AMERICAN AIRLINES' AADVANTAGE FREQUENT FLYER PROGRAM: THE SIMPLE FLYING GUIDE
Quick Links
- The pros and cons
- AAdvantage Status Tiers
- How To Earn AAdvantage Points
- Spending AAdvantage Miles
- Hidden Perks Of AAdvantage
The American Airlines AAdvantage frequent flyer program was launched on May 1st, 1981. It was the second loyalty program to be launched by an airline worldwide, and today it is the oldest still in existence. In the four decades since, the program has become a major force in the US and across the globe, helped by American's position as the largest airline in the world.
As a member of the oneworld alliance, AAdvantage status can unlock lounge doors, complimentary upgrades, and much more. But how can you earn points and status, and what should you do with them once you have them? Simple Flying breaks down the AAdvantage program for you.
The pros and cons
Let’s begin with the positives of AAdvantage because there are plenty.
Pros
- Fly everywhere: American Airlines' reach within, to, and from the US is massive, allowing members to earn and redeem miles across the globe. However, you can also enjoy benefits with over two dozen airline partners, ensuring that you'll almost never be out of reach of its partners.
- Redeem across the alliance: American's membership to oneworld means your miles and benefits are available at all member airlines and airports. So you can enjoy a lounge in Hong Kong and redeem from London to Cape Town with British Airways with no issue, all done with a quick online platform.
- Plenty of perks: Earning status with American comes with plenty of perks, from entry to Admiral Clubs, priority on upgrades, and more mileage earnings. At the top end, you'll even get a dedicated phone line, check-in area, and much more.
Love learning about points and miles? Read more of our loyalty news and guides here.
Cons
- Revenue-based earning isn’t good for everyone: Like its competitors, American switched to a revenue-based earning formula, meaning you earn Loyalty Points and redeemable miles based on dollar spend (5 points per $1 spent + bonuses). This means you'll have to be heavy spender to reach elite status and start redeeming for long-haul flights.
- Dynamic pricing: In April 2023, American switched to fully dynamic pricing for award tickets. The carrier was the last of the big three to have a fixed award chart, although it had introduced some variable awards in the last few years. Expect to see miles needed on popular routes to increase in the coming months and years, hurting your hard-earned balance.
- No free stopovers: Some loyalty programs have a mechanism for booking stopovers on redeemed flights with connections. This can be a great way to explore a new place on longer trips, but it’s not allowed with AAdvantage. All layovers have to be under 24 hours.
Let's move on to explore the nuts and bolts of this major airline loyalty program in more detail.
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AAdvantage Status Tiers
Like most frequent flyer programs, AAdvantage offers the chance to earn elite status. This is separate from mileage earning and gives benefits when traveling with American Airlines and other oneworld airlines. There are four different status levels, with progression between them based on the number of Loyalty Points earned during each year (from flying, credit card spending, or other activities).
Gaining status with American Airlines can unlock things like free upgrades, checked baggage allowances and more. And, even better, they have corresponding status tiers across the whole oneworld Alliance. Find out more here.
AAdvantage Tier Levels -
How To Earn AAdvantage Points
Earning miles is at the heart of any airline loyalty program. The American Airlines AAdvantage program is one of the leading programs globally - valuable not just for American Airlines flyers but across the oneworld alliance as well. Earning miles through flying is, of course, central to the program. But there are several other earning sources as well. We break down what you need to know.
Earning AAdvantage Miles -
Spending AAdvantage Miles
AAdvantage miles are the currency of the AAdvantage program. These are earned from purchased flights, credit card spending, and several other sources. The fun, of course, comes from spending them. Spending on flights, with American Airlines or its many partners, is the most obvious way to redeem miles. And generally, it is the best value too. But if you really aren’t flying, or have miles to use up, there are other ways to spend them too. We take a look at what is best for you!
Spending AAdvantage Miles -
Hidden Perks Of AAdvantage
With American Airlines AAdvantage, there are plenty of “sweet spots” that can help you maximize the way you use the program. This guide takes a quick look at some of the principal “best” mileage earning and redeeming opportunities and some useful things to know about elite status earning opportunities. We share tips for each of these areas.
AAdvantage - Hidden Perks