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Paid American Airlines flights earn British Airways Tier Points at the same rate as a BA-operated flight — 1 Tier Point per £1 of fare (excluding taxes) — as long as you credit the flight to your Executive Club account. Since April 2026, most AA flights also come with a flat bonus Tier Points top-up on top of that, based on cabin and route length. Here’s exactly how it works.
The Basic Rule: AA Flights Earn Like BA Flights
American Airlines is a Oneworld partner, and British Airways treats a paid AA flight credited to your Executive Club account the same way it treats a BA-operated one for Tier Point purposes. You earn 1 Tier Point per £1 (or the dollar equivalent) of the fare and any carrier-imposed charges — taxes are excluded from that calculation, exactly as they are on BA metal, per British Airways’ own tier points page.
This only applies to paid tickets. Reward flights booked with miles — whether AAdvantage miles or Avios — don’t generate Tier Points, on AA or BA alike.
Bonus Tier Points on AA Flights (Since April 2026)
On top of the standard 1-per-£1 rate, British Airways added a flat bonus Tier Point top-up for American Airlines and Iberia flights starting April 1, 2026. Unlike BA-operated flights — where the bonus varies by fare type (Base, Semi-Flex, Fully Flex) — the AA/Iberia bonus is simpler: it depends only on cabin and route length, with fare type not a factor.
| Route | Cabin | Bonus Tier Points |
|---|---|---|
| Short-haul | Economy | 75 |
| Short-haul | Business | 175 |
| Long-haul | Economy | 150 |
| Long-haul | Premium Economy | 275 |
| Long-haul | Business | 500 |
| Long-haul | First | 650 |
These bonuses are awarded per flight — so a round trip earns the bonus twice, once for each direction. They stack on top of the standard 1-per-£1 fare-based earning, not instead of it.
The Exception: Basic Economy
AA Basic Economy fares still earn the standard 1 Tier Point per £1 on the fare itself, but they’re excluded from the bonus Tier Points table above. If maximizing Tier Points is the goal on a specific AA flight, booking a step above Basic Economy is what unlocks the bonus — the fare-based earning alone stays the same either way.
How to Actually Credit the Flight
- Add your British Airways Executive Club membership number when you book your American Airlines flight on aa.com, or add it afterward via “Manage My Booking” before you fly.
- Make sure you’re crediting to British Airways specifically — not AAdvantage — since a flight can only earn miles and Tier Points in one program per ticket, not both.
- Tier Points aren’t awarded at booking. They post to your account after you’ve actually flown the segment, not when you pay for the ticket.
Why Route Your Spend to British Airways Instead of AAdvantage
This is mainly a decision for people already building toward BA status, or who value Avios over AAdvantage miles. If you’re not otherwise engaged with the British Airways Executive Club, crediting a domestic AA flight there for the sake of Tier Points alone is a narrow use case — you’d generally get more value earning AAdvantage miles and status on your home airline’s own program. Where it makes more sense is on a long-haul AA flight in a premium cabin, where the bonus Tier Points table above adds up fast, especially if you’re trying to reach Silver or Gold and don’t have many BA-operated routes near you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do American Airlines flights earn British Airways Tier Points?
Yes, if you credit the paid flight to your British Airways Executive Club account. You earn 1 Tier Point per £1 of fare (excluding taxes), the same rate as a BA-operated flight.
How do I credit an American Airlines flight to British Airways?
Add your British Airways Executive Club membership number when booking, or afterward via Manage My Booking before you fly. A flight can only be credited to one program — British Airways or AAdvantage — not both.
What are the bonus Tier Points on American Airlines flights?
Since April 1, 2026, AA flights earn a flat bonus based on cabin and route length: 75 (short-haul Economy), 175 (short-haul Business), 150 (long-haul Economy), 275 (long-haul Premium Economy), 500 (long-haul Business), and 650 (long-haul First). Fare type doesn't affect this bonus.
Does AA Basic Economy earn British Airways Tier Points?
It earns the standard 1 Tier Point per £1 on the fare, but it's excluded from the bonus Tier Points table that applies to other cabins.
Do reward flights on American Airlines earn Tier Points?
No. Flights booked with miles — AAdvantage miles or Avios — don't earn Tier Points, regardless of which airline operates the flight.
Bottom Line
A paid American Airlines flight credited to your British Airways Executive Club account earns Tier Points exactly like a BA-operated flight — 1 per £1 of fare — plus, since April 2026, a flat bonus based on cabin and route length that doesn’t depend on fare type the way BA’s own bonus does. Basic Economy still earns the base rate but misses the bonus. The only real requirement is remembering to credit the flight to British Airways instead of AAdvantage before you fly.
