Hey all! Have a question about mileage and award travel.

I booked my first ever AS award flights (all miles, not miles+money) for my girlfriend and I to Europe (flying in March). I know that when you fly on an award flight you don't get miles back to spend on future flights (that wouldn't make much sense), but do your actual miles flown count toward future elite status? I couldn't really get a clear answer on this when I searched — it seems there are lots of quirks when it comes to the difference between miles flown, miles earned, and which miles count toward status.

3 of the 4 flights are on American, with the last on Alaska, if it makes any difference.

Thanks in advance!