How to earn American Airlines AAdvantage miles

American Airlines AAdvantage miles are by far the airline currency that I redeem the most. After all, there are some excellent AAdvantage sweet spots, and the AAdvantage program has customer-friendly award cancellation policies.But to redeem a lot of AAdvantage miles each year, I must earn a sizable amount of AAdvantage miles. So, here's what you should know about earning American miles.What to know about earning American Airlines AAdvantage milesAs you'll learn, there are many ways to earn AAdvantage miles. But there are two different types of American miles you can earn: base miles and bonus miles.Economy cabin on American Airlines' Boeing 787-9P Dreamliner. ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUYThe difference between base and bonus miles isn't important if you're primarily interested in redeemable miles, as both types are equally redeemable. But if you're interested in earning American Airlines elite status and Loyalty Point Rewards, know that base miles — not bonus miles — are what get you Loyalty Points.Related: American AAdvantage miles vs. Loyalty Points: What's the difference?Earn American miles by flyingYou can earn American Airlines AAdvantage miles on paid flights with the carrier an...