It’s an unusual year for me when it comes to airline elite status, so in this post, I want to share the strategy that I’m pursuing, since one thing is very different than usual for me this year…
Continue reading: My American Elite Status Credit Card Double Dip Strategy
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
I see this promotion to earn points on authorized users accounts in my AA app. However, when I click the link, it takes me to a non-functioning page at exploreamerican.com (“That page seems to have taken flight.”)
Anyone else experience this issue and have a work-around to actually get registered?
Dang that's a nice play on loyalty points with the promo that allows the double dipping to mentioned. Gets me thinking to do that for myself and my Player 2!
You failed to mention that the Barclay Silver card - gives you 15K LP total in steps of $20K/20K/10K spend. And since the Citi Exec card gives bonus based on LP earned (not spend) spending $50K on Barclay Silver - you get the 15K LP plus the 10K from Citi Exec. Go to 90K LP by any method give you the extra 10K LP,
Same. I called AA about it, they forwarded me to the help desk who proceeded to put me on hold and then hang up on me. Clearly they have no idea what's going on with this promotion. I have also been waiting 4 weeks since my AU's statement closed and the LPs havent posted. Yes, I know the T&Cs say 8-10 weeks, but usually nothing actually takes that long with AA, and the fact that the phone reps seem clueless about this promotion makes me nervous.
Is oneworld Emerald worth $125,000 in locked spending on AA? The major benefit is getting First Class lounges when flying Business or Economy, and free seat selection on OW airlines. Ignoring how many CC sign-up bonuses you can get with that much spend, just straight intelligently maximizing existing CC point categories could get you hundreds of thousands to millions of CC points, enough to redeem thru a CC travel portal for the cash value of multiple business class or first class flights + any associated seat selection costs. And that's the lowest possible use case.
I think that it’s worth it for the sole reason that for now there is no other way to earn AA points. I have personally over the years got some good redemptions from AA. Much better than delta or United
Exactly. And, if a person books *certain* hotels with the Executive card via the AA hotel portal, one earns 1 LP on the card but as much as 10 LPs via the portal (plus north of 14x award points). Yes, one will forego the almighty Hyatt booking. But, what's the higher priority? Also, let's not forget the Shopping Portal during Mother's Day Week -- watch for bonuses.
Ben, use your Executive card for a hotel booking via AA hotels early in the qualification year. A two-night stay at the LAX Hilton is $467 (including tax). It will earn 467 LPs from the card and 9700 LPs from the portal for a total of 10167 LPs (that's nearly 22X LPs). It will earn roughly 14000 award points (that's nearly 30X award points). Who cares about foregoing a Hyatt stay?
Using various techniques, Ben's actual spending might only be $75k. Compared to a 2X transferable points card, he'd be losing 75k points per year. What are 75k points worth to *him*? If it's 2cpp, then his opportunity cost is $1500. Given the amount of travel *he* does, is access to first class check-in and first class lounges worth $1500 to *him*? It seems it is worth it to Ben. And, maybe it's worth it to someone with a super-abundance of points.
And, there is a practical limit to the number of new cards/SUBs one can get in a year. What does one do beyond that? I've hit the end of the line at Amex and I don't get NLL offers. Chase has capped Ink cards to four per year. Wanting simplicity, I'm not going to chase a gaggle of different airline cards.
You forget that he's also spending $1,200 for 2 years of the exec card, so is his total spend is $2,700. Add the fees for the other card, and it's probably closer to $3,000 for 2 years of One World Emerald.
Is it worth to him? If enough people are convinced to open cards using his commissioned links because of this post, absolutely yes!!
I’m considering opening the business version of the card and using it for income tax payment as I’d easily get to Platinum Pro that way. I figured, I have to spend that money anyway, an extra ~2% of fees for status and points is worth it, when I’d otherwise get nothing…
If you would have completed the BA status match you would have been OWE till
4/26. This OWE would have given you access to the AA Flagship on AA domestic flights.
It showed in my AA business account (AA.com). It did not require registering and language seemed like it applies to everyone.
Barclay silver doesn't reward both the primary and authorized user with LPs spent from the AU's card. So not the same. Two people earning the same LP with the same spend is game changing.
I chatted with the businessAA rep and took screenshots to confirm the promo and I do see it in my business account even though I had the same issue when clicking thru on the app. I think you're good. It's probably taking longer because it's being done manually as this is very outside the box.
As a 25+ years chairman preferred (USAir), consigiere key member and now a measly executive platinum, I only care for the lounge access. We pay for our 2-3 European business class (~140,000 points), and with the regular credit card spending and 20,00 bonus points, we land at 230-240k points per year. The only thing that sucks is the “rewards”. They are meaningless crap for for one who travels a lot. It is not until you hit 250k points that they are anything meaningful..
Thanks for the head up on this! This is a great perk. Plan to use this strategy so my wife and I both can maintain our status.
HI Ben,
I made Platinum Pro for 2026 through a combination of spending on the Barclays MC and travel (actually overdid it and almost made it to EP). When I read this article, I got excited for the possibilities, so I applied and received the Citi Business MC in Feb 2026 and have been placing all spending on my wife's MC. I know the literature says 8-10 weeks to see the LPs for the Primary (me), but I get anxious about how honestly AA is executing this promotion. Did your Double-Dip Strategy work out? And did it really take 8-10 weeks before you saw the LPs hit your primary account?
I see this promotion to earn points on authorized users accounts in my AA app. However, when I click the link, it takes me to a non-functioning page at exploreamerican.com (“That page seems to have taken flight.”)
Anyone else experience this issue and have a work-around to actually get registered?
Same. I called AA about it, they forwarded me to the help desk who proceeded to put me on hold and then hang up on me. Clearly they have no idea what's going on with this promotion. I have also been waiting 4 weeks since my AU's statement closed and the LPs havent posted. Yes, I know the T&Cs say 8-10 weeks, but usually nothing actually takes that long with AA, and the fact that the phone reps seem clueless about this promotion makes me nervous.
I chatted with the businessAA rep and took screenshots to confirm the promo and I do see it in my business account even though I had the same issue when clicking thru on the app. I think you're good. It's probably taking longer because it's being done manually as this is very outside the box.
Dang that's a nice play on loyalty points with the promo that allows the double dipping to mentioned. Gets me thinking to do that for myself and my Player 2!
You failed to mention that the Barclay Silver card - gives you 15K LP total in steps of $20K/20K/10K spend. And since the Citi Exec card gives bonus based on LP earned (not spend) spending $50K on Barclay Silver - you get the 15K LP plus the 10K from Citi Exec. Go to 90K LP by any method give you the extra 10K LP,
Exactly. And, if a person books *certain* hotels with the Executive card via the AA hotel portal, one earns 1 LP on the card but as much as 10 LPs via the portal (plus north of 14x award points). Yes, one will forego the almighty Hyatt booking. But, what's the higher priority? Also, let's not forget the Shopping Portal during Mother's Day Week -- watch for bonuses.
Barclay silver doesn't reward both the primary and authorized user with LPs spent from the AU's card. So not the same. Two people earning the same LP with the same spend is game changing.
Is oneworld Emerald worth $125,000 in locked spending on AA? The major benefit is getting First Class lounges when flying Business or Economy, and free seat selection on OW airlines. Ignoring how many CC sign-up bonuses you can get with that much spend, just straight intelligently maximizing existing CC point categories could get you hundreds of thousands to millions of CC points, enough to redeem thru a CC travel portal for the cash value of multiple business class or first class flights + any associated seat selection costs. And that's the lowest possible use case.
I think that it’s worth it for the sole reason that for now there is no other way to earn AA points. I have personally over the years got some good redemptions from AA. Much better than delta or United
Using various techniques, Ben's actual spending might only be $75k. Compared to a 2X transferable points card, he'd be losing 75k points per year. What are 75k points worth to *him*? If it's 2cpp, then his opportunity cost is $1500. Given the amount of travel *he* does, is access to first class check-in and first class lounges worth $1500 to *him*? It seems it is worth it to Ben. And, maybe it's worth it to someone with a super-abundance of points.
You forget that he's also spending $1,200 for 2 years of the exec card, so is his total spend is $2,700. Add the fees for the other card, and it's probably closer to $3,000 for 2 years of One World Emerald.
Is it worth to him? If enough people are convinced to open cards using his commissioned links because of this post, absolutely yes!!
And, there is a practical limit to the number of new cards/SUBs one can get in a year. What does one do beyond that? I've hit the end of the line at Amex and I don't get NLL offers. Chase has capped Ink cards to four per year. Wanting simplicity, I'm not going to chase a gaggle of different airline cards.
Ben, use your Executive card for a hotel booking via AA hotels early in the qualification year. A two-night stay at the LAX Hilton is $467 (including tax). It will earn 467 LPs from the card and 9700 LPs from the portal for a total of 10167 LPs (that's nearly 22X LPs). It will earn roughly 14000 award points (that's nearly 30X award points). Who cares about foregoing a Hyatt stay?
I’m considering opening the business version of the card and using it for income tax payment as I’d easily get to Platinum Pro that way. I figured, I have to spend that money anyway, an extra ~2% of fees for status and points is worth it, when I’d otherwise get nothing…
If you would have completed the BA status match you would have been OWE till
4/26. This OWE would have given you access to the AA Flagship on AA domestic flights.
Same for me
@Ben where do you see this promotion show up - in AA or in Citi?
It showed in my AA business account (AA.com). It did not require registering and language seemed like it applies to everyone.
As a 25+ years chairman preferred (USAir), consigiere key member and now a measly executive platinum, I only care for the lounge access. We pay for our 2-3 European business class (~140,000 points), and with the regular credit card spending and 20,00 bonus points, we land at 230-240k points per year. The only thing that sucks is the “rewards”. They are meaningless crap for for one who travels a lot. It is not until you hit 250k points that they are anything meaningful..
Thanks for the head up on this! This is a great perk. Plan to use this strategy so my wife and I both can maintain our status.
HI Ben,
I made Platinum Pro for 2026 through a combination of spending on the Barclays MC and travel (actually overdid it and almost made it to EP). When I read this article, I got excited for the possibilities, so I applied and received the Citi Business MC in Feb 2026 and have been placing all spending on my wife's MC. I know the literature says 8-10 weeks to see the LPs for the Primary (me), but I get anxious about how honestly AA is executing this promotion. Did your Double-Dip Strategy work out? And did it really take 8-10 weeks before you saw the LPs hit your primary account?