Dec 17, 2021, 11:25 am
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?
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.
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
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.
- A separate thread exists to discuss the AAdvantage eShopping portal
- Another thread exists to discuss using the portal for a particular merchant, giftcards.com
- For additional questions about buying and using gift cards, refer to the separate Manufactured Spending forum.
(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.
Loyalty Points discussion/questions - From 2022 now used for determining elite status
Jan 22, 2022, 6:34 am
#1666
Original Member and FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Kansas City, MO, USA
Programs: DL PM/MM, AA ExPlat, Hyatt Glob, HH Dia, National ECE, Hertz PC
Posts: 16,579
I think one should assume the list is exhaustive, despite the use of the word 'include' which could imply the list is not exhaustive. Other partners that are listed on aa.com but not included on the list are Realty Rewards and Simplisafe (and of course Bask Bank, but AA covered themselves doubly there by posting the miles as all bonus miles now).
Jan 22, 2022, 8:06 am
#1667
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: CMH, West Coast
Programs: AA Executive Platinum, oneworld emerald
Posts: 2,741
I get the feeling that the same people who are poo-pooing shopping LPs and almost rooting for an AA switcheroo on March 1 are the same people who disbelieved the SimplyMiles Conservation payout as well. Well, I ain't missing out twice. If AA screws me, I'll have a boatload of RDMs to burn in March...
Jan 22, 2022, 8:24 am
#1668
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: NYC
Programs: AA EXP / LT PLT / 3MM, Marriott LT Gold
Posts: 35,384
I get the feeling that the same people who are poo-pooing shopping LPs and almost rooting for an AA switcheroo on March 1 are the same people who disbelieved the SimplyMiles Conservation payout as well. Well, I ain't missing out twice. If AA screws me, I'll have a boatload of RDMs to burn in March...
I was all set to go big on the SimplyMiles deal in December but I just couldn't get the offer to show up for me.
Jan 22, 2022, 8:57 am
#1669
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: SJC
Programs: AA EXP, BA Silver, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton diamond, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 33,533
Cheers.
Jan 22, 2022, 9:21 am
#1670
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 7,901
Jan 22, 2022, 10:29 am
#1671
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: East Coast, USA
Posts: 1,032
Personally, I'm intrigued by 20,000 LP as an Elite Choice Reward (from 2021)
https://www.aa.com/i18n/aadvantage-p...ce-rewards.jsp
I'd rather do this than buy 25 bonsai trees...
I am also wondering if the "buy up to J/F" will count towards LP. If so, I may take some of them offers.
https://www.aa.com/i18n/aadvantage-p...ce-rewards.jsp
^Starting March 1, 2022, the 10,000 bonus EQM reward will be replaced with 20,000 Loyalty Points
I am also wondering if the "buy up to J/F" will count towards LP. If so, I may take some of them offers.
Jan 22, 2022, 10:36 am
#1672
Join Date: Oct 2019
Programs: AA Exec Plat/UA 1K/Delta Platinum
Posts: 122
Yes. And if you use an AA branded card you would get an additional 50 LPs.
LPs are not AA miles. Why in the world 4 people in this forum are feeling “confident and hopeful” that if they spend $200 on a hotel through an AA portal they will be receiving 9,000 LPs 😂 I look forward to the hysteria in March.
LPs are not AA miles. Why in the world 4 people in this forum are feeling “confident and hopeful” that if they spend $200 on a hotel through an AA portal they will be receiving 9,000 LPs 😂 I look forward to the hysteria in March.
A lot of these offers are bonus points not base points. If you spend $50 on your credit for example at a gas station, which gives 2x points, you would only get 50LPs (although you would get 100 miles). A good portion (not all) of these special deals are tracked as bonus points. But effectively you can spend X amount on base points and earn status.
Jan 22, 2022, 10:39 am
#1673
Join Date: Sep 2020
Programs: AA EXP, BA Gold, VS Gold, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 3,945
The metric people are getting confused about is base points vs bonus points.
A lot of these offers are bonus points not base points. If you spend $50 on your credit for example at a gas station, which gives 2x points, you would only get 50LPs (although you would get 100 miles). A good portion (not all) of these special deals are tracked as bonus points. But effectively you can spend X amount on base points and earn status.
A lot of these offers are bonus points not base points. If you spend $50 on your credit for example at a gas station, which gives 2x points, you would only get 50LPs (although you would get 100 miles). A good portion (not all) of these special deals are tracked as bonus points. But effectively you can spend X amount on base points and earn status.
Jan 22, 2022, 10:42 am
#1674
Join Date: Oct 2019
Programs: AA Exec Plat/UA 1K/Delta Platinum
Posts: 122
Jan 22, 2022, 10:51 am
#1675
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: NYC
Programs: AA EXP / LT PLT / 3MM, Marriott LT Gold
Posts: 35,384
As an aside, the word "miles" should be replaced by "points" by all these programs. Most of what you earn is totally unrelated to miles, except for airline partner miles which have a complicated relationship with the "miles" earned.
Jan 22, 2022, 10:53 am
#1676
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: SEA, ATL (wish it was still ORD)
Programs: AA EXP; DL Platinum, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Globalist (marriage perk)
Posts: 512
Ok, maybe I'm slow but what's the deal with Marriott and Hyatt? I know AA and Hyatt had partnership and one was able to earn in both but I think above certain status no? Never heard about Marriott? Anyone knows how it would be operationalized and whether I will get both Marriott points & nights as well as AA LPs? And how do I book this actually?
Jan 22, 2022, 11:20 am
#1677
Original Member and FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Kansas City, MO, USA
Programs: DL PM/MM, AA ExPlat, Hyatt Glob, HH Dia, National ECE, Hertz PC
Posts: 16,579
I get the feeling that the same people who are poo-pooing shopping LPs and almost rooting for an AA switcheroo on March 1 are the same people who disbelieved the SimplyMiles Conservation payout as well. Well, I ain't missing out twice. If AA screws me, I'll have a boatload of RDMs to burn in March...
Jan 22, 2022, 11:41 am
#1678
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 10,904
The metric people are getting confused about is base points vs bonus points.
A lot of these offers are bonus points not base points. If you spend $50 on your credit for example at a gas station, which gives 2x points, you would only get 50LPs (although you would get 100 miles). A good portion (not all) of these special deals are tracked as bonus points. But effectively you can spend X amount on base points and earn status.
A lot of these offers are bonus points not base points. If you spend $50 on your credit for example at a gas station, which gives 2x points, you would only get 50LPs (although you would get 100 miles). A good portion (not all) of these special deals are tracked as bonus points. But effectively you can spend X amount on base points and earn status.
Jan 22, 2022, 11:46 am
#1679
Join Date: Oct 2019
Programs: AA Exec Plat/UA 1K/Delta Platinum
Posts: 122
Jan 22, 2022, 1:04 pm
#1680
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: PHL
Programs: AA EXP MM, HHonors Lifetime Diamond, Marriott Lifetime Ti, UA Silver
Posts: 5,036
Personally, I'm intrigued by 20,000 LP as an Elite Choice Reward (from 2021)
https://www.aa.com/i18n/aadvantage-p...ce-rewards.jsp
https://www.aa.com/i18n/aadvantage-p...ce-rewards.jsp
And who at AA is in charge of developing and writing the jumbled, conflicting, and contradictory rules for all of this? They need to find another career that better suits their talents.