How to Transfer Avios to American Airlines: Your Ultimate Step-by-Step Guide
Ever dreamt of flying American Airlines, perhaps across the US or even internationally, but found yourself sitting on a hefty stash of Avios points from British Airways, Iberia, or Aer Lingus? You're in luck! While you can't directly transfer Avios into American Airlines AAdvantage miles, there's a brilliantly simple and effective workaround that savvy travelers use to unlock American Airlines flights with their Avios. This guide will walk you through the process, ensuring you maximize your hard-earned points.
Are you ready to unlock a world of travel possibilities with your Avios? Let's dive in!
Step 1: Understanding the Avios Ecosystem and Oneworld Alliance
Before we get into the nitty-gritty of booking, it's crucial to understand why this process works.
What are Avios? Avios are the reward currency for several airlines, primarily part of the International Airlines Group (IAG). These include British Airways Executive Club, Iberia Plus, Aer Lingus AerClub, Qatar Airways Privilege Club, Finnair Plus, and Loganair Loyalty. The beauty of Avios is that you can often transfer them between these programs with relative ease.
The Oneworld Alliance: This is the key. American Airlines is a founding member of the oneworld alliance, alongside British Airways, Iberia, Finnair, and Qatar Airways, among others. This alliance means that member airlines have agreements to recognize and allow redemptions on each other's flights. So, while American Airlines doesn't use Avios directly, you can use your Avios through a oneworld partner (like British Airways or Iberia) to book flights operated by American Airlines.
The core principle here is that you're not transferring Avios to American Airlines, but rather using Avios from a partner airline to book an American Airlines flight.
Step 2: Choose Your Avios Program (If You Have Options)
If you've collected Avios through various credit card transfers or flights, you might have them spread across different Avios programs (e.g., British Airways Executive Club and Iberia Plus). While you can combine Avios between these programs, for booking American Airlines flights, British Airways Executive Club and Iberia Plus are generally the most common and user-friendly.
British Airways Executive Club: Often the go-to for many, especially those based in the UK or with a focus on transatlantic travel. Their website is relatively straightforward for searching partner awards.
Iberia Plus: Can sometimes offer lower taxes and fees on certain routes, particularly those involving Spain. However, Iberia Plus has specific requirements for combining Avios (your account must be open for 90 days and have had some activity in the last 36 months).
If you have Avios in multiple programs, you might consider consolidating them into one, typically British Airways, for simpler management and booking.
Step 3: Search for American Airlines Award Availability on a Partner Website
This is arguably the most crucial step. Since you can't search for Avios awards directly on American Airlines' website, you need to use the website of an Avios-issuing partner.
Option 1: British Airways Executive Club Website (Recommended for most users)
Go to the British Airways website (ba.com).
Log in to your Executive Club account.
Navigate to the "Executive Club" section and then "Spending Avios" or "Book a Reward Flight."
Enter your desired origin, destination, dates, and number of passengers.
Crucially, when searching for flights, the system will automatically show you availability on British Airways and its oneworld partners, including American Airlines.
Look for flights marketed by BA but operated by American Airlines. These will clearly state "Operated by American Airlines" during the search results.
Option 2: Iberia Plus Website
Go to the Iberia website (iberia.com).
Log in to your Iberia Plus account.
Look for the "Iberia Plus" or "Avios" section and select "Book with Avios."
Similar to British Airways, input your travel details.
Iberia will also display flights operated by its oneworld partners.
Key Considerations When Searching:
Direct Flights are Best: Avios redemption charts for partner airlines are often distance-based. This means short, direct flights on American Airlines can be incredibly cheap in Avios, especially compared to what American Airlines AAdvantage might charge dynamically.
Taxes and Fees: While the Avios cost might be low, you'll still pay taxes and fees. These can vary significantly depending on the departure and arrival airports and the operating airline. Generally, flights departing from the UK tend to have higher taxes. Searching for flights originating in other European cities like Dublin or even within the US can often result in lower cash outlays.
Availability: Award availability, especially for popular routes and cabins, can be limited. Be flexible with your dates if possible. It's often best to search several months in advance.
One-Way vs. Round-Trip: Consider booking one-way flights if it offers better availability or allows you to combine different airlines for your journey.
Step 4: Booking Your American Airlines Flight with Avios
Once you've found the perfect American Airlines flight operated by a oneworld partner and displaying an Avios price you're happy with, proceed with the booking.
Confirm Details: Double-check all flight details, including dates, times, and the operating airline (ensure it says "Operated by American Airlines").
Proceed to Payment: The system will prompt you to use your Avios. If you don't have enough, you might have the option to pay with a combination of Avios and cash.
Review Taxes and Fees: Pay close attention to the cash portion required for taxes, fees, and carrier surcharges. This is where the overall value of your redemption can be significantly impacted.
Complete the Booking: Once you confirm and pay, your American Airlines flight will be booked using your Avios through the British Airways or Iberia platform. You will receive a confirmation email with a British Airways (or Iberia) booking reference.
Step 5: Managing Your American Airlines Booking
After your booking is confirmed, you'll likely want to manage your American Airlines flight directly.
Retrieve American Airlines PNR: Your British Airways (or Iberia) booking reference is usually different from the American Airlines PNR (Passenger Name Record). Look for a separate, typically 6-character alphanumeric code, labeled as the "Operating Airline Reference" or "Partner Reference" within your confirmation email or by calling British Airways/Iberia.
Access American Airlines Website: Go to aa.com and use the American Airlines PNR to access your booking under "Manage Trip." From here, you can:
Select or change seats (subject to American Airlines' policies).
Check in online.
Add frequent flyer numbers (if you wish to earn AAdvantage miles on the flight, though you've already redeemed Avios for it, so you won't earn miles on the flight itself).
Review baggage allowances.
Make any permitted changes or cancellations (subject to the British Airways/Iberia terms and conditions you booked under).
Remember, any changes or cancellations to a flight booked with Avios must generally be done through the airline you booked with (e.g., British Airways or Iberia), not directly with American Airlines.
Important Considerations and Tips:
Avios Value: Short-haul domestic American Airlines flights, especially in economy, can be fantastic value using Avios. Transcontinental flights can also be good. For longer international flights, especially in premium cabins, compare the Avios cost with what American Airlines might charge in AAdvantage miles to ensure you're getting the best deal.
Cancellation and Change Fees: Be aware of the fees associated with changing or canceling Avios bookings through British Airways or Iberia. They typically have a fixed fee per person for these actions.
Household Accounts: British Airways Executive Club allows "Household Accounts," which can be very useful for pooling Avios from family members to reach redemption goals faster.
Credit Card Transfers: Many flexible points currencies (like American Express Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Capital One Miles, and Bilt Rewards) can be transferred to Avios programs, offering another avenue to accumulate the points needed for American Airlines flights.
This detailed guide should equip you with the knowledge and steps necessary to successfully leverage your Avios for American Airlines travel!
10 Related FAQ Questions
How to find the best Avios redemption rates for American Airlines flights? The best way is to use the British Airways Executive Club website and search for short, direct flights within the US, as Avios redemptions on partner airlines are often distance-based, making shorter routes excellent value.
How to link my British Airways Executive Club account with my American Airlines AAdvantage account? You don't "link" the accounts in a way that allows direct transfer of miles. Instead, your British Airways Executive Club status is recognized by American Airlines (and vice-versa) due to both being oneworld alliance members, granting you reciprocal benefits like lounge access or priority boarding based on your status tier.
How to combine Avios from different Avios programs (e.g., Iberia to British Airways)? You can combine Avios through the "Combine My Avios" tool, typically found on the British Airways or Iberia websites. This allows you to transfer Avios between linked accounts (e.g., British Airways Executive Club, Iberia Plus, Aer Lingus AerClub, Qatar Airways Privilege Club, Finnair Plus, Loganair Loyalty).
How to avoid high fuel surcharges when booking American Airlines with Avios? Generally, booking flights that originate outside the UK can help reduce fuel surcharges. Flights within the US or departing from certain other European cities often have lower cash co-pays.
How to check American Airlines award availability before transferring Avios? You should always check award availability on the British Airways or Iberia website before transferring any flexible points to Avios, as Avios transfers are generally irreversible.
How to use my American Airlines PNR after booking with Avios? Once you have your British Airways (or Iberia) confirmation, locate the "Operating Airline Reference" or "Partner Booking Reference" within your confirmation email. This 6-character code is your American Airlines PNR, which you can use on aa.com to manage your booking.
How to change or cancel an American Airlines flight booked with Avios? You must contact the airline you booked with (e.g., British Airways Executive Club or Iberia Plus) to make changes or cancellations, as the booking is held by them, not directly by American Airlines. Standard change/cancellation fees will apply.
How to earn AAdvantage miles when flying American Airlines with an Avios ticket? You cannot earn AAdvantage miles when redeeming Avios for an American Airlines flight. When you redeem points for an award flight, you are using the value of your points instead of paying a cash fare that would earn miles.
How to determine if booking with Avios is better than booking with AAdvantage miles for an American Airlines flight? Compare the Avios cost plus taxes/fees on the British Airways/Iberia site with the AAdvantage miles cost plus taxes/fees on aa.com. For short, direct flights, Avios can often be a better deal, while AAdvantage might be better for dynamically priced longer routes or specific premium cabins.
How to find partner booking references for my Avios-booked American Airlines flight? After booking, check your British Airways or Iberia confirmation email. There should be a separate field or note indicating the "operating airline reference" or "partner booking reference," which is the PNR for American Airlines. If you can't find it, call British Airways/Iberia customer service.
