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).
American’s current elite year ends on February 28, 2025, so we’re seeing buy up offers for those who want to extend their status through March 31, 2026.
In this post:
Buy up to AAdvantage elite status for 2025
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 three 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, while I currently have Executive Platinum status, I’m only at 61,000 Loyalty Points for the membership year. That means I’m 14,000 Loyalty Points short of earning Platinum status, which requires 75,000 Loyalty Points (this will be my first time not earning Executive Platinum status in over a decade).
I received an offer to earn Platinum status for $1,289 or 129,000 AAdvantage miles (the opportunity to redeem miles gets you one cent per mile, and that’s not a great deal).
Meanwhile Ford has Gold status, but only has 36,000 Loyalty Points for the membership year. That means he’s 4,000 Loyalty Points short of earning Gold, which requires 40,000 Loyalty Points.
He received an offer to earn Gold status for $399 or 40,000 AAdvantage miles.
Should you buy up to status?
This 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 year
- 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
- 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)
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 2025.
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?
I received an offer on January 29 to go from PP to EXP for $1415 or 141,500 miles. I knew I had some miles still coming in from my credit card and AA Shopping portal so I waited. Once those miles hit I because qualified for EXP so the offer changed to extend that for $875 or 87,500 miles.
I had another couple of large purchases from the shopping portal hit and I went...
I received an offer on January 29 to go from PP to EXP for $1415 or 141,500 miles. I knew I had some miles still coming in from my credit card and AA Shopping portal so I waited. Once those miles hit I because qualified for EXP so the offer changed to extend that for $875 or 87,500 miles.
I had another couple of large purchases from the shopping portal hit and I went back to see if my offer had gotten any better and the offer was gone. I dug around on the website and found where it now reads that my EXP status is good through March 31, 2026. So glad I did not pay anything to keep the status!
Anyone know if the price changes if you earn more loyalty points before purchasing?
Also, this is my last year as EXP member after more than 16 years. The program is very devalued. Just now (11:30AM ET) American has removed (I think) the term "Business Class" to "Premium". Since the pandemic, the service and perks are not as they were.
This is my last year as a EXP member. I’ve moved on and only have 22k with AA this membership year. They offered me Plat for $1949 but their program just isn’t worth playing anymore. My BA Gold membership through April 2027 gives me much better treatment so I’ll just stick with that.
Didn’t look at my offer but will make platinum pro again. Ben you must use a better credit and have plenty of systemwide upgrades I like your lower status strategy here. Robert Isom is bluffing about people wiling to pay more for premium seats ; it’s called inflation. Do airlines within the same alliance start merging on an international level ? Wonder what 10 yrs from now will look like with American smh
I’m about 13K short of getting PP again. I haven’t gotten any offers from AA.
Currently at 75k loyalty points and it offers plat pro for $1919. Not horrible actually.
OMG, I'm Exec Platinum this year, and within 30K miles/points of making it again next year and my offer to lock in EP for next year is $2,319 or 232K miles!! Holy cow. You'd think by being so close they would LOWER the price, not raise it! Yikes.
30k isn't that close. That's about 3,000 dollars of flights you'd have to spend as an EP to earn that. or 30k dollars spending on your credit card.
I am gold, got this offer. "Lock in your AAdvantage Platinum® status for 2025
Use an AAdvantage® credit card to earn miles and Loyalty Points
Use a combination of miles and dollars
Status valid through: March 31, 2026
$1,925
or
192.5K miles" ... HAHAHA NO WAY!
Alaska asked me for 400 USD or 40k Miles for MVP Gold
Alaska does status buy ups? Had no idea.
Didn’t know either. I was around 3k miles short and got this email:
So close!
Elite status is still within reach.
It’s not too late to earn MVP Gold status! Buy the elite-qualifying miles you need by January 31, 2025 and enjoy generous elite benefits all year.
Anyway I still have enough Cathay flights that I have not yet decided where to credit, I could even make MVP100k if I credit them all to Alaska.
With complimentary upgrades are far and few between, particularly for less than EXP I'm not sure the value you really get. Take your money and use it towards upgrade purchases.
Ben, did you see the Boom Supersonic jet broke the sound barrier for the first time!
@William
Do you think they will fly commercial flight in 2 yrs from now ?