Why I rely on credit cards to earn American Airlines elite status

Ever since American AAdvantage switched to using Loyalty Points as its sole metric for earning elite status, it's been possible to earn status without taking any flights. You can even earn all the Loyalty Points you need for any published elite status tier — including top-tier Executive Platinum status — solely via spending on an AAdvantage credit card.But in practice, many AAdvantage members (myself included) combine spending on an AAdvantage card with other ways to earn Loyalty Points. So, in this article, I'll discuss earning American Airlines elite status solely through credit card spending, and then explain how my AAdvantage credit cards fit into my broader elite status strategy.How to earn Loyalty Points with an American Airlines credit cardYou can earn Loyalty Points when you spend on AAdvantage credit cards. All U.S.-issued AAdvantage cards earn 1 Loyalty Point per dollar spent on eligible purchases. Bonus-category miles, welcome-offer miles and other mileage accelerators don't earn additional Loyalty Points.Here's a look at how you can earn Loyalty Points on American Airlines credit cards issued within the U.S.:CardLoyalty Points earning rate on purchasesOther ways to earn...