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
Feb 23, 2023, 8:18 am
#4006
Join Date: Jul 2013
Programs: AA ExecPlat, Marriott LT Titanium, HH Diamond, UA Silver
Posts: 131
Well, the benefits of EP over PP is certainly a lot more than upgrades on awards. Or some notion of being recognized as having status. It is a decision on economic terms. Pay an amount of money today (to Rocketmiles) in exchange for a large chuck of miles today, as well as earning more miles and more loyalty choice rewards all next year because you're earning 50% more miles (120% vs 80% mileage bonus). And throw in a couple of loyalty choice selections. The other benefits of EP are just bonus.
Feb 23, 2023, 9:21 am
#4007
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Washington, D.C.
Programs: AA, but I play the field
Posts: 1,440
Well, the benefits of EP over PP is certainly a lot more than upgrades on awards. Or some notion of being recognized as having status. It is a decision on economic terms. Pay an amount of money today (to Rocketmiles) in exchange for a large chuck of miles today, as well as earning more miles and more loyalty choice rewards all next year because you're earning 50% more miles (120% vs 80% mileage bonus). And throw in a couple of loyalty choice selections. The other benefits of EP are just bonus.
Feb 23, 2023, 9:34 am
#4008
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Portland, OR.
Programs: AA PPro
Posts: 606
I can't understand why anyone would end the year at only PP. If you fly regularly, it doesn't make sense not to based on math behind it. If I value miles at 1 or 1.5 cents, and I can book hotels on RM right now for 2.5 cents, I only need to justify paying 1 to 1.5 cents per LP to make up points you are short of EP.
So let's say someone is 60k short of EP. Right now you can spend $1500 on RM to earn 60k in LP. The 60k in RDM you earn are worth $600-$900 depending on how you value your miles. Now you receive 2 loyalty choices. SWU's are the most valuable if you can use, but say you choose the miles for another 50k miles worth $500-$750. So in a worse case valuation, you spent $1500, and received miles worth $1100. So EP costs $400. Now all of next year you supercharge earnings at 120% (vs 80% as PP) which is a big deal, and you're hitting loyalty choices sooner, and requalifying quicker. The benefits of being EP over PP are significant by themselves. Again, I can't imagine why someone would stay at PP when it is so easy, even this late, to qualify for EP.
So let's say someone is 60k short of EP. Right now you can spend $1500 on RM to earn 60k in LP. The 60k in RDM you earn are worth $600-$900 depending on how you value your miles. Now you receive 2 loyalty choices. SWU's are the most valuable if you can use, but say you choose the miles for another 50k miles worth $500-$750. So in a worse case valuation, you spent $1500, and received miles worth $1100. So EP costs $400. Now all of next year you supercharge earnings at 120% (vs 80% as PP) which is a big deal, and you're hitting loyalty choices sooner, and requalifying quicker. The benefits of being EP over PP are significant by themselves. Again, I can't imagine why someone would stay at PP when it is so easy, even this late, to qualify for EP.
Feb 23, 2023, 10:07 am
#4009
Join Date: Jun 2018
Programs: AA PPro
Posts: 632
Well, the benefits of EP over PP is certainly a lot more than upgrades on awards. Or some notion of being recognized as having status. It is a decision on economic terms. Pay an amount of money today (to Rocketmiles) in exchange for a large chuck of miles today, as well as earning more miles and more loyalty choice rewards all next year because you're earning 50% more miles (120% vs 80% mileage bonus). And throw in a couple of loyalty choice selections. The other benefits of EP are just bonus.
I prefer to book cheap web special awards with the miles earned from that spending, so ability to upgrade those would be the biggest benefit to me.
The additional value though depends a lot (at least this year) in whether you also have 30 segments, and thus qualify for some amount of loyalty choice rewards. For folks whose travel is mostly long-haul international, for example, or who fly primarily hub-to-hub, the accumulation of 30 segments is not an automatic given. But for someone who already has 30 segments under their belt, I agree with the above analysis.
Feb 23, 2023, 10:34 am
#4010
Join Date: Jul 2013
Programs: AA ExecPlat, Marriott LT Titanium, HH Diamond, UA Silver
Posts: 131
Check out the BAAH/Rocketmiles thread . Lots of $25 hotels in places like Vegas or Bali that earn 1000 miles. On the computer you can add extra miles at checkout. 4000 miles for under $100. Repeat 15 times.
Feb 23, 2023, 11:24 am
#4011
Join Date: Jan 2023
Programs: AA EXP 2MM
Posts: 114
Feb 24, 2023, 9:27 am
#4012
Join Date: Nov 2019
Programs: AAdvantage, HHonors
Posts: 12
Mar 6, 2023, 2:21 pm
#4013
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: BOS
Programs: AA EXP 1MM, DL PM, Bonvoy Titanium (Plat Life), HH G, Amtrak, B6, MR
Posts: 1,551
https://www.aa.com/pubcontent/en_US/...nts/index.html
Dreaming of booking that trip around the world? Now there's no limit to the miles you can earn on a single ticket.
Mar 6, 2023, 4:08 pm
#4015
Join Date: Jan 2022
Location: BOS
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 27
I have the same issue - flew segment #30 on 2/21 on Alaska and it took until 3/1/23 for the segment to post. It shows that I achieved 30 segments now with a big green check but no loyalty choice rewards yet in my account. I've been on the phone with AA customer service a couple of times since then and they said as long as the activity happened before the 2/28 cutoff date, it will count towards the prior qualification year, no matter when it posts. They are having some sort of system 'glitch' right now in recognizing post-2/28 activity, but they said they are working on fixing this, although it may take up to two weeks.
Mar 13, 2023, 8:41 am
#4017
Join Date: Aug 2007
Programs: AA EXP, Amex Plat
Posts: 572
Loyalty point calculation - Are carrier imposed fees to/from LHR treated differently?
Recently flew a PHL-LHR flight in biz (AA marketed, AA operated). Base ticket fare was $700, carrier-imposed fees were $1400, and about $220 in taxes (for a total of about $2320). When it posted, AA used the distance calculation for some reason and I got about 17k LP instead of the 23,100 I thought I should have gotten based on fare. So, I called and asked for the correct fare-based calculation. The agent said the carrier imposed fees may not be included in the calculation, but couldn't really explain why. From my reading of the AA webpage, the carrier-imposed fees should clearly be part of the calculations, but then I started to wonder if a bulk of the "carrier-imposed" fees would be the LHR-specific business class "tax" and if that would be excluded from the "carrier-imposed fees." Anyone have experience with this? The receipt very clearly shows $1400 in "carrier-imposed fees" and separately, taxes of about $220.
Mar 13, 2023, 10:13 am
#4018
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 12,483
Recently flew a PHL-LHR flight in biz (AA marketed, AA operated). Base ticket fare was $700, carrier-imposed fees were $1400, and about $220 in taxes (for a total of about $2320). When it posted, AA used the distance calculation for some reason and I got about 17k LP instead of the 23,100 I thought I should have gotten based on fare. So, I called and asked for the correct fare-based calculation. The agent said the carrier imposed fees may not be included in the calculation, but couldn't really explain why. From my reading of the AA webpage, the carrier-imposed fees should clearly be part of the calculations, but then I started to wonder if a bulk of the "carrier-imposed" fees would be the LHR-specific business class "tax" and if that would be excluded from the "carrier-imposed fees." Anyone have experience with this? The receipt very clearly shows $1400 in "carrier-imposed fees" and separately, taxes of about $220.
Mar 13, 2023, 1:43 pm
#4019
Join Date: May 2010
Programs: AA-EXP; IC - Amb
Posts: 36
I am 1300 LP short of qualifying for ExPlat for 2023. Knew that I'd be a bit shy of the mark, so did the logical thing and read the FlyerTalk forum. Best advice for quick LP seemed to be a subscription to Motley Fool for 5000 LP (prior posts had indicated the LP were issued quickly). Subscribed on Feb 23.
As the LPs had not yet posted, I submitted a claim to the AA shopping portal. They responded today:
According to The Motley Fool's Terms and Conditions listed below, subscription must be active for at least 60 days.
...(then, a summary of terms and conditions)
If the rewards for order # 24060827 do not post by 4/24/2023, please contact us back and we will be happy to research this further.
They do also state that LPs will be backdated to the time of transaction.
BUT....the problem is - I have extensive flying between now and 4/24 (including a trip to Tokyo). I want to have the extra SWU at my disposal for the Japan trip, and also to earn miles at the higher ExPlat rate.
I understood - or misunderstood - that the Motley LP would post soon after payment.
Any advice? History from others, regarding posting of Motley Fool LP? Resources, or places to go to find resolution (I don't do Twitter).
As the LPs had not yet posted, I submitted a claim to the AA shopping portal. They responded today:
According to The Motley Fool's Terms and Conditions listed below, subscription must be active for at least 60 days.
...(then, a summary of terms and conditions)
If the rewards for order # 24060827 do not post by 4/24/2023, please contact us back and we will be happy to research this further.
They do also state that LPs will be backdated to the time of transaction.
BUT....the problem is - I have extensive flying between now and 4/24 (including a trip to Tokyo). I want to have the extra SWU at my disposal for the Japan trip, and also to earn miles at the higher ExPlat rate.
I understood - or misunderstood - that the Motley LP would post soon after payment.
Any advice? History from others, regarding posting of Motley Fool LP? Resources, or places to go to find resolution (I don't do Twitter).
Mar 13, 2023, 2:34 pm
#4020
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 12,483
I am 1300 LP short of qualifying for ExPlat for 2023. Knew that I'd be a bit shy of the mark, so did the logical thing and read the FlyerTalk forum. Best advice for quick LP seemed to be a subscription to Motley Fool for 5000 LP (prior posts had indicated the LP were issued quickly). Subscribed on Feb 23.
As the LPs had not yet posted, I submitted a claim to the AA shopping portal. They responded today:
According to The Motley Fool's Terms and Conditions listed below, subscription must be active for at least 60 days.
...(then, a summary of terms and conditions)
If the rewards for order # 24060827 do not post by 4/24/2023, please contact us back and we will be happy to research this further.
They do also state that LPs will be backdated to the time of transaction.
BUT....the problem is - I have extensive flying between now and 4/24 (including a trip to Tokyo). I want to have the extra SWU at my disposal for the Japan trip, and also to earn miles at the higher ExPlat rate.
I understood - or misunderstood - that the Motley LP would post soon after payment.
Any advice? History from others, regarding posting of Motley Fool LP? Resources, or places to go to find resolution (I don't do Twitter).
As the LPs had not yet posted, I submitted a claim to the AA shopping portal. They responded today:
According to The Motley Fool's Terms and Conditions listed below, subscription must be active for at least 60 days.
...(then, a summary of terms and conditions)
If the rewards for order # 24060827 do not post by 4/24/2023, please contact us back and we will be happy to research this further.
They do also state that LPs will be backdated to the time of transaction.
BUT....the problem is - I have extensive flying between now and 4/24 (including a trip to Tokyo). I want to have the extra SWU at my disposal for the Japan trip, and also to earn miles at the higher ExPlat rate.
I understood - or misunderstood - that the Motley LP would post soon after payment.
Any advice? History from others, regarding posting of Motley Fool LP? Resources, or places to go to find resolution (I don't do Twitter).
About the only thing I can think of would be to call AAdvantage Customer Service (not the usual EXP line) 800-882-8880 and see if they could throw you any sort of bone given your scenario.
Unfortunately I don't think you'll get anywhere pushing back with eShopping as the terms do state the 60 day stuff, even if most post much quicker. I just signed up again for Motley Fool last week and the miles/LP's posted in 2 days.
While it won't help with the SWU's, if your EXP status isn't reflected by the time of your trips then I would call AAdvantage Customer Service again after your status updates and have them adjust your mileage/LP earning to reflect EXP.