While both AAdvantage® miles and Loyalty Points are part of the American Airlines AAdvantage® program, there’s an important distinction between the two. AAdvantage® miles can be redeemed for travel and more, while Loyalty Points count toward AAdvantage® status.
You can earn Loyalty Points for each eligible mile earned. However, that might not apply in certain cases, like if you receive bonus miles for eligible spending after opening a new card, such as the Citi / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®. Here’s what you need to know about the differences between AAdvantage® miles and Loyalty Points.
What Are American Airlines AAdvantage® Miles?
American Airlines AAdvantage® miles are earned when you fly with American Airlines or engage in other activities, like making purchases with a Citi® / AAdvantage® credit card.
You can redeem AAdvantage® miles in several ways.
- Redeem for an American Airlines flight or a trip on a partner airline
- Upgrade your flight to a higher cabin to take advantage of roomier seats, priority privileges and additional checked bags
- Book a rental car
- Book a travel package
- Redeem for luxury experiences while traveling, like priority boarding or lounge access
- Book experiences, from concerts and sporting events to comedy shows and culinary experiences
- Donate or gift your miles to a person or cause you care about
Ways to earn miles
There are a number of ways to earn AAdvantage® miles, including:
- Fly with American Airlines, oneworld® or select partner airlines
- Use a Citi® / AAdvantage® credit card to pay for travel or everyday purchases
- Shop using the AAdvantage eShopping® portal or SimplyMiles℠
- Dine with AAdvantage Dining℠
- Book a hotel room with a loyalty program that allows you to earn AAdvantage® miles
You can also buy miles or receive them as a gift or transfer from another AAdvantage® member.
What are American Airlines Loyalty Points?
American Airlines Loyalty Points determine your AAdvantage® status and Loyalty Points Rewards. Loyalty Points do not directly translate to redeemable miles. Below, we break down the number of points required for each status.
- AAdvantage Gold®: 40,000 Loyalty Points
- AAdvantage Platinum®: 75,000 Loyalty Points
- AAdvantage Platinum Pro®: 125,000 Loyalty Points
- AAdvantage Executive Platinum®: 200,000 Loyalty Points
Keep in mind that, unlike miles, which don’t expire if you redeem or interact with them at least every 24 months or if you’re the primary cardholder of a Citi® / AAdvantage® credit card, Loyalty Points reset each year in March. You can qualify for status based on the Loyalty Points you earn for the 12-month period starting March 1st, and your status membership is valid through March 31st of each year.
Ways to earn Loyalty Points
You can earn Loyalty Points by earning miles on flights through American Airlines and eligible partner airlines, though the AAdvantage eShopping® portal, AAdvantage Dining℠, and SimplyMiles℠. You may also earn Loyalty Points when you earn miles using a Citi® / AAdvantage® credit card.
Which miles don’t count toward Loyalty Points?
Certain miles won’t translate to Loyalty Points, including any miles earned as a bonus for credit card spending, gifted miles and transferred miles.
Will the number of miles you have equal the number of Loyalty Points?
The number of miles you have won’t necessarily equal the number of Loyalty Points, though it can. Your Loyalty Point total resets every year in March, and your AAdvantage® miles do not. When you redeem miles for travel or other rewards, you won’t spend Loyalty Points.
While one eligible AAdvantage® mile earns one Loyalty Point, there are times when you might earn bonus or promotional miles that don’t earn Loyalty Points or earn Loyalty Points from activities that don’t earn miles.
Disclosure: This article is for educational purposes. It is not intended to provide legal, investment, or financial advice and is not a substitute for professional advice. It does not indicate the availability of any Citi product or service. For advice about your specific circumstances, you should consult a qualified professional.
