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American Airlines AAdvantage® elite status offers both domestic and international travelers a lot of value — especially with the program’s shared status benefits on some of American’s partner airlines.
- At a glance: American Airlines AAdvantage status levels
- American Airlines AAdvantage Gold status
- American Airlines AAdvantage Platinum status
- American Airlines AAdvantage Platinum Pro status
- American Airlines AAdvantage Executive Platinum status
- Which American Airlines elite status level is right for me?
- American Airlines AAdvantage credit cards
At a glance: American Airlines AAdvantage status levels
Travelers can join the American Airlines AAdvantage program for free, but depending on how often you fly or how much you spend on one of the airline’s credit cards, you could qualify for up to four different elite status levels. Here’s how they compare.
| Gold | Platinum | Platinum Pro | Executive Platinum | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mileage bonus | 40% | 60% | 80% | 120% |
| Free checked bags | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| Complimentary upgrade window | 24 hours | 48 hours | 72 hours | 100 hours |
| Upgrade-eligible airlines | American | American | American and Alaska Airlines | American and Alaska Airlines |
| Loyalty Choice Rewards | None | None | 1 | Multiple |
| Status benefits with partner airlines | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
American Airlines AAdvantage Gold status
What does Gold status get me?
Gold status members earn 40% more miles on cash tickets than basic AAdvantage members. You’ll also get unlimited auto-requested complimentary upgrades, plus an upgrade for one companion ticket for someone traveling with you on the same flight. Note that upgrades may be confirmed only as early as 24 hours before your departure.
You’ll get priority check-in, too, along with priority security and boarding, complimentary preferred seats, Main Cabin Extra seats (within 24 hours of departure), a discounted Admirals Club lounge membership and more. And don’t forget that you’ll get some basic perks when you fly with Alaska Airlines or JetBlue Airways and oneworld® alliance partners.
How do I qualify for Gold status?
To obtain AAdvantage Gold status, you’ll need to earn 30,000 Loyalty Points within a 12-month period starting on March 1 each year. You can earn Loyalty Points by …
- Traveling with American Airlines, American Eagle, any oneworld alliance airline or other partner airlines.
- Using an American Airlines credit card — you’ll earn 1 Loyalty Point for each eligible AAdvantage mile earned with the card.
- Earning miles through AAdvantage eShopping, AAdvantage Dining, SimplyMiles and other programs.
American Airlines AAdvantage Platinum status
What does Platinum status get me?
As a Platinum status member, you can earn 60% more miles on cash tickets. In addition to all of the Gold status benefits, you’ll also get priority bag delivery, a longer upgrade confirmation window, complimentary Main Cabin Extra seats without waiting until 24 hours before departure to confirm and more benefits with Alaska Airlines and JetBlue Airways.
How do I qualify for Platinum status?
To reach AAdvantage Gold status, you’ll need to earn 75,000 Loyalty Points within a 12-month period starting on March 1 each year.
American Airlines AAdvantage Platinum Pro status
What does Platinum Pro status get me?
Once you reach Platinum Pro status, you’ll receive 80% more miles on cash tickets. On top of the Platinum tier perks, Platinum Pro benefits also include a longer upgrade confirmation window, complimentary upgrades on both American and Alaska Airlines, complimentary same-day flight changes and more partner benefits.
Additionally, if you have Platinum Pro status and you fly at least 30 segments in the same 12-month period, you’ll get access to Loyalty Choice Rewards, which may include systemwide upgrades, award discounts, Admirals Club one-day passes and more.
How do I qualify for Platinum Pro status?
You’ll need to earn 125,000 Loyalty Points within a 12-month period starting on March 1 each year to earn Platinum Pro status.
American Airlines AAdvantage Executive Platinum status
What does Executive Platinum status get me?
At the top tier of AAdvantage status, Executive Platinum members earn 120% more miles on cash tickets than basic members. In addition to all of the Platinum Pro tier benefits, Executive Platinum members also get complimentary upgrades on award tickets, a longer window for upgrade confirmations, guaranteed availability in the Main Cabin, waitlist priority, complimentary alcohol and snacks in the Main Cabin, expanded award availability and more.
How do I qualify for Executive Platinum status?
You can earn Executive Platinum status when you earn 200,000 Loyalty Points within a 12-month period starting on March 1 each year.
Which American Airlines elite status level is right for me?
If your home airport is a hub for American Airlines or you’re generally loyal to the airline when you fly, working toward elite status can be worthwhile. The status level that’s right for you will depend on how often you travel, the type of benefits you want and your ability to meet the requirements.
If you simply want free upgrades
You can qualify for complimentary upgrades with just Gold status, which can be relatively easy to qualify for, especially if you have an American Airlines credit card. The only drawback is that you won’t get a confirmation until 24 hours before departure, which means that all the other elite status members are ahead of you on the waitlist.
But even if you don’t get a first-class upgrade, you can still get preferred seats and possibly even a Main Cabin Extra seat
If you fly a lot
If you fly at least 30 segments each year, you’ll want to aim for at least Platinum Pro status, which offers complimentary upgrades on American and Alaska Airlines, access to one Loyalty Choice award and more.
If you have a lot of AAdvantage miles
If you’re a business traveler or you rack up a lot of AAdvantage miles in other ways, and you travel multiple times a month, it might make sense to shoot for Executive Platinum status. That way, you can get complimentary upgrades on your award tickets, greater award availability on each flight, complimentary alcohol and snacks regardless of which cabin you’re in, and more.
American Airlines AAdvantage credit cards
The easiest way to earn American Airlines elite status is to use one of the airline’s co-branded credit cards. There’s no difference in how you earn Loyalty Points from credit card to credit card, but some may offer additional perks you can enjoy on your way to elite status.