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Top tier: 5 things american airlines executive platinum status gets you.

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• American Airlines has introduced changes to AAdvantage loyalty program in 2024.
• While it might be expensive to achieve the highest status within the airline's loyalty program, there are plenty of useful benefits.
• AAdvantage Executive Platinum members also receive benefits across the oneworld alliance, including lounge access and priority check-in.

Out of the four tiers the airline’s loyalty members can achieve, the Executive Platinum is the highest status of the American Airlines loyalty program, ‘AAdvantage.’ Other loyalty statuses include Platinum Pro, Platinum, and Gold.

Much like every airline’s offering, American Airlines passengers can achieve status by flying and/or collecting miles, including buying with the American Airlines AAdvantage credit cards, booking partner hotels through the AAdvantage Hotels platform, shopping online, or dining and paying with AAdvantage-linked credit or debit card.

On January 9, 2024, American Airlines introduced changes to its AAdvantage loyalty program , with changes being in effect from March 1. Members will be able to cancel even non-refundable economy class tickets, with certain conditions, and apply for an empty seat on a flight that is earlier in the day.

Further changes to the program will be coming later during the year, such as an extended trip credit (up to six months longer), one-day passes to Admirals Club, Flagship Lounge single visit passes, and holding flights for up to 24 hours without extra fees.

Loyalty Roundup: All The Changes To American Airlines' AAdvantage Program In 2024

There are some small but important changes coming up in 2024 for all AAdvantage members.

To earn Executive Platinum status, a passenger has to have at least 200,000 loyalty points, which need to be earned from March 1 until the end of February of next year. One AAdvantage loyalty point is equal to one mile, and as mentioned above, points can also be earned while being on the ground.

1 one world alliance benefits

Benefits not offered for aadvantage gold: 3.

Benefits offered:

• Priority check-in, boarding, security
• one world partner lounge access
• one world preferred or pre-saved seating
• Complimentary bags

One of the more apparent benefits of AAdvantage Executive Platinum is that many benefits are available across the one world alliance, which American Airlines was a founding member of in February 1999. However, the airline pointed out that the one world benefits are only available on flights that are marketed and operated by a member airline, namely that the member carrier’s flight number is visible on a passenger’s ticket.

The one world alliance will expand to 14 members, with Oman Air joining it sometime in the second half of 2024, adding another Middle Eastern hub to its network. Qatar Airways’ hub at Doha Hamad International Airport (DOH) is another hub in the region, with the airline sponsoring Oman Air’s bid to join one world.

Oman Air Is Expected To Join oneworld After June

It will be more than two years since Oman Air announced its intentions to join the oneworld alliance.

2 Airport benefits

Benefits not offered for aadvantage gold: 2.

• Three checked bags
• Same-day standby priority
• Complimentary same-day flight change
• Discounted Admirals Club membership

Naturally, American Airlines wants to make a passenger’s travel experience as smooth as possible, which is why the carrier offers its loyalty program members priority through several checkpoints at the airport, including security and boarding.

Further benefits include three free checked bags, priority bag delivery, same-day standby priority, complimentary same-day flight change, and a discounted Admirals Club membership. Some conditions are attached to the benefits. For example, AAdvantage Platinum members and above, can use the first class lane regardless of the type of ticket a passenger is flying with.

American Airlines Axes Free Checked Bag On International Basic Economy Tickets

The airline will now charge $75 for the first checked bag on basic economy tickets internationally.

3 Earlier upgrades

Benefits not offered for aadvantage gold: 0 (76-hour difference).

• Unlimited and automatic upgrades
• Complimentary upgrade for one travel companion
• Upgrades confirmed 100 hours before the flight

AAdvantage status holders can all be upgraded, with the upgrades being auto-requested. Furthermore, one companion can be upgraded on a flight, whether they are booked on the same reservation or a different one, while they are traveling on flights marketed and operated by American Airlines.

For Executive Platinum members, upgrades are confirmed as early as 100 hours before the flight, while Platinum Pro members can find out about the upgrade as early as 72 hours before their journey. Subsequent tiers are 48 hours and 24 hours.

However, upgrades will only be valid on flights marketed and operated by American Airlines, within and between the US, between the US and Canada, Mexico, the Bahamas, the Caribbean, Bermuda, and Central America. The upgrades are valid from the Main Cabin to the next class.

How To Upgrade On Your Next American Airlines Flight

Elite status is key when it comes to upgrades, but it's not the only way.

4 Special service benefits

Benefits not offered for aadvantage gold: 3 (4 if 24 hours before the flight).

• Exclusive service desk
• Complimentary preferred seats
• Complimentary Main Cabin Extra seats
• Guaranteed seat in Main Cabin
• Waitlist priority for purchased first or business class
• Complimentary sustenance in the Main Cabin
• Exclusive partner offers

Each AAdvantage status level has its service desk, with the company’s representatives assisting with various inquiries and requests, including reservations, upgrade purchases or requests, award claims, or AAdvantage account inquiries.

Furthermore, all status members have preferred and Mean Cabin Extra seat access. However, only Executive Platinum members get guaranteed availability in the Main Cabin, as well as a place in the waitlist priority for the next available seat and complimentary alcoholic beverage and snack in the Main Cabin, the equivalent of economy class on American Airlines.

Showdown: Which US Airline Has The Best Premium Economy Product?

The big three airlines have similar premium economy seat offerings.

5 Mileage bonuses

Benefits not offered for aadvantage gold: 80% difference.

Mileage bonus:

Executive Platinum members have by far the biggest mileage bonus difference out of the four loyalty statuses, with the highest echelon of the program offering a 120% bonus. Meanwhile, Platinum Pro, Platinum, and Gold get an 80%, 60%, and 40% bonus, respectively.

Status members are also eligible to earn bonus miles on flight miles earned when traveling on partner airlines. The extra miles count toward earning Loyalty Points, which is helpful when trying to retain your status.

The list of eligible airlines includes Alaska Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Finnair, GOL, Iberia, Japan Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Qantas, Qatar Airways, Royal Air Maroc, and Royal Jordanian.

The Different Tiers Of American Airlines' AAdvantage Program

Earning status is an important part of the AAdvantage program for those that fly frequently.

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What is AAdvantage Executive Platinum: [Full Review]

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The AAdvantage rewards loyalty program from American Airlines is a great way to collect miles and spend them on flights, upgrades, vacations, car rentals, and more. AAdvantage has a range of Elite Status tiers, and at the top of that tier list is the sort after AAdvantage Executive Platinum status.

This status gives you the biggest benefits, most perks, and best ways to collect even more miles.

But What is AAdvantage Executive Platinum?

AAdvantage Executive Platinum is the highest elite status level part of the AAdvantage Rewards program . It provides complimentary upgrades, 3 checked bags every flight, 120% bonus miles, and a choice of two rewards. You will need 80,000 EQMs to be eligible for the Executive Platinum status.

All of this sounds great. Who wouldn’t want free flights or the opportunity to grab yourself a premium class, business class, or first class seat?

How the AAdvantage Executive Platinum Status Works

Each time you take a flight, or make a booking through the American Airlines website, and use your Executive Platinum program number, you’ll collect a number of miles. The miles collected can be redeemed for many great vacation benefits and money savers. AAdvantage has a total of 4 tiers, ranging from AAdvantage Gold which is the entry tier right the way up to the most exclusive and beneficial tier, Platinum Elite.

To get to Platinum Elite status you will need:

• 80,000 EQM (Elite Qualifying Miles)
• 95 EQS (Elite Qualifying Segments)
• $12,000 EQD (Elite Qualifying Dollars)

But what does all this actually mean?

Airlines and vacation reward programs love to use jargon and abbreviations to explain their elite statuses. Their efforts to provide exclusivity can sometimes cause a lot of confusion for those new to the program! If you’re unfamiliar with these terms and what they mean, don’t worry – we cover these a little later in this article.

By having this status all your rewards and bonus miles are automatically calculated and awarded. There is nothing different you need to do other than book travel, use your rewards account number each time you make a booking, and watch those miles build in your AAdvantage account!

The higher your elite status the bigger the benefits you’ll be able to take advantage of.

The Benefits of AAdvantage Executive Platinum

If you’re an Executive Platinum status member, then congratulations! You’ll be able to take advantage of the biggest benefits available to all elite status members, not only that but if you managed to earn Platinum through reaching 80,000 EQMs then things get even more interesting once you reach 120,000 EQMs, as you’ll unlock even more rewards!

Let’s though start by looking at the benefits available to all Platinum Elite members, whether you’ve reached 80,000 EQMs or 120,000 EQMs:

• Complimentary upgrades
• 120% bonus miles above the base
• Main Cabin and Preferred Seats offered complimentarily
• 3 free checked bags on all flights
• 2 Elite Rewards
• More benefits are unlocked when you reach 120,000 EQMs

Complimentary Upgrade

Executive Platinum members are automatically given a complimentary upgrade to the next class. If you’re booking is for Premium Economy, for example, you’ll be upgraded to Business Class for free. The limitations of the upgrade are that flights on American Airlines must depart and land from within the U.S., Mexico, Canada, or Central America. This includes the Caribbean.

120% Bonus Miles

This really is a great perk to have. If you fly on business and are able to use your personal AAdvantage account for bookings, and can reach Platinum Elite status, you’ll find an additional 120% mile bonus can really help you get to a free flight or major upgrade to First Class much faster.

Main Cabin and Preferred Seats Complimentary Offer

Certain seats onboard the American Airlines plane are more attractive than others. These seats are usually available at an additional premium, but they are offered complimentary for all Executive Platinum members!

3 Free Checked in Bags

It can be frustrating trying to cram in as much as you can into one suitcase, which is usually the allowance on the majority of fares. It’s equally frustrating realizing larger souvenirs and purchases may cost extra to get back through flight check-in if you exceed your weight limit.

Fortunately, Executive Platinum members will never have to worry about this again!

3 free bags can be checked into the hold on every flight booked using your AAdvantage account.

Choice of 2 Free Elite Rewards

Executive Platinum members can choose from not one, but two additional benefits! There are a number of rewards you can choose from, a selection of these is below:

• Admirals Club membership (this counts as two reward choices rather than just one)
• $200 discount credit
• An additional 5,000 AAdvantage Miles
• $200 Charitable Donation
• Gift either Gold Elite status or Platinum Elite status to a family member or friend
• 10,000 Bonus EQMs (Elite Qualifying Miles)
• Bang & Olufsen choice of gift including a choice of headphones or a speaker

More Benefits with More Miles

Once you’ve reached the 80,000 EQM milestones, and unlocked Executive Platinum, things don’t stop there. More rewards including more elite rewards are available once you reach 120,000, 160,000, and also 200,000 EQMs!

AAdvantage Executive Platinum vs AAdvantage Platinum Pro

If perhaps you’ve reached Platinum Pro with 60,000 EQMs, and already looking ahead at Executive Platinum – it can be helpful to know the additional benefits you’ll unlock.

The main differences and advantages of Executive Platinum vs Platinum Pro include:

• Admiral Club membership cannot be chosen as a reward with Platinum Pro
• You’ll collect 120% bonus miles with Executive Platinum vs 80% bonus miles with Platinum Pro
• Additional 28-hour upgrade window on Executive Platinum, which has a 100-hour upgrade window vs a 72-hour upgrade window with Platinum Pro

Why Executive Platinum is worth it

Executive Platinum is worth it for several reasons. Access to the Admiral’s Club is one such benefit if it was chosen as an additional reward. 120% bonus miles are a way of reaching free flights and upgrading rewards faster. The value of Executive Platinum benefits is considered to be worth $6,500.

Achieving this status will take time, depending on how regularly you fly.

If you fly on business or leisure often and usually purchase seats in either Business Class or First Class, you will see your miles balance really fly (excuse the pun!).

It may take a little longer if you generally fly in economy, but with 120% bonus points you’ll get them in less than half the usual time.

How to get AA Executive Platinum Status

You can only gain access to the Executive Platinum status by flying with American Airlines. As you fly you can work your way up through the elite tier levels from Gold through to Platinum to Platinum Pro and then on to the final, most exclusive tier, Executive Platinum.

You’ll also need to fly a lot! In order to unlock this tier, you’ll need 80,000 EQMs, 95 EQS, and $12,000 EQDs.

Sounds simple, eh?

Let’s have a look at what this actually means:

What does EQM mean

EQM means Elite Qualifying Mile. A mile is awarded for each portion of a completed flight. Miles are collected through qualifying purchases with American Airlines, which are usually made in cash. Reward flights do not usually earn miles.  

As you collect miles these are added to your AAdvantage account.

What does EQS mean

EQS means Elite Qualifying Segment. An EQS is awarded based on a segment flown and is given at a rate of 0.5 EQS per one-way flight in Economy class and 1 EQS for Business and First Class per each one-way flight.

This means if you take 20 qualifying American Airlines flights in one calendar year, you will be awarded 20 EQS in Economy or 40 EQS if flying in either Business or First. EQS are awarded in addition to EQMs for each qualifying flight. A qualifying flight usually means it’s not a reward flight i.e., a flight purchased with miles. There are a couple of other exceptions but if you book with American Airlines and pay in cash for your flight, it will usually be included as a qualifying flight.

What does EQD mean

EQD means Elite Qualifying Dollars. One EQD is collected for every qualifying $1 spent with American Airlines. $12,000 in EQD is required to achieve and unlock Executive Platinum elite status.

The Value of Executive Platinum

With all these rewards available it is useful to see just how much value is within the Executive Platinum elite status. Ordinarily, these rewards would come at a considerable cost for those not part of the AAdvantage program or on lower elite status levels. So just what is the value of Executive Platinum?

It’s estimated that the combination of all these rewards is worth as much as $6,500! Together with the complimentary upgrades, bonus miles and 2 x rewards, luggage allowance, and extra perks at the airport – it’s easy to see how those rewards really do add up!

Executive Platinum – In Conclusion

It’s no wonder that Executive Platinum is the flagship elite status in the American Airlines AAdvantage program. Those with this status will already be flying in style. You need to be to manage to climb your way to this level, but once you’re there the perks and benefits can be truly amazing!

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Platinum AAdvantage benefits

How to get aadvantage platinum status, how much is american aadvantage platinum worth, what else you need to know about american airlines elite status, is aadvantage platinum worth it.

Having airline elite status improves your travel experience with complimentary upgrades, priority boarding, bonus miles and more. If you fly American Airlines regularly, upgrading from AAdvantage Gold to AAdvantage Platinum elite status might be one of your goals.

Here's how to earn Platinum AAdvantage status, the extra benefits you'll receive and other facts you need to know.

AAdvantage members with Platinum status receive several benefits that improve their travel experience and save time and money. Here are some of the Platinum AAdvantage benefits you’ll receive when you earn this elite status:

Complimentary Main Cabin Extra seats. Upgrade your tickets for yourself and one companion to Main Cabin Extra without paying extra.

Preferred seating within the plane. You and up to eight companions can choose preferred seats on the plane at no charge.

Unlimited complimentary upgrades to premium cabin. Receive complimentary one-class upgrades within North America, Central America and the Caribbean up to 48 hours before departure.

Two free checked bags with priority handling. Save at least $30 per bag by getting two free checked bags on your flights. Plus, your bags are marked with priority handling to get your bags sooner at baggage claim.

60% more award miles on paid flights. AAdvantage members earn 5 miles per dollar spent on American flights. Platinum members earn 60% more, for a total of 8 miles per dollar.

Priority check-in, security lanes and boarding. Platinum elite members board with Group 3 on American Airlines flights. They also have shorter waits at the airport with priority check-in and security lanes.

Same-day standby priority. If you need to switch flights, you'll receive priority on the standby list over other passengers with lower elite status.

Access to the AAdvantage Platinum service desk. Talk to customer service agents dedicated to American Airlines Platinum members.

Oneworld Sapphire benefits. Receive Oneworld Sapphire status and reciprocal benefits when flying on Oneworld partners. You'll enjoy priority check-in, boarding, security lanes and standby, plus preferred seating and complimentary checked bags. Sapphire members also have access to business class and frequent flyer lounges.

In January 2023, American Airlines revamped its loyalty program to simplify how members earn miles and Loyalty Points. With the revised program, AAdvantage members earn Loyalty Points toward elite status from flights, credit card purchases and other partner activities.

AAdvantage Platinum status is the second tier elite status within American Airlines’ loyalty program. Members must earn 75,000 Loyalty Points by the end of February each year to reach this level.

Every eligible AAdvantage mile earns 1 Loyalty Point. Members can earn Loyalty Points in multiple ways, including:

Travel on American Airlines and its partners. All AAdvantage members earn 5 miles per dollar on American Airlines flights (except Basic Economy, which only earns 2 miles). AAdvantage Platinum members get a 60% bonus, so they earn 8 miles per dollar. You can earn AAdvantage miles and Loyalty Points on its Oneworld and other airline partners.

AAdvantage credit card purchases. Every mile earned through an American Airlines co-branded credit card counts as a Loyalty Point. Credit cards are issued by Barclays and Citi, so travelers have several options to choose from, like the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® .

Partner offers and promotions. AAdvantage members can earn miles and Loyalty Points from partners. These partners include hotels, rental cars, cruises, dining, online shopping and more.

» Learn more: The best airline credit cards right now

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.

Note that these values are estimates, and your actual cost and value may be much different.

For example, travelers who prefer carry-on bags or travel on popular routes that reduce the chance of upgrades may not get as much value out of Platinum status as others.

» Learn more: The best airline elite status right now

If you're still unsure if AAdvantage Platinum status is right for you, here are a few other things you should know.

Request a status match

Travelers who hold elite status with other airlines can request a status match with American Airlines .

This elite status trial offer allows travelers to explore the airline's benefits and features to determine if they want to switch their travel to American Airlines. Elite status matches may vary but often correlate to a similar status level you enjoy.

Depending on the offer received, it may have reduced qualifications to extend benefits or retain it for another year.

American Airlines Million Miler program

Frequent travelers who fly a lot of miles may qualify for lifetime status with American Airlines .

After flying 1 million miles, you'll receive lifetime AAdvantage Gold status and 35,000 AAdvantage bonus miles. Lifetime AAdvantage Platinum status requires 2 million miles.

You'll also receive four one-way system upgrades at 2 million miles. American Airlines provides another set of four one-way system upgrades for every additional million miles flown.

How long does American Airlines Platinum status last?

AAdvantage members earning American Airlines Platinum status enjoy its benefits for the remainder of the program year, plus an additional 12 months.

Elite status with American Airlines resets on March 1 each year. For example, if you earn AAdvantage Platinum status on Nov. 15, 2023, you'll enjoy elite status through Feb. 28, 2025.

» Learn more: When should you status match across airlines?

Partnership with World of Hyatt

After linking their accounts, Hyatt and AAdvantage loyalty program members earn 1 World of Hyatt point for every dollar spent on American Airlines flights.

If you have elite status in both programs, you'll also earn 1 AAdvantage base mile on every dollar you spend on Hyatt stays and experiences. Both of these benefits are in addition to the standard rewards earned with each program. Plus, you can earn even more rewards by paying with a rewards credit card.

Reciprocal benefits on Alaska Airlines and JetBlue

American AAdvantage elite members receive exclusive benefits when flying Alaska Airlines and JetBlue through its partnership with these airlines .

When flying on either airline, elite members receive priority check-in, boarding and security, two free checked bags, a status mileage bonus and more. Alaska Airlines also offers complimentary access to its lounges and JetBlue.

For frequent travelers on American Airlines, the answer is yes. You'll receive complimentary upgrades and seat selection, two free checked bags and bonus miles on paid flights. Plus, Platinum elite status includes priority check-in, boarding and security lanes.

However, for travelers that only fly a couple of times a year, the effort may not be worth it. A better approach for these travelers is to apply for one of American Airlines’ co-branded credit cards .

In exchange for an annual fee, you'll receive similar benefits without the effort of earning elite status. For instance, the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® gets a free checked bag and early boarding, and its annual fee is $0 intro for the first year, then $99 after that.

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

on Capital One's website

2x-5x Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day. Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options

75,000 Enjoy $250 to use on Capital One Travel in your first cardholder year, plus earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening - that’s equal to $1,000 in travel.

on Citibank's application

1x Earn 1 Loyalty Point for every 1 eligible AAdvantage® mile earned from purchases.

70,000 Earn 70,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $7,000 within the first 3 months of account opening.

on Chase's website

1x-5x 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases.

60,000 Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

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EXPLAINED: AA AAdvantage Executive Platinum

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AAdvantage Executive Platinum

AAdvantage Executive Platinum is one of four tiers that make up American Airlines frequent flyer membership program. Executive Platinum is the highest elite status tier that can be achieved and is earned after Platinum Pro . American Airlines is part of the Oneworld Alliance meaning that if you hold Executive Platinum status, it will be equivalent to Oneworld Emerald status and will offer similar benefits on flights with other Oneworld Airlines.

American Airlines & AAdvantage

American Airlines along with its subsidiary American Eagle are the world’s largest airline operating out of 10 hubs and serving nearly 350 destinations.

Its loyalty program was the first airline loyalty programme in the world when it debuted in 1981

American Airlines Frequent Flyer Basics

American Airlines Frequent Flyer Program is aptly called the AAdvantage Program. In every Oneworld Frequent Flyer program, there are two currencies which members collect simultaneously – Status Points (SP) which determines your elite status level and cannot be spent and Reward Currency (RC) which can be exchanged for airline benefits and rewards.

EQM // EQS // EQD

To Move up the ranks with American Airlines, the airline use 3 metrics to calculate elite status. EQD = Elite Qualifying Dollars EQM = Elite Qualifying Miles EQS = Elite Qualifying Segments Your elite status is based off a combination of total EQD’s PLUS either total EQM’s or total EQS’s on eligible-fare tickets in a given year. A Membership Year with American Airlines is calculated from 1st February to 31st January the following year.

Flight miles

Flight Miles, or simply miles, is the name of the Reward Currency used by American Airlines. A points-based reward scheme used by the airline were you can exchange accrued Award Miles for reward seat redemptions, flight upgrades and other travel-based experiences.

• Oneworld Emerald

American Airlines AAdvantage Executive Platinum is equivalent to Oneworld Emerald status and you will receive similar benefits when flying with other Oneworld Alliance members.

At least 12 Months

For American Airlines members, you will have the status for a minimum of 12 months. If you qualify for a higher tier in your current membership period, you will be given the higher tier for your current year plus the year you have qualified for.

No Soft Landing

For AAdvantage members, gone are the days of soft landings, where an airline would drop you down a status if you didn’t re-qualify the following year. However, in 2014 according to a FlyerTalk article, the airline dropped their generous perk of soft landings – likely due to the other two legacy carriers foregoing this perk around the same time.

.ugb-1512774 .ugb-blockquote__item{background-color:rgba(238,238,238,0.8) !important;border-radius:0px !important}.ugb-1512774 .ugb-blockquote__item:before{background-color:#eeeeee !important}.ugb-1512774 .ugb-blockquote__quote{width:70px !important;height:70px !important}.ugb-1512774 .ugb-blockquote__text{color:#cf2e2e} There is no other use for Status Points other than setting your elite status; they cannot be spent.

How to Collect Tier Miles

When you travel with American Airlines, a Oneworld partner airline, its subsidiaries, or in some specific cases non-Oneworld member airlines you earn Tier Miles with which you can use to achieve higher levels of elite status and unlock different rewards as you do.

The AAdvantage Blue membership is the most basic and is available to everyone as it does not come with any benefits except the ability to earn Status Points and Reward Currencies. Gold, Platinum, Platinum Pro and Executive Platinum status are earned and come with a varying degree of benefits.

Moving up the ladder within American Airlines AAdvantage is completely dependent on the number of Elite Qualifying Miles, Dollars and Sectors (Status Points) accrued within a given year, and unlike Flight Miles, expire after a set time – in this case, Status Points expire at the end of your membership year .

Status Points can only be earnt by actually flying, not by signing up to credit card deals. There is no other use for Tier Miles other than setting your elite status; they cannot be spent. The general rule is that they are usually based on the distance of the flight and the fare class you are travelling in.

American Airlines AAdvantage Program works a little differently than to other Oneworld members . Some differences include:

Miles Based Calculations

American Airlines AAdvantage program is a mileage-based and Revenue-based reward program, unlike its counterparts British Airways and Cathay Pacific which are zone-based reward programs. but unlike Japan Airlines which is also a mileage-based program, the miles accrued are based on the distance between the Airports rather than the Cities that Japan Airlines uses.

Miles on Renewal

Unlike Royal Jordanian or Royal Air Maroc, members require the same number of qualifying status points to re-qualify in the following year.

No Mid-Tier Bonus

Unlike its alliance counterpart Cathay Pacific, American Airlines does not offer mid-tier status to its members.

Lifetime Status

Following the AAdvantage devaluation in 2016, it is not possible to earn top-tier elite status for life. AAdvantage members can unlock lifetime status upon reaching the below milestones. 1 million miles = lifetime AAdvantage Gold status 2 million miles = lifetime AAdvantage Platinum status

Routes to Earn American Airlines Executive Platinum Status

the main way to reach AAdvantage Executive Platinum is to fly with American Airlines, a Oneworld partner airline, its subsidiaries, or in some specific cases a non-Oneworld member airline and acrue miles. To achieve American Airline AAdvantage Executive Platinum status with miles, you need: 1. 100,000 Elite Qualifying Miles; and 2. A minimum of US$15,000 Elite Qualifying Dollars (spend)

With Sectors

Another way to reach AAdvantage Executive Platinum is to fly a lot. American Airlines offers a route to Executive Platinum for those who travel exceptionally frequently with the airline. To achieve American Airline AAdvantage Executive Platinum status with sectors, you need: 1. 120 Elite Qualifying Sectors; and 2. A minimum of US$15,000 Elite Qualifying Dollars (spend)

For those who want a fast track to elite status and are willing to pay for it, American Airlines Airpass (formerly AApass) can be a good option. However it does cost and for American Airlines Executive Platinum status, it will cost you US$30,000 per year.

Benefits of American Airlines AAdvantage Executive Platinum

Outline of the Benefits of having AAdvantage Executive Platinum membership.

Complementary Auto Requested Upgrades

Upgrades are valid on American marketed and operated flights, within and between the U.S. and between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, the Bahamas, the Caribbean, Bermuda and Central America. Upgrades are valid from the Main Cabin to the next class of service. Upgrades aren’t allowed on Basic Economy fares. Executive Platinum and Platinum Pro have unlimited, auto-requested complimentary upgrades on flights over 500 miles. Executive Platinum members also have complimentary upgrades on award tickets.

Extra Luggage Allowance

Variable rules depending on Airline and travel location.

Luggage policies can be found on the American Airlines website . Executive Platinum & Oneworld members travelling on American airlines members can get up to 3 checked bags when travelling on a 3 class configured flight. This is one of the most generous offerings among Oneworld Alliance members. When on a Oneworld marked and operated flight your status as an Emerald member entitles you to 20kg (if the airline uses the weight system) or 1 extra checked bag (if the airline uses the piece system).

Guaranteed Economy Class Ticket

When travelling on flights marked and operated by American Airlines

As an Executive Platinum, you can purchase a revenue economy class seat for yourself or a companion on any fully booked AA flight in Main Cabin Economy class. Guaranteed bookings must be made in full-fare fare-class Y and should be booked no less than 24 hours before the departure date.

Priority Boarding

When on American Airlines or Oneworld Member airline

With Executive Platinum status, you are also able to board before the general boarding group. Generally speaking: Group 2 – Executive Platinum and Oneworld Emerald Group 3 – Platinum Pro, Platinum and Oneworld Sapphire Group 4 – Gold and Oneworld Ruby

Award change / reinstatement fee waived

fees will be waived for Executive Platinum members when they have used miles from their own account and will be reinstated on wholly unused AAdvantage award that was canceled before departure and the ticket hasn’t expired.

Fast Track Through Security

When possible

Executive Platinum, Platinum Pro and Platinum members may check in at any First Class lane regardless of the class of service in which you are traveling on American Airlines. When flying on a Oneworld carrier your status may afford you fast track through security at select airports.

AAdvantage Executive Platinum Rewards

Members who qualify for Executive Platinum status based on their elite-qualifying activity will receive a choice of rewards upon reaching 150,000, 200,000 and 250,000 EQMs:

150,000 EQM’s

When you reach 150,000 Elite Qualifying Miles, you can choose from: • 2 systemwide upgrades • 40,000 bonus miles • Gift of AAdvantage Gold status

200,000 EQM’S

When you reach 200,000 Elite Qualifying Miles, you can choose from: • 2 systemwide upgrades • 40,000 bonus miles • Gift of AAdvantage Platinum status

250,000 EQM’S

Calculating the number of tier miles earned.

American Airlines calculates the Elite Qualifying Miles based on the distance (in miles) from the departure and arrival destination and assigning a percentage multiplier based on the class of travel.

However, the class multiplier changes slightly when travelling on Oneworld Alliance members.

As such, the number of Elite Qualifying Miles earned is dependant on 3 factors, the Route, the carrier you have flown with, and the class of travel.

Basic Economy has its own set of rules, which, even with elite status, there are some limitations.

AAdvantage Frequent Flyer Cards

Oneworld ruby, oneworld sapphire.

Platinum Pro

Executive Platinum

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Welcome to AAdvantage Executive Platinum ®

You made it to the top — now make the most of it

AAdvantage Executive Platinum ® makes every travel moment easier

You earned it – now enjoy it

With AAdvantage Executive Platinum ® status, your travel experience is virtually unlimited

Loyalty Point Rewards

Flexibility to choose the rewards that matter most to you

Choose from a variety of rewards that enhance your experience such as systemwide upgrades, Admirals Club ® membership, Bang & Olufsen premium products and more - before and between each status tier, up to 5 million Loyalty Points.

Unlimited upgrades within North America.

Fly without limits

AAdvantage Executive Platinum ® members receive unlimited complimentary upgrades to the premium cabin (including award tickets) when traveling within North America on American Airlines. Your upgrade can be confirmed as early as 100 hours before the flight, when available. Additionally, you are also eligible for complimentary upgrades on Alaska Airlines.

Main Cabin Extra

More room to relax

Stretch out with more space and more comfort with complimentary access to Main Cabin Extra seats. If Main Cabin Extra isn’t available, you have access to Preferred seats reserved exclusively for loyal customers such as yourself.

Earn more award miles

When you earn a 120% mileage bonus per U.S. dollar spent, every flight can lead to more extraordinary adventures. And those extra miles also count toward earning Loyalty Points, helping you qualify for AAdvantage ® status and Loyalty Point Rewards faster.

Three free checked bags plus priority handling

Pack more than ever before and receive priority baggage handling that ensures your bag is among the first to arrive at baggage claim.

Complimentary food and drink

Enjoy one food item and drink on us when you travel in the Main Cabin.

Fly with the flexibility to get back to what matters most — your life

Free same-day flight change

Get ahead of your schedule

Travel can be unpredictable — plans change, meetings get moved or maybe you just can’t wait to get home. We get it. If you need to catch a different flight, free same-day flight change gives you the ability to fly on your own time, and at no extra charge.

AAdvantage Executive Platinum ® service desk

Let us take care of everything

Your status gives you access to the highest level of service. Let our dedicated representatives on the AAdvantage Executive Platinum ® desk handle all the details of your trip, with no reservation service fee.

Enjoy exclusive benefits around the world with one world ® Emerald SM status

Your AAdvantage Executive Platinum ® benefits entitle you to one world ® Emerald SM status. When you travel on one world ® airlines, you’ll receive priority from check-in to boarding and access to First Class, Business Class and frequent flyer lounges anywhere in the world on eligible flights.

Congratulations, again!

Enjoy your experience as an AAdvantage Executive Platinum ® member.

AAdvantage Executive Platinum ® benefits at a glance

• Oneworld Benefits one world ® Emerald SM benefits

Full benefit details and terms and conditions can be found on aa.com/statusbenefits *To learn more about rewards, visit aa.com/loyaltypointrewards . American Airlines reserves the right to change the AAdvantage program, exclusive offers and its terms and conditions at any time without notice, and to end the AAdvantage program with six months notice. Any such changes may affect your ability to use the awards, mileage credits, or benefits that you have accumulated. These reservation of rights apply to all aspects of the AAdvantage program, including without limitation, all status programs. For full AAdvantage program terms and conditions, visit aa.com/aadvantageterms . American Airlines, American Eagle, AAdvantage, AAdvantage Executive Platinum are marks of American Airlines, Inc. one world ® is a mark of the one world Alliance, LLC.

© Copyright 2024 American Airlines, All Rights Reserved

From zero to Executive Platinum: Why and how I qualified for American's top-tier status without plans to fly the airline

Last May, I boarded my first American Airlines flight in nearly a decade. Now I'm a top-tier Executive Platinum member with American, even though I don't have any firm plans to fly the airline.

What about American Airlines led me to shift so much of my business? Here's why and how I qualified for Executive Platinum status with American Airlines.

United Premier 1K isn't what it used to be

For the last decade, I've lived in San Francisco, Washington, D.C. and London, so United Airlines has been my airline of choice. I first qualified for Premier 1K status about eight years ago, and while 1K status still offers many benefits, it's no longer the status crown jewel it used to be.

In 2016 and 2017, I received Complimentary Premier Upgrades (CPUs) on most of my eligible United flights. However, last year one of my few CPUs on 35-plus eligible flights was for a no-frills weekday trip from Puerto Vallarta (PVR) to Denver (DEN) .

And it's not looking like United CPUs are coming back. On a recent Boeing 777-200ER flight from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Dulles International Airport (IAD), I was 52nd on an upgrade waitlist. First class, which had 50 seats, was fully booked.

My days of paying for economy class and flying first class on United Airlines seemed to be behind me.

The United woes extend beyond upgrades — United no longer has a partner award chart , and during the early days of the pandemic, it increased award rates on partners without notice. We hoped that was temporary. However, this unwelcome change hasn't gone away.

So, is the grass greener at American? Well, my newly-minted American Airlines elite status started with my quest to earn American miles .

Related: How to earn miles in the American Airlines AAdvantage program

More valuable redeemable miles

Even though American Airlines recently retired its Web Specials and MileSAAver awards , many of its partner sweet spots remain intact for now.

Some of our favorite AAdvantage business-class redemptions include flights from the United States to the Middle East and South Asia for 70,000 miles in Qatar Airways Qsuite , and from the U.S. to Europe for 57,500 miles in Finnair's new business-class seat . You can also use 80,000 miles to fly from the U.S. to Japan in first class on Japan Airlines .

For comparison, United Airlines MileagePlus now charges over 121,000 miles for one-way ANA first-class flights on the same route.

I recently used 42,500 AAdvantage miles to travel from Europe to the Middle East in Etihad Airways business class , which requires calling American to book.

For one-way business-class flights from Europe to the Middle East, United charges at least 50,000 miles. Unlike with American AAdvantage , United's MileagePlus members can't use their miles for creme-de-la-creme seats like Qatar Qsuite and Etihad business class.

I also booked a flight for later this year from Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) to San Francisco on Cathay Pacific and Japan Airlines in business class for 70,000 miles, which was funded by my Barclays AAdvantage Aviator Business Mastercard sign-up bonus.

The information for the AAdvantage Aviator Business Mastercard has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

But there was another benefit to my push for valuable miles.

Related: How to redeem miles with the American Airlines AAdvantage program

Valuable benefits

Having initially focused on earning redeemable American miles , I began to earn status-qualifying Loyalty Points , since you generally earn 1 Loyalty Point for every AAdvantage mile

Here's a look at my favorite benefits of Executive Platinum status.

Oneworld Emerald status

For the last four months, I've been a Platinum Pro and am now an Executive Platinum on American — both come with Oneworld Emerald status.

And I love it.

Oneworld Emerald provides some key perks that Star Alliance status doesn't offer . For one, Emerald gives you access to preferred or reserved seating on Oneworld flights.

So, as an American Airlines top-tier elite, I could select complimentary extra-legroom seating on a Royal Air Maroc flight from Dulles International Airport (IAD) to Casablanca International Airport (CMN) and upper-deck business-class seating on a British Airways A380 . Those pesky advance seat fees can reach the triple digits on long-haul flights.

Meanwhile, top-tier United elite members must pay advance seating fees in many fare classes on airlines like Lufthansa , Copa Airlines and Swiss .

Additionally, Oneworld Emeralds are welcome into Oneworld first-class lounges (with some notable exceptions) — I loved the Qantas first-class lounge at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and the British Airways Galleries Lounge at London's Heathrow Airport (LHR).

Meanwhile, Star Alliance elite members can't access first-class lounges like the new SilverKris First lounge at Singapore Changi Airport (SIN) and the Lufthansa first-class lounge at Frankfurt Airport (FRA) using their status.

For frequent international travelers, Oneworld Emerald can make a big difference.

Related: Your complete guide to Oneworld alliance benefits

Alaska Airlines benefits

American Airlines elite members effectively receive status on Alaska Airlines , thanks to the reciprocal elite partnership the two carriers have recently strengthened .

Executive Platinum members are eligible for Alaska Premium-class upgrades after booking (not applicable on Saver fares ) and receive first-class upgrades just after Alaska's MVP 75K elite members .

Some TPG Executive Platinum elite members have reported recent upgrade success on Alaska Airlines transcontinental flights, including routes like New York-JFK to Seattle (SEA). While your experience may differ (and I haven't flown Alaska on a transcontinental flight), my impression is that transcontinental upgrades are much more common on Alaska than on United.

Executive Platinum members are also entitled to three checked bags and complimentary same-day flight changes on Alaska.

As a San Francisco-based traveler, United has occasionally rebooked me on Alaska when something went wrong, and I'll be glad to have Alaska benefits when this inevitably happens again.

Related: All American and Alaska elites now eligible for reciprocal complimentary upgrades

How I earned Executive Platinum status

You'll need to earn Loyalty Points to qualify for American Airlines status. As mentioned, you generally earn 1 Loyalty Point for every 1 AAdvantage mile you earn. Here's how I earned enough Loyalty Points for Executive Platinum status. Use this for inspiration as you search for creative ways to earn Loyalty Points .

May-August 2022: General member earning 30,000 Loyalty Points

American Airlines adjusted its elite qualifying year from January 1-Dec. 31 to March 1-Feb. 28 when it introduced Loyalty Points for the 2022 elite qualifying year. That allowed AAdvantage members to start earning Loyalty Points on January 1, 2022, but I didn't earn my first Loyalty Point until May 2022.

Here's a look at how I earned 30,000 Loyalty Points as a general member, subsequently qualifying me for entry-level Gold status (note, American has since increased some elite status requirements, so you'll need to earn 40,000 Loyalty Points for Gold status in 2023.).

• 10,500 Loyalty Points from $2,100 in qualifying spending on American Airlines flights (5 Loyalty Points per dollar).
• 8,500 Loyalty Points from the AAdvantage Shopping portal .
• 5,000 Loyalty Points from converting 500-mile upgrades from a 2018 United Airlines status challenge (I didn't complete the American Airlines flight requirements in 2018 to extend my status).
• 4,000 Loyalty Points from AAdvantage Dining .
• 2,000 Loyalty Points from Uber SimplyMiles promotions .

August-October 2022: Gold earning 50,800 Loyalty Points

With 30,000 Loyalty Points, I qualified for Gold status. Subsequently, I began earning 40% more Loyalty Points on my air travel than I did as a general member, making it easier to earn Loyalty Points through my British Airways and American Airlines flights during this time frame. Also, now that I had elite status with American and Hyatt, I began to double dip on most paid Hyatt stays by earning 1 Loyalty Point per qualifying dollar spent at Hyatt properties.

This is how I earned 50,800 Loyalty Points from August to October.

• 28,000 Loyalty Points from a discounted British Airways business-class ticket credited to AAdvantage .
• 12,500 Loyalty Points from the AAdvantage Shopping portal.
• 2,000 Loyalty Points from AAdvantage Dining.
• 5,000 Loyalty Points from SimplyMiles .
• 2,100 Loyalty Points from $300 in qualifying spending on an American Airlines flight (7 Loyalty Points per dollar spent).
• 1,200 Loyalty Points from Hyatt dual accrual .

November 2022: Platinum earning 5,800 Loyalty Points

Passing the 75,000-Loyalty Point requirement for Platinum status, my sought-after benefits began to kick in, including complimentary Main Cabin Extra seating, Oneworld Sapphire (which can be used to access many Oneworld business class lounges on most long-haul itineraries) and a 60% Loyalty Point bonus on paid tickets.

Here's how I earned 5,800 Loyalty Points in November.

• 2,800 Loyalty Points from an Alaska Airlines economy-class ticket credited to AAdvantage.
• 1,500 Loyalty Points from $190 in qualifying spending on an American Airlines flight (8 Loyalty Points per dollar spent).
• 1,000 Loyalty Points from Hyatt dual accrual.
• 500 Loyalty Points from SimplyMiles.

December 2022-March 2023: Platinum Pro earning 68,500 Loyalty Points

At this point, I had earned over 85,000 Loyalty Points and planned to finish the status year (Feb. 28, 2023) as a Platinum member. But overnight, I became a Platinum Pro member when I registered for an American Airlines status challenge for World of Hyatt elite members . The challenge offered me a route to Executive Platinum status if I earned 67,000 Loyalty Points in the next four months.

Although this status challenge for Hyatt elite members is now closed, if you hold status on another airline, you can call American AAdvantage customer care and ask to enroll in the Instant Status Pass . You'll be asked to provide documentation of your competing airline status. If approved, you'll be an AAdvantage elite member for four months, with the opportunity to extend your status by meeting certain Loyalty Point thresholds.

Here's a breakdown of how many Loyalty Points I earned between December and March:

• 35,500 Loyalty Points from a discounted British Airways business-class ticket credited to AAdvantage.
• 16,500 Loyalty Points from the AAdvantage Shopping portal.
• 8,700 Loyalty Points from $960 in qualifying spending on an American Airlines flight (9 Loyalty Points per dollar).
• 3,500 Loyalty Points from credit card spending to meet a sign-up bonus on the Barclays AAdvantage Aviator Business Mastercard .
• 2,300 Loyalty Points from Hyatt dual accrual.
• 2,000 Loyalty Points from a Royal Air Maroc economy-class ticket credited to AAdvantage.

Since I earned 67,000 Loyalty Points during Phase 1 of the status challenge , I moved into Phase 2 as an Executive Platinum, where I'll now need to earn 67,000 Loyalty Points in the next four months. If I don't meet this requirement, my status will drop to a lower tier of the AAdvantage program.

From qualifying for Executive Platinum status a month ago, I've earned 30,000 Loyalty Points from Rocketmiles stays , and I'm on my way to extending my status.

Related: Quick Points: Earn 75,000-plus American miles and Loyalty Points in a week with Rocketmiles

Bottom line

With the gamification of Loyalty Points, many AAdvantage members qualify for upper tiers of the program — and I'm no exception. What started as a pursuit to earn redeemable AAdvantage miles landed me top-tier American status.

Even though I have no firm plans to fly the airline in the coming months, I'll continue to earn its valuable redeemable miles (and, subsequently, Loyalty Points toward maintaining my status).

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What Is American Airlines Platinum Pro Status Really Worth? [Upgrades and Seating]

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Table of Contents

How to earn aadvantage platinum pro status, the benefits of aadvantage platinum pro status, final thoughts.

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Platinum Pro is the second-highest public tier in the American Airlines AAdvantage loyalty program. Executive Platinum is higher, and Platinum and Gold are the lower levels.

Because there are so many Platinum Pro benefits, we will look at this in 2 parts: 1 on upgrades and seating options and another on ticketing, airport, and alliance benefits. This post will serve as the first in the 2-part series.

Here, we’ll discuss the Platinum Pro benefits related to upgrades and seating. We will note what each benefit is worth so you can better understand the tier — and see whether spending the required amount to earn it is right for you.

We’ll take a look at:

• What each benefit is and how much we value it under ordinary circumstances
• What elite status can be valued at for those who both underutilize or maximize their suite of available benefits

To earn AAdvantage Platinum Pro status, you need 125,000 Loyalty Points . To earn this, you can fly on American or its partner airlines, rent cars through the airline, earn AAdvantage miles by booking hotel rooms, dine out using American’s dining program, or shop using American’s online shopping portal. Every dollar you spend earns Loyalty Points , and once you earn 125,000 of these, you reach Platinum Pro status.

There are many benefits that are associated with Platinum Pro status, many of which are worth striving for. So let’s take a deep dive into each one.

Complimentary Upgrades on Domestic and Local International Flights ($2,000)

As a Platinum Pro member, you’re eligible for complimentary upgrades on all U.S., Canada, Mexico, Central America, and Caribbean flights , regardless of length.

Hot Tip: Platinum Pro members can also choose 1 elite reward from a list that includes a systemwide upgrade, Admirals Club day passes, bonus miles, and merchandise.

Let’s take a look at this benefit in parts to understand its value better.

You can receive as many of these upgrades as possible. You never have to bother purchasing or earning these upgrades, as you receive as many of them as you need to cover as many flights as you attempt to upgrade.

This isn’t something you need to think about, either — you receive an upgrade if there’s space, with priority being determined by elite status level. Your status will automatically request upgrades for eligible flights, and since you receive unlimited upgrades, it’s assumed you want to use these on every trip.

When you purchase a trip on AA.com or over the phone, the system automatically requests the upgrade. To cancel the request (let’s say you’re traveling with your family and you all want to sit together in coach), simply call the Platinum Pro service desk, and they can remove the request for you.

Hot Tip: Complimentary upgrades aren’t preserved in irregular operations, so if your flight is moved or canceled, you’ll be added again to the upgrade list. If, however, you confirm your upgrade in advance using a miles and copay award, these upgrades are protected in the premium cabin. You’ll spend 15,000 AAdvantage miles and, at minimum, $75 to confirm a first class seat for up to 3 segments if C (business class) inventory is available.

Now, let’s look at how these upgrades work so you can better understand the value.

American prioritizes upgrades by status, followed by the type of upgrade, and then Loyalty Points within that type of upgrade.

Assuming you’re on AA’s Sabre booking system trying to list on the PALL (the airport standby and upgrade list) for a complimentary upgrade (a UPG), Sabre would present the priority list as follows:

• AAdvantage ConciergeKey: UPG1
• AAdvantage Executive Platinum: UPG2
• AAdvantage Platinum Pro: UPG3
• AAdvantage Platinum: UPG4
• AAdvantage Gold: UPG5

This means you’d be behind both ConciergeKey members (who get upgraded beginning at 120 hours before takeoff) and Executive Platinum members (who get upgraded beginning at 100 hours out).

At the second-highest public tier , you have a nice chance at an upgrade a good chunk of the time , except for on some key transcontinental routes, such as New York (JFK) to Los Angeles (LAX) , or on hub-to-hub flights during peak times. The earliest a Platinum Pro gets upgraded is 72 hours out from the flight, which is still fairly generous.

Hot Tip: Remember that all upgrades are valid to the next class of service: coach to business for the U.S., Central America, Caribbean, Canada, and Mexico, and 3-class domestic planes, or coach to first in the case of most domestic 2-class flights. Upgrades are not valid on flights outside these areas.

Probably the most valuable complimentary upgrade a Platinum Pro can receive is between New York (JFK) and Los Angeles (LAX) or New York (JFK) and San Francisco (SFO) . Each route features American’s Airbus A321T aircraft with lie-flat seats in business class in a 2-2 seating arrangement.

For a 5-hour flight or longer, this is truly one of the best ways to fly coast to coast. While upgrades on this route can be complex, you can also be strategic with how you book. For example, several late-evening New York (JFK) departures to the West Coast are traditionally easier to upgrade on.

The same goes for super early West Coast departures back to the East Coast or very late red-eye flights from Los Angeles or San Francisco back to New York. If you tend to book these flights and get upgraded on them, you’ll see much more value from your Platinum Pro status.

Because many flights don’t have any ConciergeKey or even Executive Platinum members on board, you’ll often be at the top of the upgrade list.

We conservatively value this benefit at around $2,000, assuming you clear the upgrade on at least 20 flights for a value of $100 each. Many Platinum Pro members clear upgrades much more often than this, so you’ll find this valuation higher in most circumstances.

Upgrade 1 Companion Traveling With You on the Same Flight

As a Platinum Pro, you also get a complimentary upgrade for 1 companion traveling with you .

But here’s why we don’t put a lot of stock in companion upgrades. If only 1 upgrade seat gets released at a time and you are listed with your companion, the upgrade skips down the list to the next solo traveler. For upgrades to be released in pairs, the flight really has to have a lot of space on it, making this benefit harder to use.

Hot Tip: Prior to July 2022, American Airlines elite members needed to use 500-mile certificates to upgrade a companion. These upgrades are now complimentary for all AA elite members, and 500-mile certificates have been retired.

Complimentary Preferred Seats ($150)

Preferred seats are generally aisle and window seats in the middle part of the aircraft that don’t have any extra legroom. These are better-located seats but without any extra amenities . As a Platinum Pro, you can select these seats for free.

Still, you’d likely choose a Main Cabin Extra seat first — though there could certainly be times when none of those seats are available and you’re left with a preferred seat (or you’re rerouted or placed on a different flight with only preferred seats left).

Because of all these “ifs” surrounding whether you’d use this benefit often, we estimate it to be worth around $150.

Hot Tip: If you’re in a preferred seat but want Main Cabin Extra, remember to constantly monitor your flight. People may drop off the flight prior to departure because of ticket cancellations or irregular operations. As they do, you might start to see Main Cabin Extra seats open up. To learn more about these 2 seating options, check out this post looking at the differences between Main Cabin Extra and preferred seating .

To snag Main Cabin Extra instead of preferred seats, keep an eye on the upgrade list for a particular flight. If first class seats are available and at least a few people clear, ask the gate agent where those people are seated. Likely, they’re in prime Main Cabin Extra seats.

As the agent clears upgrades, those seats will free up, and you may be able to request to move into them because of your Platinum Pro status.

Complimentary Main Cabin Extra Seats ($800)

A tremendous value for Platinum, Platinum Pro, and Executive Platinum members is the ability to select free Main Cabin Extra seats with more legroom on both award and revenue tickets. These are usually in the forward part of the aircraft, though the exit rows and some rows behind are also included, depending on their location.

You definitely want to sit in these seats if you have a choice. As a Platinum Pro, you can access these seats for no extra charge at the time of booking on all flights to all destinations .

Depending on the aircraft type and routing, these seats would range anywhere from around $30 extra to more than $150 extra if you had to pay for them. An average one-way transcontinental flight prices these seats at over $80, and on a flight to Sydney, choosing Main Cabin Extra could add another $180 on top of your base ticket price.

For this benefit, we assume you’re taking advantage of at least $800 in value from selecting Main Cabin Extra seats: at least 4 longer flights at over $100 a leg and then multiple shorter legs where seats could be around $50 a segment.

In addition to the better legroom (and usually better seat location), you also receive complimentary alcoholic beverages when seated in Main Cabin Extra on a domestic flight. This benefit is normally reserved for Executive Platinum and ConciergeKey members in any seat, so snagging extra legroom plus an alcoholic beverage is a big plus for a Platinum Pro.

To really take advantage of this benefit, bring your friends and family along on your itinerary. You can receive complimentary Main Cabin Extra seats for up to 8 other passengers in the same reservation as you , which can make for a much more comfortable long-haul flight!

Hot Tip: When traveling domestically with a group, if you intend on requesting an upgrade and it looks like you may clear, select a middle seat for yourself in Main Cabin Extra. When you get upgraded, there’s a chance the seat may remain free, making for a more pleasant journey for your companions.

Elite Choice Reward ($400)

If you qualify for Platinum Pro, you can select 1 of the following items:

• 1 systemwide upgrade
• 20,000 AAdvantage bonus miles ( AAdvantage co-branded credit card members receive an additional 5,000 bonus miles, for a total of 25,000 miles)
• 6 Admirals Club 1-day passes
• $200 American Airlines flight discount
• Carbon emissions offset
• $200 donation to your choice of 1 of 10 partner charities
• One-time 15% award discount (rebate after travel)

It’s really nice to have a selection of these benefits, as each person travels differently — some may enjoy upgrades, some may enjoy club passes, and some may even enjoy offsetting their environmental impact.

As you can see, upgrades, seating, and the new elite choice reward benefit can provide close to $3,000 in value for Platinum Pro members. Visit our follow-up to this article to see how you can take advantage of an additional $2,400 or more in value for ticketing, airport, and alliance benefits . These benefits are definitely a primary reason to seek out this higher-end tier.

Platinum Pro is definitely a sweet spot for those who want upper-end benefits without paying the full price of top-tier status. It’s a happy medium that most travelers will be OK with, and the perks are certainly worth taking into account if you fly American Airlines with any frequency.

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