American Airlines miles are great, but did you know you could potentially snag AA flights for even fewer miles by booking through their partner airlines? It's like finding a secret back door to cheaper travel! Several partner programs offer significantly lower award rates than booking directly with AAdvantage. This matters because it can save you a ton of miles, especially on shorter domestic routes. For example, some partner programs offer flights starting at just 4,500 miles, a steal compared to what AA might charge directly. This means you could potentially take more trips, upgrade your class of service, or simply hold onto your miles for a bigger, more aspirational redemption down the road. The key is knowing which partner programs to use and when. While the AwardWallet blog post gives a more comprehensive rundown, consider exploring programs like British Airways Avios or Qatar Airways Privilege Club. Each has its own sweet spots and quirks, but the potential savings are well worth a little bit of research. Happy travels!