In 2026, whether you lose your American Airlines (AA) AAdvantage status depends on your "Loyalty Points" balance at the end of the program year, which runs from March 1st to the end of February. For the 2026 program year, AA has kept status requirements unchanged for the third consecutive year: 40,000 points for Gold, 75,000 for Platinum, 125,000 for Platinum Pro, and 200,000 for Executive Platinum. If you do not meet these thresholds by February 28, 2027, you will lose your current status. However, AA offers several ways to "bridge" the gap: you can earn points through the AAdvantage eShopping portal, dining programs, and especially through spend on an AA-branded credit card. If you are close to losing status, AA often provides a "status buy-back" or challenge option in early March. Note that as of late 2025, Basic Economy fares no longer earn Loyalty Points, so travelers chasing status must book Main Cabin or above to retain their benefits.