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

Katie Genter
Katie Genter
Lead writer
Katie Genter is a digital nomad who has traveled full time since June 2017. She writes and edits stories about points and miles, and loyalty programs, often letting her personal experiences color these stories.
Feb. 27, 2025
•
4 min read
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If you've looked at your American Airlines account recently, you likely saw two numbers: miles and Loyalty Points. Although Loyalty Points and American AAdvantage miles are related, they differ greatly.

And, especially since Loyalty Points reset to zero every year on March 1, it's important to know the difference. So, here's what you need to know.

American Airlines miles vs. Loyalty Points

When you open the American Airlines mobile app or log in to your account online, you'll see two prominent numbers: award miles and Loyalty Points.

American AAdvantage account
AMERICAN AIRLINES

In short, award miles are what you can redeem for flights, upgrades and seats, while Loyalty Points are the metric by which American Airlines awards elite status and Loyalty Point Rewards. Let's take a closer look at each.

What are American miles?

You earn award miles — also called American miles or AAdvantage miles — when you credit paid flights on American Airlines and select partner airlines (including Oneworld alliance partners like Alaska Airlines) to the AAdvantage program. You can also earn American miles when you use the AAdvantage eShopping portal, shop SimplyMiles offers and more.

Digital Shopping: Man Using Phone and Credit Card to Make an Online Purchase
PIXELSEFFECT/GETTY IMAGES

You can redeem American miles for flights, upgrades, seats and more. Award miles don't reset to zero or expire as long as you are the primary cardmember of an open AAdvantage credit card or you earn or redeem miles at least once every 24 months.

What are Loyalty Points?

Loyalty Points, on the other hand, are the metric by which you earn American Airlines elite status and Loyalty Point Rewards. Some, but not all, award miles you earn also give you Loyalty Points. You can also occasionally earn Loyalty Points through promotions or by holding select AAdvantage credit cards and meeting specific spending or Loyalty Point thresholds.

You can't redeem Loyalty Points for award flights; they're only good for earning American Airlines elite status and Loyalty Point Rewards. As a reminder, Loyalty Point Rewards are extra benefits you earn as you reach specific amounts of Loyalty Points throughout your qualification period.

American plane
ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY

Each year, you must requalify for American Airlines elite status and work toward earning new Loyalty Point Rewards during the airline's elite qualification period. Instead of the calendar year qualification period used by most other programs, American AAdvantage uses a March 1-Feb. 28 (or Feb. 29 in leap years) qualification period. So, just as your Marriott elite night credits reset to zero Jan. 1 each year, Loyalty Points reset to zero every March 1.

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Bottom line

Your Loyalty Points balance — the metric American Airlines uses for elite status qualification and Loyalty Point Rewards — will reset March 1. But your award miles — the ones you can redeem to book flights — won't reset March 1. You'll keep your American Airlines miles as long as your account is active or you're the primary cardmember on an AAdvantage credit card.

Related reading:

Featured image by ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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Card Rating is based on the opinion of TPG‘s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.
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Rewards Rate

4XEarn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
4XEarn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
3XEarn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
2XEarn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
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  • Intro Offer
    You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.

    As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.

  • Annual Fee

    $325

  • Recommended 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.

    Excellent to Good

Why We Chose It

There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits.

Pros

  • 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
  • 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

Cons

  • Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Terms Apply.