4 Ways I Earn AAdvantage Status Each Year

I’ve been a Oneworld loyalist for years. Since I live in Spain, I frequently fly both Iberia and American Airlines, as well as Oneworld carriers such as Qatar, Cathay Pacific, and British Airways.

While I could start accruing eligible Iberia Avios to earn Iberia elite status at some point, I find the simplest approach is to continue earning with American Airlines to gain AAdvantage status.

I still earn most of my Iberia Avios by transferring credit card points and flying mainly on award tickets, but with American, I’ve found some interesting ways — in addition to flying — to ensure I get at least Gold status each year. That’s enough for priority check-in for Oneworld carriers, as well as access to better seats and the possibility of upgrades.

Here are my top secrets for getting enough AAdvantage Loyalty Points to earn elite status, plus a bit about how American Airlines’ elite status program works.

How To Qualify for American Airlines Elite Status

American Airlines revamped its AAdvantage loyalty program in 2022, creating a system where you earn both miles, which you can redeem for award flights and upgrades, and Loyalty Points, which you earn to qualify for elite status and other perks.

The qualifying status levels are as follows:

• AA Gold (Oneworld Ruby): 40,000 Loyalty Points
• AA Platinum (Oneworld Sapphire): 75,000 Loyalty Points
• AA Platinum Pro (Oneworld Emerald): 125,000 Loyalty Points
• AA Executive Platinum (Oneworld Emerald): 200,000 Loyalty Points

Why I Value American Airlines AAdvantage Elite Status

My main goal is to at least qualify for Gold status.

Gold members get perks such as 40% more Loyalty Points on flights, priority check-in, security, and Group 4 boarding, complimentary upgrades (where available) as early as 24 hours before departure, complimentary Preferred Seats at booking, Main Cabin Extra seats at check-in, and my first bag checked for free, among other benefits.

While Platinum status is a higher goal, I still aim for it. Platinum members receive 2 checked bags, 60% more Loyalty Points on flights, priority check-in, Group 3 boarding, complimentary upgrades (where available) as early as 48 hours before departure, and complimentary Preferred Seats and Main Cabin Extra seats at booking.

Platinum status also comes with access to the Admirals Club, business class, and frequent flyer lounges that are part of the Oneworld network on international Itineraries. Lounge access can be extremely valuable, especially when traveling through Oneworld hubs such as London Heathrow Airport (LHR), which has 7 Oneworld lounges in Terminal 3 alone. Plus, an international itinerary is as simple as a 2-hour flight between Madrid and Paris, especially convenient in Europe.

Platinum Pro and Executive Platinum members get additional perks, including more Loyalty Points earned on tickets, 3 checked bags, and upgrades offered further in advance, though it’s unlikely I’ll qualify for those status levels (but I never say never!).

Many perceive status, especially low-level Gold status with American, as low value or not worth it. For me, it saves time, stress, and hassle rather than money, though it does save me slightly on seat selection fees.

AAdvantage Gold status makes my travel smoother and easier. Because it awards me Oneworld Ruby status, when I fly Iberia out of my home airport in Madrid (MAD) or other Oneworld carriers, I can use the Priority line at check-in. Because I often travel with my 5-year-old, my experience is much smoother, especially because we often check bags. It means less time waiting and more time in the lounge and the airport playground.

I also like that I can choose my seat for free (I really prefer aisle seats) and have access to priority boarding. Since I fly around Europe for short trips and don’t check bags, I’m not in the final boarding group and don’t have to check my carry-on. I’ve received upgrades with Gold, but they’ve been rare. That said, I often end up with Main Cabin Extra seats that I select at check-in when flying American.

How I Earn Enough Loyalty Points Each Year

I’m not going to spend excessive amounts of money trying to earn status, but these 3 steps make it fairly simple for me to get AA status with ordinary spending and travel that I’d already be taking.

1. I Shop Online With AAdvantage

I make a point of making all my online U.S. purchases via either Rakuten to earn Amex Membership Rewards points or AAdvantage Shopping to earn additional American Airlines miles and Loyalty Points.

It’s worth noting that I never spend money on things I wouldn’t already buy or don’t need, unless there’s an incredible deal. Things I usually buy on AAdvantage Shopping include flowers for my mom on Mother’s Day (usually earns around 12x miles), Christmas gifts or things I want for myself on Black Friday, and things I need every few months, like my favorite K18 haircare items or kids’ clothes from Carter’s.

If I need to book a hotel directly, I always check whether I’d earn extra points by clicking through from AAdvantage Shopping. For example, right now I get only 1.5 miles per $1 spent with IHG, but if I spent $1,000 on a hotel stay, that’d be an additional 1,500 AA miles earned — and these smaller transactions add up.

I usually earn 5,000 to 15,000 Loyalty Points annually through AA shopping. For example, one of my 2026 resolutions was to stay on top of stock market news, and when AAShopping offered 8,600 miles for a $300 Motley Fool subscription, it was the final push I needed to sign up for the service. I’ve already learned a lot from the market news, made a few key investments thanks to my subscription, and I’m several thousand AA Loyalty Points richer.

The best times to use AAShopping are during peak shopping periods, such as back-to-school time, Black Friday, and Mother’s Day. This is when you can often find high bonuses on timely items, such as school supplies, holiday gifts, or flowers.

2. I Book Select Stays Through AAdvantage Hotels

When it comes to hotels, I don’t always book the same way. If I’m staying at a major chain, I make sure to take advantage of hotel credits for travel portals that come with my Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card (up to $100 back if booked in Chase Travel) and my Citi Strata Elite℠ Card (up to $300 annually on 2-night minimum stays if booked via Citi Travel).

LIMITED-TIME OFFER

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

A fantastic travel card with a great welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.

Apply Now(at Chase's secure site)

Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card

A fantastic travel card with a great welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.

Welcome Offer

Earn 75,000 100,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

75,000 100,000 points

UP's Offer Valuation*:

$2,000

Annual Fee

$95

APR

19.24% - 27.49% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Good to Excellent

Why We Like This Card

The Chase Sapphire Preferred^® card is one of the best travel rewards cards on the market. Its bonus categories include travel, dining, online grocery purchases, gas, EV charging, vacation homes, and streaming services, which gives you the opportunity to earn lots of bonus points on these purchases.

Additionally, it offers flexible point redemption options, no foreign transaction fees, and excellent travel insurance coverage including primary car rental insurance and emergency evacuation. With benefits like these, it’s easy to see why this card is an excellent choice for any traveler.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 5x points on all travel booked via the Chase Travel portal
• 3x points on dining purchases, online grocery purchases (excluding Walmart, Target, and wholesale clubs), gas, EV charging, vacation homes (such as Airbnb and Vrbo), and select streaming services
• 2x points on all other travel worldwide

Cons

• $95 annual fee
• No elite benefits like airport lounge access or hotel elite status

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
• Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, 3x on vacation homes, 3x on gas & EV charging, 3x on top streaming services and online groceries (excluding Walmart, Target, and wholesale clubs), 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases
• Earn up to $100 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays through Chase Travel
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
• Get a year of complimentary Apple TV when activated by December 31, 2026 - a value of $156.
• Complimentary DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees & lower service fees for a min. of one year when you activate by 12/31/27. Plus, a $10 promo each month on non-restaurant orders.
• Receive one statement credit of up to $120 every four years as reimbursement for the application fee charged to your card for a Global Entry, TSA Precheck^® or NEXUS application.
• Transfer points to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 19.24% - 27.49% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Chase Ultimate Rewards

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Citi Strata Elite℠ Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

The Citi Strata Elite card is Citi's most premium card built for frequent travelers and foodies.

Apply Now(at our partner's secure site)

Citi Strata Elite℠ Card

The Citi Strata Elite card is Citi's most premium card built for frequent travelers and foodies.

Welcome Offer

Earn 75,000 bonus Points after spending $6,000 in the first 3 months of account opening.

75,000 Points

UP's Offer Valuation*:

Up to $1,200

Annual Fee

$595

APR

20.49% to 28.49% Variable

Why We Like This Card

The Citi Strata Elite card is a great option for frequent travelers, foodies, and those who are fans of the Citi ThankYou Rewards ecosystem thanks to its combination of bonus categories, perks, and annual credits.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 12x points on hotels, rental cars, and attractions booked through Citi Travel
• 6x points on airfare through Citi Travel
• 6x points on dining on Citi Nights (Friday and Saturday nights from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.) and 3x points on dining at all other times

Cons

• $595 annual fee
• Boosted dining rewards are limited to 2 nights per week

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 75,000 bonus Points after spending $6,000 in the first 3 months of account opening.
• Earn 12 Points per $1 spent on Hotels, Car Rentals, and Attractions booked on cititravel.com and 6 Points per $1 spent on Air Travel booked on cititravel.com
• Earn 6 Points per $1 spent at Restaurants including Restaurant Delivery Services on CitiNights℠ purchases, every Friday and Saturday from 6 PM to 6 AM ET. Earn 3 Points per $1 spent any other time
• Earn 1.5 Points per $1 spent on All Other Purchases
• Up to $300 Annual Hotel Benefit: Each calendar year, enjoy up to $300 off a hotel stay of two nights or more when booked through cititravel.com.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 20.49% to 28.49% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

But I also try to book short stays that might not be eligible for my Citi hotel credit. This could mean a single night stay, like a staycation, or hotels not part of major loyalty programs, via AA Hotels.

I try to stay flexible with the property I’m booking, especially for a 1-night staycation, and book the best price (hopefully with a pool!) that also gives me a solid number of miles.

3. I Put Everyday Spending on an AAdvantage Credit Card

I currently hold the Citi^® / AAdvantage^® Platinum Select^® World Elite Mastercard^® and frequently use it to earn both Loyalty Points and miles. I’m less concerned about spending in the bonus categories because, even though I’d get extra miles, I’d still only earn 1 Loyalty Point per $1 spent.

Citi^® / AAdvantage^® Platinum Select^® World Elite Mastercard^®

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

Status lovers will enjoy the variety of benefits that come with this card. From free bags to reduced-price inflight beverages, AA still flies in style.

All information about Citi^® / AAdvantage^® Platinum Select^® World Elite Mastercard^® has been collected independently by Upgraded Points.

Citi^® / AAdvantage^® Platinum Select^® World Elite Mastercard^®

Status lovers will enjoy the variety of benefits that come with this card. From free bags to reduced-price inflight beverages, AA still flies in style.

Welcome Offer

For a limited time, earn 80,000 American Airlines AAdvantage^® bonus miles after $3,500 in purchases within the first 4 months of account opening.

80,000 miles

UP's Offer Valuation*:

$1,120

Annual Fee

$0 intro annual fee, $99 after the first year

APR

19.49% to 29.49% Variable

Why We Like This Card

The AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite card is a great option for American Airlines frequent flyers who want to earn more miles on their daily purchases and score perks such as free checked bags, preferred boarding, and savings on inflight food and beverage purchases.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 2x miles at restaurants, gas stations, and eligible American Airlines purchases
• 1x miles on all other purchases
• 1x Loyalty Point per $1 spent on all purchases

Cons

• Does not earn transferable rewards
• Charges an annual fee

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• For a limited time, earn 80,000 American Airlines AAdvantage^® bonus miles after $3,500 in purchases within the first 4 months of account opening.
• Earn 2 AAdvantage^® miles for every $1 spent at gas stations and restaurants, and on eligible American Airlines purchases.
• Earn 1 Loyalty Point for every 1 eligible AAdvantage^® mile earned from purchases.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees.
• First checked bag is free on domestic American Airlines itineraries for you and up to four companions traveling with you on the same reservation.
• Enjoy preferred boarding on American Airlines flights.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 19.49% to 29.49% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: 0%

Rewards Center

American Airlines AAdvantage Program

For example, I’d rather spend at a restaurant with a card like my Citi Strata Elite card, where I get 6x Citi ThankYou Points (during certain hours, 3x otherwise) and transfer those points at a 1:1 ratio to AAdvantage. Meanwhile, I use my AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite card for things like department store purchases or school supplies when I need to earn more Loyalty Points.

Spending on the card might be the difference between Gold and Platinum status. For example, my husband is considering a new motorcycle, and if he goes for it, we may put it on my AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite card — giving me the extra bump I need to reach Platinum.

I’m eyeing the Citi^® / AAdvantage^® Globe™ Mastercard^® , because it offers a Flight Streak bonus. This means I could earn a 5,000 Loyalty Point bonus after every 4 qualifying American Airlines flights (up to 3 times a status qualification year) for up to 15,000 Loyalty Points. But, I’d like to apply for the card once I know I have a lot of upcoming travel booked with American, rather than flying more on Iberia or other Oneworld carriers.

It’s worth noting that my AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite card offers benefits that overlap with AA Gold status, such as a checked bag and priority boarding. Still, I value the other Gold status benefits enough to aim for it.

4. I Still Earn When I Fly

You’ll notice I haven’t mentioned flying that much, and that’s because it’s not the main way I gain status. Airline loyalty programs have changed, and airlines value spending — but not always on flights. That said, flying does make a small contribution to my loyalty earnings annually.

I always opt for the 1,000-Loyalty-Point reward once I reach the 15,000-point mark, which helps me get a little bit closer to status every year. You never know when a few hundred — or even a thousand — Loyalty Points will be the difference between qualifying for status and falling just short.

Final Thoughts

Currently, I have more than 30,000 AAdvantage Loyalty Points, which will give me several months to reach Gold or Platinum status. I feel good about my midyear status progress, and I still have a hotel stay booked via AA Hotels, Black Friday shopping, and several Oneworld flights booked using cash. Plus, my American Airlines Loyalty Points count resets on March 1, 2027.

Whether you place a lot of value on earning low- to midlevel AAdvantage status or not, it’s nice to have. If you shift your mindset from flying American to spending with American (and you spend in carefully coordinated ways), you might be able to reach it.