Summary The AAdvantage program now uses revenue-based earnings for its own flights, but it is distance-based for most partners. American Airlines proposed to limit which ticket booking sources earn miles from May 2024 - this has been dropped. Miles can also be earned with many partner airlines based on booking codes, flight distance, and cabin flown.
Earning miles is at the heart of any airline loyalty program. The American Airlines AAdvantage program is one of the leading programs globally - valuable not just for American Airlines' flyers but also for those flying across one world airlines and other partners. Earning miles from air travel is, of course, central to the program.
However, there are several other earning sources, as well. The AAdvantage program has changed a lot in recent years. It has started to switch from a distance-based to a revenue-based mileage- and status-earning system (along with other major US airlines).
So far, this is only applicable to American Airlines , British Airways, and Iberia flights. There are also future changes planned that will limit which ticket booking sources earn miles - a largely new change for the industry. Earning miles on American Airlines flights Earning miles from flying remains the traditional bedrock of frequent flyer programs.
There are more opportunities these days to earn from credit cards and elsewhere, but flying is still likely to be a big part of earning. Since the switch to revenue-based earning, all American Airlines.