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 4, 2022, 6:52 pm
#2761
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: NYC
Programs: AA EXP / LT PLT / 3MM, Marriott LT Gold
Posts: 35,399
Mar 4, 2022, 7:09 pm
#2762
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: RDU
Posts: 83
LPs are earned when you fly, not when you buy. They are based on base award miles which are also earned when you fly.
Your other 3355 is probably your credit card spend.
For the segment issue, AA may be requiring 30 segments in the membership year, which is March - March. Jan-Feb were just a bonus to get a head start on LPs.
Your other 3355 is probably your credit card spend.
For the segment issue, AA may be requiring 30 segments in the membership year, which is March - March. Jan-Feb were just a bonus to get a head start on LPs.
Thanks for the response. That makes sense as to why I have 2 segment credits instead of 10, except for the screenshot below that says it"s for activity starting Jan 1, 2022 ? So I get the loyalty points credit for spend on the flights that I flew in Jan-Feb but not credit for the segments? I wish they would actually show a breakdown of how those Jan-Feb points were earned.
Last edited by fls114; Mar 4, 2022 at 7:53 pm
Mar 5, 2022, 12:05 am
#2763
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: DCA
Programs: UA LT 1K, AA EXP, Bonvoy LT Titan, Avis PC, Hilton Gold
Posts: 9,658
Apparently the segments flown Jan and Feb don't count.
I had 14 segments in Jan Feb but not counting.
My account under promotions shows:
I flew 2 segments today March 4th, and only those 2 show.
I had 14 segments in Jan Feb but not counting.
My account under promotions shows:
I flew 2 segments today March 4th, and only those 2 show.
Unlock 5 levels of Loyalty Choice Rewards by earning Loyalty Points and flying 30 segments
Expires Feb 28, 2023- 2 of 30 Eligible flights
- and,,0 of 5 Level achieved
Mar 5, 2022, 5:37 am
#2764
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Albuquerque, NM
Programs: American Executive Platinum
Posts: 368
To the blunt person from a few pages ago criticizing complaints of the rollout:
I’m at the airport now checking in and no one has any record of updated status - priority boarding isn’t going through, priority baggage, free checked luggage - none of it. Yet the upgrade system…works? Called to be get myself manually added, but it’s functional.
The rollout of this new system - from initial announcement to details, overlap period, rollout 3/1, and now attempting to fly - all have been problematic. Perhaps this is normal for IT, but it’s been a poor experience from start to finish. Nothing to be proud of, and certainly worthy of critique.
I’m at the airport now checking in and no one has any record of updated status - priority boarding isn’t going through, priority baggage, free checked luggage - none of it. Yet the upgrade system…works? Called to be get myself manually added, but it’s functional.
The rollout of this new system - from initial announcement to details, overlap period, rollout 3/1, and now attempting to fly - all have been problematic. Perhaps this is normal for IT, but it’s been a poor experience from start to finish. Nothing to be proud of, and certainly worthy of critique.
Mar 5, 2022, 5:58 am
#2765
Join Date: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,702
Aren’t DL and UA’s programs also based on revenue?
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 5, 2022, 6:00 am
#2766
Join Date: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,702
Refresh ur app. Jan-Feb segments are flowing in as I type this. And jan/Feb segments do count. Mine has updated perfectly.
Apparently the segments flown Jan and Feb don't count.
I had 14 segments in Jan Feb but not counting.
My account under promotions shows:
I flew 2 segments today March 4th, and only those 2 show.
I had 14 segments in Jan Feb but not counting.
My account under promotions shows:
I flew 2 segments today March 4th, and only those 2 show.
Unlock 5 levels of Loyalty Choice Rewards by earning Loyalty Points and flying 30 segments
Expires Feb 28, 2023- 2 of 30 Eligible flights
- and,,0 of 5 Level achieved
Mar 5, 2022, 6:49 am
#2767
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 23,067
Poster was referring to comp upgrade priority. DL and UA don't have a similar point system (which can be influenced by CC spend) as a priority factor for upgrades. Fare class is the second factor after status in those programs. So if you buy cheaper fares it will definitely lower your priority. But if you are buying more expensive fares, you won't get a lower priority than someone at the same status level with a cheaper fare class but who happens to spend a lot on credit cards.
It's possible to mostly CC spend your way to Delta Diamond status, but the bar is pretty high. You'd need to spend at least $250K a year to qualify for DM MQD exemption. Further you'd need both personal and business Delta Reserve Amex cards and split your spend between them to get close to the required MQMs from spend (120K which is just short of 125K DM requirement). However, whether you are a DL or AA top tier elite, if you are primarily earning status from credit card spend and not flying, you probably aren't really presenting much competition for comp upgrades as you won't be on all that many flights.
It's possible to mostly CC spend your way to Delta Diamond status, but the bar is pretty high. You'd need to spend at least $250K a year to qualify for DM MQD exemption. Further you'd need both personal and business Delta Reserve Amex cards and split your spend between them to get close to the required MQMs from spend (120K which is just short of 125K DM requirement). However, whether you are a DL or AA top tier elite, if you are primarily earning status from credit card spend and not flying, you probably aren't really presenting much competition for comp upgrades as you won't be on all that many flights.
Last edited by xliioper; Mar 5, 2022 at 9:11 am
Mar 5, 2022, 7:58 am
#2768
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: DSM
Programs: UA 1K, AA EP, DL PL, HH Dia, Marriott Gld, National Exp
Posts: 722
Apparently the segments flown Jan and Feb don't count.
I had 14 segments in Jan Feb but not counting.
My account under promotions shows:
I flew 2 segments today March 4th, and only those 2 show.
I had 14 segments in Jan Feb but not counting.
My account under promotions shows:
I flew 2 segments today March 4th, and only those 2 show.
Unlock 5 levels of Loyalty Choice Rewards by earning Loyalty Points and flying 30 segments
Expires Feb 28, 2023- 2 of 30 Eligible flights
- and,,0 of 5 Level achieved
Mar 5, 2022, 8:03 am
#2769
Join Date: Mar 2019
Programs: AA EXP and Marriott Titanium
Posts: 776
Possibly log out and back in to refresh your app or just wait. I didn't have it yesterday when people started seeing it but I can see it today.
Mar 5, 2022, 8:18 am
#2770
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: DSM
Programs: UA 1K, AA EP, DL PL, HH Dia, Marriott Gld, National Exp
Posts: 722
Okay, I did that and now I have new CC banner across the page! LOL Expire dates for status and miles also appeared, but still nothing about segments (of which I should have 19 for Jan-Feb). I guess I'll wait!
Mar 5, 2022, 8:27 am
#2771
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: DCA
Programs: UA LT 1K, AA EXP, Bonvoy LT Titan, Avis PC, Hilton Gold
Posts: 9,658
The LP points earned have been included, just not counting the segments.
Update: Refreshing did not work. But last night (with no action) the Jan-Feb segments appeared.
So now show 16 segments.
Last edited by cova; Mar 6, 2022 at 7:42 am
Mar 5, 2022, 8:33 am
#2772
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Long Beach, CA
Programs: AA PLTPRO, HH Diamond, IHG Plat, Marriott Plat, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 3,559
Apparently the segments flown Jan and Feb don't count.
I had 14 segments in Jan Feb but not counting.
My account under promotions shows:
I flew 2 segments today March 4th, and only those 2 show.
I had 14 segments in Jan Feb but not counting.
My account under promotions shows:
I flew 2 segments today March 4th, and only those 2 show.
Unlock 5 levels of Loyalty Choice Rewards by earning Loyalty Points and flying 30 segments
Expires Feb 28, 2023- 2 of 30 Eligible flights
- and,,0 of 5 Level achieved
Under the detailed activity section where LPs have been posting, there is an entry for: CHOICE REWARDS SEGMENT DEPOSIT
No Loyalty Points, but two miles and this corresponds to the two segments now showing in the Promotions section.
Funnily, I also received two miles
I wonder if this is another "sweep" to pick up all the activity prior to 3/1/2022
Mar 5, 2022, 9:23 am
#2775
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2014
Programs: Top Tier with all 3 alliances
Posts: 11,669
Do we have a clear confirmation in writing from AA (rather than speculation) that LPs determine upgrade priority only WITHIN each elite level, rather than across elite levels?