The road along the way there. If you fly 50,000 miles or more a year, AA will give you 100% bonus miles. The real AA lifetime perks don't kick into 2MM and that's primarily 100% bonus miles and Platinum status (midtier), though at 1MM you can select emergency exit row seats at booking as AA Gold (lowest elite tier) and have baggage fees waived. Keep in mind that AA just changed their lifetime tiers to actual flight miles a few months back and many have attained their lifetime status with credit cards and bonus miles. Not any longer.

Fly 50K a year on AA = 100,000 miles in account
Fly 50K a year on UA = 75,000 miles in account

That's why, with lifetime 1MM status, I've walked away from UA--not a single paid flight this year (and I have the time to fly them, having already requalified for EXP at AA).