Unlocking Europe with Your American Airlines Miles: A Step-by-Step Guide to Booking Aer Lingus Flights!
Ever dreamt of exploring the vibrant streets of Dublin, the historic castles of Ireland, or connecting onward to charming European cities, all while leveraging your hard-earned American Airlines AAdvantage miles? Well, you're in luck! While Aer Lingus isn't a direct Oneworld alliance member, they do have a strategic partnership with American Airlines that allows for mileage redemptions. However, it's not as straightforward as booking a typical Oneworld flight. This comprehensive guide will walk you through every single step of the process, helping you navigate the intricacies and maximize your travel dreams.
So, are you ready to embark on this mileage-savvy adventure? Let's get started!
Step 1: Understanding the Nuances: Why Aer Lingus and AAdvantage?
Before we dive into the "how-to," it's crucial to understand why this partnership exists and what it means for you, the AAdvantage member.
Sub-heading: The Partnership Explained
Aer Lingus, Ireland's flag carrier, is part of International Airlines Group (IAG), which also owns Oneworld partners British Airways and Iberia. While Aer Lingus isn't a full Oneworld member, American Airlines has a bilateral partnership with them. This means you can earn AAdvantage miles when flying Aer Lingus on paid tickets, and, more importantly for our purposes, you can redeem your AAdvantage miles for Aer Lingus flights.
It's important to note that this isn't a typical Oneworld award booking. This partnership operates under its own set of rules and award charts, which can sometimes be a bit opaque. Don't worry, we'll shed light on it all.
Sub-heading: What to Expect: Benefits and Limitations
Benefits:
Direct Access to Ireland: Aer Lingus offers fantastic direct routes from various North American cities to Dublin and Shannon, providing excellent gateways to Ireland and onward connections to Europe.
Potentially Lower Fuel Surcharges: Compared to some other transatlantic partners, Aer Lingus flights booked with AAdvantage miles often come with lower fuel surcharges (though taxes and fees are still applicable). This can be a significant saving!
Unique Routes: Aer Lingus serves some destinations that American Airlines or its other Oneworld partners might not offer directly.
Limitations:
Online Booking Is Tricky (Often Impossible for Awards): Unlike booking American Airlines or Oneworld partner awards directly on aa.com, finding and booking Aer Lingus award space with AAdvantage miles cannot typically be done online. You'll almost always need to call American Airlines.
Award Availability Can Be Scarce: Finding desirable award space, especially in Business Class, can be challenging, particularly on popular routes and during peak seasons. Flexibility with your travel dates is key.
No Standardized Award Chart: There isn't a publicly available, easy-to-find AAdvantage award chart specifically for Aer Lingus redemptions. The pricing is generally distance-based or region-based, and it can sometimes feel a bit like a "call-to-find-out" scenario.
Step 2: Checking Your AAdvantage Miles Balance
This might seem obvious, but it's the first practical step. You need to ensure you have enough AAdvantage miles to cover your desired Aer Lingus flight.
Sub-heading: Logging into Your AAdvantage Account
Visit the American Airlines Website: Go to
www.aa.com Log In: Click on "Log In" and enter your AAdvantage number or username and password.
Check Your Balance: Once logged in, your current AAdvantage mileage balance will be prominently displayed. Make a note of it.
Remember that the number of miles required will vary greatly depending on the route, cabin class (Economy, Business), and seasonality (peak vs. off-peak).
Step 3: Finding Aer Lingus Award Availability – The Crucial Hunt!
This is often the most challenging part of the process, as Aer Lingus award space using AAdvantage miles is not visible on the American Airlines website. You'll need to use other tools or methods.
Sub-heading: Utilizing British Airways or Qantas Websites
Since Aer Lingus is an Avios partner (the loyalty currency used by British Airways and Iberia), their award availability often mirrors what you'd see on British Airways' or Qantas's websites. This is your best bet for proactively searching.
Create a Free Account (if you don't have one):
British Airways Executive Club: Go to
www.britishairways.com Qantas Frequent Flyer: Go to
www.qantas.com
Search for Award Flights:
On British Airways: Once logged in, go to "Book a flight with Avios." Enter your desired origin (e.g., Chicago - ORD, Boston - BOS, New York - JFK) and destination (e.g., Dublin - DUB, Shannon - SNN). Select your travel dates and preferred cabin class.
On Qantas: Look for the "Use points" option when searching for flights.
Look for Aer Lingus Operated Flights:
The search results will show various airlines. Filter or look specifically for flights operated by Aer Lingus (EI).
Identify "Saver" or "Low" Availability: These are the award seats that are typically released to partners like American Airlines. If you see high Avios pricing or only "Standard" availability, it's unlikely to be available through AAdvantage.
Pro Tip: Be flexible with your dates! Award availability changes constantly. Look at a few days before and after your ideal travel dates. Consider flying on weekdays, as award space is often better than on weekends.
Sub-heading: Alternative: Using Award Search Tools
Several paid and free tools can help you search for award availability across different airline programs. While they might not explicitly show AAdvantage-redeemable Aer Lingus space, they can indicate general Aer Lingus availability.
ExpertFlyer: This is a powerful, subscription-based tool that allows you to set up alerts for specific award availability. It can be invaluable for finding hard-to-get seats.
AwardFares: A newer tool specifically designed for finding award flights, including Aer Lingus.
Remember, even if you find availability on British Airways or Qantas, it's not a guaranteed match for American Airlines. However, it's the closest proxy you'll get.
Step 4: Calling American Airlines to Book
Once you've identified potential Aer Lingus award availability, you must call American Airlines AAdvantage Reservations to book your flight.
Sub-heading: Gathering Your Information
Before you call, have the following ready:
Your AAdvantage number.
Your desired travel dates and times.
The Aer Lingus flight number(s) you found (e.g., EIXXX).
The origin and destination airports.
Your preferred cabin class (Economy or Business).
Names and birthdates of all passengers.
Sub-heading: The Phone Call Process
Dial American Airlines Reservations: Call American Airlines AAdvantage Reservations. The general number for the US is 1-800-433-7300. If you are outside the US, find the appropriate international contact number on the American Airlines website.
Be Clear and Specific: When you connect with an agent, state clearly that you are looking to book an Aer Lingus award flight using your AAdvantage miles. Mention that you have already found potential availability on a partner website (e.g., British Airways).
Provide Flight Details: Give the agent the specific Aer Lingus flight numbers, dates, and routes you found. Ask them to check for AAdvantage award availability on those exact flights.
Confirm Miles and Fees: The agent will inform you of the exact number of miles required and the associated taxes and fees. These fees are typically much lower than what you might see with British Airways due to different fuel surcharge policies. Ensure you understand the total cost before proceeding.
Provide Payment Information: If you agree to the mileage and fee total, the agent will ask for your credit card information to cover the taxes and fees.
Receive Confirmation: Once the booking is complete, the agent will provide you with an American Airlines (AA) record locator and an Aer Lingus (EI) record locator. Make sure you get both! The Aer Lingus record locator will be essential for managing your booking directly with Aer Lingus later (e.g., selecting seats, checking in).
Important Note: If the first agent can't find the availability you see on British Airways, hang up and call again. Sometimes, it simply takes speaking to a different agent who is more experienced with partner award bookings. Be polite but persistent.
Step 5: Managing Your Aer Lingus Booking
After successfully booking your flight with American Airlines miles, you'll want to manage your reservation directly with Aer Lingus.
Sub-heading: Accessing Your Booking on Aer Lingus' Website
Visit the Aer Lingus Website: Go to
www.aerlingus.com Go to "Manage My Booking": Look for a section like "Manage My Booking" or "My Trips."
Enter Aer Lingus Record Locator: Input the Aer Lingus (EI) record locator that the American Airlines agent provided, along with your last name.
Manage Your Reservation: From here, you should be able to:
Select your seats (note: some seats, especially exit rows or front rows, may incur a fee).
Purchase extra baggage (if needed).
Review your flight details.
Check-in online closer to your departure date.
Tip: If you have any trouble accessing your booking on the Aer Lingus website, call Aer Lingus customer service directly with your Aer Lingus record locator.
Step 6: Preparing for Your Trip
With your flight booked, it's time for the final preparations!
Sub-heading: Visa and Entry Requirements
Always check the latest visa and entry requirements for Ireland and any other countries you'll be visiting or transiting through. This information can change, so consult official government travel advisories.
Sub-heading: Baggage Allowance
Review Aer Lingus's baggage allowance policies for your specific fare class. Even with an award ticket, baggage rules apply. You can often find this on the Aer Lingus website under "Baggage Information."
Sub-heading: Airport Information and Check-in
Familiarize yourself with the airports you'll be flying from and to, including terminal information.
Utilize online check-in when it becomes available (usually 24-48 hours before departure) to save time at the airport.
10 Related FAQ Questions
How to Find Aer Lingus Award Availability with American Airlines Miles?
You cannot find Aer Lingus award availability directly on the American Airlines website. The best way is to search for Aer Lingus award space on partner websites like British Airways (using their "Book a flight with Avios" tool) or Qantas, and then call American Airlines AAdvantage Reservations to book.
How to Contact American Airlines AAdvantage Reservations for Aer Lingus Bookings?
You should call the general American Airlines Reservations number, typically 1-800-433-7300 in the US. Be sure to state that you want to book an Aer Lingus award flight using AAdvantage miles.
How to Determine How Many American Airlines Miles are Needed for an Aer Lingus Flight?
There isn't a fixed, publicly available award chart for Aer Lingus redemptions with AAdvantage miles. The number of miles required will depend on the route, cabin class, and availability. You will only know the exact mileage cost by calling American Airlines.
How to Pay for Taxes and Fees on Aer Lingus Award Flights Booked with AAdvantage Miles?
When you book your Aer Lingus award flight through American Airlines, you will pay the applicable taxes and fees with a credit card directly to American Airlines during the phone call.
How to Select Seats on an Aer Lingus Flight Booked with American Airlines Miles?
Once your booking is confirmed, ask the American Airlines agent for your Aer Lingus (EI) record locator. Then, go to the Aer Lingus website, find the "Manage My Booking" section, and enter your EI record locator and last name to select your seats.
How to Add My AerClub Number to an Aer Lingus Flight Booked with AAdvantage Miles?
Generally, when booking with American Airlines miles, you won't be earning AerClub Avios. However, you might be able to add your AerClub number to the reservation on the Aer Lingus website after booking, though mileage earning usually defaults to the program you redeemed through.
How to Change or Cancel an Aer Lingus Flight Booked with American Airlines Miles?
You must contact American Airlines AAdvantage Reservations to make any changes or cancellations to your Aer Lingus award booking. Standard AAdvantage change and cancellation policies and fees (if any) will apply.
How to Know if Aer Lingus Business Class is Available for AAdvantage Redemption?
While challenging, Business Class availability for AAdvantage redemption can sometimes be found by searching on British Airways or Qantas's websites. Look for "Business Saver" or "Low" award space. If you find it, call American Airlines immediately.
How to Transfer American Airlines Miles to Aer Lingus Avios?
You cannot directly transfer American Airlines AAdvantage miles to Aer Lingus Avios. These are separate loyalty programs. You can only redeem your AAdvantage miles for Aer Lingus flights through American Airlines.
How to Earn American Airlines Miles on Aer Lingus Flights?
You can earn AAdvantage miles when flying on paid Aer Lingus marketed and operated flights. The earning rate depends on the fare class and your AAdvantage status. Ensure your AAdvantage number is added to your Aer Lingus booking.
