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Check your American Airlines accounts: 2021 rollover elite miles, dollars and segments now posting

Jan. 11, 2021
3 min read
Check your American Airlines accounts: 2021 rollover elite miles, dollars and segments now posting
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If you're an American Airlines frequent flyer, you may now have more elite miles, dollars and segments in your account.

In addition to reducing elite status requirements for the 2021 calendar year, American also announced it was rolling overall qualifying flight activity flown between Oct. 1 and Dec. 31, 2020.

That means AA flyers received three extra months to earn status. And here's the good news: Those flights have started to post into AAdvantage accounts today.

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Sure enough, when I check my AAdvantage account for the 2021 status year, it reflects two flights that I took in November 2020.

(Screenshot courtesy of American.)

While $314 elite-qualifying dollars (EQDs), 3,679 elite-qualifying miles (EQMs) and 1.5 elite-qualifying segments (EQSs) isn't much, it's good to see something occupying these otherwise-empty bars.

Related: All of the elite qualification changes you need to know about for 2021

Unlike Delta, American doesn't typically roll over any elite-qualifying criteria from one year to the next. In fact, Delta is rolling over all Medallion Qualifying Miles (MQMs) from 2020 (but notably, no Medallion Qualifying Dollars).

American's pandemic-era rollover decision was made to give AAdvantage members 15 months to earn status at the reduced levels announced late last year.

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Here's a look at the reduced elite qualifying criteria for 2021, approximately 30% less than what was required compared to 2019 before the pandemic:

MetricGoldPlatinumPlatinum ProExecutive Platinum
Elite Qualifying Miles (EQM)20,00040,00060,00080,000
Elite Qualifying Segments (EQS)20457095
Elite Qualifying Dollars (EQD)$2,000$4,500$7,000$12,000

Instead of hitting the EQD requirement up to the Platinum Pro status level, American also rolled out a new option. By spending $30,000 in the calendar year on a cobranded AAdvantage credit card -- such as the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® -- you can bypass the required EQDs.

Select AAdvantage cards also give you EQMs, so this is potentially a lucrative double-dip opportunity in 2021.

In December, we also found out the details on American's revamped elite perks, including new options for rewards. If you hit the 2021 thresholds outlined above, you'll be able to enjoy these new benefits. And the good news is that your headstart from the last three months of 2020 is now posting in AAdvantage accounts.

Featured image by (Photo by Chris Dong/The Points Guy)

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  • Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
  • Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. Payment of the government imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
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  • Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® after you apply through any Authorized Enrollment Provider. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
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Card Rating is based on the opinion of TPG‘s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.
3 / 5
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Rewards Rate

3XEarn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
2XEarn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S. and at U.S. supermarkets.
1XEarn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
  • Intro Offer
    Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.

    Earn 90,000 Bonus Miles
    50,000 Bonus Miles
  • Annual Fee

    $250
  • 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.

    670-850
    Excellent/Good

Why We Chose It

Build your loyalty to Delta by applying for the carrier's mid-tier card option, the Delta SkyMiles Platinum card. The annual fee is quickly recouped by the card's travel perks, such as an application credit to Global Entry or TSA Precheck, annual companion certificate and so much more. Plus you can fast-track to elite status simply through card spend.

Pros

  • Earn bonus Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) and an Medallion Qualifying Dollar (MQD) waiver when you hit specific spending thresholds with your card within a calendar year
  • Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year
  • Statement credit for TSA PreCheck/Global Entry fee (up to $100)
  • First checked bag free

Cons

  • Doesn't make sense if you don't fly Delta
  • SkyMiles aren't the most valuable airline currency
  • Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
  • Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. Payment of the government imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
  • Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights. Plus enjoy Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding and settle into your seat sooner.
  • New: Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
  • Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
  • Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets.
  • Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
  • Enjoy a per-visit rate of $50 per person for Card Members and up to two guests to enter the Delta Sky Club when traveling on a Delta flight.
  • Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® after you apply through any Authorized Enrollment Provider. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
  • Earn up to 20,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) with Status Boost® per year. After you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you can earn 10,000 MQMs up to two times per year, getting you closer to Medallion® Status. MQMs are used to determine Medallion® Status and are different than miles you earn toward flights.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • $250 Annual Fee.
  • Terms Apply.
  • See Rates & Fees