American Credit Card Spending: Understanding Loyalty Points Cutoff for February
Are you an American AAdvantage member looking to maximize your elite status? Understanding the loyalty points cutoff for February is crucial. Unlike other months, American counts all spending that hits the account before the end of February toward the current year's status, and all spending as of March 1 toward the following year. This means that for the current year, it's not the account close date that matters, but when the spending hits the account.
Here's a breakdown of how it works:
- Spending Before February 28: All credit card spending that posts to your account before the end of February counts toward the current elite qualification year. Make sure the charge has fully posted to your account (and isn't just 'pending') prior to the end of the month.
- Spending Starting in March: Credit card spending that posts to your account starting in March will count toward the following elite qualification year. Loyalty Points earned for billing cycles closing in March may take longer to post than usual due to the unique ways rewards are broken up during that period.
This policy applies to all American's co-branded credit cards, whether you're using a personal card like the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® or Citi® / AAdvantage® Globe™ Mastercard®, or a business card like the Citi® / AAdvantage Business™ World Elite Mastercard®. Remember, loyalty points bonuses are also per membership year, with eligibility for these resets on March 1 of every year.
So, if you're trying to do the math on how many loyalty points you need to rack up before the end of the current status year, keep in mind that February is a special month. Make the most of your American credit card spending and stay on track for your AAdvantage elite status!
