How to get amazing value from American Airlines miles | Ep227 | 11-4-23
Nov 4, 2023
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In this podcast, the hosts discuss the value of American Airlines miles and how to maximize their use. They talk about earning the miles and using them for American Airlines flights and flights from non-AA hubs. They also highlight some sweet spots for redemptions, including North America to Africa, Europe to the Middle East, and Middle East/India to Asia. Additionally, they share tips on pushing back on travel mistakes, understanding credit card application rejections, and avoiding high surcharges when booking with American Airlines partners.
American Airlines miles can provide great value for close-in flights, offering up to 4 cents per point for business class or first class flights.
Flying from non-hub airports can often result in better award prices, as American Airlines offers lower pricing for flights that don't originate at their hubs.
American Airlines still has an award chart for partner flights, which can provide excellent value, such as flying to Japan or Korea for 60,000 miles in business class.
Deep dives
Finding Last-Minute Flights for Great Value
When flights are close to departure, American Airlines often offers great award prices even when cash prices are high. Close-in economy flights can offer 2.4 to 3.9 cents per point value, while business class or first class flights can provide around 3.5 to 4 cents per point value. Taking advantage of these last-minute award prices can be a fantastic way to get the most value from your American Airlines miles.
Flying from Non-Hubs for Better Prices
Flights from airports that are not American Airlines hubs, such as smaller regional airports, can often offer better award prices. These flights tend to have lower prices as American Airlines prefers to give lower pricing for flights that don't originate at their hubs and require connections. This can provide an opportunity to get more value from your American Airlines miles when flying from non-hub airports.
Roll the Dice on Award Prices
Due to the absence of an award chart, American Airlines flight award prices can fluctuate seemingly randomly. It's like rolling the dice every time you search for flight availability. Award prices can vary greatly, and you may come across great deals or regret passing them up. Keep searching and running different flight searches as prices can change frequently.
Getting Great Value from Partner Awards
American Airlines still has an award chart for partner flights, which can provide excellent value for your miles. Examples include flying from North America to Africa for 75,000 miles in business class or 40,000 miles in economy. Another option is flying from North America to Japan or Korea for 60,000 miles in business class. Partner awards often offer solid value compared to competitors, making them an excellent choice when redeeming American Airlines miles.
Sweet Spots for American Airlines Miles: Japan and Asia
One of the top sweet spots for American Airlines miles is flying to Japan and other destinations in Asia. A one-way economy flight to Japan can be as low as 35,000 miles, while business class is just 60,000 miles. Flights to other parts of Asia are slightly higher at 37,500 miles in economy and 70,000 miles in business class. These redemption rates offer excellent value for the miles and allow travelers to experience top-tier airlines such as Japan Airlines.
Exciting Award Options: Middle East and India
Another exciting option for using American Airlines miles is flying from Europe to the Middle East or India. Business class flights can be booked for as little as 42,500 miles, while first class is available for 62,500 miles. Airlines like Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways provide exceptional in-flight experiences. Additionally, there are opportunities to book flights on Qatar Airways that are marketed as first class even though they are operated as business class, allowing travelers to enjoy some of the first class perks.
American Airlines miles can be used to fly some of the fanciest airlines in the world. They can also be really handy for buying domestic flights to/from non-American Airlines hubs. On this week's episode, we discuss some of our favorite ways to get awesome value out of American Airlines miles.
