You've just completed a fantastic trip, filled with incredible memories and perhaps a few souvenirs. But wait, there's one more thing to do to truly maximize your travel experience: make sure you get all the AAdvantage® miles you've earned! Sometimes, miles don't automatically post to your account, and that's perfectly normal. The good news is, American Airlines makes it relatively straightforward to request missing mileage credit. Let's dive in and ensure every mile finds its way home!
How to Request Mileage Credit on American Airlines: A Comprehensive Guide
This guide will walk you through the process of requesting mileage credit for your American Airlines flights, as well as those on partner airlines. We'll cover everything from what you need to have ready to how long you can expect to wait for your miles to appear.
Step 1: Get Ready – Gather Your Essentials!
Before you even think about hitting that "request" button, you'll need a few key pieces of information at your fingertips. Think of it as preparing your travel dossier! Having these details ready will make the process smooth and quick.
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Your AAdvantage® Number: This is your unique frequent flyer ID. You'll need it to log in and ensure the miles are credited to the correct account. If you've forgotten it, you can usually retrieve it from your AAdvantage® account online or by contacting customer service.
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Your Ticket Number: This 13-digit number is crucial for identifying your specific flight. You can typically find it on your:
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E-ticket confirmation email
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Physical or digital ticket
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Booking confirmation
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Credit card statement (sometimes in the description field of your transaction)
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Flight Details: Be prepared to provide:
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Flight number(s)
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Date of travel
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Origin and destination airports
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Your full name as it appeared on the ticket
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Pro Tip: It's always a good habit to keep digital or physical copies of your boarding passes and e-ticket confirmations until your miles have successfully posted to your account. This acts as your backup in case anything goes awry.
Step 2: Timing is Everything – When to Request
You can't request miles immediately after landing. American Airlines has a specific waiting period before you can submit a missing mileage request.
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For American Airlines Operated Flights: You should wait at least 3 days after you've completed your travel. Miles for American Airlines flights generally post within 1-3 days.
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For AAdvantage® Partner Airline Flights: Allow a bit more time for these. It can take up to 30 days (or sometimes even longer, up to 6 weeks for prepaid bookings with AAdvantage Hotels) for miles from partner airlines to post. Some sources suggest waiting at least 15 days before submitting a request.
Important Note: You can typically request missing miles for flights flown up to 12 months after the flight date. If you were not an AAdvantage® member at the time of your flight but joined within 30 days of the flight, you might still be able to claim miles for that specific flight. However, generally, flights more than 30 days before your enrollment date are not eligible for mileage credit. So, if you're new to the program, enroll ASAP!
Step 3: The Online Request Process – Your Go-To Method
QuickTip: Pause after each section to reflect.
The easiest and most common way to request missing mileage credit is through the American Airlines website.
Sub-heading: Accessing the Request Form
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Log In to Your AAdvantage® Account: Go to the official American Airlines website (aa.com) and log in using your AAdvantage® number and password.
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Navigate to the AAdvantage® Section: Look for the "AAdvantage" or "My Account" section.
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Find "Request Flight Miles" or "Missing Miles": Within your AAdvantage® account, there should be a link or section dedicated to requesting missing flight miles. This is often found under "Answers & Support" or "Miles" or "Your Account." The direct link is usually
aa.com/forms/request-flight-miles/
Sub-heading: Filling Out the Form
Once you're on the "Request flight miles" page, you'll be prompted to enter the details you gathered in Step 1.
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Enter Your AAdvantage® Number (if not auto-filled): Double-check that it's correct.
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Provide Your Ticket Number: This is a crucial field.
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Input Flight Information: Carefully enter the flight number, date of travel, and the origin and destination of your flight.
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Verify Your Name: Ensure your name matches exactly what was on your ticket.
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Submit the Form: Once all the required fields are filled out, click the "Submit" or "Request" button.
Remember: Accuracy is key! Any discrepancies in your name or flight details could delay the processing of your request.
Step 4: Beyond Flights – Requesting Partner Miles (Non-Airline)
While the online form primarily covers flights (both American and most airline partners), if you're missing miles from non-airline partners (like hotels, car rentals, or shopping portals), the process is slightly different.
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Direct Contact with Partner: For non-airline partners, American Airlines generally advises that you contact the partner directly to request missing mileage credit.
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American Airlines Partner List: American Airlines provides a comprehensive list of their AAdvantage® partners with contact information on their website (
aa.com/i18n/aadvantage-program/miles/partners/request-missing-partner-miles.jsp
Be patient! Miles from non-airline partners can sometimes take longer to post, so keep your receipts until they appear in your account.
Step 5: Follow Up and Verification
Tip: A slow, careful read can save re-reading later.
After submitting your request, it's natural to wonder when your miles will appear.
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Processing Time:
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For American Airlines operated flights: Allow up to 10 days for the request to be processed and miles to post.
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For partner airline flights: It can take up to 30 days for partner airline requests to be resolved.
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Check Your AAdvantage® Account Regularly: Log in to your AAdvantage® account periodically to check your mileage summary. The newly credited miles should appear in your activity statement.
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Email Confirmation: You may receive an email confirmation from American Airlines after your request is submitted, and another when the miles have been credited.
If after the specified processing time your miles still haven't appeared, it's time to follow up with American Airlines AAdvantage® customer service.
Step 6: When to Contact AAdvantage® Customer Service
While the online form is efficient, there are situations where you might need to speak with someone directly.
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Complex Issues: If you've submitted an online request and the miles haven't posted within the expected timeframe, or if you encounter an error with the online form, calling customer service is the next step.
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Missing Information: If you're missing crucial details like your ticket number and can't locate them through your booking confirmation or credit card statement, customer service might be able to assist.
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Non-Standard Situations: For unique scenarios not covered by the online form (e.g., changes to your flight itinerary that might have affected mileage accrual), a phone call is best.
American Airlines AAdvantage® Customer Service Number (within the U.S. and Canada):
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General AAdvantage® Member Desk: 800-882-8880
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Elite Status Members (Gold, Platinum, Platinum Pro, Executive Platinum) have dedicated numbers for quicker service. You can find these on the American Airlines website or on the back of your elite status card.
Be prepared to provide your AAdvantage® number and all relevant flight and booking details when you call.
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| How To Request Mileage Credit On American Airlines |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are 10 common "How to" questions related to requesting mileage credit on American Airlines, with quick answers:
How to check if my miles have already posted?
You can check your AAdvantage® account summary on the American Airlines website (aa.com) by logging in with your AAdvantage® number. Look for your recent activity.
Tip: Don’t skim past key examples.
How to find my American Airlines ticket number?
Your 13-digit ticket number can usually be found on your e-ticket confirmation email, your physical or digital ticket, or sometimes in the description of the charge on your credit card statement.
How to request mileage credit for a flight on a partner airline?
For most airline partners, you can use the same "Request flight miles" form on the American Airlines website. For non-airline partners (hotels, car rentals), you'll typically need to contact the partner directly.
How to request mileage credit if I forgot to add my AAdvantage® number to my booking?
No problem! You can still request missing mileage credit using the online form, provided you meet the timeframes (e.g., within 12 months of the flight).
How to request mileage credit if I wasn't an AAdvantage® member when I flew?
You can usually request miles retroactively even if you joined after your flight, but there's a shorter window (often flights within 30 days of enrollment). It's always best to enroll before you fly.
QuickTip: A slow read reveals hidden insights.
How to resolve an issue if my requested miles don't appear after the expected time?
If your miles haven't appeared after 10-30 days (depending on the flight type), contact American Airlines AAdvantage® customer service directly with your flight and request details.
How to ensure my miles always post automatically?
Always ensure your AAdvantage® number is correctly entered into your reservation at the time of booking or during check-in. Double-check your boarding pass to confirm it's there.
How to get credit for partially flown trips?
Mileage credit is generally awarded for completed flight segments. If your trip was partially flown, only the completed segments may be eligible for mileage credit. For specific situations, contact AAdvantage® customer service.
How to find the contact information for American Airlines AAdvantage® partners?
American Airlines provides a dedicated page on their website listing AAdvantage® partners and their contact information for missing mileage requests from non-airline activities.
How to know if my fare class is eligible for mileage accrual?
Not all fare classes earn miles. Generally, basic economy fares might not earn miles. You can review the AAdvantage® terms and conditions or the earning rules for your specific ticket on the American Airlines website for detailed information.
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