How to Redeem American Airlines AAdvantage Miles
American Airlines' AAdvantage program is one of the most popular loyalty programs, and for good reason. With AAdvantage miles, you can redeem free flights, upgrades, and even hotel stays. The best part is that you can redeem your miles for a variety of airlines, including American Airlines, US Airways, and British Airways. Plus, you can also get discounts on car rentals and vacation packages.
If you’re looking to redeem your AAdvantage miles, the process is quite simple. All you have to do is log into your account and select the "Redeem Miles" option. From there, you can search for flights and other rewards. You can also transfer your miles to another AAdvantage member or transfer them to another airline’s loyalty program.
Redeeming American Airlines miles is a great way to get the most out of your credit card rewards. With the AAdvantage program, you can turn your everyday purchases into a trip of a lifetime. So, make sure to take advantage of the program and save yourself some money.
How Much Are AAdvantage Miles Worth?
American AAdvantage miles have a value of approximately one cent each. This means that these program points are worth a little less than the miles in programs such as Southwest Rapid Rewards or Delta SkyMiles.
However, the American Airlines program is still extremely popular due to the ease of earning miles and the numerous redemption methods.
One important point to note is that the one cent per mile is an average figure. So, it is possible to get more value for your miles according to the specific redemption method you choose. This is particularly relevant if you use Web Specials or MileSAAver awards.
Ultimately, the value of your American Airlines miles will depend on the cash prices of airfares. Therefore, it is crucial to understand all of the redemption methods so you can get the best value for your accumulated miles.
How to Get AAdvantage Miles?
You can earn miles if you’re a member of the AAdvantage® program. You can book flights on American Airlines, American Eagle®, any oneworld® airline, and our partner airlines, as well as rent a vehicle, book lodging, or plan a trip while keeping an eye on your points' accumulation.
Lastly, you can earn more miles if you carry one of the American Airlines co-branded credit cards:
The AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® is the only travel credit card with Admirals Club® membership but its rewards ratio is quie low. The AAdvantage Platinum Select is cheaper and offers 2 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent at gas stations and restaurants and 2 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases, which is a decent rate considering the value of each AA mile.
Lastly, American Airlines has a no-annual-fee card, which is the AAdvantage MileUpSM Card, that also offers 2 AAdvantage miles per dollar on grocery store and eligible American Airlines purchases and 1 mile per dollar on other purchases.
What Can I Redeem AAdvantage Miles For?
The most common way to redeem your AAdvantage miles is by booking flights. You can use your miles on domestic or international flights in place of cash when you’re booking tickets in any class. You can also use your miles with other airlines via the American Airlines partnership agreements. It works similarly to other frequent flyer programs, such as redeeming miles with Delta.
However, if you’re not interested in booking a flight with your miles, there are other redemption options, including:
How to Redeem Miles on American Airlines Flights
Using your AAdvantage miles to book American Airlines flights is one of the most straightforward redemption methods.
You can book both domestic and international flights, with the option of 350 destinations across 50 countries. While domestic flight mileage rates are fairly standard within the travel industry, you can get very reasonable rates for international flights.
Steps to Redeem a Flight on the AA Website
Redeeming your AAdvantage miles for an American Airlines flight is very simple. All you need to do is visit the AA website and search for your preferred award flights using the following steps:
1. Search Flights on AA Website
Log into your AAdvantage program account and search for available flights using your desired dates and arrival and departure airports.
Then, click on "Redeem Miles" to view the cost of flights in miles.
2. Choose Your Flight
Select the specific flight you would like to book from the list of available options and confirm the passenger details and the appropriate contact information. Where applicable, select your seat.
3. Review and pay.
How Many Miles Are Needed to Redeem an American Airlines Flight?
There is a region based chart for AA pricing awards. Although the prices are not guaranteed, you can find flights such as:
However, it is always worth checking different flight classes, as you could find European business class flights for 50,000 miles to 200,000 miles or more and domestic economy flights from 7,500 miles to 50,000 miles plus.
Another point to note is that the cost per mile of flights will vary according to whether it is peak or off peak season. So, if you want to book flights for a summer vacation in August or for a Thanksgiving break, it will cost you more miles than at other times of the year.
AA Flight Awards: MileSaver, AAnytime, or Web Special
There are different types of American Airlines flight awards that will also determine how many miles you will need. These include:
How to Redeem AA Miles on Partner Flights
If you can’t find an American Airlines flight to your preferred destination, you could use your AAdvantage miles on partner flights.
American Airlines has a comprehensive list of partners with whom it has agreements for its program users. Due to these partnerships, you will be able to book some great awards whether you are flying economy or first class, domestically or internationally.
Generally, when you redeem your AAdvantage miles for a partner airline flight, it will cost you the same number of miles as you would spend with American Airlines. However, you will need to pay attention to any fees or surcharges imposed by the individual airline.
For example, British Airways has a reputation for its high surcharges, which you will need to pay when you use your AAdvantage miles to book BA flights.
American Airlines Partners: What You Should Know
When you’re considering American Airlines partners, you are likely to notice price consistency. Unlike American Airlines, you can expect to pay a reasonable rate for miles with no amazing deals but no excessively high mile pricing.
The list of AAdvantage airline partners includes:
Most of the American Airlines partners allow you to book award flights online. There are only a few, including China Airlines and IndiGo, that require that you call. You can search on the airline’s website to check for availability, and then you’ll need to call in to book using your AAdvantage miles.
When you call AA, the customer support team will provide a quote for the mileage and any taxes and fees. In most cases, the fees and taxes will be the same as on the partner website, but there could be some variation depending on the specific award. Just be sure to provide a specific flight number, and then the support agent can help you book your seat.
For those that you can book online, you can use the AA website. This allows you to combine flights with AA and partner airlines for easier flight connections on a single trip. You can use the homepage search tool or visit the "Plan Travel" section to select flights. This will direct you to a page to enter your travel information; just be sure to select "All Airlines" to see all of the results.
How to Redeem AA Miles for Upgrades
Another method of redeeming your AAdvantage miles is for seat upgrades. This option is available for flights operated by American Airlines and several partnership airlines, including Iberia and British Airways.
The upgrade tickets are subject to any applicable security fees and taxes, so you may incur additional costs as a result of an upgrade to a higher class cabin.
However, if your original ticket was purchased two or more days before departure and you cancel up to 24 hours after the ticket purchase, your miles, co-pay, and any award processing fees will be fully refunded. However, outside of this two day/24 hour window, your co-pay is non refundable.
How Many American Airlines Miles to Get an Upgrade?
The number of miles you’ll need for an upgrade will depend on your travel destination and the cabin that you are upgrading to and from. The mileage cost can vary from 5,000 to 25,000 miles, but there could be additional fees of up to $550.
This does mean that using your miles for upgrades is not typically the best redemption value. However, there are certain situations where it can be useful, particularly if you’re an elite status member.
To see how many miles you will need to upgrade your seat, you’ll need to visit the American Airlines website. On the "Upgrade with Miles" page, you’ll see which fare types are eligible for upgrades and the co-pay details.
How to Redeem Miles on Cars, Hotels, and Vacations
You can use your AAdvantage miles for rental cars, hotel stays, and vacation packages. However, these redemptions typically provide a poor redemption rate. However, you may be able to find a good deal.
Redeem For Rental Cars
You can use the American Airlines website to search for rental cars with pickup locations in more than 500 destinations across the globe. All you need to do is select your pick up and drop off points and dates.
The platform will then run a search for available vehicles. You can browse the miles required and any additional cash costs. The site will also prompt AAdvantage cardmembers and elite members to log in to see whether they can use fewer miles for their bookings.
For example, you could book an economy vehicle from LAX for five days and 6,100 miles with a $136 co-pay.
Redeem For Hotels
You can use your AAdvantage miles to book hotel stays from a selection