American Airlines has announced plans to improve its million miler lifetime elite status program, to make it more competitive with other airlines. It’s going to be much better, but still not great. This is part of a larger announcement about AAdvantage program changes for 2025.
In this post:
American adds lifetime Platinum Pro, Executive Platinum status
All of the “big three” US carriers have lifetime elite status program, and historically, American’s program has been by far the most underwhelming. Up until now you’ve received lifetime AAdvantage Gold status when passing one million miles, and lifetime AAdvantage Platinum status when passing two million miles.
As of March 1, 2025, there will be new lifetime status thresholds. Specifically, American will offer lifetime AAdvantage Platinum Pro status when passing four million miles, and lifetime AAdvantage Executive Platinum status when passing five million miles.
For those wondering what qualifies as miles for the purposes of lifetime elite 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.
One of the issues that American has had with its million miler program is just how lucrative it was back in the day. 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. The issue is that with so many people having such inflated million miler balances, it has presumably limited American’s desire to improve the situation.
This is a huge improvement, still not that great
I’m delighted to see that American has added higher AAdvantage lifetime elite status thresholds. This is a significant step in the right direction, but it’s worth noting that American’s program still isn’t to the level of what you’ll find with competitors.
With the Delta SkyMiles lifetime elite status program, you can earn lifetime SkyMiles Gold status with one million miles, lifetime SkyMiles Platinum status with two million miles, lifetime SkyMiles Diamond status with three million miles, and lifetime Delta 360 status with five million miles.
Meanwhile with the United MileagePlus lifetime elite status program, you can earn lifetime MileagePlus Gold status with one million miles, lifetime MileagePlus Platinum status with two million miles, lifetime MileagePlus Premier 1K status with three million miles, and lifetime Global Services status with four million miles. Best of all, you can even nominate a companion to share the same status that you have in a particular year.
So while American’s new program is much improved, it’s still a far cry from what Delta and United offer, both in terms of the thresholds, the ability to earn invitation-only status, and in the event of United, being able to gift status to a companion.
I suspect the decision to not be as generous comes down to all the people who have millions of grandfathered lifetime miles from the old policy.
Bottom line
American AAdvantage is improving its lifetime elite status program. As of 2025, it’ll be possible to unlock AAdvantage Platinum Pro status for life when passing three million miles, and to unlock AAdvantage Executive Platinum status for life when passing five million miles. This is awesome, though still a lackluster program compared to Delta SkyMiles and United MileagePlus.
What do you make of American’s million miler lifetime elite status changes?
All of you bragging about millions and millions of miles packed in a metal tube with hundreds of strangers being served substandard food by surly flight attendants. This is something to be sorry about and hide from everyone.
Seems short-sighted from AA. I understand it's probably impossible for them to separate out butt-in-seat miles for legacy pax. That said, this really de-motivates younger customers from staying loyal, knowing these new numbers are very difficult (if not impossible) to hit during our lifetimes. Meanwhile, those who are old enough to have all past activity count get rewarded/knock us further down the upgrade list. Just more motivation to become a free agent and book away...
Seems short-sighted from AA. I understand it's probably impossible for them to separate out butt-in-seat miles for legacy pax. That said, this really de-motivates younger customers from staying loyal, knowing these new numbers are very difficult (if not impossible) to hit during our lifetimes. Meanwhile, those who are old enough to have all past activity count get rewarded/knock us further down the upgrade list. Just more motivation to become a free agent and book away from AA.
3.05 Million Miler Here, Lifetime Platinum. Was only able to use 2 of my 4 SWU's when 2 expired at 3MM. The new SWU extension for status year is good, but can they give me back those 2 SWUs with that 6 month extension? But, 950K Miles for Lifetime Emerald for me, I am grateful I can at least see it knowing many others are not even close......there's still hope that AAdvantage made a typo...
3.05 Million Miler Here, Lifetime Platinum. Was only able to use 2 of my 4 SWU's when 2 expired at 3MM. The new SWU extension for status year is good, but can they give me back those 2 SWUs with that 6 month extension? But, 950K Miles for Lifetime Emerald for me, I am grateful I can at least see it knowing many others are not even close......there's still hope that AAdvantage made a typo and meant 3MM for Lifetime Emerald and will make an announcement to match Delta and UA, but hope is eternal. The feeling though when I make 4MM will be great, unless they make it 3MM before March 1st. What is the MM level for Lifetime CK?
Yawn. 3MM AA Lifetime here, I get nada new. Same old worthless Platinum status. Whereas, in UA my 3MM status gets me Lifetime 1K, which is a thing. This is not even close to competitive.
agreed
Actually - you got something distinct for your 3 million miler status - a virtual slap in the face . No respect for anyone with 3 million lifetime miles .
I have my million-miler lifetime gold on AA. Don't do the heavy travel that I used to do. I'm somewhat content with my gold benefits of free first bag and once in a blue moon domestic upgrade (actually gotten a few this year!). I do wish AA would issue / offer new Lifetime Gold luggage tags. back in the day you used to be able to order extra tags.
Let me add - if you are earning EXP - at the 200K LP -then you would be ahead in upgrade list over an EXP that says doesn't earn it now.
But big impact for Plat Pro folks that earn it.
Boomers scr3w up everything….
AA has people with as many as 75,000,000 lifetime miles. (per former head of AAdvantage)
I suspect the gap between 2 and 4 million - reduces the impact.
But I don't think AA has a way to filter out CC miles.
Many people did CC churn, Manufactured Spending, etc.
Many many people will now get LT EXP -
This comment fails to be factual if you say Tom Stuker holds this record with UA at 24M+.
Tom's claim to fame is specifically butt-in-seat miles with United. There is nothing contradictory between him holding that record and someone racking up a ton more miles through credit card spend, etc.
Lifetime miles is a significant phrase, that includes the meaning Butt in Seat.
A reply from Randy is needed here to clarify the actual meaning, otherwise we can all add our interpretations.
I think Randy is pretty clear, "AA has".
How you bring up "record with UA" and trying to get clarification is just trying to do a Tim Dunn.
It's gotta be a joke to call this an "improvement" of the AA Million Miler program...
It's gotta be a joke to call $15 a "breakfast" of the Lifetime Diamond program...
Oh wait... jokes on you.
Haven't you heard? I use the $15 to offset my bar tab, and treat myself to a full hot restaurant breakfast that includes every item on the menu because it is always part of my travel expenses.
Therefore, I win and I win, which means that the joke is on you, but you're too stupid to get it.
Haven't you read? $15 is the breakfast benefit of the Hilton program that doesn't cover breakfast.
You paid for a bar tab AND for breakfast. Call it travel expenses, resort fee, or DCS self anointed valuation money. It's still more money for Hilton.
Therefore, Hilton win and Hilton win, which means that the joke is on you, but you're too stupid to get it.
By the way, did you just copy Tim Dunn's quote?
Haven't you read? $15 is the breakfast benefit of the Hilton program that doesn't cover breakfast.
You paid for a bar tab AND for breakfast. Call it travel expenses, resort fee, or DCS self anointed valuation money. It's still more money for Hilton.
Therefore, Hilton win and Hilton win, which means that the joke is on you, but you're too stupid to get it.
By the way, did you just copy Tim Dunn's quote?
"the reality is that **I** win."
When did comments is about winning?
You're that idiot who thinks comment section is a competition.
Oh wait... You and Tim.
Like I said, you are too stupid to "get it". So let me repeat, maybe I'll register this time: "I treat myself to a full hot restaurant breakfast that includes every item on the menu because it is always part of my travel expenses." The $15, stoopid, is just booze money. As long as the breakfast money is corporate...
Like I said, you are too stupid to "get it". So let me repeat, maybe I'll register this time: "I treat myself to a full hot restaurant breakfast that includes every item on the menu because it is always part of my travel expenses." The $15, stoopid, is just booze money. As long as the breakfast money is corporate money and not out of my pocket, who cares if it is money for Hilton?!!! The 15$ for my booze definitely does come from Hilton and it's sweet!
You are so stupid it is the last time I will ever dignify your drivel with an answer. Have fun in your igloo.
I have to agree with everyone saying this is underwhelming. Of course the ability to achieve LT status beyond Platinum is something, but to set the bar for Plat Pro at double the amount for Platinum is much too big a gap. It's really a smack at everyone in the +/- 3M range - which is still a lot of LT miles even if some were earned in the old version of "everything counts". It's...
I have to agree with everyone saying this is underwhelming. Of course the ability to achieve LT status beyond Platinum is something, but to set the bar for Plat Pro at double the amount for Platinum is much too big a gap. It's really a smack at everyone in the +/- 3M range - which is still a lot of LT miles even if some were earned in the old version of "everything counts". It's been a long time since that was the case, so it's hard to believe a 3M LT milestone would flood the Plat Pro ranks.
Even at 3.5M this doesn't really incent me to work towards 4M. I'm easily making EXP with travel + spend for now but mostly buy F when I want F on the most convenient airline. I don't see much reason to change that strategy now.
Well I didn't think I'd wake up this morning to Lifetime Platinum Pro status...but there you go. Every once in a while the world surprises you.
My thanks to the gift of TWA Lifetime Platinum status - which turns out to be the gift that keeps giving...as at least half of my AA million miler miles come from the conversion of programs. It may have taken almost 25 years, but the awarded status level...
Well I didn't think I'd wake up this morning to Lifetime Platinum Pro status...but there you go. Every once in a while the world surprises you.
My thanks to the gift of TWA Lifetime Platinum status - which turns out to be the gift that keeps giving...as at least half of my AA million miler miles come from the conversion of programs. It may have taken almost 25 years, but the awarded status level is now closer to what TWA Lifetime Platinum travelers lost in the last bankruptcy.
I guess AA figured out how to do this without costing it a dollar extra ;)
Finally! I have 24.7 million miles, welcome to ExPlat Lifetime as of March 1, 2025. Too bad they didn’t make Concierge Key Lifetime status. Data point, I’m in my 50’s so I think it my age group and older.
I don’t doubt your statement, but where is your “Tom Stuker” article?
Presumably AA has waited this long to allow those that had non flight miles from 13 years ago to "age out" of the program. Assuming a heavy travel schedule of $250K miles a year it would take 20 consecutive years of flying at the level to reach lifetime EXP status. Given changes in people's lives, both voluntary (like taking a job with less travel to spend more time at home) to non voluntary (losing a...
Presumably AA has waited this long to allow those that had non flight miles from 13 years ago to "age out" of the program. Assuming a heavy travel schedule of $250K miles a year it would take 20 consecutive years of flying at the level to reach lifetime EXP status. Given changes in people's lives, both voluntary (like taking a job with less travel to spend more time at home) to non voluntary (losing a job with frequent travel) relatively few will ever reach that level, other than the people already in the plan with lots of LT miles.
I actually think you're onto something. I made LT Platinum because of how it was calculated back then...nowadays it would have been a huge stretch with the updated calculations, especially as I'm no longer flying domestic RT twice a week and/or long-haul international RT twice a month. I had fun traveling all of the time up until COVID changed everything for me, but these days I don't miss it at all / ZERO.
Still woefully uncompetitive. A shocking middle finger to 3 million milers - those with 3 million on 3/1/25 should have been grandfathered into Platinum Pro . I see no reason that I should surpass 2 million.
If AA again credited all miles earned towards lifetime status, AA would create an incentive for people to spend in all revenue channels. Imagine the revenue AA would recognize if someone spent $1 million on an AA card. If they did, I'd have reason to throttle up spending on AA credit cards . . . and happily hand revenue to AA. As it stands, no (stinkin') way.
You spend 1M in credit card while people are starving?
I'm not saying I do. I'm talking generically. AA would receive substantial revenue from someone who did spend $1 million on its cards. Right now, AA is not creating an incentive for such a person to switch spending from whatever cars to an AA card.
This is weak. It is not even competitive with their OneWorld partner, Alaska Airlines, which grants Emerald Status at 3 million miles.
Delta offers Lifetime Diamond at 3 million. Lifetime Delta 360 (think CK) at 5 million.
@Bobo
I agree this could be better...but fact check...Platinum Pro comes with Emerald status.
Alaska offers 75K at 2MM I believe, which is a OneWorld Emerald