American Airlines $AAL ( ▲ 0.99% ) is offering travelers a shortcut into its AAdvantage loyalty program, giving anyone willing to pay $5,000 instant access to Gold status.
Normally, customers must accumulate at least 40,000 loyalty points through flying, credit card spending, or partner purchases, but the new option lets buyers bypass that process entirely.
The buy-in unlocks perks like priority check-in and boarding, a free checked bag, complimentary preferred seating, upgrade eligibility within 24 hours of departure, and a 40 percent bonus on mileage and loyalty point earnings.
The move comes as American doubles down on monetizing its loyalty ecosystem, which has quietly become one of the most profitable parts of its business.
Last year, revenue from American’s “Other” segment driven largely by selling AAdvantage mileage credits to banks and partners reached $3.83 billion, making up about 7 percent of total sales. In 2025, that division has consistently generated around $1 billion each quarter, underscoring how valuable the program has become.
And that figure does not include the intangible boost that loyalty status provides by nudging travelers to choose American over rivals simply because they’re already invested in the points game.