Airline loyalty programs can be known for feeling like a never-ending maze. I’d bet most loyalty program members, including American Airlines AAdvantage members, don’t have the time to understand all of the program’s nuances. It takes making the time to learn these programs a priority, something most people including myself don’t take the time to do.
Well, good news for those who fall in the “don’t make the time bucket.” American Airlines AAdvantage is simplifying its loyalty program by transitioning to Loyalty Points. Gone are the days of Elite Qualifying Miles (EQMs), Elite Qualifying Dollars (EQDs), and Elite Qualifying Segments (EQSs). Wahoo!
For more Points With Q articles delivered to your inbox, sign up for my travel newsletter.
American Airlines AAdvantage Introduces Loyatly Points
Beginning 2022, Starting in 2022, American Airlines AAdvantage members earn Loyalty Points. No more dealing with EQMs, EQDs, and EQSs. All of your qualifying American Airlines activity earns Loyalty Points. This is a great way to simplify an otherwise convoluted loyalty program that most people have no clue how works.
So, what activity qualifies as Loyalty Points? Flying American Airlines or its partner airline flights that are credited to your American Airlines AAdvantage account, spending on AAdvantage credit cards, and online shopping through American Airlines’ portals all earn Loyalty Points. It’s as easy as that and signals American wants you to focus your spending on its loyalty program. 1 AAdvantage mile equals 1 Loyalty Point. The more you fly, the more you spend on American Airlines credit cards, and the more times you use American Airlines earning programs, the more Loyalty Points that you earn.
How To Earn Loyalty Points
There are three primary ways to earn Loyalty Points: flying on qualifying American Airlines or its partner airline flights, spending on American Airlines credit cards, and AAdvantage earning programs like eShopping. By focusing your flying and spending with American Airlines, you earn more Loyalty Points.
Just like the current American Airlines AAdvantage program, flying on American Airlines or its partner airline flights earns miles. Now, flying these flights earns Loyalty Points. No more worrying about how many EQMs, EQDs, or EQSs you have earned throughout the year. You earn one currency called Loyalty Points.
Earning Loyalty Points by spending on an American Airlines credit card is a new addition to the American Airlines AAdvantage program. Starting in 2022, spending on American Airlines credit cards earns Loyalty points. Credit cards that earn Loyalty Points include American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp Mastercard, Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select Mastercard, Citi / AAdvantage Executive Mastercard, CitiBusiness / AAdvantage Platinum Select Mastercard, Aviator Silver MasterCard, Aviator Red MasterCard, Aviator Blue MasterCard, Aviator MasterCard, and Aviator Business MasterCard.
EShopping, AAdvantage Dining, SimplyMiles also earn Loyalty Points. If you find yourself shopping online with any frequency, or using the AAdvantage Dining program regularly, this can be an ideal way to add to your AAdvantage Loyalty Points balance. SimplyMIles requires that you used your American Airlines frequent flyer number to sign up. While not specifically stated in the press release, one would assume members earning Loyalty Points with their AAdvantage car rental spending.
How To Redeem Loyalty Points
The American airline’s miles chart is still live on its website. However, its award pricing does not always align with this award chart as American is moving to award pricing where the number of miles seeks to match the cash price of the flight. Press releases from American focus on how this is a win for the customer. In reality, the move to this type of award pricing is a way to remove outsized redemption values by increasing the number of miles required to book a flight. It’s a simple as that contrary to what the PR team at American states.
While it’s not all currently doom and gloom with the increase in award flight costs, the opportunity to book high-value award flights remains. Check out 5 Best Ways to Use American Airlines AAdvantage Miles for more info.
Loyalty Points Required For Elite Status
American Airlines AAdvantage elite status is a way to reward the most loyal American Airlines flyers. The way American determines their elite status is by meeting certain criteria. As of today, you can earn AAdvantage Gold, AAdvantage Platinum, AAdvantage Platinum Pro, or AAdvantage Executive Platinum.
Starting in 2022, American is moving to the following elite qualification criteria to determine their elite status:
| Elite Status | Requirements |
| AAdvantage Gold | 30,000 Loyalty Points |
| AAdvantage Platinum | 75,000 Loyalty Points |
| AAdvantage Platinum Pro | 125,000 Loyalty Points |
| AAdvantage Executive Platinum | 200,000 Loyalty Points |
Elite Status Mileage Bonus Structure
As an incentive to earn elite status, one way American Airlines AAdvantage rewards its most loyal members is through mileage bonuses. The higher your elite status, the more bonus miles you earn with each flight. Here’s how it works:
| Elite Status | Mileage Bonus |
| AAdvantage Gold | 40% bonus |
| AAdvantage Platinum | 60% bonus |
| AAdvantage Platinum Pro | 80% bonus |
| AAdvantage Executive Platinum | 120% bonus |
How To Earn Loyatly Choice Rewards
Another kicker to incentivize earning elite status is what is called Loyalty Choice Rewards. Beginning in March 2022, elite members who qualify for AAdvantage Platinum Pro or AAdvantage Executive Platinum, and fly at least 30 flights earn Loyalty Choice Rewards. These rewards include Admirals Club day passes, and AAdvantage bonus miles, and Systemwide Upgrades. American also notes that additional rewards will be announced in the future. The Rewards Levels associated with Choice Rewards are as follows:
| Reward Level | Loyalty Points Required |
| Level 1 | 125,000 |
| Level 2 | 200,000 |
| Level 3 | 350,000 |
| Level 4 | 550,000 |
| Level 5 | 750,000 |
American Airlines AAdvantage Elite Benefits
So, what benefits do you receive at each AAdvantage elite tier? Is AAdvantage elite status worth it? It all comes down to how much you fly Ameican and/or its partner airline flights. With that said, here are the high-level benefits you receive at each elite tier:
| Status | Benefits |
| AAdvantage Gold | 1 free checked bag, Preferred seats, Group 4 boarding |
| AAdvantage Platinum | 2 free checked bags, Complimentary Main Cabin Extra, Group 3 boarding |
| AAdvantage Platinum Pro | 3 free checked bags, Group 2 boarding, Complimentary Upgrades |
| AAdvantage Executive Platinum | 3 free checked bags, Group 1 boarding, Complimentary Upgrades |
American Airlines AAdvantage FAQs
What are Loyalty Points?
Loyalty Points are what American Airlines will be using in 2022 to determine your elite status qualification. American is discontinuing Elite Qualifying Miles (EQMs), Elite Qualifying Dollars (EQDs), and Elite Qualifying Segments (EQSs) used to qualify for status.
How do I earn Loyalty Points?
Flying, spending on an AAdvantage credit card, and eShopping earn Loyalty Points. 1 American Airlines mile equals 1 Loyalty Point. Members who can put significant spending on an American Airlines AAdvantage credit card have the opportunity to earn Loyalty Points by the truckload.
How does the January and February 2022 period work?
Between January 1, 2022, and February 28, 2022, AAdvantage members continue to earn EQMs, EQDs, and EQSs that count towards their 2021 elite status qualification. During this same time frame, AAdvantage members also earn Loyalty Points. Loyalty Points earned in January and February count towards your 2023 elite status. For more detailed questions related to this period, the American Airlines AAdvantage phone number is 800-433-7300. Generally speaking, American Airlines AAdvantage customer service has treated me well over the years.
Are you making any changes to how I earn award miles?
No. You earn award miles based upon the ticket price of the American Airlines and JetBlue flights that you book. Travel on all other partner airline flights earns award miles based upon the distance of your flight.
Conclusion on the new American Airlines AAdvantage
American is transitioning its loyalty program to earning what is called Loyalty Points. This is a way to reduce complexity and presumably engage more members in its program. Personally, this is a move that benefits members. However, it’s important to note that American is moving to dynamic pricing. This means that the number of miles required to book an award flight may increase on certain routes.
So, what do you make of the new American Airlines AAdvantage? How do feel about the updates? Please let me know in the comments below or by sending me an email on my contact page.
Disclaimer: If you click and/or sign up for a credit card through certain links on this site or any of my related social media platforms, I may make a commission from that click-through. The editorial content on this page and the user comments are not provided by any of the companies mentioned and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. Opinions expressed here are mine alone.
