The Rewards Master

The American Airlines loyalty program has become one of the major airlines’ most popular and talked about programs. In 2022, American Airlines completely overhauled the program, eliminating miles flown and the amount of money spent directly with the airline as the primary metrics for earning status. They replaced the previous requirements with their new Loyalty Points program, which focuses on a single metric, loyalty points, that can be reached in multiple ways. Paid flights, credit card spending, hotel purchases, car rentals, and a shopping portal were ways that members could earn LPs for status. The LPs required to meet status thresholds seem high at first glance. Still, considering the various ways flyers can accumulate them, American status is now easier to achieve than status with their primary competitors.

The four published status thresholds are:

Gold – 40k Loyalty Points

Platinum – 75k Loyalty Points

Platinum Pro – 125k Loyalty Points

Executive Platinum – 200k Loyalty Points

Each status level provides advanced perks like domestic upgrades, priority boarding, and free checked bags. My strategy for reaching Platinum Pro status for 2025 is as follows:

1. Citi World Elite Executive Mastercard Boost – Citibank’s top-tier American Airlines credit card has a hefty $595 annual fee but provides several credits (rental cards, Lyft, and Grubhub), free checked bags, priority boarding, and access to American Airlines’ Admirals’ Lounges. An additional Loyalty Point perk provides 10k points upon achieving 50k LPs and 10k more when reaching 90k LPs. My anticipated Gain: 20k LPs.
2. Paid Flight Earnings – Each status level produces different mile and LP earnings for the dollars spent. Gold status receives 7x, Platinum 8x, Platinum Pro 9x, and Executive Platinum 11x. I’ll spend about $5,600 in flights for 2024, with an anticipated gain of 50k LPs.
3. AAdvantage Hotels – American Airlines’ hotel portal gives LPs for paid hotel stays booked through their site. Some can range from 5,000 LPs to 10,000 LPs per night. For $500 in spending through the site, I anticipate receiving 10k LPs.
4. Shell Gas Rewards – Shell partners with American Airlines to provide 2 LPs per gallon bought at Shell gas stations. Based on my gas spending, I should earn 3k LPs.
5. AAdvantage Dining – Members earn 5 LPs per dollar for dining at restaurants participating in the program. I intend to utilize AAdvantage Dining to accumulate 10k LPs.
6. AAdvantage Shopping Portal – The American Airlines shopping portal gives additional LPs when online shopping is done through their website on a registered credit card. Many merchants participate, and the LP earning rates change frequently. I anticipate shopping on the sire enough to earn 15k LPs.
7. Credit Card Spending – All American Airlines credit cards from Citi and Barclays Banks earn one LP for each dollar spent. I plan to spend $17,000 on my credit card to make the additional points I’ll need: 17k LPs.

There are even more ways to earn American Airlines Loyalty Points. Still, this plan should quickly help me achieve Platinum Pro status through 2025.