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
Mar 3, 2022, 9:49 am
#2686
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 7,905
No. They reversed the miles for no reason at all.
), but did people by any chance paid with other gift cards for those gift cards (that is, manufactured spending) in the claw backs?. In these cases, the rules say you may not earn miles...
Mar 3, 2022, 12:04 pm
#2687
Join Date: Dec 2021
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 5
With respect to upgrade priority on domestic flights, is it correct to say that the business owners who, regardless of their travel frequency, are putting megabucks in expenses on their biz CCs are going to be first in line over people who are regularly traveling on a sane budget? If so, that's likely going to suck for me (EXP) and make me look at other airlines, and I can't imagine I'm the only one.
Mar 3, 2022, 12:06 pm
#2688
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: NYC
Programs: AA EXP / LT PLT / 3MM, Marriott LT Gold
Posts: 35,399
With respect to upgrade priority on domestic flights, is it correct to say that the business owners who, regardless of their travel frequency, are putting megabucks in expenses on their biz CCs are going to be first in line over people who are regularly traveling on a sane budget? If so, that's likely going to suck for me (EXP) and make me look at other airlines, and I can't imagine I'm the only one.
Mar 3, 2022, 12:06 pm
#2689
Join Date: Aug 2021
Location: USA
Programs: American Airlines (Executive Platinum), Hyatt (Globalist), Hilton (Diamond), IHG (Diamond)
Posts: 2,917
With respect to upgrade priority on domestic flights, is it correct to say that the business owners who, regardless of their travel frequency, are putting megabucks in expenses on their biz CCs are going to be first in line over people who are regularly traveling on a sane budget? If so, that's likely going to suck for me (EXP) and make me look at other airlines, and I can't imagine I'm the only one.
Mar 3, 2022, 12:47 pm
#2690
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: LAX/PHL
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 292
While I understand the concern, how many CC driven LP PPRO or EXP that didn't get their through butts in seats will realistically bump you who has a butt in the seat? I get that it more people will likely be PPRO and EXP, and that it cheapens the experience of getting status through flying, but do you really expect more people flying now because they dumped money onto their CC's for status? Or do you really think there are that many high spend CC that will somehow now compete with you because they want to fly more as they have status? I think a lot of people are making a huge mountain out of a mole hill as the criteria of you getting bumped from #1 to #2 from the upgrade list because the US is not filled with people like us in FT.
Mar 3, 2022, 1:06 pm
#2691
Join Date: Aug 2021
Location: USA
Programs: American Airlines (Executive Platinum), Hyatt (Globalist), Hilton (Diamond), IHG (Diamond)
Posts: 2,917
While I understand the concern, how many CC driven LP PPRO or EXP that didn't get their through butts in seats will realistically bump you who has a butt in the seat? I get that it more people will likely be PPRO and EXP, and that it cheapens the experience of getting status through flying, but do you really expect more people flying now because they dumped money onto their CC's for status? Or do you really think there are that many high spend CC that will somehow now compete with you because they want to fly more as they have status? I think a lot of people are making a huge mountain out of a mole hill as the criteria of you getting bumped from #1 to #2 from the upgrade list because the US is not filled with people like us in FT.
Mar 3, 2022, 1:32 pm
#2693
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: LAX/PHL
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 292
1. If SHTF again and we can't fly for X months, we've got our status covered vs. trying to do various challenges
2. People collect status, looking at us as a huge extreme on one end
3. People that normally don't fly have the option of getting high elite status if they do start to fly
#3 is really where I'm going at, and whether we're making a bigger deal then it actually is. I do agree that there will be more higher tier elite status if CC LP is more then the old process and those people fall off elite status or go elsewhere, but I really question how impactful CC LP driven it will be, especially if the understanding is that they'd then want to buy Y just to upgrade to J/F which bumps one of us off. I get that this is FT, the more extreme side of the flying world, so we're an echo chamber on ourselves. The EXP that flies anyways and dumps it on a card is still going to be an EXP, it's the new players that use CC LP that sounds possible on paper just doesn't seem like it'll be as disruptive as everyone imagines.
Mar 3, 2022, 1:41 pm
#2694
Join Date: Aug 2021
Location: USA
Programs: American Airlines (Executive Platinum), Hyatt (Globalist), Hilton (Diamond), IHG (Diamond)
Posts: 2,917
I don't know what everyone else has posted since I'm not up to date, but I can think of a few:
1. If SHTF again and we can't fly for X months, we've got our status covered vs. trying to do various challenges
2. People collect status, looking at us as a huge extreme on one end
3. People that normally don't fly have the option of getting high elite status if they do start to fly
#3 is really where I'm going at, and whether we're making a bigger deal then it actually is. I do agree that there will be more higher tier elite status if CC LP is more then the old process and those people fall off elite status or go elsewhere, but I really question how impactful CC LP driven it will be, especially if the understanding is that they'd then want to buy Y just to upgrade to J/F which bumps one of us off. I get that this is FT, the more extreme side of the flying world, so we're an echo chamber on ourselves. The EXP that flies anyways and dumps it on a card is still going to be an EXP, it's the new players that use CC LP that sounds possible on paper just doesn't seem like it'll be as disruptive as everyone imagines.
1. If SHTF again and we can't fly for X months, we've got our status covered vs. trying to do various challenges
2. People collect status, looking at us as a huge extreme on one end
3. People that normally don't fly have the option of getting high elite status if they do start to fly
#3 is really where I'm going at, and whether we're making a bigger deal then it actually is. I do agree that there will be more higher tier elite status if CC LP is more then the old process and those people fall off elite status or go elsewhere, but I really question how impactful CC LP driven it will be, especially if the understanding is that they'd then want to buy Y just to upgrade to J/F which bumps one of us off. I get that this is FT, the more extreme side of the flying world, so we're an echo chamber on ourselves. The EXP that flies anyways and dumps it on a card is still going to be an EXP, it's the new players that use CC LP that sounds possible on paper just doesn't seem like it'll be as disruptive as everyone imagines.
The person who re-qualified as EXP in 2021 with $9,000 EQD now needs to spend $18,000 on flights to re-qualify as EXP in 2022, absent a mountain of CC and/or portal spending.
Meanwhile, I believe both Delta and United kept their 2022 thresholds the same or very close to 2021's. It will be very interesting to see whether DL/UA or AA was right about 2022.
Mar 3, 2022, 1:49 pm
#2695
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Miami, FL
Programs: UA 1MM, AA Plat, Marriott LT Titanium, Hyatt Glob, IHG ♢ Amb, Hilton ♢, Hertz Pres
Posts: 6,018
I don't know what everyone else has posted since I'm not up to date, but I can think of a few:
1. If SHTF again and we can't fly for X months, we've got our status covered vs. trying to do various challenges
2. People collect status, looking at us as a huge extreme on one end
3. People that normally don't fly have the option of getting high elite status if they do start to fly
#3 is really where I'm going at, and whether we're making a bigger deal then it actually is. I do agree that there will be more higher tier elite status if CC LP is more then the old process and those people fall off elite status or go elsewhere, but I really question how impactful CC LP driven it will be, especially if the understanding is that they'd then want to buy Y just to upgrade to J/F which bumps one of us off. I get that this is FT, the more extreme side of the flying world, so we're an echo chamber on ourselves. The EXP that flies anyways and dumps it on a card is still going to be an EXP, it's the new players that use CC LP that sounds possible on paper just doesn't seem like it'll be as disruptive as everyone imagines.
1. If SHTF again and we can't fly for X months, we've got our status covered vs. trying to do various challenges
2. People collect status, looking at us as a huge extreme on one end
3. People that normally don't fly have the option of getting high elite status if they do start to fly
#3 is really where I'm going at, and whether we're making a bigger deal then it actually is. I do agree that there will be more higher tier elite status if CC LP is more then the old process and those people fall off elite status or go elsewhere, but I really question how impactful CC LP driven it will be, especially if the understanding is that they'd then want to buy Y just to upgrade to J/F which bumps one of us off. I get that this is FT, the more extreme side of the flying world, so we're an echo chamber on ourselves. The EXP that flies anyways and dumps it on a card is still going to be an EXP, it's the new players that use CC LP that sounds possible on paper just doesn't seem like it'll be as disruptive as everyone imagines.
So as you can see I don't fly AA a lot. I do fly them and appreciate the benefits when I do. I fly OneWorld more than just AA. I can spend my way into at least the Plat Pro tier solely via cc spend if I wanted to. But since I don't fly AA often enough, that makes no sense. So I'm spending enough to get to Plat (which gets me OneWorld Sapphire status, which I use and enjoy ~3-4x per yr).
My point in describing this is - people who do not fly AA enough are unlikely to choose to become EXP via cc spend (and even if they do, still won't fly enough to matter to all you EXP types who fly a ton). People who fly AA a ton, may use their cc to get there sooner and/or to top up rather than mileage run at the end of the year.
I just don't see the huge shift in behavior beyond a certain level (and such level is based on each persons unique AA flying pattern). There are better cc's to place spend on beyond whatever level makes the most sense for each person.
Mar 3, 2022, 1:56 pm
#2696
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: LAX/PHL
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 292
I agree that the dynamics have changed, but the goal for AA is to make more revenue so they pick and choose their battles. The bean counters expect that shifting to CC spend is how to increase the bottom line, and the kicker is free status for those that spend the most. The need to spend more money to maintain EXP will absolutely be a challenge and I posted earlier wondering whether there will be a net gain or loss if new CC LP spend cannot overcome the loss of current elite's falling off or leaving; who knows if it'll be net gain or loss to total high tier status? But, a lot of posts here seem to be pointing out that there will be a net gain, that the elite status will grow and enough to bump them because of those spending $100k-$200k on their CC for LP will want to fly more and buy Y fares in hopes of getting upgrades which I find dubious at best.
Mar 3, 2022, 1:57 pm
#2697
Join Date: Feb 2022
Programs: AAdvantage
Posts: 949
This thread is so unmanageable that I can't find the original post, and it's so laggy with the autoscroll feature that I can't really even try, but at some point someone was on here chastising folks for complaining about the rollout. I'm now on the phone with reservations & customer support and they can't even update new status levels for multiple days because of the change over. How does this seem remotely acceptable - all of these derivative problems of the system being rolled out? Why was this not beta tested and made fully operational behind the scenes, then just lift the curtains once everything was tested?
That people are proud of or happy with how AA rolled out these changes speaks to how low expectations are of AA IT.
That people are proud of or happy with how AA rolled out these changes speaks to how low expectations are of AA IT.
Mar 3, 2022, 1:59 pm
#2698
Join Date: Feb 2022
Programs: AAdvantage
Posts: 949
With respect to upgrade priority on domestic flights, is it correct to say that the business owners who, regardless of their travel frequency, are putting megabucks in expenses on their biz CCs are going to be first in line over people who are regularly traveling on a sane budget? If so, that's likely going to suck for me (EXP) and make me look at other airlines, and I can't imagine I'm the only one.
Mar 3, 2022, 2:01 pm
#2699
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 10,904
So your RDM post with no LP, and then then you get the LP as part of the "double dipping" promo.
Mar 3, 2022, 2:10 pm
#2700
Join Date: Apr 2004
Programs: AA Plat/2MM, DL Silver, UA Silver (via Marr), Marr LTT, HH Gold (via cc), Hyatt Disc
Posts: 1,039
One factor is pretty easy; the # of AA domestic flights per day (I saw online something like 4,000 a day; don't know how accurate that is or it includes International).
The other factors are a bit more challenging:
- If you assume a low-flying mega-spender takes 4 domestic flights per year, that means there is a 4 in 365 chance (let's round it to 1%) that they fly on any given day.
- So the # that gets you to 1 mega-spender per flight is 400,000 (400,000 mega-spenders x 1% of flying on a give day divided by 4,000 domestic flights = 1 mega-spender per flight).
400,000 sounds like a very high # but goes down dramatically is you assume they fly more that 4 flights per year (ie 200,000 if they fly 8 times).
Anyway, many holes in this (more/less popular routes or travel dates) and I confess to not being a math expert.
Maybe someone else will have fun refining this. Or you can just write this off as a silly and worthless exercise.