AAdvantage is the name of American Airlines’ frequent flyer program. Founded in 1981, it was only the second such program in the industry, and it remains the largest loyalty program in the airline industry. By signing up to join AAdvantage, customers can earn miles to be redeemed with the carrier, gain access to complimentary onboard WiFi on most aircraft, and miles are valid so long as an account has activity within 24 months. However, AAdvantage also has significantly more benefits for those who qualify.

As is the case with most airline loyalty programs, AAdvantage is a spend-based program. Miles and status are not determined by how much you fly with American Airlines, but rather by the amount that you spend. This determines how many miles you earn for your flights, while your total spending also determines your elite status with the carrier. There are four elite tiers within the AAdvantage program that come with a variety of added benefits, but also stricter eligibility requirements. Here’s how to get the most out of American’s AAdvantage program in 2026.

Earning And Using American AAdvantage Miles

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The basic benefit of AAdvantage is earning miles. This is the program’s main currency, which can be used in a wide variety of ways. Mainly, AAdvantage miles can be used to purchase flights on American Airlines, but unlike Delta and United, tickets cannot be booked with a mix of cash and miles. In addition, miles can be used to purchase onboard upgrades, award tickets with partner airlines, hotels, rental cars, cruises, vacation packages, a visit to the Admirals Club, or used on American’s online shopping platform.

The basic earn rate with American is five miles for every dollar spent on an American Airlines ticket, excluding basic economy (which does not earn you miles). This applies to all American Airlines flights, American Eagle flights, as well as flights operated by joint venture partners. This rate applies only to the base airfare and does not apply to government-imposed surcharges or taxes. This rate also increases significantly if you hold elite status with American Airlines.

In addition to flights, you can also earn miles with other American Airlines travel services. This includes booking hotel stays, rental cars, cruises, and vacation packages with American Airlines. Furthermore, shopping through American’s online shopping platform can earn you miles quickly, as can dining at restaurants that partner with American Airlines. As a whole, there is a wide variety of methods to quickly earn AAdvantage miles, which can then be redeemed in a wide variety of ways.

The American AAdvantage Credit Cards

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Naturally, the true way to earn large quantities of AAdvantage miles is to sign up for an AAdvantage credit card. American Airlines partners with Citibank to offer five total credit cards. Each comes with a variety of benefits, as well as a variable sign-on bonus, ranging from 15,000 bonus miles to 100,000 bonus miles as of February 2026. The main benefit is that each offers at least one mile for every dollar spent, additional miles in various categories, and one loyalty point for every eligible mile earned.

The AAdvantage MileUp card is the entry-level card, with no annual fee, double miles at grocery stores, and a 15,000-mile sign-on bonus as of February 2025. The Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard has a $99 annual fee (waived for the first year), and currently comes with an 80,000-mile sign-on bonus, a free checked bag on domestic flights, as well as double miles at restaurants, gas stations, and eligible American Airlines purchases. The Citi / AAdvantage Business World Elite Mastercard, meanwhile, is intended for business owners.

The Citi / AAdvantage Globe Mastercard has a $350 annual fee, and among other benefits, includes four Admirals Club passes every year, three miles for every dollar spent on eligible American Airlines purchases, and a 90,000-mile sign-on bonus as of February 2025. The top AAdvantage card, meanwhile, is the Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard, which has an annual fee of $595 and currently includes a 100,000-mile sign-on bonus, four miles for every dollar spent on American Airlines purchases, and an annual Admirals Club membership, among other benefits.

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Examining AAdvantage Elite Status Tiers

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A Citi / AAdvantage credit card provides excellent value within the program, but to truly make the most out of your AAdvantage account, you’re going to want to earn elite status with American. AAdvantage offers four tiers for its elite members: AAdvantage Gold, AAdvantage Platinum, AAdvantage Platinum Pro, and AAdvantage Executive Platinum. These four tiers each offer superior benefits compared to the last and higher earning rates, although the requirements to qualify also increase.

Eligibility for these four statuses is determined by how many loyalty points you earn throughout the year. As a general rule, one mile earns you one loyalty point, but not all earned miles are eligible to earn loyalty points. For example, credit card sign-on bonus miles do not earn loyalty points. Rather curiously, there is no minimum flight requirement, and loyalty points can be earned through flying, credit card spending, or using American’s online shopping portal.

All status holders are placed on the complimentary upgrade list, gain access to priority lanes for check-in, security, and boarding, receive equivalent oneworld status, complimentary access to preferred and Main Cabin Extra seats, as well as a higher earn rate. In addition, all status-holders receive complimentary checked bags (one for Gold, two for Platinum, and three for Platinum Pro/Executive Platinum), and each tier is given access to a dedicated phone line for customer support. Furthermore, members can select to receive bonus perks upon earning a certain number of loyalty points.

Overall Benefits Of American AAdvantage

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As a whole, the best way to maximize value out of the AAdvantage program is to sign up for one of the program’s credit cards while also spending enough to earn elite status. Members can earn miles through a wide variety of methods, and although upgrades are less common today than in the past, it’s still an appealing benefit. Certain credit card holders receive lounge access, while AAdvantage members can also book a wide variety of experiences and services while either earning or redeeming miles.

None of these benefits is necessarily unique to AAdvantage, and the program is more restrictive than SkyMiles or MileagePlus in some respects: miles don’t expire at the other two programs, and both airlines permit mixing miles with cash, for example. AAdvantage miles, however, tend to hold more value than miles issued by Delta and United, as American Airlines has superior award redemption values on its own flights as well as on flights operated by partner airlines.

AAdvantage’s loyalty points system is overall simpler than the comparable systems used by SkyMiles or MileagePlus, and the frequent flyer perks offered by oneworld are perhaps the best out of the three major airline alliances. Perhaps most notably, Platinum Pro and Executive Platinum members are given oneworld Emerald status. This is the highest of the three elite tiers offered to oneworld frequent flyer members, whereas SkyTeam and Star Alliance only offer two elite tiers. As such, oneworld Emerald status offers significantly more benefits.

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American Airlines’ Invitation-Only Tier

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ConciergeKey is American Airlines’ invitation-only status for frequent flyers. It was once a standalone program, but is now an integrated part of AAdvantage, slotting above Executive Platinum status. It’s comparable to Delta 360° or United Global Services, although ConciergeKey is arguably the most famous out of the three. Just like at the other two, guidelines regarding how to receive an invitation for ConciergeKey membership are virtually non-existent.

ConciergeKey status is given annually, and members need to requalify every year. ConciergeKey members receive several added benefits, including upgrade priority over all other AAdvantage members, an Admirals Club membership, two additional systemwide upgrades, access to Flagship lounges, access to Flagship First check-in lines, and priority boarding. These benefits are also comparable to what you receive with a Delta 360° membership or with United Global Services status.

Perhaps the biggest benefit of ConciergeKey is treatment during irregular operations. ConciergeKey members gain access to a dedicated phone line and email address with 24/7 service. Issues for ConciergeKey members are generally handled before anyone else, and the carrier is most accommodating to ConciergeKey members. In addition, ConciergeKey also grants access to occasional airport transfers, via golf cart when remaining inside the terminal or via private car on the ramp.