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Loyalty Points discussion/questions - From 2022 now used for determining elite status

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Old Dec 17, 2021, 11:25 am
FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides
Last edit by: jbeckett
American Airlines announced that starting in 2022, the way to earn Elite status has changed. No more Elite Qualifying Miles (EQM), Elite Qualifying Segments (EQS), or Elite Qualifying Dollars (EQD)!

Now, you can get AA Elite status by earning Loyalty Points (LPs): https://aadvantagestatus.com/?anchor...=newaadvantage

How many LPs do I need for elite status?


Code:
Gold:       40K
Platinum:   75K
Plat Pro:  125K
EXP:       200K
How do I earn LPs?

Flying
What you get for redeemable miles (RDM) is what you'll get for LPs.

AA and B6 flights:
No status: 5 LPs per $ spent in base fare plus fees (excludes taxes)
Gold: 7 LPs per $
Platinum: 8 LPs per $
Plat Pro: 9 LPs per $
EXP: 11 LPs per $

Partner flights (other than B6):
Distance flown x accrual rate* x (1 + cabin bonus + elite bonus**)

* Certain discount fares earn less than 100% of miles flown. In those cases, the discounted accrual rate (0% to 75% depending on the partner and the fare class) should be applied to the flown miles. Otherwise, the accrual rate is 100%. If there is a cabin bonus, it should not be added to the accrual rate; it is applied separately within the parentheses. The accrual rate can never be more than 100%.
** 40% for GLD, 60% for PLT, 80% for PRO, 120% for EXP.

So for example, an EXP on a 5000-mile flight on QR booked in J would earn 5000 x 100% x (1 + 25% + 120%) = 5000 x 1 x 2.45 = 12250 LPs.

A PLT on the same flight booked in P would earn 5000 x 75% x (1 + 0% + 60%) = 5000 x .75 x 1.6 = 6000 LPs.

Earning chart for QR

Here's a great online LP calculator:

https://lpcalculator.com/#/calculator/

AAdvantage non-flying partners:
Generally, 1 LP per base mile earned. But in many cases you can earn large bonuses that post as base miles; see link here: https://exploreamerican.com/newaadva...nloyaltypoints

There are differences among how these programs work, ranging from minor to significant, in terms of awarding LPs. You will need to skim through the thread as there are too many different promo offers to address here. But here are the popular ones:

BookAAHotels and RocketMiles: You can earn large mileage bonuses here, separated into "base" miles and "promo" miles by the portals. For now they are all posting as base miles on aa.com, but there is a suspicion that the "promo" miles may start posting as bonus miles (and so would not count as LP). You don't even have to actually check in or stay at the hotel as long as you pay for the stay.

SimplyMiles: You must link a MasterCard to the account. Then you can add their promos to your card by activating the offers. When you accept one of their offers and then pay for it using your linked card, you will get the associated miles which currently post as base miles on aa.com.

AAdvantage eShopping: Once you click through the AAdvantage eShopping portal to a vendor offer and make a purchase, you will eventually get the associated miles posted to your AAdvantage account as both redeemable miles and Loyalty Points. If the merchant advertises an increase in the miles per dollar spent, you'll earn the higher amount in both redeemable miles and an equal number of Loyalty Points. The same applies if a merchant advertises a higher fixed amount per purchase, rather than a per dollar amount. Examples of this would appear on the portal as, "Extra miles. Was 1 mile/$. Now earn 3 miles/$" or "Extra miles. Was up to 3700 miles. Now up to 6200 miles." However, if the website advertises a "Limited-time bonus offer" for "bonus miles" after meeting a spending threshold, that bonus will only post as redeemable miles and not Loyalty Points. If a bonus is offered for some site-wide activity such as 1000 miles for installing an extension, or 500 miles for enrolling in the portal, or 2000 miles for meeting a spending threshold across multiple merchants, the bonus will only post as redeemable miles and not Loyalty Points.
(If a vendor has offers with both SimplyMiles and eShopping, activate the offer on SimplyMiles first and then make the purchase through eShopping with the MasterCard linked to your SimplyMiles account. Apparently that you can get a double-dip. You can also get a double-dip by stacking the promos with discount offers from your credit card issuers, basically reducing the cost to you.

Booking directly with hotels, car rental companies, etc.: The picture here is a bit unclear but it appears that if you book with a hotel that offers 5x miles, only 1 mile will post as base and the rest as bonus.

Credit card spend:
1 LP per $ spent on an AA branded card (except for one card which earns 0.50 LP per $ and several non-US cards which earn 2 LP per $). See the list of cards, and a lot more small print here: https://creditcards.aa.com/aadvantag...hange_ExecCard

What about spending bonuses?
E.g., your card gives 2x miles for hotels, or 3x for AA purchases, etc etc. These do NOT count.

These bonuses count:
Citi AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard (the $450 annual fee card that gives Admirals Club access): 10K LP bonus when hitting $40K spend for the year.
AAdvantage Aviator Silver Mastercard: 5K LP bonus when hitting $20K spend, another 5K LP bonus when hitting $40K spend, and another 5K LP bonus when hitting $50K spend for the year.

Do miles earned at Bask Bank count?
No.

Will Loyalty Points count toward Million Miler status?
No, Million Miler℠ status will still be earned the same way as today, based on miles earned from flying with American and its partners.











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Loyalty Points discussion/questions - From 2022 now used for determining elite status

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Old Jan 19, 2022, 12:47 pm
  #1606  
 
Join Date: Oct 2021
Location: TX
Programs: Alaska, AA, Marriott
Posts: 943
Originally Posted by BudgetJetsetter
He’s asking if it’ll be 4 after 12.5k EQM or LP, not whether 12.5k is the number needed.
If it's based on LP, you could theoretically acquire e500's through spend.
thatmikereed is offline  
Old Jan 19, 2022, 1:12 pm
  #1607  
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: SAN
Programs: Lots of faux metal
Posts: 6,416
Originally Posted by thatmikereed
If it's based on LP, you could theoretically acquire e500's through spend.
Yes, but since you can gain status through spend, why would 500 mile upgrades be different?
Now, in theory since LPs are not going to count for Million Mile status, AA could keep a seperate metric for butt-in-seat miles.
This website, which is linked from the LP website, seems to indicate BIS
https://exploreamerican.com/goldstat...tle=goldstatus

skunker is offline  
Old Jan 19, 2022, 1:12 pm
  #1608  
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Join Date: Jan 2001
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Programs: AA EXP / LT PLT / 3MM, Marriott LT Gold
Posts: 35,366
Originally Posted by thatmikereed
If it's based on LP, you could theoretically acquire e500's through spend.
I would be shocked if that were the case. I believe it will be BIS miles (perhaps subject to the 500-mile minimum) as they are tracking those for MM purposes.

Although perhaps Million Miler will be replaced by Million Spender. Who knows?
vasantn is offline  
Old Jan 19, 2022, 1:18 pm
  #1609  
 
Join Date: May 2008
Programs: Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, AA Plat, UA Silver, Delta Silver
Posts: 453
Originally Posted by vasantn
Although perhaps Million Miler will be replaced by Million Spender. Who knows?
million spender use to be an easy route to million miler status 10 years ago.
BudgetJetsetter is offline  
Old Jan 19, 2022, 1:30 pm
  #1610  
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: SNA and BNA depending on work and time of year
Programs: UA Silver/ AA EXP/Hyatt Globalist/Marriott Lifetime Titanium/Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,189
Originally Posted by vasantn
The Sunbasket miles from eShopping posted today to my AA account as base miles. I got 3700 miles for placing a $27 order, and I'll get 4 (supposedly) gourmet meals delivered next week. If they're worth the ~$7 each, I basically got 3700 free miles (and hopefully LPs). If they're not worth it, I'll cancel my subscription and still have the LPs for nominal cost (under 0.1 cent per LP).
I did the same and actually sent the meals to my sister. I got chicken parm and spaghetti and meatballs. I figured my niece would heat them up after school or even take them for lunch. It seemed like a worthy $29 for me (tax is high in TN where my sister lives). My niece is 11 so her appetite it bountiful these days, and she loves spaghetti.

My 3700 miles posted as base miles today as base miles. I selected skip as far out as I could. I figure I will go in and cancel after waiting a few weeks.
chicaloca453 is offline  
Old Jan 19, 2022, 2:42 pm
  #1611  
brp
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Originally Posted by vasantn
I probably won't do any more of these until we get confirmation in March that they will count. AA has been defining many different things as base miles and there's no guarantee that they won't reclassify the miles or split them into LP and non-LP categories retroactively.
Agreed. Not going to spend a bunch of money on crap I don't need just yet amid this uncertainty. We're also going to get most of our LP from flying, else what's really the point of the status? We'll just augment with little bits of this flotsam and jetsam as needed. And we can wait until March to start since we than have a full year to get it sorted.

Cheers.
brp is offline  
Old Jan 19, 2022, 2:45 pm
  #1612  
 
Join Date: Sep 2020
Programs: AA EXP, BA Gold, VS Gold, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 3,938
Originally Posted by brp
Agreed. Not going to spend a bunch of money on crap I don't need just yet amid this uncertainty. We're also going to get most of our LP from flying, else what's really the point of the status? We'll just augment with little bits of this flotsam and jetsam as needed. And we can wait until March to start since we than have a full year to get it sorted.

Cheers.
For some of the current promos the redeemable miles alone will justify the spend (for me, at least). But YMMV.
brp and chicaloca453 like this.
coleslaw is offline  
Old Jan 19, 2022, 2:55 pm
  #1613  
brp
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Location: SJC
Programs: AA EXP, BA Silver, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton diamond, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 33,527
Originally Posted by coleslaw
For some of the current promos the redeemable miles alone will justify the spend (for me, at least). But YMMV.
True. But we don't need RDM. We are most often paying for flights, and occasionally use awards to get to, say, LAX when the LAX-JFK might be cheaper. But we accumulate more than we need. Some good LP deals would still be worth it, but I have the same trepidation as vasantn at the moment.

Probably release the purse strings on "crap I don't need" somewhat more following March

Cheers.
brp is offline  
Old Jan 19, 2022, 3:17 pm
  #1614  
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 2,313
Originally Posted by BudgetJetsetter
He’s asking if it’ll be 4 after 12.5k EQM or LP, not whether 12.5k is the number needed.
Originally Posted by skunker
There is no more EQM after 3/1 so he seems to be asking exactly what I replied.
it's a bit premature to say that. They're going to count it with SOMETHING for earning e500's. EQM/BIS whatever. we have to wait to see what AA says or what they call it. It is true there won't be any EQM for earning elite status, though.
LovePrunes is offline  
Old Jan 19, 2022, 3:55 pm
  #1615  
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 687
Looks like the Verizon Wireless offer has been pulled.
longtimereader firstimeposter is online now  
Old Jan 19, 2022, 5:35 pm
  #1616  
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Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: NYC
Programs: AA EXP / LT PLT / 3MM, Marriott LT Gold
Posts: 35,366
Originally Posted by longtimereader firstimeposter
Looks like the Verizon Wireless offer has been pulled.
But now there's an almost identical AT&T offer (with a much better interface), although it's only 3700 miles for $35.43. Verizon was 3700 as well and then they jacked it up to 6200. I wonder if I should wait. This is becoming an addiction.
vasantn is offline  
Old Jan 19, 2022, 7:13 pm
  #1617  
 
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Santa Barbara, CA, Park City, UT
Programs: AA EXP, Delta Plat, Marriott Plat,Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, IHG Plat
Posts: 901
Originally Posted by vasantn
I don't think this has been addressed. But you can't book AA flights with MR points, can you?
Really?
Jonesdds is offline  
Old Jan 19, 2022, 7:24 pm
  #1618  
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Posts: 35,366
Originally Posted by Jonesdds
Really?
You can book them indirectly through another airline's FF program, but I don't believe those would earn LPs. I could be wrong, of course.
vasantn is offline  
Old Jan 19, 2022, 7:33 pm
  #1619  
 
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Santa Barbara, CA, Park City, UT
Programs: AA EXP, Delta Plat, Marriott Plat,Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, IHG Plat
Posts: 901
Originally Posted by vasantn
You can book them indirectly through another airline's FF program, but I don't believe those would earn LPs. I could be wrong, of course.
Sorry but I was a bit surprised given all your posts with the question. You can book with Amex Travel on points if have certain cards, plat and plat business. And if the later you get a 35% rebate back. Sometimes worthwhile to do that way. My experience has been the last few years that it’s been identical earning to a cash purchase as far as RDM, EQD AND EQMS. However, with the switch to LP I’m wondering….given my much reduced travel and having a business where I can spend and earn a lot of MR points I’m pretty flush with them and want to book this way this year, but so many unknowns.
Jonesdds is offline  
Old Jan 20, 2022, 5:39 am
  #1620  
 
Join Date: Sep 2020
Programs: AA EXP, BA Gold, VS Gold, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 3,938
There's an ambiguously worded offer for Blooom right now for 1200 miles. It's unclear whether you actually have to sign up and pay for something or just link an account and do the free analysis. It's a 5 minute task that could potentially be 1200 free miles/LPs.

Unfortunately Blooom, despite the name, don't seem to sell flowers or even bonsai trees.

Last edited by coleslaw; Jan 20, 2022 at 5:53 am
coleslaw is offline  


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