{"id":75717,"date":"2026-03-28T21:10:02","date_gmt":"2026-03-28T21:10:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/?p=75717"},"modified":"2026-04-08T14:35:41","modified_gmt":"2026-04-08T14:35:41","slug":"loyalty-point-rewards-choices","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/airlines\/american-aadvantage\/loyalty-point-rewards-choices\/","title":{"rendered":"American Airlines Loyalty Point Rewards: What\u2019s New for 2026, Best Choices &amp; Selection Deadlines"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The road to American Airlines elite status comes with plenty of perks, largely thanks to the AAdvantage program\u2019s Loyalty Point Rewards. These rewards let you choose from a variety of benefits as you reach different Loyalty Point milestones.<\/p>\n<p>Loyalty Point Rewards have been around for a few years, but there are some <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/news\/american-aadvantage\/program-changes-2026\/\" rel=\"noopener\">small updates for the 2026 elite status year<\/a> \u2014 which just started March 1, 2026 \u2014 including food and beverage coupons, subscriptions to the New York Times, and credits toward <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/news\/american-aadvantage\/aa-vacations\/\" rel=\"noopener\">American Airlines Vacations packages<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>In this guide, we\u2019ll break down all the available Loyalty Point Rewards and help you decide which options make the most sense as you reach each selection threshold.<\/p>\n<div id=\"toc_container\" class=\"toc_light_blue no_bullets\"><p class=\"toc_title\">Page Contents<\/p><ul class=\"toc_list\"><li><a href=\"#American_Airlines_Loyalty_Point_Rewards_Overview\">American Airlines Loyalty Point Rewards Overview<\/a><ul><li><a href=\"#Earn_Loyalty_Points_to_unlock_Loyalty_Point_Rewards_and_elite_status\">Earn Loyalty Points to unlock Loyalty Point Rewards and elite status<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><a href=\"#American_Airlines_Loyalty_Point_Rewards_Tiers\">American Airlines Loyalty Point Rewards Tiers<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Which_Loyalty_Point_Rewards_Should_You_Pick\">Which Loyalty Point Rewards Should You Pick?<\/a><ul><li><a href=\"#15000_Loyalty_Points_Choose_One\">15,000 Loyalty Points (Choose One)<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#175000_Loyalty_Points_Choose_One\">175,000 Loyalty Points (Choose One)<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#250000_Loyalty_Points_Choose_Two\">250,000 Loyalty Points (Choose Two)<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#400000_Loyalty_Points_Choose_Two\">400,000 Loyalty Points (Choose Two)<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#550000_Loyalty_Points_Choose_Two\">550,000 Loyalty Points (Choose Two)<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#750000_Loyalty_Points_Choose_Two\">750,000 Loyalty Points (Choose Two)<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#1000000_Loyalty_Points_Choose_One\">1,000,000 Loyalty Points (Choose One)<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#3000000_Loyalty_Points_Choose_One\">3,000,000 Loyalty Points (Choose One)<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#5000000_Loyalty_Points_Choose_One\">5,000,000 Loyalty Points (Choose One)<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><a href=\"#Loyalty_Point_Rewards_Choice_Deadlines\">Loyalty Point Rewards Choice Deadlines<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Bottom_Line\">Bottom Line<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\n<h2><span id=\"American_Airlines_Loyalty_Point_Rewards_Overview\">American Airlines Loyalty Point Rewards Overview<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Loyalty Point Rewards have evolved over the years, but the concept has stayed the same. The program <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/airlines\/american-aadvantage\/loyalty-point-rewards-choices\/\" rel=\"noopener\">started as Elite Choice Rewards<\/a>, <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/airlines\/american-aadvantage\/elite-status\/\" rel=\"noopener\">later became Loyalty Choice Rewards<\/a>, and eventually landed on its current name: Loyalty Point Rewards.<\/p>\n<p>But the idea is simple: As you <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/airlines\/american-aadvantage\/loyalty-points\/\" rel=\"noopener\">earn Loyalty Points<\/a> from flying, <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/credit-cards\/american-aadvantage\/american-airlines-credit-card\/\" rel=\"noopener\">AAdvantage credit card<\/a> spending, and other qualifying activities, you unlock a selection of perks at set milestones between elite tiers. You can start choosing rewards with as few as 15,000 Loyalty Points.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_249374\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img data-aspectratio=\"900\/558\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-249374 size-large lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Screenshot-2026-03-01-at-18.51.48-900x558.png\" alt=\"American Airlines Loyalty Point Rewards\" width=\"900\" height=\"558\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Screenshot-2026-03-01-at-18.51.48-900x558.png 900w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Screenshot-2026-03-01-at-18.51.48-750x465.png 750w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Screenshot-2026-03-01-at-18.51.48-768x476.png 768w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Screenshot-2026-03-01-at-18.51.48-1536x952.png 1536w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Screenshot-2026-03-01-at-18.51.48.png 1636w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><center><em>Screenshot of American Airlines Loyalty Point Rewards tracker<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n<p>And the more Loyalty Points you earn, the better the rewards get. Some of the most notable options for the 2026 qualification year include <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/airlines\/american-aadvantage\/systemwide-upgrades\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Systemwide Upgrades (SWUs)<\/a>, <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/airlines\/american-aadvantage\/admirals-club-access\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Admirals Club<\/a> memberships, <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/hotels\/world-of-hyatt\/elite-status\/\" rel=\"noopener\">World of Hyatt elite status<\/a>, and more.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Earn_Loyalty_Points_to_unlock_Loyalty_Point_Rewards_and_elite_status\">Earn Loyalty Points to unlock Loyalty Point Rewards and elite status<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>It's worth mentioning that Loyalty Points don\u2019t just unlock Loyalty Point Rewards. They\u2019re also the only metric for earning <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/airlines\/american-aadvantage\/elite-status\/\" rel=\"noopener\">AAdvantage elite status<\/a>. For 2026, here\u2019s how many Loyalty Points you\u2019ll need to qualify for each tier:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Gold:<\/strong> 40,000 Loyalty Points<\/li>\n<li><strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/airlines\/american-aadvantage\/platinum-status\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Platinum<\/a>:<\/strong> 75,000 Loyalty Points<\/li>\n<li><strong>Platinum Pro:<\/strong> 125,000 Loyalty Points<\/li>\n<li><strong>Executive Platinum:<\/strong> 200,000 Loyalty Points<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Just like in previous years, you can <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/airlines\/how-to-get-elite-status-without-flying\/\" rel=\"noopener\">qualify for elite status without ever stepping on a plane<\/a>. As long as you\u2019re earning Loyalty Points \u2014 whether through co-branded credit card spending, <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/airlines\/american-aadvantage\/simplymiles\/\" rel=\"noopener\">SimplyMiles<\/a>, <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/airlines\/american-aadvantage\/aa-shopping\/\" rel=\"noopener\">AAdvantage eShopping<\/a>, or other qualifying activities \u2014 you\u2019re on your way to both elite status and Loyalty Point Rewards.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_190104\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img data-aspectratio=\"600\/480\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-190104 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/American-Airlines-Featured-Tyler-Glatt-3.png\" alt=\"American Airlines plane seen from the DFW airport train\" width=\"600\" height=\"480\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/American-Airlines-Featured-Tyler-Glatt-3.png 1000w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/American-Airlines-Featured-Tyler-Glatt-3-300x240.png 300w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/American-Airlines-Featured-Tyler-Glatt-3-768x614.png 768w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/American-Airlines-Featured-Tyler-Glatt-3-325x260.png 325w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><center><em>Credit: Tyler Glatt\/AwardWallet<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n<p><strong>Related: <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/airlines\/american-aadvantage\/loyalty-points\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Complete Guide to American Airlines AAdvantage Loyalty Points<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"American_Airlines_Loyalty_Point_Rewards_Tiers\">American Airlines Loyalty Point Rewards Tiers<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>You'll earn your first reward after collecting 15,000 Loyalty Points, but the gaps between tiers widen from there, eventually topping out at a massive 5,000,000 Loyalty Points. Below is a breakdown of the Loyalty Point Rewards and AAdvantage elite status benefits:<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">\n<table id=\"tablepress-434\" class=\"tablepress tablepress-id-434 tablepress-responsive\">\n<thead>\n<tr class=\"row-1 odd\">\n\t<th class=\"column-1\">Total Loyalty Points Required<\/th><th class=\"column-2\">Benefits Earned<\/th><th class=\"column-3\">One-Time Selection<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody class=\"row-hover\">\n<tr class=\"row-2 even\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">15,000<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Group 5 Boarding for membership year<\/td><td class=\"column-3\"><strong>Choose 1 reward from:<\/strong><br \/>\n- 1,000 bonus Loyalty Points<br \/>\n- Priority privileges and Group 4 boarding for one trip<br \/>\n- 5 Preferred Seat coupons<br \/>\n- A limited-edition centennial luggage tag personalized with your name (while supplies last)<br \/>\n- 2 inflight food and beverage coupons (coming soon)<br \/>\n- 12-month New York Times subscription to your choice of Games, Cooking, or The Athletic (coming soon)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-3 odd\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">40,000<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">AAdvantage Gold elite status (and all its related benefits)<\/td><td class=\"column-3\"><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-4 even\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">60,000<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">- Avis Preferred Plus status<br \/>\n- 25% Loyalty Point bonus with select partners for 6 months<\/td><td class=\"column-3\"><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-5 odd\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">75,000<\/td><td class=\"column-2\"><a href=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/airlines\/american-aadvantage\/platinum-status\/\">AAdvantage Platinum<\/a> elite status (and all its related benefits)<\/td><td class=\"column-3\"><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-6 even\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">100,000<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">- World of Hyatt Discoverist status<br \/>\n- Avis President's Club status<\/td><td class=\"column-3\"><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-7 odd\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">125,000<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">AAdvantage Platinum Pro elite status (and all its related benefits)<\/td><td class=\"column-3\"><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-8 even\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">175,000<\/td><td class=\"column-2\"><\/td><td class=\"column-3\"><strong>Choose 1 reward from:<\/strong><br \/>\n- World of Hyatt Explorist status<br \/>\n- 5,000 Loyalty Points<br \/>\n- 2 systemwide upgrades<br \/>\n- 20,000 bonus miles (25,000 bonus miles \u2013 AAdvantage<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> credit cardmember exclusive)<br \/>\n- $200 Trip Credit ($250 Trip Credit \u2013 AAdvantage<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> credit cardmember exclusive)<br \/>\n- $250 American Airlines Vacations\u2120 credit<br \/>\n- 75-gallon sustainable aviation fuel allocation<br \/>\n- $250 donation to select nonprofit organization<br \/>\n- 2 gifts of AAdvantage Gold<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> status<br \/>\n- 1 AAdvantage Exchange\u2120 gift<br \/>\n- 35,000 AAdvantage<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> miles toward a Mastercard Priceless<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Experience* (AAdvantage<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> credit cardmember exclusive)<br \/>\n- 12-month New York Times All Access subscription (coming soon)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-9 odd\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">200,000<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">AAdvantage Executive Platinum elite status (and all its related benefits)<\/td><td class=\"column-3\"><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-10 even\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">250,000<\/td><td class=\"column-2\"><\/td><td class=\"column-3\"><strong>Choose 2 rewards from:<\/strong><br \/>\n- World of Hyatt Explorist status<br \/>\n- 15,000 Loyalty Points<br \/>\n- 2 systemwide upgrades<br \/>\n- 20,000 bonus miles (30,000 bonus miles \u2013 AAdvantage<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> credit cardmember exclusive)<br \/>\n- Admirals Club<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> membership (requires 2 choices)<br \/>\n- $200 Trip Credit ($250 Trip Credit \u2013 AAdvantage<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> credit cardmember exclusive)<br \/>\n- $500 American Airlines Vacations\u2120 credit<br \/>\n- 100-gallon sustainable aviation fuel allocation<br \/>\n- $250 donation to select nonprofit organizations<br \/>\n- 2 gifts of AAdvantage Gold<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> status<br \/>\n- 1 AAdvantage Exchange\u2120 gift<br \/>\n- 1 AAdvantage Exchange\u2120 premium gift (requires 2 choices)<br \/>\n- 1 Flagship<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Lounge Single Visit Pass (2 Flagship<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Lounge Single Visit Passes \u2013 AAdvantage<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> credit cardmember exclusive)<br \/>\n- 35,000 AAdvantage<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> miles toward a Mastercard Priceless<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Experience* (AAdvantage<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> credit cardmember exclusive)<br \/>\n- 12-month New York Times All Access subscription (coming soon)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-11 odd\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">400,000<\/td><td class=\"column-2\"><\/td><td class=\"column-3\"><strong>Choose 2 rewards from:<\/strong><br \/>\n- World of Hyatt Category 1-4 Free Night Award<br \/>\n- 1 systemwide upgrade<br \/>\n- 25,000 bonus miles<br \/>\n- Admirals Club<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> membership (requires 2 choices)<br \/>\n- $200 Trip Credit ($250 Trip Credit \u2013 AAdvantage<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> credit cardmember exclusive)<br \/>\n- $500 American Airlines Vacations\u2120 credit<br \/>\n- 100-gallon sustainable aviation fuel allocation<br \/>\n- 1 gift of AAdvantage Platinum<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> status<br \/>\n- 1 AAdvantage Exchange\u2120 gift<br \/>\n- 1 AAdvantage Exchange\u2120 premium gift (requires 2 choices)<br \/>\n- 2 Flagship<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Lounge Single Visit Passes<br \/>\n- 1 Flagship<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> First Dining Pass<br \/>\n- 40,000 AAdvantage<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> miles toward a Mastercard Priceless<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Experience* (AAdvantage<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> credit cardmember exclusive)<br \/>\n- 12-month New York Times All Access subscription (coming soon)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-12 even\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">550,000<\/td><td class=\"column-2\"><\/td><td class=\"column-3\"><strong>Choose 2 rewards from:<\/strong><br \/>\n- World of Hyatt Category 1-4 Free Night Award<br \/>\n- 1 systemwide upgrade<br \/>\n- 25,000 bonus miles<br \/>\n- Admirals Club<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> membership (requires 2 choices)<br \/>\n- $200 Trip Credit ($250 Trip Credit \u2013 AAdvantage<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> credit cardmember exclusive)<br \/>\n- $500 American Airlines Vacations\u2120 credit<br \/>\n- 100-gallon sustainable aviation fuel allocation<br \/>\n- 1 gift of AAdvantage Platinum<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> status<br \/>\n- 1 AAdvantage Exchange\u2120 gift<br \/>\n- 1 AAdvantage Exchange\u2120 premium gift (requires 2 choices)<br \/>\n- 2 Flagship<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Lounge Single Visit Passes<br \/>\n- 1 Flagship<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> First Dining Pass<br \/>\n- 40,000 AAdvantage<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> miles toward a Mastercard Priceless<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Experience* (AAdvantage<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> credit cardmember exclusive)<br \/>\n- 12-month New York Times All Access subscription (coming soon)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-13 odd\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">750,000<\/td><td class=\"column-2\"><\/td><td class=\"column-3\"><strong>Choose 2 rewards from:<\/strong><br \/>\n- World of Hyatt Category 1-4 Free Night Award<br \/>\n- 1 systemwide upgrade<br \/>\n- 25,000 bonus miles<br \/>\n- Admirals Club<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> membership (requires 2 choices)<br \/>\n- $200 Trip Credit ($250 Trip Credit \u2013 AAdvantage<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> credit cardmember exclusive)<br \/>\n- $500 American Airlines Vacations\u2120 credit<br \/>\n- 100-gallon sustainable aviation fuel allocation<br \/>\n- 1 gift of AAdvantage Platinum<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> status<br \/>\n- 1 AAdvantage Exchange\u2120 gift<br \/>\n- 1 AAdvantage Exchange\u2120 premium gift (requires 2 choices)<br \/>\n- 2 Flagship<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Lounge Single Visit Passes<br \/>\n- 1 Flagship<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> First Dining Pass<br \/>\n- 40,000 AAdvantage<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> miles toward a Mastercard Priceless<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Experience* (AAdvantage<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> credit cardmember exclusive)<br \/>\n- 12-month New York Times All Access subscription (coming soon)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-14 even\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">1,000,000<\/td><td class=\"column-2\"><\/td><td class=\"column-3\"><strong>Choose 1 reward from:<\/strong><br \/>\n- World of Hyatt Category 1-7 Free Night Award<br \/>\n- 4 systemwide upgrades<br \/>\n- 250-gallon sustainable aviation fuel allocation<br \/>\n- 1 gift of AAdvantage Platinum Pro<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> status<br \/>\n- Up to 100,000 miles back on award redemptions<br \/>\n- 150,000 AAdvantage<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> miles toward a Mastercard Priceless<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Experience* (AAdvantage<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> credit cardmember exclusive)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-15 odd\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">3,000,000<\/td><td class=\"column-2\"><\/td><td class=\"column-3\"><strong>Choose 1 reward from:<\/strong><br \/>\n- World of Hyatt Category 1-7 Free Night Award<br \/>\n- 6 systemwide upgrades<br \/>\n- 500-gallon sustainable aviation fuel allocation<br \/>\n- 1 gift of AAdvantage Executive Platinum<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> status<br \/>\n- Up to 300,000 miles back on award redemptions<br \/>\n- 350,000 AAdvantage<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> miles toward a Mastercard Priceless<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Experience* (AAdvantage<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> credit cardmember exclusive)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-16 even\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">5,000,000<\/td><td class=\"column-2\"><\/td><td class=\"column-3\"><strong>Choose 1 reward from:<\/strong><br \/>\n- World of Hyatt Category 1-7 Free Night Award<br \/>\n- 10 systemwide upgrades<br \/>\n- 1,000-gallon sustainable aviation fuel allocation<br \/>\n- 1 gift of AAdvantage Executive Platinum<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> status<br \/>\n- Up to 500,000 miles back on award redemptions<br \/>\n- 550,000 AAdvantage<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> miles toward a Mastercard Priceless<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Experience* (AAdvantage<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> credit cardmember exclusive)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/p>\n<p>You\u2019ll find the fine print for each Loyalty Point Reward at the bottom of <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.aa.com\/i18n\/aadvantage-program\/aadvantage-status\/loyalty-point-rewards.jsp\" rel=\"noopener\">this American Airlines webpage<\/a>, but here are a few key things to keep in mind:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Some benefits are only available if you have an American Airlines credit card.<\/li>\n<li>Certain perks, like an Admirals Club membership, can only be selected once \u2014 and may require multiple choices.<\/li>\n<li>Rewards involving physical products \u2014 such as the personalized limited-edition centennial luggage tag \u2014 are only available while supplies last.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span id=\"Which_Loyalty_Point_Rewards_Should_You_Pick\">Which Loyalty Point Rewards Should You Pick?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The beauty of American Airlines' Loyalty Point Rewards is that you get to pick the benefits that matter most to you. If a particular option doesn\u2019t appeal to you at a given threshold, you can choose something else that provides better value.<\/p>\n<p>That said, some rewards are more valuable than others. Here\u2019s our take on the best Loyalty Point Rewards at each threshold where you're given a choice:<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"15000_Loyalty_Points_Choose_One\">15,000 Loyalty Points (Choose One)<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>At this threshold, you'll automatically unlock <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/airlines\/american-aadvantage\/american-airlines-boarding-groups\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Group 5 boarding<\/a> for the AAdvantage membership year, so if you're planning to keep earning, the 1,000 bonus Loyalty Points might be the best pick. Otherwise, the limited-edition centennial luggage tag or five Preferred Seat coupons could be more appealing. However, if you plan on reaching AAdvantage elite status this year, the limited-edition centennial luggage tag will be available on request for all elite members.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_54833\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img data-aspectratio=\"600\/480\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-54833 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/American-Airlines-AA-787-Main-Cabin-Seats-Featured.jpg\" alt=\"Photo of Main Cabin on an American Airlines Boeing 787\" width=\"600\" height=\"480\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/American-Airlines-AA-787-Main-Cabin-Seats-Featured.jpg 2484w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/American-Airlines-AA-787-Main-Cabin-Seats-Featured-300x240.jpg 300w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/American-Airlines-AA-787-Main-Cabin-Seats-Featured-1024x819.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/American-Airlines-AA-787-Main-Cabin-Seats-Featured-1536x1228.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/American-Airlines-AA-787-Main-Cabin-Seats-Featured-2048x1637.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/American-Airlines-AA-787-Main-Cabin-Seats-Featured-325x260.jpg 325w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><center><em>Main Cabin on an American Airlines Boeing 787. Credit: American Airlines<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n<h3><span id=\"175000_Loyalty_Points_Choose_One\">175,000 Loyalty Points (Choose One)<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>If you can maximize them, two <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/airlines\/american-aadvantage\/systemwide-upgrades\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Systemwide Upgrades<\/a> or 20,000 bonus miles (25,000 if you have an AAdvantage credit card) are excellent choices. You can also opt for <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/hotels\/world-of-hyatt\/hyatt-explorist\/\" rel=\"noopener\">World of Hyatt Explorist status<\/a>, which could prove valuable if you can take advantage of perks like room upgrades and late checkout.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"250000_Loyalty_Points_Choose_Two\">250,000 Loyalty Points (Choose Two)<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>At this threshold, you get two choices, so you might consider using both to splurge for an <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/airlines\/american-aadvantage\/admirals-club-access\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Admirals Club<\/a> membership. But if you already have lounge access or don\u2019t spend enough time in airports to justify it, you could go for 20,000 bonus miles (30,000 if you have an AAdvantage credit card) with one choice and two Systemwide Upgrades with the other. The addition of a $500 American Airlines Vacations credit could also be valuable if you're planning your next trip. Or, splurge for a premium gift through AAdvantage exchange, although this requires two choices.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_54825\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img data-aspectratio=\"600\/480\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-54825 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/American-Airlines-AA-777-Business-Class-Featured.jpg\" alt=\"inside an American Airlines B777 business class cabin\" width=\"600\" height=\"480\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/American-Airlines-AA-777-Business-Class-Featured.jpg 1066w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/American-Airlines-AA-777-Business-Class-Featured-300x240.jpg 300w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/American-Airlines-AA-777-Business-Class-Featured-1024x819.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/American-Airlines-AA-777-Business-Class-Featured-325x260.jpg 325w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><center><em>American Airlines Boeing 777 business class cabin. Credit: American Airlines<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n<h3><span id=\"400000_Loyalty_Points_Choose_Two\">400,000 Loyalty Points (Choose Two)<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>With two choices at this threshold, we'd lean toward the 25,000 bonus miles (one choice) or an Admirals Club membership, if you haven\u2019t already selected it. If you can get more than a couple hundred dollars in value from a <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/hotels\/world-of-hyatt\/hyatt-category-4\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Hyatt Category 1-4 Free Night Award<\/a>, that\u2019s another solid option.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"550000_Loyalty_Points_Choose_Two\">550,000 Loyalty Points (Choose Two)<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>If you didn\u2019t pick an Admirals Club membership earlier, this is still a great spot to do so. Otherwise, gifting <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/airlines\/american-aadvantage\/platinum-status\/\" rel=\"noopener\">AAdvantage Platinum status<\/a> to a friend or family member isn't something you should overlook. You could also use both selections toward an AAdvantage Exchange premium gift if that\u2019s something you\u2019d use (or resell).<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_103625\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img data-aspectratio=\"600\/480\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-103625 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/AdmiralsClub-Featured.png\" alt=\"travelers sit inside an American Airlines Admirals Club, which we discuss for amenities and access rules\" width=\"600\" height=\"480\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/AdmiralsClub-Featured.png 1000w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/AdmiralsClub-Featured-300x240.png 300w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/AdmiralsClub-Featured-768x614.png 768w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/AdmiralsClub-Featured-325x260.png 325w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><center><em>Credit: American Airlines<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n<h3><span id=\"750000_Loyalty_Points_Choose_Two\">750,000 Loyalty Points (Choose Two)<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The options here are nearly identical to the 550,000 Loyalty Point tier. The Admirals Club membership, gift of status, or Systemwide Upgrades are your best bets \u2014 but skip the single-visit lounge passes.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"1000000_Loyalty_Points_Choose_One\">1,000,000 Loyalty Points (Choose One)<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>You've hit one million Loyalty Points! Nearly all the choices here are excellent, but you only get one. If you frequently <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/airlines\/american-aadvantage\/best-ways-to-use-american-miles\/\" rel=\"noopener\">redeem AAdvantage miles<\/a>, consider the mileage rebate (up to 100,000 miles back on award redemptions), four Systemwide Upgrades, or the Hyatt Category 1-7 Free Night Award.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_189881\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img data-aspectratio=\"600\/480\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-189881 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Hyatt-Koh-Samui-Featured.png\" alt=\"Hyatt Regency Koh Samui Resort\" width=\"600\" height=\"480\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Hyatt-Koh-Samui-Featured.png 1000w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Hyatt-Koh-Samui-Featured-300x240.png 300w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Hyatt-Koh-Samui-Featured-768x614.png 768w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Hyatt-Koh-Samui-Featured-325x260.png 325w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><center><em>Hyatt Regency Koh Samui Resort. Credit: Hyatt<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n<h3><span id=\"3000000_Loyalty_Points_Choose_One\">3,000,000 Loyalty Points (Choose One)<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The jump from the last threshold to this one is huge \u2014 and unfortunately, you still only get one choice. It\u2019s hard to go wrong with up to 300,000 miles back on award redemptions, the gift of Executive Platinum status, or six Systemwide Upgrades.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"5000000_Loyalty_Points_Choose_One\">5,000,000 Loyalty Points (Choose One)<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Finally, the end of the road. At five million Loyalty Points, you get one choice, and the best options are either 10 Systemwide Upgrades or up to 500,000 miles back on award redemptions.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_190102\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img data-aspectratio=\"600\/480\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-190102 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/American-Airlines-Featured-Tyler-Glatt-5.png\" alt=\"Rear-view of an American Airlines 787 parked at a gate\" width=\"600\" height=\"480\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/American-Airlines-Featured-Tyler-Glatt-5.png 1000w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/American-Airlines-Featured-Tyler-Glatt-5-300x240.png 300w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/American-Airlines-Featured-Tyler-Glatt-5-768x614.png 768w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/American-Airlines-Featured-Tyler-Glatt-5-325x260.png 325w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><center><em>Credit: Tyler Glatt\/AwardWallet<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n<p><strong>Related: <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/airlines\/american-aadvantage\/creative-ways-to-earn-extra-loyalty-points\/\" rel=\"noopener\">How To Play the American Airlines Loyalty Points Game to Unlock AAdvantage Elite Status<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"Loyalty_Point_Rewards_Choice_Deadlines\">Loyalty Point Rewards Choice Deadlines<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The deadline to choose your Loyalty Point Rewards is March 31 of the year the status qualification period ends. Since the qualification year runs from March through the end of the following February, the timing can be a bit confusing. Here\u2019s how it breaks down:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>If you earned Loyalty Point Rewards between March 2025 and February 2026, the deadline was <strong>March 31, 2026<\/strong>\u00a0to make your choices.<\/li>\n<li>For the current qualification period (March 2026 to February 2027), you\u2019ll have until <strong>March 31, 2027<\/strong>, to choose your rewards.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>In addition, if you end up flying or spending more than expected before the qualification year ends, you might unlock better perks with elite status, making an early choice (like Preferred Seat coupons or preferred boarding) feel like a wasted opportunity.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_141798\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img data-aspectratio=\"600\/480\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-141798 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/DCA-Admirals-Club-entrance-featured.jpeg\" alt=\"DCA Admirals Club entrance\" width=\"600\" height=\"480\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/DCA-Admirals-Club-entrance-featured.jpeg 1000w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/DCA-Admirals-Club-entrance-featured-300x240.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/DCA-Admirals-Club-entrance-featured-768x614.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/DCA-Admirals-Club-entrance-featured-325x260.jpeg 325w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><center><em>Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) Admirals Club. Credit: American Airlines<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n<h2><span id=\"Bottom_Line\">Bottom Line<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>For yet another year, American Airlines is rolling out a refreshed set of Loyalty Point Rewards. Perks start at 15,000 Loyalty Points and run all the way up to 5,000,000 Loyalty Points \u2014 rewarding everyone from the occasional program participant to the airline\u2019s most valuable customers. At most tiers, AAdvantage members get to pick from a selection of rewards, so you can choose what perks and benefits matter most to you.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The path to American Airlines elite status comes with plenty of perks, largely thanks to Loyalty Point Rewards. As you reach Loyalty Point milestones, you\u2019ll unlock benefits to choose from. This guide breaks down all the available rewards and helps you decide which options make the most sense at each selection threshold.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":51,"featured_media":45478,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_wpscppro_dont_share_socialmedia":null,"_wpscppro_custom_social_share_image":0,"_facebook_share_type":"default","_twitter_share_type":"default","_linkedin_share_type":"default","_pinterest_share_type":"default","_linkedin_share_type_page":"","_instagram_share_type":"default","_medium_share_type":"default","_threads_share_type":"default","_google_business_share_type":"default","_selected_social_profile":[],"_wpsp_enable_custom_social_template":false,"_wpsp_social_scheduling":{"enabled":false,"datetime":null,"platforms":[],"status":"template_only","dateOption":"today","timeOption":"now","customDays":"","customHours":"","customDate":"","customTime":"","schedulingType":"absolute"},"_wpsp_active_default_template":true},"categories":[12068],"tags":[12776,12622],"coauthors":[36394,36432],"class_list":["post-75717","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-award-programs","tag-american-aadvantage","tag-elite-status"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/75717","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/51"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=75717"}],"version-history":[{"count":37,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/75717\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":254586,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/75717\/revisions\/254586"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/45478"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=75717"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=75717"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=75717"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=75717"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}