How to Earn AAdvantage Miles
AAdvantage is unique because almost everything that earns you miles also earns you "Loyalty Points," the only thing that matters for elite status. This makes status surprisingly easy to get, even without flying much.
| Method | Description |
|---|---|
| AAdvantage Co-branded Cards | This is the primary way. Citi and Barclays both issue a range of personal and business cards that earn miles and the all-important Loyalty Points. |
| Credit Card Transfers | Limited but useful. Bilt Rewards is the main transferable point partner. Marriott Bonvoy points also transfer, but the 3:1 ratio makes it less ideal. |
| Shopping & Dining Portals | Use AAdvantage eShopping and AAdvantage Dining to earn miles and Loyalty Points on purchases you were already going to make. |
| Flying American & oneworld | Earn miles when you fly on American or any of its oneworld alliance partners. |
How to Use AAdvantage Miles
The best value is found in booking partner airline flights, which follow a fixed, region-based award chart. Flights on American's own planes are dynamically priced.
- Web Specials: These are dynamically-priced, often cheaper awards on AA-operated flights. They offer great value but can't be changed once booked.
- Partner Awards: This is where the magic happens. Use the fixed award chart to book amazing flights on partner airlines like Qatar, JAL, and British Airways.
- MileSAAver & AAnytime: These are American's standard award levels. MileSAAver is the cheaper, saver-level award, while AAnytime costs more but has better availability.
Pro Tip: Search Savvy
The Best Deals (Sweet Spots)
AAdvantage miles can unlock some of the most sought-after experiences in travel:
The holy grail. Fly one of the world's best business class products to the Middle East (e.g., Doha) for a mere 70,000 miles each way. An incredible experience and value.
Experience legendary Japanese hospitality. Fly to Japan in their excellent business class for 60,000 miles or First Class for 80,000 miles one-way.
Another top-tier option for getting to Asia in style. Finding award space can be a fun challenge, but it's worth it.
Keep an eye out for these! You can find dynamically-priced deals on American's own flights for significantly fewer miles than the standard award chart.
Partners & Rules
As a founder of the oneworld alliance, American gives you access to a stellar lineup of global airlines.
- Key oneworld Partners: British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Finnair, Iberia, Japan Airlines (JAL), Qantas, Qatar Airways.
- Key Non-Alliance Partners: Etihad Airways, Hawaiian Airlines, China Southern.
- The Big Rule: You must fly the most direct routing and cannot transit a third region. For example, you can't fly from the U.S. to Asia via Europe. Also, stopovers are not allowed.