American Airlines’ AAdvantage program has just rolled out some status buy up offers, for those who are short of requalifying for status. As a reminder, with American AAdvantage’s Loyalty Points system, the carrier doesn’t use the calendar year for status qualification, but rather status is earned between the beginning of March and the end of February of the following year (and status is then valid through the end of March of the year after that).
American’s current elite year ends on February 28, 2026, so we’re seeing buy up offers for those who want to extend their status through March 31, 2027 (thanks to View from the Wing for flagging this).
In this post:
Buy up to AAdvantage elite status for 2026
If you log-in on this website with your AAdvantage number and password, you can see what kind of a status buy up offer is available to you, if any. This allows you to buy up to the next status level for this coming qualification year, compared to what you’ve already (re)qualified for.
You can potentially buy up to a different status tier than what you currently have. For example, if you’re an Executive Platinum member but have only requalified for Gold, you’d get an offer for Platinum. Meanwhile if you’ve only requalified for Platinum, you’d get an offer for Platinum Pro.
You can find the offer FAQs here. There are some basic things to be aware of:
- If you take advantage of one of these buy ups, your status should be updated within five business days
- Whatever you spend on a status buy up won’t count toward your Loyalty Points total, other than what you earn with credit card spending if you use a co-branded AAdvantage card
- This purchase is non-refundable
If you were to take advantage of this, it could make sense to wait until the end of February, to see if you have any more opportunities to earn Loyalty Points in the traditional way, since this buy up offer is still valid even after the qualification year ends. I’d only recommend taking advantage of this if you’re sure you won’t be able to earn the status you’re hoping for otherwise.
What’s the cost to buy AAdvantage elite status?
With American’s elite tier offer, you can buy up to one tier above what you’ve currently qualified for (in other words, if you’ve already earned Platinum status, you can only earn Platinum Pro status this way — there’s also no way to earn Concierge Key with this).
People are likely to see vastly different offers, which are based on how far you are toward qualifying for status, and also what status you’re going for.
For example, I’m currently Platinum Pro with 153,000 Loyalty Points, meaning I’m 47,000 Loyalty Points short of Executive Platinum status, which requires 200,000 Loyalty Points.
I received an offer to earn Executive Platinum status for $4,629 or 463,000 AAdvantage miles (the opportunity to redeem miles gets you one cent per mile, and that’s not a great deal).
Meanwhile Ford is currently Platinum with 95,000 Loyalty Points, meaning he’s 30,000 Loyalty Points short of Platinum Pro status, which requires 125,000 Loyalty Points.
He received an offer to earn Platinum Pro status for $3,689 or 369,000 AAdvantage miles.
Should you buy up to AAdvantage elite status?
Whether or not this offer is worth it is something everyone has to decide for themselves, as there’s no universal right answer:
- Whether or not this makes sense depends on your anticipated travel plans over the course of the next membership year, plus how much value you’re able to get out of status
- If you’re not absolutely sure it makes sense, I’d recommend not making a purchase; money in your pocket is usually worth more than constantly devalued airline status, and you can even use that money to buy a bunch of upgrades
- Since American’s Loyalty Point Rewards thresholds aren’t at the same tiers as standard elite status, there aren’t as many perks just for earning status (like systemwide upgrades, for example)
For example, I certainly won’t be taking advantage of this offer, but with credit card spending (thanks to that cool double dipping opportunity), Ford and I will each still be moving a higher tier before the end of the membership year. But even if we weren’t, there’s no way I’d find this to be worthwhile.
Bottom line
American AAdvantage has launched its typical promotion that allows members to buy up to a higher status tier than they qualified for. This is for those who haven’t yet requalified for status in 2026.
I’d only use this feature as a last resort, as the cost is typically excessively high. I’d only take advantage of this if you’re absolutely certain it’ll be worth it based on your upcoming travel patterns.
Are you eligible for an American AAdvantage elite buy up offer? If so, how much is American asking for, and how close are you to earning the status you’re being offered?
These offers, which they continue to send out to people 6 months after the qualificatin period ends, are always laughable. At minumum, the "offer" is an amount equivalent to how many dollars short you are from the tier in question. This is just an attempt to snag a few people who are too dumb to realize that 1) they could have just bought a flight, and 2) that the status upgade means almost nothing anymore....
These offers, which they continue to send out to people 6 months after the qualificatin period ends, are always laughable. At minumum, the "offer" is an amount equivalent to how many dollars short you are from the tier in question. This is just an attempt to snag a few people who are too dumb to realize that 1) they could have just bought a flight, and 2) that the status upgade means almost nothing anymore. You can only dilute the benefits and reaise the price so much before the whole thing becomes a joke.
whatever became of those leaked "changes" a couple weeks ago when they announced no more miles or LPs on basic economy ? (the 20%/30% bonus LPs for 6 months each becoming ONLY 25% for 6 months total for the elite program)? The current AA pages are still 20% and 30% bonus LP's with certain partners, and if they're now accepting buyups, I can't imagine they'd put in the restrictions after people had bought up.
Mine is $775 or 77.5K miles to get to executive Platinum, yet I am only 2,900 points away from executive platinum. That's literally one night's stay at $150 hotel from the AA Hotel portal. And you get to enjoy the nice hotel for the night. So funny.
What does it say about a brand when the only way you can hit your targets for elite-level travelers, even when stations tied to credit card spend, is to let people buy their way in? All this proves is that AAdvantage is not a loyalty program, it’s a spend program.
Though, I will say this, at least AA is being honest about it. UA and, in particular DL, try to convince you it’s a loyalty program.
These offers are always atrocious. Please, never, ever do this, unless you literally need to burn money.
Well, there are those rare moments in life where chaos produces something positive. I was offered the buy up in early 2021 and with all the covid hysteria, the offer was incredibly reasonable so I took it. Since then, I agree that it's to be avoided. Just pay for the cash upgrade offers.
@Ben
You are being too kind in the article. What AA is offering here is the opportunity to pay full price for a flight that you then don't get to take. These prices map closely to what you would earn flying.
2,792 miles away from Platinum Pro; my buy up offer is $565.
Are you going to take that offer to go to PP?
I have never received any offers over the years.
I already have pending eShopping purchases that should get me over the threshold, so no.
Even booking a hotel stay through AAdvantage Hotels would get me the requisite LPs at a fraction of the cost (~$100 or so).
I think that's because you have to go to the website directly. I didn't get an offer until I went to the actual website. I don't think they should do the buyout because they can just go to a hotel around the corner for the night for less than $200 to get those miles. And enjoy it.
That redemption for miles is especially insane. I will probably drop from Ex Plat to Platinum Pro this year. Since I will still keep my Emerald status and access to One World international first class lounges so not worth the offer (if I get one).