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American Airlines AAdvantage members, it’s the moment you’ve been waiting for (begrudgingly, let’s be honest). Today, we finally get a look at what’s changing with the AAdvantage program in 2026.
While 2026 is a monumental year for American Airlines as it celebrates its centennial, the updates to the AAdvantage program are relatively modest. Even so, there’s a mix of good and bad changes to be aware of as you finish your Loyalty Point earnings by February 28 and gear up for a new year starting March 1.
Here's everything you need to know.
Page Contents
AAdvantage Elite Status Qualification Requirements for 2026
Let’s start with the best news of all: the American Airlines AAdvantage elite status requirements are staying the same for the third year in a row.
That means, unless you want to skip the party entirely and buy AAdvantage Gold status outright (yes, that’s an option, but it's expensive), you’ll need to earn the following number of Loyalty Points during the 2026 program year to unlock elite status:
- AAdvantage Gold: 40,000 Loyalty Points
- AAdvantage Platinum: 75,000 Loyalty Points
- AAdvantage Platinum Pro: 125,000 Loyalty Points
- AAdvantage Executive Platinum: 200,000 Loyalty Points
Given all the ways to earn Loyalty Points these days, through programs like AAdvantage Hotels and AAdvantage eShopping, some expected that American Airlines might tighten the screws for the upcoming program year. But nope, that’s not happening.
In addition, American Airlines isn’t adding or removing elite benefits for the upcoming program year.
While there will be changes to Loyalty Point Rewards choices, all of the onboard benefits available to AAdvantage elites in 2025 will continue to be offered in 2026.
New Loyalty Point Reward Choices
The bulk of the AAdvantage program changes for 2026 — both good-ish and bad — center on Loyalty Point Rewards. These are the benefits you can select at specific Loyalty Point thresholds.
For the upcoming program year, American Airlines is adding new choices at select thresholds while also revamping a key perk. To keep things simple, below are the thresholds where changes are being made. Keep in mind that these options are in addition to existing choices at each level, such as Systemwide Upgrades, complimentary World of Hyatt elite status, and more.
- 15,000 Loyalty Points
- Two food and beverage coupons to use on flights where service is offered
- A 12-month New York Times subscription to Games, Cooking, or The Athletic
- These benefits are coming later in 2026
- 60,000 Loyalty Points
- 25% Loyalty Point bonus on spending with select partners (see below for details)
- 175,000 Loyalty Points
- $250 credit toward American Airlines Vacations packages
- One AAdvantage Exchange gift
- Coming later in 2026, you can also choose a 12-month New York Times All Access subscription, which includes News, Games, Cooking, Wirecutter, and The Athletic.
- 250,000 Loyalty Points
- $500 credit toward American Airlines Vacations packages
- One AAdvantage Exchange gift
- One AAdvantage Exchange premium gift (requires two choices)
- A 12-month New York Times All Access subscription will also be available later in 2026.
- 400k, 550k, and 750k Loyalty Points
- $500 credit toward American Airlines Vacations packages
- One AAdvantage Exchange gift
- One AAdvantage Exchange premium gift (requires two choices)
- A 12-month New York Times All Access subscription will also be available later in 2026.
These new Loyalty Point Reward choices will be available starting March 1, 2026.
American Airlines hasn’t yet shared details on when in 2026 the New York Times subscriptions will become available, nor what AAdvantage Exchange gifts will be offered. That said, these choices are likely less valuable than many of the options carrying over from 2025 to 2026.
Loyalty Point bonus changes
In the 2026 AAdvantage program year, American Airlines is eliminating the 20% Loyalty Points bonus earned with select partners like American Airlines Vacations, AAdvantage Hotels, and AAdvantage eShopping, along with the separate 30% bonus unlocked at 100,000 Loyalty Points.
Instead, the airline is increasing the bonus unlocked at 60,000 Loyalty Points from 20% to 25%, which you can use for six months. However, there’s a new catch: a cap.
Under the current setup, there’s no limit to how many Loyalty Points you can earn through the bonus. Starting in 2026, American Airlines will cap this bonus at 25,000 Loyalty Points. Put differently, you’ll need to earn 100,000 base Loyalty Points with eligible partners before maxing out the 25,000-point bonus.
Claim a Limited-Edition Centennial Luggage Tag
One new perk for 2026 (and only 2026) is the opportunity to claim a limited-edition centennial luggage tag. This won’t require using a Loyalty Point Reward choice, but it will be available to AAdvantage members who qualify for status beginning March 1, 2026.
The luggage tag will be offered to members across all elite tiers, from AAdvantage Gold through AAdvantage Executive Platinum, as well as American Airlines Million Milers.
Coming Soon: More Ways to Use AAdvantage Miles
Also coming in 2026 are more ways to use your American Airlines AAdvantage miles. There’s no official timeline for when these additional redemption options will roll out, but in the press release announcing next year’s program changes, American Airlines says the following options are coming:
- Tickets to sporting events, including the PGA Championship and U.S. soccer matches
- Expanded redemption options through the AAdvantage Exchange marketplace
- Gift cards from major retailers and for entertainment
- And more
Our favorite way to redeem AAdvantage miles is for the program’s best sweet spots, but there’s something to be said for having additional options if award travel isn’t in the cards, or if you place more value on a unique experience you wouldn’t otherwise pay cash for.
Bottom Line
The 2026 AAdvantage program changes have officially been revealed, and on balance, they’re fairly modest. It’s a big plus that elite status qualification requirements are staying the same and that none of the associated benefits are going away.
Most of the negativity is limited to changes in Loyalty Point Rewards, and unless you plan to earn a large number of Loyalty Points in the upcoming program year, the new cap on the bonus benefit and the underwhelming new choices likely won’t move the needle much.
That said, your take on these changes may differ from ours. If you have thoughts on the 2026 AAdvantage updates, we’d love to hear them in the comments below.
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