So, you've accumulated a healthy stash of American Airlines AAdvantage miles, and now you're wondering if you can share the travel love or combine balances for that dream redemption. Transferring miles can be a valuable tool in your travel hacking arsenal, but it's crucial to understand the costs involved. American Airlines, like most carriers, charges a fee for moving miles between accounts. This comprehensive guide will break down everything you need to know about how much it costs to transfer American Airlines miles, and whether it's the right move for you.
Let's dive in and demystify the process!
The Cost of Sharing Your AAdvantage Miles
Before we get into the step-by-step, let's address the burning question: how much does it actually cost?
American Airlines charges a fee based on the number of miles you transfer. They recently slashed their transfer fees significantly, making it a more viable option than in the past.
Here's the breakdown:
Cost Per Mile: American Airlines charges 0.5 cents per mile for transferring AAdvantage miles. This translates to $5 for every 1,000 miles transferred.
No Additional Transaction Fees: Unlike some other airlines, American Airlines does not charge an additional processing or transaction fee on top of the per-mile cost.
Example: If you want to transfer 10,000 miles, it would cost you 10,000 miles * $0.005/mile = $50. If you wanted to transfer 20,000 miles, it would cost $100.
Is Transferring American Airlines Miles Worth It?
Now that you know the cost, the next question is often: Is it worth it? The answer largely depends on your specific situation.
Reasons to consider transferring miles:
To Book a High-Value Award: If combining miles from two accounts allows you to reach the threshold for a valuable redemption, like a business or first-class ticket that would otherwise cost thousands of dollars in cash, then the transfer fee can be a small price to pay.
To Prevent Miles from Expiring: AAdvantage miles do expire if there's no qualifying activity in your account for 24 months. Transferring miles counts as activity, so it can be a way to keep your entire balance active.
To Make Small Balances Useful: If you or a family member have a small number of miles that aren't enough for a standalone redemption, combining them with a larger balance can make them useful.
As a Gift: While you can book an award flight for someone else directly from your account, transferring miles allows the recipient to use them at their own discretion.
Reasons to reconsider transferring miles:
High Cost per Mile: While the fee has been reduced, 0.5 cents per mile can still add up. If you're transferring a large number of miles, the cost can quickly become substantial.
Alternatives Often Exist: Often, the most cost-effective way to use miles for someone else is to book the flight directly from your own AAdvantage account. Most airlines allow you to book award tickets for anyone you choose without additional fees.
Buying Miles Directly: Sometimes, American Airlines offers promotions on buying miles. It's always worth comparing the cost of transferring miles to the cost of buying the exact number of miles needed, especially if there's a sale. However, buying miles is typically much more expensive (around 3.5 cents per mile without a sale) than transferring.
Step-by-Step Guide: How to Transfer American Airlines Miles
Let's walk through the exact process of transferring your AAdvantage miles.
Step 1: Engage and Assess Your Needs
Hey there, fellow traveler! Before we even click a single button, let's take a moment to honestly assess why you're considering transferring miles. Do you have a specific award flight in mind that requires a combined balance? Are you trying to prevent miles from expiring? Or perhaps you want to give the gift of travel to a loved one? Understanding your motivation will help you decide if this is truly the best course of action. Grab a pen and paper (or open a quick note on your phone!) and jot down your goal. This will keep us focused throughout the process.
Step 2: Access the American Airlines "Buy, Gift, and Transfer Miles" Page
Sub-heading: Navigating to the Right Spot
Open your web browser and go to the official American Airlines website (
aa.com Once there, look for the "AAdvantage" section. You'll often find links related to earning, using, buying, gifting, and transferring miles.
Alternatively, the quickest way to get there is often by searching for "American Airlines transfer miles" in your search engine, or directly visiting the "Buy, gift and transfer miles" section on the AA website.
Step 3: Log In to Your AAdvantage Account
Sub-heading: Securely Accessing Your Miles
You'll need to log in to your AAdvantage account using your AAdvantage number or username and password. Ensure you have your credentials handy! This step is crucial as it verifies your identity and allows access to your mileage balance.
Step 4: Initiate the Transfer Process
Sub-heading: Selecting the Transfer Option
On the "Buy, gift and transfer miles" page, you will see options for "Buy miles," "Gift miles," and "Transfer miles."
Click on the "Transfer miles" option. This will lead you to the form where you'll input the transfer details.
Step 5: Enter Transfer Details
Sub-heading: Providing Recipient and Quantity Information
Recipient's AAdvantage Number: You will need the recipient's valid American Airlines AAdvantage number. Double-check this number to avoid errors! Miles transferred to an incorrect account can be difficult, if not impossible, to retrieve.
Recipient's Last Name: You may also need to enter the recipient's last name as it appears on their AAdvantage account.
Number of Miles to Transfer: Enter the desired number of miles you wish to transfer. American Airlines allows transfers in increments of 1,000 miles.
Minimum Transfer: The minimum transfer amount is typically 1,000 miles.
Maximum Transfer: You can transfer up to 200,000 miles per calendar year.
Step 6: Review and Calculate the Cost
Sub-heading: Understanding the Financial Commitment
Before confirming, the system will clearly display the total cost of the transfer based on the number of miles you've entered (0.5 cents per mile).
Take a moment to review this amount carefully. Compare it to the value you expect to get from the redemption. Does it still make financial sense? This is your last chance to decide if the transfer is truly worth the expense.
Step 7: Provide Payment Information
Sub-heading: Completing the Transaction
You will need a valid credit or debit card to pay for the transfer fees.
Enter your payment details accurately. The name on the credit or debit card must match the name on the AAdvantage account from which miles are being deducted.
Step 8: Confirm the Transfer
Sub-heading: Finalizing Your Mileage Transfer
After entering your payment information and reviewing all details one last time, click the "Confirm" or "Complete Transfer" button.
You should receive a confirmation email shortly after the transaction is complete.
Transferred miles typically appear in the recipient's account within a few hours to a day, though it can sometimes take up to 72 hours.
Related FAQ Questions
Here are 10 related FAQ questions, all starting with "How to," with their quick answers:
How to Check My American Airlines Miles Balance?
You can check your American Airlines AAdvantage miles balance by logging into your AAdvantage account on the American Airlines website or mobile app. Your mileage summary will be prominently displayed on your account dashboard.
How to Redeem American Airlines Miles for Flights?
To redeem American Airlines miles for flights, log into your AAdvantage account on aa.com, select "Redeem miles" when searching for flights, and choose your desired itinerary from the available award options.
How to Earn More American Airlines Miles?
You can earn more American Airlines miles by flying with American Airlines and its Oneworld partners, using AAdvantage co-branded credit cards, shopping through the AAdvantage eShopping portal, dining with AAdvantage Dining partners, and utilizing other partners like hotels and car rentals.
How to Avoid American Airlines Miles Expiration?
To avoid American Airlines miles expiration, ensure you have qualifying activity (earning or redeeming miles, or transferring miles) in your account at least once every 24 months. Holding an AAdvantage credit card typically keeps your miles active as well.
How to Gift American Airlines Miles?
You can gift American Airlines miles to another AAdvantage member through the "Buy, gift and transfer miles" section on the American Airlines website, selecting the "Gift miles" option. Fees apply for gifting miles.
How to Merge Multiple American Airlines Accounts?
If you have duplicate American Airlines AAdvantage accounts, you can request to merge them by logging into the account you wish to keep and following the "Merge accounts" prompts in the FAQ or support section of the American Airlines website.
How to Use American Airlines Miles for Upgrades?
You can use American Airlines miles for upgrades on eligible American Airlines flights directly through the "My Trip" section on aa.com or by calling American Airlines reservations. Upgrade availability can be limited.
How to Find the Best Value for American Airlines Miles?
The best value for American Airlines miles is often found by redeeming them for premium cabin flights (Business or First Class) on American Airlines' Oneworld partners, as these redemptions often yield a higher cent-per-mile value compared to economy flights or other redemption options.
How to Transfer Credit Card Points to American Airlines?
Currently, American Airlines AAdvantage does not have direct credit card transfer partners like American Express Membership Rewards or Chase Ultimate Rewards. You can, however, transfer points from hotel loyalty programs like Marriott Bonvoy (at a 3:1 ratio) to AAdvantage, though this often isn't the best value.
How to Contact American Airlines AAdvantage Customer Service for Miles Questions?
You can contact American Airlines AAdvantage customer service for miles-related questions by calling the AAdvantage customer service number listed on the American Airlines website under their "Contact Us" or "AAdvantage Support" sections.
