Ah, so you're ready to unlock the power of Avios to fly with American Airlines! This is a fantastic way to maximize your reward points, and while it might seem a little complex at first, I'm here to guide you through every single step. Let's get you on that flight!
How to Book American Airlines Flights with Avios: Your Comprehensive Guide
Using Avios (the loyalty currency of British Airways, Iberia, Qatar Airways, and others) to book flights on American Airlines (a fellow Oneworld alliance member) can be incredibly rewarding. It often provides excellent value, especially for certain routes and cabin classes. This guide will walk you through the process, highlight key considerations, and help you snag those coveted award seats.
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| How To Book American Airlines With Avios |
Step 1: Are You Ready to Explore the World with Avios?
Before we dive into the nitty-gritty, ask yourself this: Do you have a clear destination and travel dates in mind, or are you flexible? Your answer will greatly influence your search strategy. Flexibility, especially with dates, is your best friend when it comes to finding award availability.
Once you have a general idea, let's ensure you have the necessary tools and understanding.
Understanding Avios Programs and Oneworld Alliance
American Airlines is a key member of the Oneworld alliance. This is crucial because Avios, while a common currency, is managed by several airlines within this alliance (and some non-alliance partners). The primary programs you'll use to book American Airlines flights with Avios are:
British Airways Executive Club: Often the most popular choice due to its user-friendly website and widespread Avios earning opportunities.
Iberia Plus: Can sometimes offer lower Avios rates and lower surcharges on certain routes, especially transatlantic flights originating in Europe.
Qatar Airways Privilege Club: A newer entrant to the Avios family, also part of Oneworld, offering competitive redemption rates for American Airlines flights.
It's important to note: While you can't directly transfer Avios to American Airlines' AAdvantage miles, you can use your Avios from these partner programs to book American Airlines-operated flights.
Step 2: Finding American Airlines Award Availability
This is often the most critical and sometimes the most challenging part. American Airlines releases a limited number of "saver" award seats to its partners, and these are what you're looking for.
2.1: The British Airways Website – Your Primary Search Tool
QuickTip: Stop to think as you go.
For most people, the British Airways (BA) Executive Club website is the easiest and most reliable place to start your search for American Airlines award availability.
Head to ba.com: Log in to your British Airways Executive Club account. If you don't have one, it's free to join!
Navigate to "Book a flight with Avios": Look for the section related to "Spending Avios" or "Reward Flights."
Enter your desired route and dates:
Input your departure and arrival airports.
Select your travel dates. Remember, flexibility is key! If your initial search yields no results, try different dates, or even search month by month if the BA calendar tool allows it.
Choose your cabin class (Economy, Premium Economy, Business, First).
Search for flights: The system will display available flights. If American Airlines flights are available, they will appear in the search results alongside British Airways flights. Look for flights clearly operated by "American Airlines."
2.2: Exploring Iberia Plus and Qatar Airways Privilege Club (Optional, but Recommended)
While BA is a great starting point, checking Iberia Plus and Qatar Airways Privilege Club can sometimes reveal different availability or better pricing (fewer Avios and/or lower taxes/fees).
Iberia Plus:
You can transfer your Avios from British Airways Executive Club to Iberia Plus if you have accounts with both and they've been open for a certain period. This is done through the "Combine My Avios" feature.
Search on the Iberia.com website for award flights. Iberia uses a distance-based award chart, which can be advantageous for certain itineraries, especially those with connections where BA might charge per segment.
Important Note: Iberia's award calendar can sometimes be less intuitive than BA's.
Qatar Airways Privilege Club:
Similar to Iberia, you can transfer Avios from other programs to Qatar Airways Privilege Club.
Search for award flights on the Qatar Airways website. Their redemption rates for American Airlines can be very competitive, especially for domestic US flights.
2.3: The "Call Them!" Strategy
Sometimes, award availability just doesn't show up online, even if it exists. This is where the power of the phone call comes in.
Call British Airways Executive Club: If you can't find what you're looking for online, call BA's customer service. Be polite, clear, and have your desired dates and flight numbers (if you found them via another search tool like AA's website for "saver" availability) ready.
Explain your intent: Clearly state that you want to book an American Airlines flight using your Avios.
Be Patient: Award desk agents are busy, and searching for partner availability can take time.
Step 3: Understanding Avios Cost and Surcharges
Once you've found potential flights, it's crucial to understand the costs involved.
3.1: Avios Redemption Rates
The number of Avios required for an American Airlines flight generally depends on:
Distance: Avios programs often use a distance-based award chart for partner airlines. Longer flights require more Avios.
Cabin Class: Economy is the cheapest, followed by Premium Economy, Business, and First Class.
Peak vs. Off-Peak (for British Airways): British Airways has peak and off-peak dates, which affect the Avios required. American Airlines flights booked through BA will adhere to BA's peak/off-peak calendar. Iberia Plus does not have peak/off-peak pricing for American Airlines flights.
Connecting Flights: British Airways typically charges Avios per segment flown, meaning a flight with a connection will cost more Avios than a direct flight of similar distance. Iberia, on the other hand, often prices awards based on the total distance of the journey, which can be beneficial for itineraries with layovers.
3.2: Taxes, Fees, and Carrier-Imposed Surcharges
This is where the "cash portion" of your award ticket comes in.
QuickTip: Use the post as a quick reference later.
Government Taxes and Airport Fees: These are unavoidable and vary by departure and arrival country/airport.
Carrier-Imposed Surcharges (Fuel Surcharges): This is the variable part.
British Airways is notorious for high surcharges on its own flights and can pass some of these on when booking partner flights, especially transatlantic ones.
Iberia often has lower carrier-imposed surcharges compared to British Airways, making it a popular choice for transatlantic flights.
Qatar Airways can also have varying surcharges.
Always compare the cash portion when checking different Avios programs. A flight might cost slightly more Avios through one program but significantly less in cash.
Step 4: Booking Your American Airlines Flight with Avios
Once you've found the perfect flight and are happy with the Avios and cash cost, it's time to book!
4.1: Online Booking (Preferred)
If you found the availability on the British Airways Executive Club website (which is common), you can usually complete the booking directly online. Follow the prompts to confirm your selection, enter passenger details, and pay the taxes and fees.
Similarly, if booking through Iberia Plus or Qatar Airways Privilege Club, their respective websites will guide you through the process.
4.2: Phone Booking (When Necessary)
If you had to call British Airways or Iberia to find availability, or if you're encountering issues online, the agent can complete the booking for you over the phone.
Be prepared to pay a phone booking fee in some instances, though this is sometimes waived if the flight couldn't be booked online.
4.3: Confirmation and Beyond
Receive your e-ticket: After successfully booking, you'll receive an email confirmation with your booking reference (PNR). This is crucial!
Verify your booking: Take your booking reference and enter it on the American Airlines "Manage My Booking" section on AA.com. This will confirm your reservation is in their system, allow you to select seats (if available), and check flight details.
Seat Selection: While you might have selected seats during the booking process on BA/Iberia/Qatar, it's always a good idea to confirm and adjust them directly on the American Airlines website, as their system will be the definitive one for seat maps and changes.
Step 5: Post-Booking Considerations
Your journey doesn't end with the booking!
5.1: Changes and Cancellations
Understand the rules: Changes and cancellations for American Airlines flights booked with Avios are governed by the rules of the Avios program you used (e.g., British Airways, Iberia, Qatar Airways).
Fees: There are usually fees associated with changes and cancellations. For British Airways, for example, cancellations made more than 24 hours before departure typically incur a fee (often around £35 per person). If the taxes/fees you paid were less than the cancellation fee, you might just forfeit the cash paid.
Contact the booking airline: Always contact British Airways, Iberia, or Qatar Airways (whichever you booked through) for any changes or cancellations, not American Airlines.
QuickTip: The more attention, the more retention.
5.2: Earning Miles and Status
Generally, when you book an American Airlines flight with Avios, you do not earn American Airlines AAdvantage miles or Loyalty Points. You are redeeming a reward, not earning based on a paid fare.
However, if you have Oneworld elite status (e.g., British Airways Executive Club Silver/Gold, Iberia Plus Plata/Oro, Qatar Airways Privilege Club Silver/Gold/Platinum), you will still enjoy your Oneworld benefits such as lounge access, priority boarding, extra baggage allowance, etc., when flying American Airlines, regardless of how you booked the ticket.
10 Related FAQ Questions
How to transfer Avios between British Airways, Iberia, and Qatar Airways?
You can transfer Avios between British Airways Executive Club, Iberia Plus, and Qatar Airways Privilege Club using the "Combine My Avios" feature typically found on the British Airways or Iberia websites. Ensure your accounts are linked and have the same personal details.
How to find the cheapest American Airlines flights with Avios?
To find the cheapest flights, be flexible with your travel dates and consider flying during off-peak periods (if booking via British Airways). Also, compare redemption rates and taxes/fees across British Airways, Iberia, and Qatar Airways, as one might offer better value for your specific route. Short-haul domestic US flights can be particularly good value.
How to avoid high fuel surcharges when booking American Airlines with Avios?
High fuel surcharges are more common with British Airways. To potentially avoid them, consider booking through Iberia Plus, which often has lower surcharges, especially for transatlantic routes. Qatar Airways Privilege Club can also be a good option.
How to know if an American Airlines flight has "saver" award availability?
"Saver" award availability is typically what partner airlines can access. While American Airlines' own website might not explicitly label it, if you find low-mileage redemption options directly on AA.com, it's a good indicator that partner availability might exist. The most reliable way is to search directly on the British Airways, Iberia, or Qatar Airways award search engines.
Tip: Reading in short bursts can keep focus high.
How to book American Airlines First Class with Avios?
Booking American Airlines First Class with Avios follows the same steps as other cabins. Search for First Class award availability on the British Airways, Iberia, or Qatar Airways websites. Be aware that First Class availability is very limited and requires a significant number of Avios.
How to upgrade an American Airlines flight with Avios?
You can sometimes use Avios to upgrade a paid American Airlines cash booking, but this is usually done through the British Airways Executive Club website or by calling them. Availability for upgrades is dependent on available reward seats in the higher cabin.
How to change or cancel an American Airlines flight booked with Avios?
To change or cancel an American Airlines flight booked with Avios, you must contact the Avios program you used (e.g., British Airways Executive Club, Iberia Plus, Qatar Airways Privilege Club). Do not contact American Airlines. Be prepared for potential change/cancellation fees.
How to earn Avios to book American Airlines flights?
You can earn Avios through various methods: flying with British Airways, Iberia, Qatar Airways, or other Oneworld alliance airlines; using co-branded credit cards; transferring points from flexible reward programs like American Express Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, or Citi ThankYou Points (depending on your region); and through various shopping portals and hotel partners.
How to find international American Airlines flights with Avios?
Search for international American Airlines flights on the British Airways, Iberia, or Qatar Airways websites using the "reward flight" or "book with Avios" search tools. Keep in mind that long-haul international flights, especially in premium cabins, will require a substantial amount of Avios and might have higher taxes/fees.
How to get help if I can't find American Airlines availability with Avios online?
If you're struggling to find availability online, your best bet is to call the customer service line of the Avios program you wish to book through (e.g., British Airways Executive Club). Provide them with your desired dates and route, and they can manually search for partner award space.
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