How to Earn American Airlines AAdvantage® Miles

The American Airlines AAdvantage® program lets travelers earn miles and redeem them for upgrades, car rentals, flights and more. There are several ways to earn miles, from booking flights as an AAdvantage® member to shopping with a Citi®/AAdvantage® credit card.

Let’s explore 5 key ways you may earn AAdvantage® miles.

Earn miles when you travel

You can join the AAdvantage® program for free. Once you sign up, you’ll be assigned an AAdvantage® number. Including that number when you book eligible travel will allow you to earn miles.

Earn on flights

Members can earn miles when they book flights directly with American Airlines, at a rate of 5 miles per dollar.

You may also earn miles for flights booked with oneworld® or other partner airlines, such as Aer Lingus, Etihad Airways and Hawaiian Airlines. Earnings rates may depend on the airline and your member status. (You may also earn by booking flights with preferred travel agencies, except for basic economy fares.)

Earn on car rentals and hotels

You can also earn miles on car rentals (with Avis, Budget or Hertz), as well as vacation packages and cruises. And you can earn miles on hotel bookings with eligible partners when you provide your AAdvantage® number at booking or check-in, or when you book through the AAdvantage® Hotels™ platform.

Convert points from select hotels

American Airlines allows you to convert points from select hotels to AAdvantage® miles, each with different transfer ratios:

  • Marriott Bonvoy points: 3-to-1 ratio
  • Hyatt Hotels and Resorts: 5-to-2 ratio
  • IHG® Hotels and Resorts: 5-to-1 ratio

Your spending habits can help you decide if it makes sense to convert your points.

Use AAdvantage® Events earn miles

If you book experiences, such as concerts, sports events or comedy shows, through Ticketmaster via the AAdvantage® Events platform, you can earn 1 AAdvantage® mile per dollar spent.

Shop with AAdvantage eShopping℠

Online shoppers can also earn miles by shopping with select retailers. These include large brands such as CVS, Apple, Disney and Nike. To do so, simply go to American Airlines’ AAdvantage eShopping portal, choose the desired offer and shop as usual.

Similarly, you can watch your miles add up when you register your credit card on SimplyMiles® and shop via the platform.

Spend with a Citi®/AAdvantage® card

If you’re looking to maximize your AAdvantage® miles earnings potential, you might want to consider a Citi®/AAdvantage® credit card. Each of these 4 credit cards can help you earn miles on everyday purchases. Plus, when you shop with your Citi®/AAdvantage® credit card, there’s no limit on how many miles you can earn.

Here’s a quick overview of how you may earn miles with these credit cards:

  • Earn on eligible AA purchases: Earn 2 miles (or 4 miles, if you have a Citi®/AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®) for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases.
  • Earn miles on other purchases: Every card lets you earn 1X miles on all grocery purchases (or 2X miles with the American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® Card). Depending on the card, you may also earn additional miles on restaurants and gas stations or purchases made at select telecommunications merchants, cable and satellite providers.
  • Welcome offers: Depending on when you apply, these credit cards may provide access to welcome offers that let you earn bonus miles. Typically, you must meet certain spending requirements within a pre-determined period after opening your account.

Whether you’re looking to earn miles on everyday purchases, travel or business expenses, there’s a Citi®/AAdvantage® credit card that can match your spending habits.

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.

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