Nowadays American AAdvantage has the Loyalty Points system for status qualification. Your elite status is exclusively based on how many Loyalty Points you rack up. Not only can you earn Loyalty Points through flying, but you can also earn them through all kinds of other activities, from using shopping portals to credit card spending.
In this post I wanted to cover the details of the Loyalty Point Rewards benefits for 2023, which are earned by passing certain Loyalty Points thresholds over the course of the membership year. This is a large part of the value proposition of going for elite status with the AAdvantage program.
In this post:
What are American Loyalty Point Rewards?
With the AAdvantage program, you earn status exclusively based on how many Loyalty Points you rack up (they reset with each membership year). Here are the requirements for the 2023 program year:
- AAdvantage Gold status requires 40,000 Loyalty Points
- AAdvantage Platinum status requires 75,000 Loyalty Points
- AAdvantage Platinum Pro status requires 125,000 Loyalty Points
- AAdvantage Executive Platinum status requires 200,000 Loyalty Points
Since you can earn Loyalty Points through credit card spending and other partner activity, you could in theory earn all published AAdvantage elite tiers without stepping foot on a plane (though that wouldn’t make a whole lot of sense).
Separate from earning elite status, American also has Loyalty Point Rewards, which offer further valuable benefits at a variety of thresholds. These perks range from bonus miles, to mileage rebates, to lounge memberships, to systemwide upgrades.
American’s 2023 Loyalty Point Rewards
For the 2023 program year, American AAdvantage is offering 11 tiers of Loyalty Points Rewards. You can even start unlocking these before you qualify for status. To start, here are the 11 Loyalty Points thresholds at which you receive further rewards:
- 15,000 Loyalty Points
- 60,000 Loyalty Points
- 100,000 Loyalty Points
- 175,000 Loyalty Points
- 250,000 Loyalty Points
- 400,000 Loyalty Points
- 550,000 Loyalty Points
- 750,000 Loyalty Points
- 1,000,000 Loyalty Points
- 3,000,000 Loyalty Points
- 5,000,000 Loyalty Points
A few things to note when it comes to selecting Loyalty Points Rewards:
- You no longer receive a selection when you qualify for Platinum Pro or Executive Platinum, but rather valuable Loyalty Point Rewards are earned at thresholds that are 50,000 Loyalty Points above what’s required for those tiers (namely 175,000 and 250,000 Loyalty Points)
- At some thresholds you’ll just receive specific benefits, while at other thresholds you can make a selection, or even make multiple selections
- There’s no segment requirement to unlock Loyalty Point Rewards, so you can earn these even if you never step foot on an American Airlines flight
- The AAdvantage program year goes from the beginning of March until the end of February of the following year; so for 2023, Loyalty Point Rewards qualification would be based on your activity between March 1, 2023, and February 29, 2024
- Once you qualify for Loyalty Point Rewards, you’ll have until March 31, 2024, to make your selection; if you qualify it could make sense to wait, since it gives you more flexibility, and potentially more time to redeem your rewards (for example, systemwide upgrades are valid for a year from when they’re issued)
With that out of the way, what are the Loyalty Points Rewards options at each threshold, and which should you select? Let’s go over all the details.
Loyalty Point Rewards at 15,000 Loyalty Points
When earning 15,000 Loyalty Points, you receive Group 5 boarding for the membership year, and can select one of the following:
- Priority check-in, security, and Group 4 boarding for one trip
- Five preferred seat coupons
I don’t think there’s an obvious choice as to which of those two options is better. Keep in mind that preferred seats are not Main Cabin Extra seats (which feature extra legroom), but rather are just regular economy seats that are considered premium (toward the front of the cabin, aisles and windows, etc.).
Loyalty Point Rewards at 60,000 Loyalty Points
When earning 60,000 Loyalty Points, you receive:
- Avis Preferred status
- A 20% Loyalty Points bonus on spending with AAVacations, AAHotels, AAdvantage eShopping, AAdvantage Dining, and SimplyMiles
As you can see, there’s no selection here. I’d say this threshold is of fairly limited value. Avis entry level elite status is better than nothing, but not much more than that. A 20% bonus of Loyalty Points for some online activity could be helpful if you earn lots of Loyalty Points through non-flying means.
Loyalty Point Rewards at 100,000 Loyalty Points
When earning 100,000 Loyalty Points, you receive:
- Avis President’s Club status
- A 30% Loyalty Points bonus on spending with AAVacations, AAHotels, AAdvantage eShopping, AAdvantage Dining, and SimplyMiles
As you can see, there’s no selection here. On the plus side, Avis President’s Circle status at least offers a bit more value than the entry level status. A 30% bonus of Loyalty Points for some online activity could be helpful if you earn lots of Loyalty Points that way.
Loyalty Point Rewards at 175,000 Loyalty Points
When earning 175,000 Loyalty Points, you can choose one of the following:
- Two systemwide upgrades
- 20,000 bonus miles, or 25,000 bonus miles for AAdvantage credit card members
- Six Admirals Club day passes
- A $200 trip credit, or $250 for AAdvantage credit card members
- A $250 donation to a partner charity
- A 15% AAdvantage award rebate
- The ability to gift AAdvantage Gold status to two people
This is where Loyalty Point Rewards start to get valuable. Personally I think the two systemwide upgrades are the best value here, though selecting 25,000 AAdvantage bonus miles could be a good option as well, if you don’t have much luck with systemwide upgrades.
Loyalty Point Rewards at 250,000 Loyalty Points
When earning 250,000 Loyalty Points, you can choose two of the following:
- Two systemwide upgrades
- 20,000 bonus miles, or 30,000 bonus miles for AAdvantage credit card members
- Six Admirals Club day passes
- An Admirals Club membership (this requires both choices)
- A $200 trip credit, or $250 for AAdvantage credit card members
- A $250 donation to a partner charity
- The ability to gift AAdvantage Gold status to two people
- A selection of Bang & Olufsen products (this requires both choices)
- A Flagship Lounge single visit pass, or two passes for AAdvantage credit card members
For many AAdvantage members, this will be the most valuable Loyalty Point Rewards tier, since it’s attainable and rewarding. Personally I think the two systemwide upgrades are the best value here, though selecting 30,000 AAdvantage bonus miles could be a good option as well, if you don’t have much luck with systemwide upgrades.
Loyalty Point Rewards at 400,000, 550,000, and 750,000 Loyalty Points
When earning 400,000, 550,000, or 750,000 Loyalty Points, you can choose two of the following at each threshold:
- One systemwide upgrades
- 25,000 bonus miles
- An Admirals Club membership (this requires both choices)
- A $200 trip credit, or $250 for AAdvantage credit card members
- The ability to gift AAdvantage Platinum status
- A selection of Bang & Olufsen products (this requires both choices)
- Two Flagship Lounge single visit passes
- One Flagship First Dining visit pass
It’s interesting how for these three thresholds, the relative value of the options changes. At these thresholds, I tend to think that for many, selecting the bonus miles could be a better value than selecting the single systemwide upgrade.
Loyalty Point Rewards at 1,000,000 Loyalty Points
When earning 1,000,000 Loyalty Points, you can choose one of the following:
- Four systemwide upgrades
- The ability to gift AAdvantage Platinum Pro status
- A mileage rebate of 100,000 AAdvantage miles
You can’t go wrong with any of the options here. Four systemwide upgrades could be quite valuable, being able to gift Platinum Pro to someone (with oneworld Emerald status) is great, and a mileage rebate of 100,000 miles is also excellent.
Loyalty Point Rewards at 3,000,000 Loyalty Points
When earning 3,000,000 Loyalty Points, you can choose one of the following:
- Six systemwide upgrades
- The ability to gift AAdvantage Executive Platinum status
- A mileage rebate of 300,000 AAdvantage miles
Okay, I can’t imagine many people will reach this threshold, but once again, all the options could be valuable. It all depends on your travel patterns.
Loyalty Point Rewards at 5,000,000 Loyalty Points
When earning 5,000,000 Loyalty Points, you can choose one of the following:
- 10 systemwide upgrades
- The ability to gift AAdvantage Executive Platinum status
- A mileage rebate of 500,000 AAdvantage miles
I imagine the people reaching this threshold will be the single digits, if that. The relative value of systemwide upgrades and the mileage rebate is better here compared to the tier at three million Loyalty Points.
My take on American’s Loyalty Points Rewards
Everyone will value these Loyalty Point Rewards benefits differently based on their travel patterns and preferences, though I’ll share my broad take on which options make sense:
- Personally I value American AAdvantage miles at 1.5 cents each, so to me the bonus miles are the option to beat; if you rack up 250,000 Loyalty Points in a year and have a co-branded American credit card, you’ll essentially have the option of 85,000 AAdvantage bonus miles, six systemwide upgrades, or some combination thereof
- I find the inconsistency of the valuation of awards at each tier to be odd; for example, at some thresholds you can choose between 25,000 bonus miles or one systemwide upgrade, while at other thresholds you can choose between 25,000 bonus miles and two systemwide upgrades
- Many people may like the systemwide upgrades, but personally I don’t value them that much; American just doesn’t make enough confirmable upgrade space available, and I’d rather get AAdvantage bonus miles I can redeem however I’d like for travel on superior partner airlines
Bottom line
American AAdvantage offers the Loyalty Points Rewards program, whereby members can receive rewards for passing certain thresholds.
Unfortunately we’re increasingly seeing these rewards no longer tied to earning Platinum Pro and Executive Platinum, and you need 50,000 Loyalty Points above those elite tiers to select the corresponding rewards. This program lets you select everything from systemwide upgrades to bonus miles, and more.
What do you make of American’s Loyalty Point Rewards? Which do you plan on selecting?
I am outraged that AA is not giving its perks upon receipt of EP status but at 50,000 more loyalty points! This is a slap in the face of those of us who have remained loyal and consistently travelled with them. I’m surprised more people aren’t upset about this
I hear you, bit it may actually be advantageous to actual flyers vs. those earning status on company spend/reimbursed credit cards. I'd rather have LESS SWU's in circulation than more of them. Easier to clear.
Beware of booking with AAHotels at the beginning of the status year. I just completed a stay where I should have earned 29,000 loyalty points towards 2023 status, because my check-out date was March 2. The website says they credit the points upon check-out, meaning that the points should have been posted with a date of March 2 (check-out), but they erroneously posted them as check-in date (Feb 27), so all the points went to...
Beware of booking with AAHotels at the beginning of the status year. I just completed a stay where I should have earned 29,000 loyalty points towards 2023 status, because my check-out date was March 2. The website says they credit the points upon check-out, meaning that the points should have been posted with a date of March 2 (check-out), but they erroneously posted them as check-in date (Feb 27), so all the points went to LAST year, which I did not need. I planned this very carefully based on what the website said about posting time, and spent more $ than I could have had I booked without AAHotels. American refuses to correct this, so I am basically screwed with the $ I spent not counting towards 2023 LP which it should have. I am so frustrated with American not holding up their end of the deal and not giving a D$&% about their EXP customers.
Next time book 2 reservations if the stay overlaps with a new earning year. To be honest with you, this was a fairly an obvious thing to foresee. The T&C's even state as much, along with the fact that they can take upwards of 3 weeks to post. The AA Partners are ridiculously unfair and have zilch for Customer Service. I've had (and continue to have) problems with Simply Miles, AA Eshopping, AA Dining, FTD,...
Next time book 2 reservations if the stay overlaps with a new earning year. To be honest with you, this was a fairly an obvious thing to foresee. The T&C's even state as much, along with the fact that they can take upwards of 3 weeks to post. The AA Partners are ridiculously unfair and have zilch for Customer Service. I've had (and continue to have) problems with Simply Miles, AA Eshopping, AA Dining, FTD, and AA Hotels. Shell IS THE ONLY AA PARTNER that is straightforward and easy to use. I took a RT flight in Biz to Munich Feb 22nd returning Merch 1st. The 1st segment posted to the 2022 year, the return to 2023.
At 60,000 Avis Preferred PLUS (Not Avis Preferred) status is granted.
BenjaminGuttery, if a person's revenue with AA is solely airfare, that person might be left scratching one's head. If you're in this situation, your position is understandable. However, if a person's revenue with AA includes hotels, portal shopping, etc., then the math plays out very differently. Consider the following.
A person is an EP and spends (only) $5500 on flights, from which the person earns 60,500 Base Points and Loyalty Points. The person has triggered...
BenjaminGuttery, if a person's revenue with AA is solely airfare, that person might be left scratching one's head. If you're in this situation, your position is understandable. However, if a person's revenue with AA includes hotels, portal shopping, etc., then the math plays out very differently. Consider the following.
A person is an EP and spends (only) $5500 on flights, from which the person earns 60,500 Base Points and Loyalty Points. The person has triggered the 20% LP bonus for certain revenue channels.
Next, the person books X nights via AAHotels and receives 34,000 Base Miles . . . and (with the 20% bonus) 40,800 LPs. The LP bonus accelerates the person's re-qualification for EP.
The person is now at 101,300 LPs for the year. The person has triggered the 30% LP bonus for certain revenue channels.
Next, the person maintains a holiday season shopping wish list and WAITS for her/his preferred store to go 15X on AAdvantage eShopping and spends $7700. The person earns 115,500 Base Miles . . . and (with the 30% bonus) 150,150 LPs. The person is now at 251,450 LPs and has re-qualified for EP and has attained two key LP benefit levels (175k and 250k).
In this scenario, the person earned 60.5k award points from flying, 34k award points from hotels, and 115.5k award points from shopping. 210k award points total. BUT, let's say the person elects "bonus points" for the 175k-level and 250k-level LP Awards. For the 175k level, 25k award points. For the 250k level, two choices at 30k award points each for 60k. That's 85k award points from LP Award choices. Adding those to the 210k from early brings the person to 295k award points (aka miles).
The 20/30% LP bonuses technically only give a person LPs. But, those extra LPs can trigger extra LP Awards . . . which can be award points. So, there's an indirect award point bonus. In the example, the $7700 holiday shopping spree gave 115.5k award miles . . . and triggered two LP Awards worth 85k award miles . . . totaling a hair over 200k award miles. That's effectively 26X on holiday shopping.
In the end, a person who directs revenue to AA's various channels can attain tier status at an accelerated rate and can come away with substantially more award points ("miles") than a person who spends the *same* total dollar amount with AA but solely on flights. I hope this analysis helps. Best of luck.
Hi Lee, I understand what your spelling out. But I'm not sure how any of what you said applies to my initial comments about how most of the Choice Rewards don't really apply to or benefit existing AADVANTAGE members, especially ones in higher tiers or those paying for FC anyways.
Understood.
First, I have long asked what benefits tier status provides that a premium cabin ticket does not. I'm in this boat. Long haul F paid or points. A person isn't looking for an upgrade. A person already has free bags, priority check-in, security, and boarding. Etc.
As I'm in this boat, there are a few benefits under this system that appeal to me. LPs can accelerate award point earnings on the shopping portal. I'll...
Understood.
First, I have long asked what benefits tier status provides that a premium cabin ticket does not. I'm in this boat. Long haul F paid or points. A person isn't looking for an upgrade. A person already has free bags, priority check-in, security, and boarding. Etc.
As I'm in this boat, there are a few benefits under this system that appeal to me. LPs can accelerate award point earnings on the shopping portal. I'll save the math. Alternatively, LPs afford gifting of PP or EP to someone. I gifted EP to a niece and she had access to first class lounges when abroad.
The safe thing to say is that the value of the benefits is subjective to the individual. For you, perhaps there's no value. For me, there is.
Sorry for the off-target response earlier.
I totally agree with what you said and can see how it benefits various members at various levels, depending on their particular patterns. I'm in a similar boat as you, and I guess that's why I'm questioning some of the lower tier thresholds (Group 5 Boarding, a few Seat Tickets, etc.) Not sure how that benefits anyone but brand new people flying 2-3 year with AA. No need to apologize, I appreciate learning about ways...
I totally agree with what you said and can see how it benefits various members at various levels, depending on their particular patterns. I'm in a similar boat as you, and I guess that's why I'm questioning some of the lower tier thresholds (Group 5 Boarding, a few Seat Tickets, etc.) Not sure how that benefits anyone but brand new people flying 2-3 year with AA. No need to apologize, I appreciate learning about ways to earn more/faster and new ways of looking at status. Thank You again Lee for the detailed responses.
Benjamin, I think your comment about the low level rewards benefitting new members is exactly why they exist: to induce loyalty. While none of us who already hold status (EXP in my case) get anything out of that, a slightly better flying experience might be enough to cause those without status to choose AA over other carriers when fares are similar.
Lucky, there's some limiting "fine print" in AA's terms and conditions (as well as its notices) about unlocking the 20% Loyalty Points bonus at 60K and the 30% at 100K. Each bonus applies for ONLY SIX MONTHS following the attainment of the triggering threshold. I think AA does not want this to extend (too far) into a subsequent qualifying year. It would seem to make sense if AA reworded it to extend to the end...
Lucky, there's some limiting "fine print" in AA's terms and conditions (as well as its notices) about unlocking the 20% Loyalty Points bonus at 60K and the 30% at 100K. Each bonus applies for ONLY SIX MONTHS following the attainment of the triggering threshold. I think AA does not want this to extend (too far) into a subsequent qualifying year. It would seem to make sense if AA reworded it to extend to the end of the current qualification year.
on spending with AAVacations, AAHotels, AAdvantage eShopping, AAdvantage Dining, and SimplyMiles at 60
WOW. That is crazy. Thank You for finding that info too. So basically if you hit those levels early in the year (March, April, May) Your "Bonus" will time out August/September/October. WELL before Holiday/Christmas/New Year spending. That stinks. AADVANTAGE needs to rethink this policy and extend it through the rest of the annual earning period. They also must add a "counter" to their website/app. We can't just trust that AA (and most of all their...
WOW. That is crazy. Thank You for finding that info too. So basically if you hit those levels early in the year (March, April, May) Your "Bonus" will time out August/September/October. WELL before Holiday/Christmas/New Year spending. That stinks. AADVANTAGE needs to rethink this policy and extend it through the rest of the annual earning period. They also must add a "counter" to their website/app. We can't just trust that AA (and most of all their shady partners) to give us the correct bonus LP's. I have enough issues with SimplyMiles and AAdvantave eShopping as it is ATM!
Two questions:
• Does RocketMiles qualify for the 20%/30% LP bonus?
• Do these bonus miles count as additional LPs?
RocketMiles earn BASE POINTS, which count towards LOYALTY POINTS. And, while RocketMiles earned count towards Loyalty Point totals and triggering the 20/30 percent Loyalty Point bonuses, RocketMiles themselves will not receive the 20/30 percent bonus. Only AAHotels (and the other specified "partners") will receive the 20/30 percent bonus.
Thanks for this summary of American's Loyalty Points Rewards. From my perspective your analysis of the rewards is spot on. I used to cherish systemwide upgrades as they were available on a more reliable basis for transcontinental and even international flights and were therefore very valuable. Over the last year it has become virtually impossible to find any systemwide upgrade availability, let alone on longer flights.
Is anyone aware of a resource, app or website...
Thanks for this summary of American's Loyalty Points Rewards. From my perspective your analysis of the rewards is spot on. I used to cherish systemwide upgrades as they were available on a more reliable basis for transcontinental and even international flights and were therefore very valuable. Over the last year it has become virtually impossible to find any systemwide upgrade availability, let alone on longer flights.
Is anyone aware of a resource, app or website who can help us track American's systemwide upgrade availability?
American only seems to show their availability when you search for available flights. I'm not yet aware of a link on AA's website that shows systemwide upgrade availability, or regular upgrade availability for that matter. Having those resources would be incredibly valuable and increase my interest in gaining these awards.
Given how difficult it has become to find systemwide upgrades, I am more often choosing mileage awards instead, my like OMAT is doing. At least I can find uses for those miles with upgrades or mileage tickets, although those too are becoming less valuable and harder to find.
I used to cherish my Executive Platinum status on American and worked diligently to achieve it each year; however my eagerness to do so is rapidly diminishing as American continues to make awards harder and harder to utlitize.
"Is anyone aware of a resource, app or website who can help us track American's systemwide upgrade availability?"
Expert Flyer's paid service allows you to search for upgrade availability.
Lucky do you know what are the B&O products that can be selected?
So in 2022 I finally earned EP after being PP for the last 5 years. I'm not sure I understand how some of these "Rewards" pertain to people that already have status or cards with AA. Like, I already get Priority Boardings + Security, I already have Admirals Club membership with one of my CC's, and I can already choose better seats with my earned status. Seems like a throwaway choice is on most levels....
So in 2022 I finally earned EP after being PP for the last 5 years. I'm not sure I understand how some of these "Rewards" pertain to people that already have status or cards with AA. Like, I already get Priority Boardings + Security, I already have Admirals Club membership with one of my CC's, and I can already choose better seats with my earned status. Seems like a throwaway choice is on most levels. They should have added SOMETHING for people already on the wheel and securing status for the following year. 1,000 LP's, 5% boost on CC miles earnings, "pick a boost that matters to you", literally ANYTHING that's relevant to current members. On a side note, ticket prices are still incredibly high, 2 weeks out and AA wants 2K for domestic first from DFW-NYC. INSANE.
Insanity is living in DFW. Move out of that sh*thole.
DFW >> NYC any day of the week
DFW is great. Have fun living in the coast though!
Aren't you tempted to say DFW is a dumpster fire?
Nope Lee. Because it isn't. What amazing place is it that You live in?