What ways are there to retain/gain AAdvantage status with American Airlines, apart from flying?
Let's say one is interested in gaining or retaining AAdvantage frequent flyer status with American Airlines (I am happy to broaden the question to other airlines if that's useful). Normally, this requires you to actually fly, typically with either American or their alliance/codeshare partners. However, are there any other mechanisms to contribute towards frequent flyer membership without flying? As far as I understand, most credit cards/hire car programs etc. which are related to the AAdvantage program don't contribute 'elite-qualifying' miles. Are there any other legitimate ways to earn these or retain membership?
Best Answer
No, there is no other way to get an elite status. There are very few exceptions:
Sometimes airlines match the status you have with another airline.
You can participate in a status challenge. You pay a fee and get a temporary elite status. Then you have to fly a certain number of miles in a specified time period. If you do that, you get an elite status for a year. You cannot participate in the challenge to retain your status.
If you are in charge of a travel department in a large company, you may get a complementary elite status.
If you earn more than 1 million miles (it doesn't matter how you get them in some frequent flyer programs; but not any longer in AAdvantage), you get an elite status for life.
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Quick Answer about "What ways are there to retain/gain AAdvantage status with American Airlines, apart from flying?"
- Fly on American Airlines, Oneworld partner airlines, JetBlue, and GOL Airlines.
- Spend on AAdvantage co-branded credit cards, such as the Citi®/AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®
- AAdvantage eShopping and AAdvantage Dining portals.
How do I keep my AAdvantage status?
The other way to retain your AAdvantage elite status is through flying. Just earn 2,000 Elite Qualifying Dollars on qualifying flights between Sept. 1 and Dec. 31, 2021, to extend the elite status that you held at the beginning of 2021 through Jan.How can I earn AAdvantage miles without flying?
AAdvantage | The Best Loyalty Program
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Answer 2
Normally, this requires you to actually fly, typically with either American or their alliance/codeshare partners.
To attain frequent-flyer status on American, you must fly, and you must fly at least four segments per year on American Airlines flights (flights with AA flight numbers). The only exception is lifetime status, which you retain even without flying. Lifetime status is achieved by having flown more than one million (for gold) or two million (for Platinum) miles in your lifetime.
However, are there any other mechanisms to contribute towards frequent flyer membership without flying? As far as I understand, most credit cards/hire car programs etc. which are related to the AAdvantage program don't contribute 'elite-qualifying' miles.
There are several mechanisms that contribute towards elite status. If you purchase first class, business class, or full-fare coach tickets, you earn elite status with less flying (fewer miles flown). Both of the AA-affiliated credit card companies (Citi and Barclays) offer elite-qualifying miles for certain spend on certain cards. Additionally, AA may offer a fast-track to elite status on a case-by-case basis.
Answer 3
You can buy an Airpass for $10,000-$30,000 to instantly get the status tier you want.
https://airpass.aa.com/vt-customer/customer_content/prelogin/html/membership.html
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