As the Feb. 28 deadline to qualify for American Airlines AAdvantage status rapidly approaches, you might have the opportunity to buy your way to American Airlines status.
You can visit this landing page and sign in to your AAdvantage account to see if your account is eligible for a targeted buy-up offer.
Like United’s option for buying up to status, these offers aren’t cheap (at least in our surveyed accounts). American may allow you to use your miles to buy up for status. Using your miles to buy up to status, you’ll get a redemption rate of just 1 cent per mile — roughly 45% below TPG’s valuation of American miles.
Here’s a closer look at the specific offers we found.
Gold to Platinum
One TPG staffer was offered Platinum status for $1,185 or 118,500 miles. AAdvantage Platinum includes several benefits above his current AAdvantage Gold status. Some noteworthy Platinum benefits include Main Cabin Extra seating at the time of booking, Oneworld business-class lounge access on most international flights and 48-hour upgrade priority on some American and Alaska Airlines flights.
This was one of the least expensive offers, but this AAdvantage member is only about 7,000 Loyalty Points short of Platinum status. He’s qualified for AAdvantage Gold status, and he’ll earn the 7,000 Loyalty Points from an upcoming Rocketmiles stay, which, presumably, is less than $1,185.
That will give him Platinum status through Feb. 29, 2024.
Platinum to Platinum Pro
Platinum Pro status requires 125,000 Loyalty Points. The first data point, from a TPG staffer, offers a buy-up from Platinum to Platinum Pro for $2,279 or 228,000 miles. This staffer is currently around 15,000 Loyalty Points short of Platinum Pro.
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The second screenshot is from a TPG reader who is around 25,000 Loyalty Points short of Platinum Pro. As you would expect, his buy-up offer is more expensive.
Platinum Pro includes increased upgrade priority, three complimentary checked bags and Oneworld Emerald, which offers benefits like first-class Oneworld lounge access on most international flights.
Both of these readers have already qualified for Platinum status through Feb. 29, 2024 but will likely not be earning Platinum Pro.
Related: Chasing American Airlines elite status? Here are 14 ways to earn Loyalty Points
Platinum Pro to Executive Platinum
Finally, American Airlines offered two TPG staffers a buy-up from Platinum Pro to Executive Platinum status. Both of these staffers have already qualified for Platinum Pro status through Feb. 29, 2024. These offers would upgrade that to Executive Platinum through March 31, 2024.
In the first case, a TPG staffer is around 40,000 Loyalty Points short of the 200,000 Loyalty Points required for Executive Platinum. Her offer is $2,319 or 232,000 miles.
But here’s a curve ball — in the second offer, a TPG staffer is around 30,000 Loyalty Points short of Executive Platinum status. American offered him Executive Platinum for $3,379 or 338,000 miles. That’s more expensive than the first offer, and he has more Loyalty Points.
So if you’re closer to status, your offer might not be less expensive.
Some benefits of Executive Platinum status include upgrades confirmed as early as 100 hours before departure (on some flights), complimentary upgrades on award tickets (on some flights) and a complimentary snack and drink when traveling in economy class.
Related: The best credit cards to reach elite status in 2023
Lots of accounts aren’t targeted
Across the TPG staff, many of us weren’t targeted for status buy-up offers. This includes staffers currently enrolled in the Instant Status Pass (including the November World of Hyatt status challenge).
Additionally, staffers who don’t currently hold American Airlines status were not given targeted offers to buy up to entry-level AAdvantage Gold.
Bottom line
You might be able to buy up to American Airlines status, but it’s almost certain to be expensive. Of all American’s status tiers, the jump from AAdvantage Gold to Platinum is perhaps the most noticeable. Platinum members receive many of the same perks as top-tier Executive Platinum members, including complimentary Main Cabin Extra seating and Oneworld business-class lounge access on most international flights.
If you need more Loyalty Points before Feb. 28 and don’t want to buy up with one of these promotions, check out this article for six quick and easy ways to earn Loyalty Points.
