The Guide to American Airlines Executive Platinum
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American Airlines boasts the largest airline loyalty program with more than 115 million members. But only the most loyal members can achieve American's top-tier elite status: American Airlines Executive Platinum. For their loyalty, American rewards Executive Platinum elites with perks including first-class upgrades, lounge access, free checked bags and a 120% mileage bonus.
From all of the perks of this top-tier elite status to how you can earn it yourself, here's what you need to know about American Airlines Executive Platinum status.
American Airlines Executive Platinum perks
Sure, the bag tags are a nice flex. But the real reason to earn American Airlines Executive Platinum elite status is the perks.
Here's an overview of the benefits of American Airlines Executive Platinum:
Accelerated mileage earning rates
120% mileage bonus: Earn 11 AAdvantage miles per qualifying dollar spent on American or a 120% status bonus on qualifying partner airlines.
Free upgrades
First-class upgrades: Top priority for unlimited complimentary upgrades on flights within North America — including upgrades on award tickets. Upgrades clear up to 100 hours before flight departure.
Companion upgrades: Complimentary upgrades for one companion traveling with you on the same flight.
Upgrades on Alaska Airlines: Unlimited first-class upgrades on Alaska Airlines, clearing as far out as 120 hours before departure.
Airport perks
Free bags: Get three free checked bags on American and Alaska Airlines and an extra baggage allowance on other Oneworld airlines.
Board first: Board in Group 1 boarding.
Speed through the airport: Get priority check-in and priority security (where available) when flying American, Alaska or other Oneworld partners.
Top-tier lounges: Enjoy the best-available lounge when flying on qualifying routes — including American Airlines Flagship Lounges and Oneworld first class lounges.
Lounge membership discounts: Save $100 off the standard price of an Admirals Club membership.
Onboard perks
Best available economy seats: Select extra-legroom or preferred seats for free. Plus, get complimentary extra-legroom seats on Alaska.
Free alcoholic drink and snack: Upgrade didn't clear? You'll still get a free alcoholic drink and snack in economy.
Extra flexibility
Complimentary same-day flight change: Get free confirmed changes to another flight on the same day.
Guaranteed availability: Book at least 24 hours before a flight and get guaranteed seats — even on sold-out flights.
Dedicated support
The American Airlines Executive Platinum phone number is 800-843-6200. Dialing it will connect you with the Executive Platinum service desk where you can talk with representatives about reservations, upgrade options, award claims, general AAdvantage account inquiries and more.
» Learn more: How to access American Airlines Admirals Club lounges
How to become Executive Platinum on American Airlines
To earn American Airlines Executive Platinum, an AAdvantage member must earn 200,000 Loyalty Points in a status qualification year. That qualification period runs from March 1 to the end of February of the following year.
This is a simplification from the previous elite status earning system. The old system required that an AAdvantage member earn a set number of Elite Qualifying Dollars (or EQD) as well as either Elite Qualifying Miles (or EQM) or Elite Qualifying Segments (of EQS).
Under the new Loyalty Points system, you can potentially earn American Airlines Executive Platinum elite status without flying a single mile or spending a single dollar on flights. That's because you can earn Loyalty Points from several non-flying activities, including:
Booking hotels, renting cars or booking cruises through AAdvantage partners.
Booking vacations through American Airlines Vacations.
Dining through AAdvantage Dining.
Shopping through the AAdvantage eShopping portal.
Spending through AAdvantage retail partners.
Taking advantage of offers through SimplyMiles.
$0.
$0 intro for the first year, then $99.
$595.
$99.
Earn 15,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after making $1,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening.
Earn 50,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $2,500 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening.
Earn 70,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $7,000 within the first 3 months of account opening.
Earn 60,000 AAdvantage® bonus miles after making your first purchase and paying the $99 annual fee in full, both within the first 90 days.
• 2 miles per $1 at grocery stores, including grocery delivery services, and on eligible American Airlines purchases.
• 1 mile per $1 spent on other purchases.
• 1 Loyalty Point per 1 eligible AAdvantage® mile earned from purchases.
• 2 miles per $1 at gas stations and restaurants, and on eligible American Airlines purchases.
• 1 Loyalty Point per 1 eligible AAdvantage® mile earned from purchases.
• 10 miles per $1 on eligible car rentals and hotels booked through AA.
• 4 miles per $1 on eligible American Airlines purchases, up to $150,000 spent per calendar year (5 miles per $1 spent thereafter for the remainder of the calendar year).
• 1 mile per $1 on everything else.
• 1 Loyalty Point per 1 eligible AAdvantage® mile earned from purchases.
• 2 miles per $1 on eligible American Airlines purchases.
• 1 mile per $1 on all other purchases.
• 1 Loyalty Point per 1 eligible AAdvantage® mile earned from purchases.
How much is American Airlines Executive Platinum status worth?
In NerdWallet’s annual analysis of the best airline elite status programs, we sought to determine how much value the major U.S. airline loyalty programs deliver to flyers. Here's how American’s AAdvantage program did.
Elite level | Value of benefits | Cost to earn | Elite earning rate |
|---|---|---|---|
AAdvantage Gold | $2,846. | $9,877. | 29%. |
AAdvantage Platinum | $7,426. | $18,519. | 40%. |
AAdvantage Platinum Pro | $15,030. | $30,864. | 49%. |
AAdvantage Executive Platinum | $28,894. | $49,383. | 59%. |
Of course, the more you travel, the more value you get, and NerdWallet's figure is based on the assumption that you would be flying (or spending) enough to even earn Executive Platinum elite status in the first place. Of course, the value of any elite status depends on how much you actually use the elite status perks and personal factors like where you live.
» Learn more: The best airline credit cards right now
What else to know about American Airlines Executive Platinum elite status
Earn Loyalty Point Rewards
American Airlines has added rewards that you can earn once you've surpassed the Loyalty Point threshold to earn Executive Platinum. For example, once you earn 250,000 Loyalty Points, you can choose two of the following Loyalty Point Rewards:
Two systemwide upgrades.
20,000 bonus points (or 30,000 bonus points for AAdvantage credit cardholders).
6 Admirals Club day passes.
Admirals Club membership (requires both choices).
$200 trip credit (or $250 trip credit for AAdvantage credit cardholders).
Carbon offset.
$250 donation to select nonprofit charities.
Two gifts of AAdvantage Gold status.
Bang & Olufsen product (requires both choices).
One Flagship Lounge single visit pass (or two single visit passes for AAdvantage credit cardholders).
35,000 AAdvantage miles toward a Mastercard Priceless experience.
The Loyalty Point Rewards continue well past that as well. You can keep earning more rewards as you reach more certain milestones up to 5,000,000 points.
» Learn more: What you need to know about American Airlines upgrades
Elite status earning is no longer calendar-based
American Airlines used to have a standard calendar year elite status earning period. Under that system, elite status depended on the flying that you completed in the prior calendar year. But American shook this up with the move to its new Loyalty Points program.
Now, AAdvantage elite status is based on your earnings from March 1 through the end of February of the following calendar year. That elite status is valid through the end of March of the year after that.
Here's an example: If you earn 200,000 Loyalty Points between March 1, 2024, and Feb. 29, 2025, you will qualify for American Airlines Executive Platinum elite status through March 31, 2026.
American Airlines Executive Platinum status (typically) must be earned
Many airlines will entice potentially valuable flyers to switch loyalty by providing a status match. However, American doesn't offer a status match program. And even its now-paused status challenge program let AAdvantage members challenge for up to Platinum elite status only.
With that said, American has previously given away elite status to some members out of the blue. Some AAdvantage members have reported getting emails offering complimentary, "no strings attached" elite status.
Also, American Airlines offered lucky World of Hyatt Globalists American Airlines Executive Platinum elite status near the end of 2019. Unfortunately for current World of Hyatt elites, we haven't seen American Airlines do so since.
No lifetime American Airlines Executive Platinum status
American Airlines offers lifetime status through its Million Miler program. However, AAdvantage Platinum status — the program's second tier — is the highest elite status tier that a traveler can lock in for life.
You'll earn this distinction after flying two million qualifying miles. For every million miles after that, you'll be rewarded with four systemwide upgrades.
American Airlines Executive Platinum elite status recapped
American Airlines Executive Platinum elite status offers the best perks that American Airlines has to offer — short of its invitation-only ConciergeKey status. These top-tier elites enjoy first-class upgrades, can check up to three bags for free, earn bonus miles, get to select the best seats for free, and have priority at check-in, boarding and security. In fact, it's the most valuable, ultra-tier elite status program of any major, U.S.-based airline.
The big downfall of American Airlines Executive Platinum elite status is simply how tough it is to earn. NerdWallet estimates you'd have to spend more than $50,000 just to reach American's Executive Platinum status. Unless you're a big-time jet setter (with a big-time budget), don't get too attached to trying to reach American Airlines Executive Platinum elite status.
Then again, with the switch to the Loyalty Point qualifying system, American Airlines Executive Platinum elite status might actually be slightly easier to earn now than in past years, particularly for some high spenders and those who know how to work the system. But even those folks should beware of the many exceptions to earning Loyalty Points.
How to maximize your rewards
You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are some of the best travel credit cards of 2024:
Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
No annual fee: Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card
Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express
Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
