5 Ways to Earn American Airlines Miles

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Earning miles when you fly is an excellent way to get rewarded for traveling. But that’s not the only way to earn miles with your preferred airline. If you’re an American Airlines flyer, the AAdvantage program offers plentiful ways to earn miles.

Many travelers join the AAdvantage program to earn miles so they can use their rewards to book flights. Airline loyalty programs like this can help you explore the world while keeping more money in your checking account. Here are a few ways to earn American Airlines miles.

1. Fly with American Airlines

Once enrolled in the AAdvantage program, American Airlines’ free loyalty program, you can earn miles when you fly on AA-operated flights. How much you earn varies by membership level.

As a basic AAdvantage member flying on a Basic Economy ticket on an American-Airlines-operated flight, you’ll earn 2 miles per $1. Meanwhile, you’ll earn 5 miles per $1 for other fares when flying on AA-operated flights.

But if you’ve achieved elite status with the airline, you’ll earn more miles thanks to mileage bonus benefits. Here’s a breakdown of how many miles you can earn by elite status tier:

2. Book hotels

American Airlines partners with select hotel brands. You can earn miles when you book hotel stays directly with them. You can earn miles when you book with the following hotel chains:

Hyatt Hotels and ResortsIHG Hotels and ResortsMarriott Hotels and Resorts

Another way to earn miles when reserving hotels is by booking your stays using the AAdvantage Hotels platform. This tool works similarly to other hotel-booking websites.

3. Book rental cars

If you occasionally or frequently rent cars for your trips, this one’s for you. You can earn miles when you book car rentals with Avis or Budget. You can earn this way by booking your reservations through the AAdvantage Cars portal. Plus, AAdvantage members can also save up to 35% off rental cars with these partners.

4. Use an American Airlines credit card

Another way to earn AAdvantage miles is by using American Airlines credit cards. The airline has several cobranded personal and business credit cards available. You can earn miles when you swipe your card for American Airlines flights, travel expenses, and other everyday costs.

Even better, many of these cards include useful perks that can improve your flying experience. Some examples include discounts on in-flight purchases, free checked bag benefits, and early boarding perks. Check out our list of the best American Airlines credit cards to learn more.

As an added note, airline credit cards are ideal for travelers who are loyal to one airline. But if you fly with various airlines, you can still earn travel rewards. Using one of the best travel rewards credit cards is an alternative way to earn rewards you can redeem for travel.

5. Use the American Airlines AAdvantage eShopping portal

If you’re a frequent online shopper, don’t miss out on the opportunity to boost your AAdvantage mileage collection. AAdvantage members can shop at their favorite retailers and earn bonus miles when using the American Airlines AAdvantage eShopping portal.

You can earn miles when shopping at over 1,200 participating stores. All you have to do is login to your AAdvantage account and activate deals, then shop as you normally would.

You can use the shopping portal website or download the American Airlines AAdvantage eShopping browser extension and shop directly on participating retailer’s websites. Each retailer will display how many miles you can earn for eligible purchases.

Some participating brands include Apple, Best Buy, Bose, Macy’s, Nike, Samsung, The Home Depot, Vitacost, and Ulta. Here’s how to earn AAdvantage miles when you shop online:

Sign in to your American Airlines AAdvantage account at aadvantageeshopping.com.Click “Shop Now” to activate offers.Shop as you normally do and pay with a credit card.Miles will be added to your AAdvantage account after you make an eligible purchase.

Get closer to your mileage goals

If you want to maximize the American Airlines miles you earn and get closer to your redemption goals, make some strategic moves. Take advantage of the opportunities highlighted above so you earn miles faster. Redeeming your AAdvantage miles for flights can help you travel more often without draining your wallet.

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We’re firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers.
The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.Natasha Gabrielle has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Apple and Best Buy. The Motley Fool recommends Hyatt Hotels, InterContinental Hotels Group Plc, and Marriott International. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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