How Do Award Miles Work American Airlines?

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American Airlines is one of the largest airlines in the world, and they offer various loyalty programs to their customers. One of the most popular loyalty programs is the award miles program, which allows customers to earn miles that can be redeemed for free flights, upgrades, and other perks. But how exactly do award miles work on American Airlines?

In this article, we will explore the ins and outs of American Airlines’ award miles program. We will discuss how to earn miles, how to redeem them, and share some tips and tricks to maximize your rewards. So, whether you’re a frequent flyer or a first-timer, keep reading to learn everything you need to know about American Airlines’ award miles program.

How Do Award Miles Work American Airlines?

How Do Award Miles Work American Airlines?

If you’re a frequent traveler with American Airlines, you might be familiar with their award miles program. Award miles are points earned when you fly with American Airlines, Oneworld partners, or other participating airlines. These miles can be used to redeem free flights, upgrades, and other travel-related perks. In this article, we’ll dive into the details of how award miles work with American Airlines.

Earning Award Miles

To earn award miles with American Airlines, you need to enroll in their frequent flyer program, AAdvantage. Once you’re enrolled, you can earn miles in several ways:


  • Flights: You can earn award miles by taking flights with American Airlines, Oneworld partners, and other participating airlines. The number of miles you earn depends on the distance flown and the fare class of your ticket.

  • Credit Cards: American Airlines offers co-branded credit cards that allow you to earn miles on your everyday purchases. These cards often come with sign-up bonuses and other perks.

  • Shopping: You can earn miles by shopping with American Airlines partners such as AAdvantage eShopping and AAdvantage Dining.

  • Other Partners: American Airlines has partnerships with hotels, car rental companies, and other businesses that allow you to earn miles.

Once you earn enough miles, you can redeem them for flights, upgrades, and other travel-related benefits.

Redeeming Award Miles

American Airlines offers several options for redeeming your award miles:


  • Flights: You can use your miles to book flights with American Airlines, Oneworld partners, and other participating airlines. The number of miles required depends on the destination, the class of service, and other factors.

  • Upgrades: You can use your miles to upgrade your seat on eligible flights to a higher class of service.

  • Hotels and Car Rentals: You can use your miles to book hotels and car rentals through American Airlines partners.

  • Other Travel-Related Benefits: American Airlines also offers other travel-related benefits such as Admirals Club access and priority boarding that you can redeem with your miles.

It’s important to note that award miles expire if you don’t earn or redeem any miles within a specified period. The expiration period varies depending on your membership status and other factors.

Award Miles Benefits

There are many benefits to earning and redeeming award miles with American Airlines:


  • Free Flights: One of the most popular benefits of award miles is the ability to redeem them for free flights. This can save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars on airfare.

  • Upgrades: Using your miles to upgrade your seat can make your travel experience more comfortable and enjoyable.

  • Travel-Related Benefits: American Airlines offers many travel-related benefits that you can redeem with your miles, such as Admirals Club access and priority boarding.

  • Co-Branded Credit Cards: American Airlines’ co-branded credit cards offer many perks, such as sign-up bonuses and the ability to earn miles on everyday purchases.

Award Miles vs. Elite Qualifying Miles

It’s important to note the difference between award miles and elite qualifying miles (EQMs). Award miles are used for redeeming travel-related benefits, while EQMs are used to qualify for elite status in American Airlines’ frequent flyer program. Elite status comes with many benefits, such as priority boarding, free checked bags, and lounge access.

In conclusion, award miles can be a valuable tool for frequent travelers with American Airlines. By earning and redeeming award miles, you can enjoy free flights, upgrades, and other travel-related benefits. Just be sure to keep an eye on your miles’ expiration dates and take advantage of American Airlines’ many partners to earn miles faster.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are American Airlines award miles?

American Airlines award miles are a type of loyalty currency that can be earned and redeemed for flights, upgrades, and other travel-related expenses. Members of American Airlines’ loyalty program, AAdvantage, can earn award miles by flying with American Airlines or its partners, using co-branded credit cards, or shopping with participating retailers.

Once earned, award miles can be redeemed for a variety of rewards, including flights, seat upgrades, car rentals, hotel stays, and merchandise. The number of award miles needed for a particular reward will depend on the specific reward and other factors, such as the time of year and the availability of seats or rooms.

How can I earn American Airlines award miles?

There are several ways to earn American Airlines award miles. One of the easiest ways is to sign up for American Airlines’ loyalty program, AAdvantage. Once you’re a member, you can earn award miles by flying with American Airlines or its partner airlines, using co-branded credit cards, and shopping with participating retailers.

You can also earn bonus miles through promotions and special offers. For example, American Airlines may offer bonus miles for booking a certain number of flights within a certain time period or for using a particular credit card to make a purchase. Keep an eye on your email and the AAdvantage website for these types of offers.

Do American Airlines award miles expire?

Yes, American Airlines award miles can expire if you don’t use them within a certain time period. The exact expiration policy will depend on your account status and activity. Generally, award miles will expire if you don’t earn or redeem any miles within 18 months.

To keep your award miles from expiring, you can either earn or redeem miles on a regular basis. For example, you could take a flight with American Airlines or one of its partners, use a co-branded credit card to make a purchase, or redeem your miles for a reward. You can also extend the expiration date of your miles by purchasing additional miles or by donating miles to a charity.

What is the value of American Airlines award miles?

The value of American Airlines award miles can vary depending on how you redeem them. Generally, award miles are worth around 1-2 cents per mile when redeemed for flights or upgrades. However, the value can be higher or lower depending on the specific flight or reward and other factors, such as the time of year and availability of seats or rooms.

It’s also worth noting that the value of award miles can fluctuate over time. American Airlines may change the redemption rates for certain rewards or offer promotions that affect the value of award miles. Keep an eye on the AAdvantage website and your email for updates on the value of your miles.

Can American Airlines award miles be transferred or gifted?

Yes, American Airlines award miles can be transferred or gifted to other AAdvantage members for a fee. The fee for transferring miles is typically around $10 per 1,000 miles transferred, with a minimum transfer of 1,000 miles.

You can also gift miles to another AAdvantage member by using American Airlines’ “Gift Miles” feature. This allows you to purchase miles for another member and have them deposited directly into their account. The cost of gifting miles varies depending on the number of miles you want to gift and any promotions that may be available.

HOW MUCH ARE AMERICAN AIRLINES MILES WORTH??


In conclusion, American Airlines award miles program is a great way to earn free flights and other travel perks. The program rewards travelers for their loyalty and encourages them to continue flying with American Airlines.

To earn award miles, passengers need to sign up for the American Airlines AAdvantage program and start booking flights. They can also earn miles through credit card purchases, hotel bookings, car rentals, and other partner activities.

Once you accumulate enough award miles, you can redeem them for flights, upgrades, hotel stays, car rentals, and more. It’s important to note that award miles have expiration dates, so it’s a good idea to use them before they expire. Overall, American Airlines award miles program is a great way to make the most of your travel experiences.

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