Many travel loyalty programs offer the ability to earn lifetime elite status. Ordinarily elite status has to be earned on an annual basis, so it sure is nice to be able to not worry about requalifying for status anymore.
I’ve written in the past about lifetime hotel elite status, including with Hilton Honors, Marriott Bonvoy, and World of Hyatt. Now I’m taking a look at the lifetime status tiers offered by major airlines in the United States.
I’ve written about Alaska Mileage Plan lifetime status, Delta SkyMiles lifetime status, and United MileagePlus lifetime status, so now let’s take a look at American AAdvantage lifetime status. If you ask me, American offers the weakest lifetime elite program of the “big three” carriers in the United States (by far).
In this post:
How to earn American AAdvantage lifetime status
American AAdvantage’s million miler program is weak. While Delta and United let you earn lifetime top-tier elite status, American only lets you earn the two entry level status tiers with the million miler program. I just don’t see the program as being much of an incentive to be loyal to American Airlines in the long run.
Qualifying for American’s lifetime elite status is based on the distance of flights for travel on American marketed flights, plus the base miles earned for travel on eligible partner marketed flights. This means that class of service bonuses, promotional miles, miles earned through credit cards, etc., all don’t count toward million miler status.
Now let’s go over American’s million miler elite thresholds.
Lifetime American AAdvantage Gold status (one million miler)
Those who earn one million miler status with American Airlines receive AAdvantage Gold status for life, plus 35,000 bonus AAdvantage miles. Gold is American AAdvantage’s entry-level elite status.
Lifetime American AAdvantage Platinum status (two million miler)
Those who earn two million miler status with American Airlines receive AAdvantage Platinum status for life, plus four systemwide upgrades, which can be used to upgrade any American Airlines flight. Platinum is American AAdvantage’s lower-mid-tier status.
Rewards for further American AAdvantage million miler thresholds
While AAdvantage Platinum status is the highest lifetime elite status that you can earn, you do receive four additional one-way systemwide upgrades for each further million miler threshold you cross, with no limits.
American AAdvantage lifetime status FAQs
While the above covers the basics of American’s million miler program, let me answer some of the questions people may have about the program.
Can you earn lifetime American status with credit card spending?
Nowadays credit card spending doesn’t contribute in any way toward million miler status with American. Yes, you can earn Loyalty Points with AAdvantage credit cards, but lifetime status is now earned purely via “butt-in-seat” miles flown.
How can you check your American million miler status progress?
You can check your progress toward million miler status directly on American Airlines’ website. Just log into your AAdvantage account, go to the “Your Activity” section, and at the top right you’ll see your million miler balance listed.
What counts toward American million miler status?
Nowadays only flight distance on American operated flights, plus the base miles earned for travel on eligible partner marketed flights, count toward AAdvantage million miler status.
Do American million miler miles expire?
Miles toward million miler status will continue to accrue over the lifetime of your account. Unlike Loyalty Points, they don’t reset each year.
Also keep in mind that miles toward million miler status are completely separate from redeemable miles, as you can’t use million miler miles toward anything. It’s simply a tally of how many total miles you’ve flown over the years on eligible flights.
What are the benefits of AAdvantage Gold & Platinum status?
AAdvantage Gold is American’s entry level elite status, and perks include the following:
- A free checked bag
- A 40% mileage bonus
- Main Cabin Extra seats for free 24 hours before departure
- Complimentary upgrades within North America on a space available basis, up to 24 hours in advance
AAdvantage Platinum is American’s next higher elite level, and perks include the following:
- Two free checked bag
- A 60% mileage bonus
- Main Cabin Extra seats at the time of booking
- oneworld Sapphire status, which includes lounge access on international itineraries
- Complimentary upgrades within North America on a space available basis, up to 48 hours in advance
American’s million miler program is uncompetitive
American’s million miler program is significantly less rewarding than those of Delta and United, so let me first provide a bit of background.
Up until 2011, American counted all AAdvantage miles earned toward million miler status. In other words, if you earned two million miles with credit cards, you’d get AAdvantage Platinum status for life. At the time that was extremely lucrative, especially since Platinum status was more valuable than it is now. An American loyalist could easily earn two million miler status with just a few years of loyalty.
Then the rules changed in 2011, and only “butt-in-seat” miles started counting toward lifetime status, so it got much more difficult to earn. The problem is, the rewards didn’t improve for those earning lifetime status “the hard way.”
I’ve long said that I think it’s time American overhaul its million miler program, because it’s so much worse than what’s offered by Delta and United:
- Delta is improving its million miler program, as you’ll even be able to invitation-only Delta 360 status for life, if you’re loyal enough
- United calculates miles toward million miler status roughly in the same way as American, except you can earn Global Services status for life, and you can even nominate a companion for your status as well
I get the challenge from American’s perspective. The airline has some members with heavily inflated million miler totals, given that back in the day all miles counted. There are definitely some 10 million milers out there, who haven’t actually flown American all that much.
What do I think American should do? At an absolute minimum:
- Honor the million miler tiers that everyone has currently been issued
- Add lifetime Platinum Pro and Executive Platinum status at three million miler and four million miler, calculated using the new system (based on how much you’ve flown, rather than how many miles you’ve earned)
I think that should be the absolute minimum. It sure would be awesome if American offered lifetime Concierge Key status or lifetime status for a companion (like United), but I wouldn’t hold my breath.
Bottom line
American Airlines’ million miler program offers elite status for life. You can earn AAdvantage Gold or Platinum status after passing one or two million lifetime miles, respectively. After that, you earn at most four systemwide upgrades for each additional million mile threshold crossed.
American’s million miler program is much weaker than what’s offered by Delta and United, and it’s not really something to consider when deciding whether to be loyal or not. I wish American would overhaul its lifetime status program, and make it a bit more competitive.
What do you make of American Airlines’ million miler program? How would you like to see it improved?
Just reading reviews of AA membership status. Have been using citi card thinking there is an advantage. Really...nothing helpful in regard to future flights/perks. Lifetime status is locked in at this point...so looking around. Paying $79 for a day-pass to Admirals Club made me chuckle just a bit.
I believe your suggestions are valid it is very difficult to get to 3 million and 4 million milestones
The platinum perk for life was great until they added another tier the pro and at that point should have a 3 million mark for life pro
Does award travel count for million miler status? AA reps do not know
When US Air took over AA, my US Air miles were supposed to be added to my AA miles, but they failed to do it.
Same here. Should be at Platinum Life status.
I am very disappointed in the lack of benefits that American Airlines offers for Million Milers. There seems to be no advantage to flying American rather than choosing another airline.
I have been a loyal customer of American Airlines since my very first flight at 5 years of age. I am now 54 years old. I broke off for a time in 2005 and changed to Continental because I live in Cleveland, which was great, but then United bought them. Even though I stayed with United for a few more years, they were absolutely terrible and I switched back to American. For the last couple...
I have been a loyal customer of American Airlines since my very first flight at 5 years of age. I am now 54 years old. I broke off for a time in 2005 and changed to Continental because I live in Cleveland, which was great, but then United bought them. Even though I stayed with United for a few more years, they were absolutely terrible and I switched back to American. For the last couple years I have enjoyed Executive Platinum status, and am upgraded 80% of the time. I am also 2000 miles away from my Million Miler, and the thought that there is no way I'll get close to 2 million before I retire, I am less than thrilled with the lifetime gold status and a few bonus miles I will get for being such a loyal customer 90% of my life, but I guess it is better than not having any lifetime status at all. They do need to step up their game with the program at a minimum.
I am hitting my million miler on my next flight. I have flown with AA for the last 22 years and only because they are the only airline that services my airport in Greenville NC. I have flown out of RDU when I get really upset with AA’s terrible service (consistent flight delays for every stupid reason under the sun). But who wants to fly back from the west coast and then drive almost two...
I am hitting my million miler on my next flight. I have flown with AA for the last 22 years and only because they are the only airline that services my airport in Greenville NC. I have flown out of RDU when I get really upset with AA’s terrible service (consistent flight delays for every stupid reason under the sun). But who wants to fly back from the west coast and then drive almost two hrs to get home. AA’s loyalty program is the worse. The Admiral Club is also a joke. Food is terrible and the choices of well liquor is so bad. I am sure hitting a million miles will be a bigger disappointment.
I have been dedicated to AA for ~ 30 years and I was pleased to receive platinum status for l life. Then AA added platinum pro so essentially my status was downgraded. I should have been loyal to United since now that I have passed 4M miles had they been in United I would be 1K for life. Unfortunately AA is a poor airline to be loyal toward since they are not loyal back.
American airline loyalty program has become much weaker after I became a million miler over a decade ago. When I look back the perks were a lot better. Now it’s so weak and just the same as a silver status as on United. I rarely fly them anymore.
I agree that American should have a way to achieve EXP for life (I got PLT for life at 3M), but they used to count all award miles toward that amount. I've actually only flown about 1.25M miles on AA but my MM balance is 3,853,033. I'll probably never make to 4M at this point.
I totally agree the Advantage multi million lifetime award capped at Platinum is a disgrace and I have moved to United as a result. With Il almost 5 million on American I rarely fly American anymore. It’s a shame
But do award tickets not count for butt in seat miles? Just flew from Chicago to Cartagena on a redemption and got 0 million miler miles from it. Was not expecting that!
Correct. It's your butt in a PAID seat. Award travel does not count!
My wife and I have the million mile status - just Gold - and find it somewhat useful because we still get to board early-ish (group 4) and get slightly better seating option choices. Thats for life and that something :-)
My commute is 337 miles. I would have to take 2968 of these flights to have... lifetime Gold? Hahahahahah I doubt AA will be in business by then.
AA's Million Miler program is useless. Horrible. Gold status doesn't help one bit at the airport - there are no perks that make it worth it.
Worse yet, even though you have lifetime gold, you have to re-earn that gold status before you can begin working on Platinum. I have the top 3 AA credit cards so I get all the same benefits 3x over but cannot begin to build on it until I've re-earned what I already have multiple times over. It's a shameless scam.
I just want free bags and priority check in in the us. It’s just a bus—seriously. Put your head down and fall asleep. That’s what I do on all domestic flights.
It’s a bus. lol.
I don't think AA is proud of this program. Your million miler status used to be shown on your AAdvantage home page right under your current reward mile balance. Now it's after a link that doesn't hype that you'll see it there.
AA should have just created a separate program rather than make such a big change to the existing lifetime program that would impact flyers differently. Call it Forever status or something like...
I don't think AA is proud of this program. Your million miler status used to be shown on your AAdvantage home page right under your current reward mile balance. Now it's after a link that doesn't hype that you'll see it there.
AA should have just created a separate program rather than make such a big change to the existing lifetime program that would impact flyers differently. Call it Forever status or something like that.
Not that I care that much. At the rate I'm going, I'll hit 1,000,000 butt-in-seat miles and earn lifetime status around the time my lifetime ends.
@Ben - have you tried reaching out to your contacts at AA for comment? It would be interesting to hear their thoughts on the subject , especially since the DL MM changes .
@Lee.. I wouldn't same COMPLELTELY worthless. My LT Platinum (earned a long time ago when CC spend and mileage runs worked) gets me free bags and free pick of seats. And infrequently I luck out and get a free upgrade.
Lifetime AA status is awful, and frankly, nearly impossible to get anyways. I'm an EXP and have been crazy loyal for the past 8 years and am between 300k-400k miles....like it will take me 24 years of the same loyalty to get "Lifetime Gold"??? Not worth it.
Let's just agree that AA lifetime status is worthless, not waste any time discussing it, and move on to the next topic.
I wish AA gave 500 miles minimum per segment like DL and UA. As someone who has historically done short, expensive East Coast hops , this has really hurt me in relation to Million Miler status. For context I was US Air Chairman and/or AA Exec Plat for over a decade yet still only have 750K miles for MM.
My travel is similar. Although I'm happier than I used to be because those short, pricey flights are reasonably rewarded under the new loyalty point system for status.
I remember seeing rumors a couple of years ago about AA considering revamping the MM program. I really wish that would come to fruition since it’s SO weak. Heck, I’d be fine if they’d give Platinum at 1M and Platinum Pro at 2M. I’m sure they have a way to dig into miles flown v. credit card miles prior to 2011; Citi should be able to provide that data to them in any case for...
I remember seeing rumors a couple of years ago about AA considering revamping the MM program. I really wish that would come to fruition since it’s SO weak. Heck, I’d be fine if they’d give Platinum at 1M and Platinum Pro at 2M. I’m sure they have a way to dig into miles flown v. credit card miles prior to 2011; Citi should be able to provide that data to them in any case for longer term cardholders. Maybe one of these days AA will decide to catch up to the competition in a positive way
Although very minor, it would be nice if AA revamped the upgrade pecking order to move 'lifetimers' to the top of their respective bracket, ahead of the annual qualifiers...
LOL, Your actually off Your rocker. No WAY will they do that, and as a CURRENT heavy flyer/spender with AA I would be LIVID. Status and earning is MUCH harder today than when You were racking up your MM's on the company dime, before inflation, and getting CC spend as well. Make it make sense! Bahahahahahahaha!!!!
@Jon,
I have often contemplated the issue relating to pre-2011 non flight miles counting to million miler status.
This is 2023. Yes, one could end up with a bunch of platinum pros whose non flight, pre 2011 earn is the source of qualification. But I do wonder what their travel patterns are now, when they are 12 years older. If they travel only seldom in their 2023 lives, being in the pool pf ex plats and platinum pros hardly matters.
I had spoken to someone in corporate at an AA event a number of years ago about this and they told me their IT doesn’t have a way to differentiate flown million miles earned before 2011 from credit card spend.
So if they introduced Platinum Pro / Executive platinum at 3/4 million miles there would either be a huge number of eligible members or they would have to change the program to only count...
I had spoken to someone in corporate at an AA event a number of years ago about this and they told me their IT doesn’t have a way to differentiate flown million miles earned before 2011 from credit card spend.
So if they introduced Platinum Pro / Executive platinum at 3/4 million miles there would either be a huge number of eligible members or they would have to change the program to only count million miles earned after 2011. That obviously would mean flown miles before 2011 wouldn’t count and would anger a lot of their most loyal.
Once American takes delivery of BOOM overture supersonic jets I’ll fly around 2.5M miles annually.
I made my 2 million late last year and used 2 of the SWUs to go JFK-DOH-JFK. It was nice...
That’s a lot of flying for 1.5 days of upgrade. Better than nothing I suppose.
I forgot, I also got a phone call from AA :)...