Loyalty points addict: Why spending nearly $400 on a not-so-good hotel is worth it
Why would I pay nearly $400 to stay at a hotel I didn’t really want or need to stay at? It’s all about American Airlines AAdvantage loyalty points. In fact, I stayed at the Miami International Airport hotel twice just to earn enough loyalty points to reach the new rewards tier after re-earning my top-tier AAdvantage Executive Platinum membership.
American Airlines AAdvantage members still have a few weeks (until the last day of February) to earn enough loyalty points to reach American Airlines elite status – so maybe staying at an affordable hotel is a strategy you can adopt.
When I traveled to Miami, I knew I wasn’t at the level needed to unlock the airline’s 250,000 loyalty point bonus milestone. Once you reach 250,000 loyalty points, you can choose from a range of valuable perks, including the one that I consider to be the most valuable: two system-wide upgrade certificates.
I’ve held an AAdvantage Executive Platinum membership for several years, and when I reached 200,000 loyalty points, I requalified – but sadly, I’m still far from the next milestone.
Related: American AAdvantage Miles vs. Loyalty Points: What’s the Difference?
So, I knew it was time to get creative. The Miami International Airport Hotel, currently the only hotel within Miami International Airport (MIA) (a new Westin is planned for 2027), offered 10,000 loyalty points for a one-night stay while I was in Miami. Fraction.
I could tell from the reviews online that the MIA Hotel wasn’t high-end, but I needed those loyalty points!
Indeed, this hotel is sixty years old and you can tell it has been through some things. The room has been recently renovated, but some rooms remain in their original condition, such as ceilings and bathrooms. The view here is more like that of a prison rather than an expensive hotel. I hate spending so much money on airport hotels anyway, but these points are too great to ignore.
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Clint Henderson/Point Guard
But other than that, the service was great and it was pretty quiet considering you’re basically in an airport terminal. While I can’t recommend this hotel, it’s nice to stay for a night or two, especially if you can earn a lot of loyalty points.
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I paid a total of $388.72 for the first night and $445.22 for the second night later this week. Points for the second stay have not yet been released, but I earned a total of 13,000 loyalty points on the first night.
That almost got me to the critical threshold of 250,000 loyalty points.
bottom line
It’s not too late to book a hotel stay to increase your loyalty points balance. I found that AAdvantage Hotels has some really good deals, so check it out if you’re out of stock.
My colleague Katie Genter has written the definitive guide on how to upgrade your American Airlines membership, so if you’re also low on loyalty points, check out her article before the end of the month for more ideas.
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