American Airlines has one of the best elite status programs out there. In fact, the airline got third in NerdWallet’s award for best airline loyalty programs of 2023. The two airlines that came out slightly higher were Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian.

But Alaska is primarily an airline for West Coast travelers, while American Airlines has a much broader footprint. In fact, it’s the largest airline in North America in terms of passenger miles. Given its wide coverage, the American Airlines AAdvantage program might be the frequent flyer program of choice for many travelers.

And as a frequent flyer, American Airlines elite status is likely on your mind. After all, elite status means opportunities to earn bonus airline miles, free checked bags, upgrade opportunities and more.

There are four elite status levels in the American Airlines AAdvantage program, which are:

AAdvantage Gold.

AAdvantage Platinum.

AAdvantage Platinum Pro.

AAdvantage Executive Platinum.

Not to mention a semi-secret fifth level, American Airlines ConciergeKey.

In this guide, you’ll learn how to earn status, what the benefits are, and whether pursuing AAdvantage elite status is worth it for you.

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Changes to American status levels for 2023

Elite status is harder to earn

As of March 1, it's tougher to earn American Airlines Gold elite status — American has increased the number of Loyalty Points needed to earn its Gold tier of elite status by 33%, from 30,000 to 40,000.

"Loyalty Choice Rewards” have been renamed “Loyalty Point Rewards," and several new rewards have been added for those flyers who are between tiers.

Generally speaking, most of the changes are better for people who already spend a lot with the airline and earn Platinum status or above.

Read more about the program updates here.

But now it's easier to spend your way to elite status

American removed the previous 75,000 limit on miles that a member could earn on a single ticket.

Because miles for flights are earned based on a combination of ticket price and status tier, sometimes the most elite members who booked expensive airfares were capped at the number of miles they could earn on one flight.

As of March 1, 2023, that miles ceiling is moot, increasing the odds that you can spend your way to higher levels of status.

What is elite status on American?

American Airlines AAdvantage, like most frequent flyer programs, is free to join; you’ll just have to hand over some personal information like your name and email. So even if you only fly American occasionally, it’s almost always worth signing up.

Once you have a membership, you’ll be able to earn AAdvantage miles. Even if you’re an infrequent flier, miles can be slowly accumulated and redeemed for free flights (just don’t let them expire, which happens if you go two years without any account activity).

Loyalty Points aren't exactly the same as miles, but they go together like peanut butter and jelly. That's because one Loyalty Point is earned per one eligible AAdvantag mile. And those Loyalty Points are exactly what you need to become a VIP in the eyes of American. More Loyalty Points means higher levels of AAdvantage elite status. American has four tiers of elite status: AAdvantage Gold, Platinum, Platinum Pro and Executive Platinum.

Your American Airlines status for that year is based on flying and spending with American Airlines partners in a 12-month period starting on March 1 of each year. Once you've earned status, your AAdvantage status is valid through March 31 of the following year.

Here are the four tiers of American Airlines elite status, their top benefits (and value) and how to earn it:

AAdvantage Gold

Gold is the lowest of the elite status tiers, but it’s still useful to those who hold it. Benefits include:

Unlimited complimentary domestic upgrades (including award tickets).

Complimentary Preferred seats.

Complimentary Main Cabin Extra at check-in.

One free checked bag.

Priority check-in, security and boarding.

Same-day standby priority.

AAdvantage Gold service desk access.

Oneworld Ruby benefits.

How to earn: Earn 40,000 Loyalty Points.

Estimated value of benefits: $2,158.

Cost to earn: $7,595.

Bonus miles earned for spending on base flight miles traveled with American or partners: 7 miles per dollar spent (a 40% bonus).

Earning rate per dollar spent on American: 28%.

AAdvantage Platinum

Platinum is where your status starts to take off, as you’re now in the running for complimentary upgrades to the premium cabin.

Benefits include:

Complimentary Main Cabin Extra.

Complimentary Preferred seats.

Unlimited complimentary upgrades (including award tickets).

Two free checked bags with priority handling.

Priority check-in, security and boarding.

Same-day standby priority.

AAdvantage Platinum service desk access.

Oneworld Sapphire benefits.

How to earn: Earn 75,000 Loyalty Points.

Estimated value of benefits: $7,500.

Cost to earn: $18,987.

Bonus miles earned for spending on base flight miles traveled with American or partners: 8 miles per dollar spent (a 60% bonus).

Earning rate per dollar spent on American: 40%.

AAdvantage Platinum Pro

Not only does Platinum Pro get unlimited complimentary upgrades on domestic flights when available, but it’s more than likely any available upgrades will go to you.

If multiple elite status holders are on the flight, then American gives it to the person with the most Loyalty Points. And since Platinum Pro is among the highest levels of elite status, that upgrade is likely to go to you.

Benefits include:

Unlimited complimentary domestic upgrades (including award tickets).

Complimentary Main Cabin Extra.

Complimentary Preferred seats.

Three free checked bags with priority handling.

Priority check-in, security and boarding.

Free same-day flight change and standby priority.

AAdvantage Platinum Pro service desk access.

Oneworld Emerald benefits.

How to earn: Earn 125,000 Loyalty Points.

Estimated value of benefits: $15,153.

Cost to earn: $31,646.

Bonus miles earned for spending on base flight miles traveled with American or partners: 9 miles per dollar spent (an 80% bonus).

Earning rate per dollar spent on American: 48%.

AAdvantage Executive Platinum

Benefits include:

Unlimited complimentary upgrades within North America (including award tickets).

Complimentary Main Cabin Extra.

Complimentary Preferred seats.

Three free checked bags with priority handling.

Complimentary food and drinks in the Main Cabin.

Free same-day flight change and standby priority.

Priority check-in, security and boarding.

AAdvantage Executive Platinum service desk access.

Oneworld Emerald benefits.

How to earn: Earn 200,000 Loyalty Points.

Estimated value of benefits: $29,008.

Cost to earn: $50,633.

Bonus miles earned for spending on base flight miles traveled with American or partners: 11 miles per dollar spent (a 120% bonus).

Earning rate per dollar spent on American: 57%.

American Airlines ConciergeKey

American Airlines also has a fifth unpublished, elite status level called ConciergeKey. It’s a secret club of sorts, and there aren’t even any written guidelines on how to earn it (some say you’ll have to spend $50,000 or more on American Airlines flights to get invited to ConciergeKey).

With this ultra-fancy tier of status comes lavish privileges like membership for you and guests to Admirals Club lounges, Flagship Lounge access, a dedicated customer service line and the highest upgrade priority.

There are plenty of waived fees, and rumor has it that American Airlines sends customers not only appreciation gifts like chocolates, but even invites them to an annual gathering.

How to earn elite status with American Airlines

Elite status is earned through Loyalty Points. You earn one Loyalty Point per eligible AAdvantage mile earned. And given how many ways there are to earn American Airlines AAdvantage Miles, there are plenty of opportunities to in turn earn Loyalty Points.

How many Loyalty Points do you need to earn status with American Airlines?

Here’s how many loyalty points you’ll need to get into each status tier:

We broke down each status level by its top benefits, how to earn it, and its actual value. Jump to “American Airlines elite status: is it worth it?” to find out how we calculate the value of benefits and the cost to earn elite status.

Can you buy your way to American Airlines elite status?

In a sense, yes. While you can’t outright hand American Airlines cash in exchange for status, you can earn elite status through spending on things that aren’t necessarily flights. That includes using your AAdvantage credit card for your everyday spending, or shopping with American Airlines partners, and you’ll rack up Loyalty Points. Learn more about those ways you can spend your way to elite status below:

The best ways to earn Loyalty Points

Ways to rack up Loyalty Points to boost your ranks in the airline's elite status program include:

Purchasing something with an American Airlines credit card.

Flying with American, Oneworld or any other American Airlines partner airline.

Booking vacation packages through American Airlines Vacations.

Online shopping through the AAdvantage eShopping portal.

Shopping in store with a credit card linked to a SimplyMiles account.

Dining at restaurants that participate in AAdvantage Dining and paying with a linked credit card.

Staying at partner hotels, including Marriott and IHG with a linked American Airlines account.

With enough Loyalty Points, you’ll earn elite status which then unlocks perks like seat upgrades, lounge membership and more. Here's a deeper dive into some of those ways to earn Loyalty Points:

Spending on American Airlines AAdvantage credit cards

Most AAdvantage credit cards earn 1 base mile per $1 spent on eligible purchases (though some earn 0.5 base miles, while others earn an even-better 1.5 or 2 miles). One base mile equals one Loyalty Point toward elite status.

Even if your credit card earns bonus miles for certain categories (for example, the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® earns 2 miles per $1 spent at restaurants and gas stations), you’ll still only earn one base mile off that purchase. So, a $10 dining purchase would net you 20 miles toward your next free flight, but only 10 Loyalty Points toward elite status.

Welcome bonus offers on credit cards also won’t count toward elite status.

Shop with American Airlines partners

When you shop with American Airlines partners, you can earn Loyalty Points. Understand the terms of each program, as you’ll typically have to either link your AAdvantage account to the company you’re booking through by handing over your membership number to them, or you might have to shop through a link accessed via American’s site.

Partners vary, but usually include:

American Airlines shopping programs: American Airlines Vacations, AAdvantage eShopping, AAdvantage Dining, SimplyMiles.

Hotels: bookaahotels.com, Hyatt, Marriott International, IHG Hotels & Resorts, Marriott Vacations, RocketMiles.

Rental cars: aa.com/car, Avis, Budget, Payless, Hertz, Dollar, Thrifty, Alamo, National, Sixt.

Cruises: bookaacruises.com.

Retail partners: Shell, NRG Energy, Reliant Energy, Xoom, Miles for Opinion.

Learn more about earning AAdvantage miles, which can usually be converted to Loyalty Points, here.

Loyalty Point Rewards

Other benefits offered to status holders include one-offs or goodies for hitting certain thresholds. Here are the best of them:

Loyalty Point Rewards grant extra goodies like lounge passes

Those who earn AAdvantage Platinum Pro status or higher and fly at least 30 flights can start earning what’s called “Loyalty Point Rewards.”

These are extra, one-off rewards given for reaching new thresholds of Loyalty Points. The more Loyalty Points you have, the more choices of rewards you get to pick. Here’s the breakdown:

In short, people with 125,000 points get to pick one toy from an OK toy box. People with 750,000 get to pick two toys from the awesome toy box.

So what kind of rewards can you choose from at each rewards level? Here’s a complete list:

Level 1 – Choose 1

1 systemwide upgrade.

20,000 AAdvantage bonus miles (or even more if you hold certain American Airlines credit cards).

6 Admirals Club day passes.

$200 American Airlines trip credit.

Carbon emissions offset.

$200 donation to your choice of one of 10 partner charities.

One-time 15% off award discount.

Gift of AAdvantage Gold status.

Level 2 – Choose 2

2 systemwide upgrades (you can use two of your choices to receive four systemwide upgrades).

20,000 AAdvantage bonus miles (or even more if you hold certain American Airlines credit cards), which NerdWallet values at about $240.

6 Admirals Club day passes.

Admirals Club individual membership (though this will take both of your choices).

$200 American Airlines trip credit.

Carbon emissions offset.

$200 donation to your choice of one of 10 partner charities.

Gift of AAdvantage Gold status.

Choice of 1 Bang & Olufsen premium product (though this will require both of your choices).

Level 3 – Choose 2

1 systemwide upgrade.

25,000 AAdvantage bonus miles, which NerdWallet values at about $300.

6 Admirals Club day passes.

Admirals Club individual membership (though this will use both of your choices).

$200 American Airlines Trip Credit.

Carbon emissions offset.

$200 donation to your choice of one of 10 partner charities.

Gift of AAdvantage Gold status.

Level 4 – Choose 2

1 systemwide upgrade

25,000 AAdvantage bonus miles, which NerdWallet values at about $300.

6 Admirals Club day passes.

Admirals Club individual membership (though this will require both of your choices).

$200 American Airlines trip credit.

Carbon emissions offset.

$200 donation to your choice of one of 10 partner charities.

Gift of AAdvantage Platinum status (though this will take both of your choices).

Level 5 – Choose 2

1 systemwide upgrade.

25,000 AAdvantage bonus miles, which NerdWallet values at about $300.

6 Admirals Club day passes.

Admirals Club individual membership (though this will use both of your choices).

$200 American Airlines trip credit.

Carbon emissions offset.

$200 donation to your choice of one of 10 partner charities.

Gift of AAdvantage Platinum status (though this will take both of your choices).