An American Airlines Executive Platinum member asked for some help choosing his 175,000 Advantage Loyalty Point Reward and I think it’s an interesting discussion concerning the value of Gold status very systemwide upgrades.
Systemwide Upgrades Or Gifting AAdvantage Gold Status? Weighing A 175,000 Loyalty Point Choice
American AAdvantage Loyalty Point Rewards program offers members choices for rewards as they accumulate Loyalty Points (LPs) throughout the year, starting at 15,000 LPs, well before traditional elite status tiers, with higher thresholds providing more significant perks like bonus miles, status boosts, and “Enhance with Miles” options for elite benefits, with credit card spending also contributing to these points.
For example, here’s the 175,000 Loyalty Points Rewards choices:
A reader sent me the following question:
Matthew, I’ve got to choose my 175K LP reward and I’m not sure which one to choose. In the past, I would have chosen the systemwide upgrades without much thought, but I’m just not sure I will be able to use them: I still have two from last year that I have not been able to use. I don’t need any more Loyalty Points and while the 25,000 miles is appealing, I’m really thinking about giving Gold status to two of my co-workers (both who are occasional AA flyers who already get free baggage with their AA credit card). What do you think?
I like the question and think it’s a tough choice. Systemwide upgrades are valuable and unlike Untied Airlines, American Airlines places no restrictions on what fare class you must book in order to use them. If you can use them…I’d still choose that.
But I understand the appeal of gifting Gold status to two people who do not have status. To review, AAdvantage Gold status is the lowest-tier elite frequent flyer status on American and the benefits include:
- Priority check-in, security and Group 4 boarding
- Complimentary upgrades (if eligible seats are available), as early as 24 hours before departure on American Airlines and Alaska Airlines flights in North America, including on award tickets
- First checked bag free
- Complimentary Preferred Seats at booking; Main Cabin Extra seats at check-in
- Earn 40% more miles and Loyalty Points on eligible flights
- oneworld ruby status
Are upgrades going to happen? Highly unlikely these days.
Does the credit card already provide a free checked bag? Yes, and to my knowledge you cannot stack the Gold free bag with the credit card free bag.
But does using priority check-in and having access to preferred seats and even Main Cabin Extra count for something? Yes. And that can come in handy, especially if the Gold member is traveling with companions.
The key is that if the people you gift the status to actually uses the status, they will fairly quickly earn that Gold status themselves, but if earning the status by flying versus credit card spending, the Gold status can make each flight a bit more smooth.
CONCLUSION
I still find the greatest value in choosing systemwide upgrades, but gifting Gold status to two friends or family members is not a bad option and could be worth more than the systemwide upgrades if that status is properly used.
What would you choose in this situation?
image: American Airlines
I hope this doesn’t come off as me being rude to the person asking the question. That’s not my intention. Gold status with AA is, in my opinion, nothing more than a way to make infrequent flyers feel ‘special.’ Most of the benefits exist on paper, but not really in practice. MCE at 24h will usually mean a middle seat, and you won’t likely be seated near companions. And while I somehow seem to be the only person on Earth who is consistently upgraded on AA, I’m not a gold with 0 LPs. They will be. There is no likely scenario where they will be upgraded. Additionally, priority check-in is not really a benefit for people who know how to use a smart phone.
I would encourage the reader to choose the SWUs. If there are concerns about them expiring, they should know that there are always workarounds to ‘extend’ them.
Doesn’t seem rude to me. Gold is weak. You’re 100% on that MCE ‘middle’ likelihood.
25K bonus points + 5K if you have the credit card has been more reliable than SWU to me.
I would certainly say 25K is better than one SWU, but it seems to me two SWUs are worth more than 25K or 30K points.
I got burned in 2023 as an EXP. Had SWUs go to Waitlist multiple times on flights I really wanted the upgrade (like, difference between MCE and lie-flat.) I”ve gotten over it, but, these days, I’ll fine with Platinum Pro for OWE, and not even bothering with the 175K LP level.
Keep in mind that AA is following in the footsteps of its biggest rivals, DL and UA, by leaving its elite level requirements unchanged as we head into 2026.
AAdvantage upgrades are live. Not terrible – at 60k went with 25k cap on the LP bonus, 6 months, 25%, have to register. No 30% at 100k. I actually like being able to choose the period – honestly was only ever really 8-9 months because of how fast you go from 60k to 100k (especially with the Exec card – found it really hard to game that system). Could potentially wait to use the 25% bonus reward until early 2027 and then stack with another one late 2027 if going for elevated status in 2028, for instance. Not as bad as I feared (much better than the 15k cap originally leaked).
As for gifting Gold, I’ve done it to immediate family members and in a situation where we basically earned back 20-25k collectively just from travel. I think the real question here is the cost-benefit analysis of enhancing your standing with co-workers at a company – the thought alone may be worth more in the long run than 25k miles or 2 SWUs. Remember AA was/is selling Gold status for $5k a pop for corporate gifting purposes… so there’s a value one could ascribe to that co-worker ‘gift’ that may be more than the value of the status itself.
I could not imagine giving or receiving such a significant gift to/from any co-workers. Like, better kept between friends and family, no obligations or strings attached.
I’d take the upgrades.
Easy for me, I have no friends.
You got a few causal internet frenemies, though, so, that’s something! Yay… go us…