American Airlines Frequent Flyer Program

AAdvantage is the FFP of American Airlines. AA is in the process of integrating the Dividend Miles FFP of US Airways with the AAdvantage of American Airlines which will be completed by 2015. However, till that time, the passengers will continue to earn and redeem their loyalty awards under respective programs.

There are 4 different levels of AAdvantage FFP- AAdvantage, Aadvantage Gold, AAdvantage Platinum and AAdvantage Executive Platinum.

There is no entry level requirement for the simple AAdvantage level and the members get priority on waiting list.

The Gold members earn this status by either flying 30 qualifying segments or 25000 qualifying miles, or earn 25000 qualifying points during the whole calendar year. The members enjoy Business Class/Priority AAccess Check-in regardless of class of travel and priority AAccess boarding after First, Business and other senior levels of membership. This membership status is equivalent to Ruby level of oneworld alliance.

To become Platinum members, you need to earn 50000 qualifying points, 50000 qualifying miles or fly 60 qualifying segments during the calendar year. You get Priority/First Class AAccess check in and for boarding, you will get the priority after First, Business and AAdvantage Executive Platinum members. 100% mileage bonus is also earned while flying AA or select partners. This level is equivalent to Sapphire status of the oneworld alliance.

The Executive Platinum members are required to fly 100000 qualifying miles, or 100 qualifying segments or earn the 100000 qualifying points during the whole calendar year. The members enjoy benefits ranging from First Class/Priority AAccess check-in and priority boarding after the First and Business Class travelers. They will get the guaranteed Economy class seat in case of sold out flights with the condition that this shall be booked 24 hours in advance of the scheduled flight. 100% Mileage bonus for AA or select partner airlines.

Earning the Miles

Miles can be earned on airline partners including the 14 oneworld alliance members (TAM, Srilankan Airlines, S7 Airlines, Royal Jordanian Airlines, Qatar Airlines, Qantas Airways, Malaysia Airlines, LAN airlines, Japan Airlines, Iberia, Finnair, Cathay Pacific, British Airways, airberlin) and some other airlines such as Air Tahiti Nui, Alaska Airlines, Cape Air, El Al, Etihad, Fiji Airways, Gulf Air, Hawaiian Airways, Jet Airways, Seaborne and WestJet.

Besides the airline partners, the award miles can also be earned on about 60 odd hotel and resort chains worldwide, 8 car rental companies (Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Europcar, Hertz, National and Thrifty) and by buying holiday packages from select tour operators.

Redeeming the Miles

The miles of the AAdvantage FFP can be redeemed with AA and its airline partners, hotels partners or car hire companies.

AA provides the facility of a separate Award Map which can be used for finding out for which all places the award flights are available. You can redeem the miles for travel on AA, American Eagle and American Connection flights. You can also book one-way, round trip and multiple city award travel on one airline or on a combination of these airlines.