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American Airlines unveils its list of Loyalty Point-qualifying partners

Jan. 03, 2022
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3 min read
American Airlines LaGuardia Airport Western Concourse New Admira
American Airlines unveils its list of Loyalty Point-qualifying partners
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Editor's Note

This post has been updated with new information.

UPDATE: American Airlines has created a list of which AAdvantage miles count toward Loyalty Points:

  • Portal sites: American Airlines Vacations, AAdvantage eShopping, AAdvantage Dining, SimplyMiles
  • Hotels: bookaahotels.com, Hyatt, Marriott, IHG, Marriott Vacations, RocketMiles
  • Car rentals: aa.com/car, Avis, Budget, Payless, Hertz, Dollar, Thrifty, Alamo, National, Sixt
  • Cruises: bookaacruises.com
  • Retail: Shell, WeWork, Vinesse, FTD, Vivid Seats, NRG Energy, Reliant Energy, Xoom, Miles for Opinion

ORIGINAL: If you're planning on earning American Airlines AAdvantage elite status next year, there's now a list of partners where you can earn those coveted Loyalty Points.

Loyalty Points is the new elite status-qualifying currency that's being rolled out next year that completely changes the way you earn AAdvantage status. Generally speaking, one AAdvantage mile equals one Loyalty Point.

The list of partners should look familiar to any AAdvantage loyalist. While there are no significant changes from this year's AAdvantage partners, you will notice two notable exceptions.

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The first change is good news: Brazilian airline GOL has now been added as an elite-qualifying airline, so AAdvantage miles earned when flying GOL will also earn Loyalty points. American recently purchased a 5.2% stake in GOL and strengthened its codeshare partnership.

On the other hand, the second change is not good news: AAdvantage miles earned through Bask Bank will not earn Loyalty Points. Bask Bank's savings account currently earns an AAdvantage mile for each dollar deposited, and that will continue. However, you won't earn Loyalty Points through deposits. This no doubt would have been a very popular way to earn points toward elite status.

More: How to earn American Airlines elite status next year

So, what else will earn Loyalty Points?

TPG reporter Benji Stawski has a comprehensive list of ways to earn Loyalty Points. Among the highlights:

  • Flying American Airlines — the original way to earn AAdvantage miles. General members continue to earn 5 award miles per dollar spent, Gold members earn 7, Platinum members earn 8, Platinum Pro members earn 9 and Executive Platinum members earn 11 AAdvantage miles. Those will translate 1:1 into Loyalty Points.
  • Flying partner airlines. In addition to GOL, Loyalty Points are earned by flying on all Oneworld airlines, as well as partners such as JetBlue.
  • Spending on cobranded credit cards. American's numerous cobranded credit cards will earn a single Loyalty Point per dollar spent, but sign-up bonuses, spending offers and category multiplier bonuses won't earn points. Regardless, this should be a very popular way to earn Loyalty Points.
  • Using AAdvantage Dining. Every mile earned through AAdvantage Dining also earns a Loyalty Point.
  • Booking stays with partner hotels. Loyalty Points can be earned through American's hotels portal, as well as stays at Hyatt, Marriott, IHG and Wyndham.

You can begin to earn Loyalty Points on Jan. 1, and the revamped program launches on March 1. If you haven't yet qualified for 2022 AAdvantage status, you have until Feb. 28 to qualify under the old system, too.

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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