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
Oct 26, 2021, 10:18 am
#136
In memoriam
Join Date: Dec 2001
Programs: DL 2MM, AA MM, DL Sky Club Life, AA Admirals Club Life, Hilton Gold Life
Posts: 1,732
Hmmm , hard to keep up with prediction of how many are ahead of you getting upgraded.
Certainly the competition is reduced based on status if a large percentage don't actually fly
I'm happy to not even compete as long as I get my free bag and shorter baggage check line so no worries about me standing in front of you at boarding
Certainly the competition is reduced based on status if a large percentage don't actually fly
I'm happy to not even compete as long as I get my free bag and shorter baggage check line so no worries about me standing in front of you at boarding
Oct 26, 2021, 10:21 am
#137
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2000
Location: أمريكا
Posts: 26,763
Getting started in this program is crazy. $6k on tickets to get to gold; it's $5k just to requalify at that level??
Is there anything definitive on eShopping? Is it just base $1 = 1 point? I suppose if you put that on an AA credit card you'll get 2 points / dollar.
Plenty of people with business expenses for things like inventory and services they run through their credit cards who aren't in the "paid first class" category of traveler.
Is there anything definitive on eShopping? Is it just base $1 = 1 point? I suppose if you put that on an AA credit card you'll get 2 points / dollar.
Plenty of people with business expenses for things like inventory and services they run through their credit cards who aren't in the "paid first class" category of traveler.
Oct 26, 2021, 10:22 am
#138
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 2,313
Karen shouldn't really be deciding If someone's trip is worthwhile
Oct 26, 2021, 10:27 am
#141
Join Date: Jun 2018
Programs: AA PPro
Posts: 632
I mean the incentive to fly the premium cabin is...to fly the premium cabin. 
And for AA marketed vs. partners, you have to do the math. Deep discount J will generally earn more on partners, but that was always the same before this as it related to RDMs and EQDs. A $5k+ J ticket will earn much more via AA.
This new system is essentially just like RDMs when flying.
And for AA marketed vs. partners, you have to do the math. Deep discount J will generally earn more on partners, but that was always the same before this as it related to RDMs and EQDs. A $5k+ J ticket will earn much more via AA.
This new system is essentially just like RDMs when flying.
Oct 26, 2021, 10:28 am
#142
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AA EXP, IHG Diamond, IC Amb
Posts: 5,510
Go to Earn Miles | Partner Airlines | American Airlines to see earning on American Airlines (I know it's stupid). Shortcut here: https://www.aa.com/i18n/travel-info/...n-airlines.jsp
Oct 26, 2021, 10:28 am
#143
Moderator: American AAdvantage, Signatures
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: London, England
Programs: UA 1K, Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond Ambassador, National Exec, AA EXP Emeritus
Posts: 9,765
I've retitled this thread in an attempt to capture the gist of the topic and changes announced.
~Moderator
~Moderator
Oct 26, 2021, 10:30 am
#144
Join Date: May 2006
Location: SAN
Programs: Lots of faux metal
Posts: 6,424
Also, the calculator shows that's not changing.
Oct 26, 2021, 10:30 am
#145
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: ZOA, SFO, HKG
Programs: UA 1K 0.9MM, Marriott Gold, HHonors Gold, Hertz PC, SBux Gold, TSA Pre✓
Posts: 13,811
The best part - Costco Cash card is not MS as it is a store-specific GC.
Your tradeoff is any potential cashback from Citi Costco Card (but you still get the 2% Executive bonus if you are an Executive member).
Oct 26, 2021, 10:30 am
#146
Join Date: Dec 2018
Programs: $9 Fare Club
Posts: 1,479
Oct 26, 2021, 10:33 am
#147
Join Date: Sep 2002
Posts: 385
That’s only if you are current EXP. For new member it’s $27000 EQD ish. So if you fall of the wagon it’s going to be rough if earning by flying. But yeah the CC spend counting helps but takes away from any illusion that this is a FFP. It’s just a cash gray program for spenders now.
Oct 26, 2021, 10:34 am
#148
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Posts: 655
For most non-US flyers, it really does not make much sense to chase elite status with a US based FF program for several reasons.
Sure, there are some non-US based folks that have elite status with AA but their numbers are probably a very very small fraction of the elite universe.
(I myself am US based but got BA status one year, just because it made sense then due to a number of particular circumstances)
I don't think the reason is to get them out of elite status. The AA cards abroad are issued by different entities or subsidiaries of Citi for example, not the same bank.
There are behind the scene agreements between Citi and AA that probably don't apply to the subsidiaries in other countries and AA does not care anyway about abroad elites because there are not a lot and don't impact much the bottom line.
Sure, there are some non-US based folks that have elite status with AA but their numbers are probably a very very small fraction of the elite universe.
(I myself am US based but got BA status one year, just because it made sense then due to a number of particular circumstances)
I don't think the reason is to get them out of elite status. The AA cards abroad are issued by different entities or subsidiaries of Citi for example, not the same bank.
There are behind the scene agreements between Citi and AA that probably don't apply to the subsidiaries in other countries and AA does not care anyway about abroad elites because there are not a lot and don't impact much the bottom line.
Oct 26, 2021, 10:35 am
#149
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AA EXP, IHG Diamond, IC Amb
Posts: 5,510
While initially being a bit skeptic, I am finding some sweet spots now in the new program. As Platinum I would need 3 annual trips of 12.500 miles flying per trip on for instance BA, in premium economy, to make it to my new platinum status. Flying J would give me 25% more earnings, however, tickets in J are costing more than 25% compared to premium economy. Am I correct with these calculations?
Oct 26, 2021, 10:38 am
#150
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: PHL, NYC
Programs: AA PLT, DL SLV, UA SLV, MR LTT, HH DIA
Posts: 10,067
Ben Baldnaza was right almost 20 years ago when, as head of Marketing for US Airways, he said (I'm paraphrasing) - a frequent flyer is not necessarily the kind of customer they wanted. He was always about $$$ loyalty above the mileage runners. This was right around the time when US had very generous bonus offers for mileage runners on dirt cheap fares.