Page Contents<\/p>
- What Is the AAdvantage Gold Pass?<\/a>
- How to purchase an AAdvantage Gold Pass<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li>
- Is the AAdvantage Gold Pass Worth $5,000?<\/a>
- There are other ways to earn miles and Loyalty Points<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li>
- Our Take<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\n
What Is the AAdvantage Gold Pass?<\/span><\/h2>\n
The brand-new AAdvantage Gold Pass offers a trio of benefits in exchange for a one time payment of $5,000 plus tax. Buying a pass gets you the following:<\/p>\n
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- American Airlines AAdvantage Gold status for one year from the date of purchase<\/li>\n
- 100,000 AAdvantage bonus miles<\/li>\n
- 15,000 Loyalty Points<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
![\"American](\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\")
Credit: American Airlines<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n At the time of writing, passes are only available for general AAdvantage members (non-status holders) and can\u2019t be gifted. If you want, you can buy an AAdvantage Gold Pass each year, since there\u2019s no once-per-lifetime limit. They also don\u2019t auto renew.<\/p>\n
AAdvantage Gold status normally requires earning 40,000 Loyalty Points<\/a>, so while you\u2019ll get the status immediately after buying a pass, you won\u2019t get a deposit of 40,000 Loyalty Points. If you have zero Loyalty Points when you make the purchase, you\u2019ll still get the 15,000 Loyalty Points included with the pass, but you\u2019ll effectively still be starting from the bottom if you plan to climb to higher tiers.<\/p>\n
How to purchase an AAdvantage Gold Pass<\/span><\/h3>\n
If you're considering purchasing an AAdvantage Gold Pass, the good news is that the process is quick and easy. Log in to your American Airlines account<\/a>, hover over “AAdvantage” at the top of your screen, then click “Buy, gift, or transfer miles.”<\/p>\n
Credit: American Airlines<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n “AAdvantage Pass” will appear as its own menu option. Clicking it takes you to the landing page where you can explore the benefits, read the fine print, and make a purchase.<\/p>\n
Credit: American Airlines<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n You can only buy an AAdvantage Gold Pass if you have general member status with American Airlines. Otherwise, you'll see a message saying the package isn't available because you currently hold a higher or equal AAdvantage elite status<\/a>.<\/p>\n
The pass costs $5,000 \u2014 plus a 7.5% federal excise tax \u2014 which brings your total to $5,375. On the bright side, the transaction is processed by American Airlines, so just like when you buy AAdvantage miles<\/a>, this should code as an American Airlines and\/or travel purchase for the sake of earning bonus miles on your credit card.<\/p>\n
Credit: American Airlines<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n Is the AAdvantage Gold Pass Worth $5,000?<\/span><\/h2>\n
Short of the sheer convenience of getting AAdvantage Gold status, 100,000 bonus miles, and 15,000 Loyalty Points in one fell swoop, I don\u2019t think the AAdvantage Gold Pass is worth $5,000. You can replicate all of these benefits without spending anywhere near that much.<\/p>\n
There are other ways to earn miles and Loyalty Points<\/span><\/h3>\n
Earning Gold status requires just 40,000 Loyalty Points if you earn it organically. If you take advantage of fixed-rate offers through the AAdvantage eShopping portal<\/a> and book a few stays through AAdvantage Hotels<\/a>, you\u2019d be surprised by how many Loyalty Points and redeemable miles you can earn. With the right strategy, you\u2019ll spend nowhere close to $5,000 to unlock Gold benefits.<\/p>\n
And outside of complimentary upgrades — which Gold members (sadly) rarely get anyway — the benefits aren\u2019t that different from what you get with the Citi\u00ae<\/sup> \/ AAdvantage\u00ae<\/sup> Platinum Select\u00ae<\/sup> World Elite Mastercard\u00ae<\/sup><\/a>, which carries an annual fee of $99, waived for first 12 months.<\/p>\n
\n\n\nCiti\u00ae<\/sup> \/ AAdvantage\u00ae<\/sup> Platinum Select\u00ae<\/sup> World Elite Mastercard\u00ae<\/sup><\/div>\n<\/div>\n How to Apply<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\nWelcome Offer<\/strong>\r\nEarn 60,000 American Airlines AAdvantage\u00ae<\/sup> bonus miles after $3,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening.<\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n Citi\u00ae<\/sup> \/ AAdvantage\u00ae<\/sup> Platinum Select\u00ae<\/sup> World Elite Mastercard\u00ae<\/sup><\/strong>\nWelcome Offer<\/strong>\r\nEarn 60,000 American Airlines AAdvantage\u00ae<\/sup> bonus miles after $3,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening.<\/div>\nAnnual Fee:<\/strong>$99, waived for first 12 months<\/b><\/div>\nShow more<\/a>Why We Like It<\/a>Highlights<\/a>Earning Rates<\/a>The AA Platinum Select card is a great choice for anyone who travels at least a few times per year with American Airlines. Cardholders get a free checked bag on domestic itineraries, priority boarding and a 25% discount on in-flight purchases.\r\n
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\r\nWith these perks, it's easy to justify the annual fee of $99, waived for first 12 months.<\/div>- \r\n
- Free checked bags for you and up to 4 companions on domestic itineraries<\/li>\r\n
- Priority boarding to help you win the race for overhead bin space<\/li>\r\n
- A 25% discount on inflight food, beverage, and Wi-Fi purchases<\/li>\r\n<\/ul><\/div>
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- Earn 2X miles for every $1 spent at restaurants<\/li>\r\n
- Earn 2X miles for every $1 spent at gas stations<\/li>\r\n
- Earn 2X miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases<\/li>\r\n
- Earn 1X mile for every $1 spent on all other purchases<\/li>\r\n<\/ul><\/div><\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
- Our Take<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\n
- Is the AAdvantage Gold Pass Worth $5,000?<\/a>
- How to purchase an AAdvantage Gold Pass<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li>
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