American Airlines Is Giving Away Bonus Points This Spring—But There’s a Catch
If you want to get a head start on your loyalty points with American Airlines in 2026, you're going to want to book some flights before April 30th. Up until that date, AAdvantagemembers can earn 500 points per flight, capping the earnings at 5,000 points in total. There are also select beach destinations that can earn up to 1,000 extra points.
To get this promotion, AAdvantage members must register for it specifically within their account online. It's called the "ready, set, jet" promotion. Then, go ahead and book your flights–just know that basic economy is excluded from the offer. All travel must be completed by April 30th. Other than that, you're good to go!
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For those that aren't yet AAdvantage members, it's simple to join. All you need to do is sign up for a membership on the website, and it doesn't cost anything to do so. Then, when you book a flight, make sure that you connect your AAdvantage number to that reservation, ensuring that you earn points.
The more points that you earn throughout the year, the higher your membership status will be with American Airlines. Privileges and perks like priority boarding, free inflight food and beverage coupons and complimentary upgrades can be earned when you continue to rack up your points throughout the year.
One other big perk of being an AAdvantage member? Free WiFi . American Airlines officially set a new standard for staying connected at 35,000 feet when it began rolling out free high-speed Wi-Fi for all AAdvantage members on January 6, 2026. Sponsored by AT&T, the service first appeared on the airline's narrowbody and regional fleets and is now available on nearly every flight across the network. It's a seamless experience—once you're in the air, you simply log in with your member credentials and you're ready to stream, work or scroll without ever touching your wallet.
If your spring plans involve some sun and sand, you might be sitting on a points goldmine. The "Ready, Set, Jet" promotion offers a boosted reward of 1,000 Loyalty Pointsper segment for flights to select beach destinations in Mexicoand the Caribbean. Whether you're heading to the turquoise waters of Cancunor the shores of Montego Bay, these tropical getaways can get you to that next status tier twice as fast.
So, get a head start for 2026, and take some trips before April 30th to rack up those points!
Related: A Martha Stewart–Approved Indulgence Is Coming to American Airlines Flights
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This story was originally published by Parade on Mar 6, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
