The American Airlines AAdvantage program has some great redemptions, especially with its fantastic roster of Oneworld partner airlines. You just need to know where to look.
Here are some of the best sweet spots in the American Airlines AAdvantage program (and how you can book them).
Related: Citi adds American Airlines as a 1:1 transfer partner, offers Admirals Club passes on new card
Best uses of AAdvantage miles
The AAdvantage program uses dynamic pricing for flights operated by American Airlines. If you’re hoping to fly on American Airlines metal during peak periods, you can expect to pay high redemption rates.
Fortunately, there are still award charts for flights operated by partner airlines, as well as off-peak deals.
Related: 5 reasons why I believe American Airlines miles are worth more than United Airlines and Delta Air Lines miles
Off-peak American Airlines flights to Europe
If you can travel in the quieter winter months, one of our favorite AAdvantage sweet spots is American-operated flights to Europe. (While you can also redeem miles for flights on British Airways, you’ll be hit with hefty fuel surcharges.)
It’s not difficult to find economy award flights for 20,000 miles (or less) each way if you’re flexible with your travel dates. For example, flights from Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) to Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) start at just 19,000 miles and $5.60 in taxes and fees on many dates next winter.
Related: Travel to Europe using points and miles: How to redeem your rewards for flights
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Business-class flights to Europe on partner airlines
American also has attractive saver rates for business-class flights to Europe on partner carriers.
From just 57,500 AAdvantage miles one-way, you can book business-class seats to Europe from anywhere in the U.S., regardless of the distance or if you need to make a connection. This beats both Delta Air Lines’ and United Airlines’ typical rates for business-class travel to Europe.
However, you’ll want to avoid long-haul flights operated by British Airways since fuel surcharges can be ridiculously high (think: more than $700 each way). Instead, look for flights operated by a Oneworld partner airline such as Finnair or Iberia.
Here’s an example: You can book a lie-flat business-class seat with Iberia from Dulles International Airport (IAD) near Washington, D.C., to London’s Heathrow Airport (LHR) via Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) for just 57,500 American miles and $155 in taxes and fees.
First- and business-class fares to Japan
Europe isn’t the only place you can travel to in luxury with American Airlines miles. Another sweet spot in the AAdvantage program is first-class flights to Japan for 80,000 miles one-way.
Full disclosure: These are very hard to find, but Japan Airlines has a top-notch first-class product, so it’s worth the effort. If you can’t snag a first-class seat, it’s a little easier to find business-class fares on Japan Airlines for 60,000 AAdvantage miles, which is also a fantastic deal.
Japan Airlines serves Boston Logan International Airport (BOS), Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (ORD), DFW, Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), San Diego International Airport (SAN), San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) from Tokyo.
Related: Why American Airlines AAdvantage has become my most valuable rewards currency
Short-haul economy flights on American Airlines
Dynamic pricing for award travel is not always a bad thing. American’s short-haul flights can provide good value at the lowest levels, and you can find them for as little as 5,000 miles for a main cabin seat, even during peak summer dates.
The flight below from New York’s LaGuardia Airport (LGA) to Charleston International Airport (CHS) in South Carolina costs just 7,000 miles and $5.60 in taxes and fees. Main cabin economy tickets on the same route and date start at $179, according to Google Flights searches, making this a great way to get around 2 cents per AAdvantage mile.
Related: How to book domestic American Airlines flights with points and miles
Business class to Morocco
With Royal Air Maroc now a member of the Oneworld alliance, you can fly from North America (including West Coast cities) to Morocco in business class for just 57,500 miles plus minimal fees and taxes.
Even better, availability is generally excellent, and you can connect at the airline’s hub, Casablanca Mohammed V International Airport (CMN), to other destinations in Morocco, such as popular Marrakech Menara Airport (RAK), for the same price.
Mileage upgrades on American Airlines and select partners
When redeeming miles, it’s generally a better value to book the class of service you want from the start. But if you don’t have enough miles to redeem for a business-class ticket, for example, you may purchase an economy seat with cash and upgrade your flight using miles or a combination of miles and cash.
First, understand that basic economy and award tickets are not eligible for upgrades. You must also take a flight operated by American Airlines, British Airways, Qantas or Iberia to upgrade with AAdvantage miles.
Both mileage and cash upgrade offers are priced dynamically for your upcoming American Airlines flights, so they will vary, but there may be instances when they are a good value. Check your existing bookings on the airline’s app for your upgrade offers.
How to earn AAdvantage miles
You can earn miles on everyday purchases with an American Airlines cobranded credit card or a Citi card that earns Citi ThankYou Rewards points. Here are some great options and their current welcome offers:
- Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® ($595 annual fee; see rates and fees): For a limited time, earn 100,000 bonus miles after spending $10,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening.
- Citi® / AAdvantage® Globe™ Mastercard® ($350 annual fee; see rates and fees): For a limited time, earn 90,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first four months of account opening.
- Citi® / AAdvantage Business™ World Elite Mastercard® ($99 annual fee, waived the first year; see rates and fees): Earn 65,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first four months from account opening.
- Citi Strata Elite℠ Card (see rates and fees): Earn 75,000 bonus points after spending $6,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.
- Citi Strata Premier® Card (see rates and fees): Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening.
Bottom line
There’s a lot of value to be had in the American Airlines AAdvantage program. The trick is not to waste your miles on low-value redemptions; instead, save them for sweet spots where you can get the most value.
Now that you know the best ways to use your American miles, check out our guides to finding Oneworld award availability and the best tools for searching award redemptions.
Before you know it, you’ll be taking off on an (almost) free flight.
