these options are elevated.

Bottom line

American Airlines offers a wide range of Loyalty Point Rewards options at various milestones, and there's never one option that's best for everyone. I'd prioritize systemwide upgrades at the milestones that offer them because my husband and I regularly use them for long-haul business-class travel. But bonus miles, American Airlines Vacations credits, Hyatt perks and New York Times subscriptions could provide more value depending on how you travel.

You also don't necessarily need to select your reward as soon as you earn it. In some cases, waiting until later in the qualification year — or even until March — can help you make a more informed choice. Just be sure to make your selections by the March 31 deadline.