You're ready to unlock new travel possibilities with American Airlines AAdvantage miles, are you? Fantastic! Buying miles can be a strategic move to top up your account for an award flight, score a premium cabin upgrade, or even maintain elite status. However, it's crucial to understand the process and whether it truly makes financial sense for your travel goals. Let's dive in!
How to Buy Loyalty Points (AAdvantage Miles) on American Airlines: A Step-by-Step Guide
Buying AAdvantage miles is a relatively straightforward process, primarily done through American Airlines' dedicated mileage purchase portal. Here's a detailed breakdown:
Step 1: Determine Your Need and Check for Promotions
Before you even think about hitting that "buy" button, the first and most crucial step is to assess why you need the miles and if buying them is the most cost-effective solution. Are you just a few thousand miles short of a dream redemption? Or are you looking to accumulate a large sum?
Why do you need miles?
Award Flight Redemptions: This is often the best value for purchased miles, especially for business or first-class international flights, where the cash price can be exorbitant.
Upgrades: You can use miles to upgrade your existing American Airlines or partner airline tickets.
Topping off an account: If you're just shy of a specific award, buying a small amount can be worthwhile.
Preventing Expiration: While there are other ways to keep your miles active, buying a small quantity can reset the 24-month expiration clock.
Check for current promotions! American Airlines frequently offers bonuses or discounts on purchased miles. This can significantly reduce the per-mile cost. Always check the official AAdvantage "Buy, Gift, or Transfer Miles" page before making any purchase. A 50% bonus or discount can make a huge difference in the overall value.
Step 2: Log In to Your AAdvantage Account
This might seem obvious, but it's essential to ensure you're logged into the correct AAdvantage account.
Go to the American Airlines website: Navigate to aa.com.
Locate the "AAdvantage" section: This is usually found in the top navigation bar.
Log In: Enter your AAdvantage number or username and password. If you don't have an account, you'll need to create one. Note: New AAdvantage accounts may have a waiting period (e.g., 30 days) before they are eligible to purchase miles during promotions.
Step 3: Navigate to the "Buy Miles" Section
Once logged in, you'll need to find the specific page for purchasing miles.
Find "Buy, Gift or Transfer Miles": On the AAdvantage program page, look for a link or button related to "Buy, Gift or Transfer Miles." This is typically under "Your account" or "Ways to earn and use miles."
Select "Buy Miles": You'll usually be presented with options to buy, gift, or transfer miles. Choose "Buy Miles."
Step 4: Choose the Quantity of Miles
This is where you'll decide how many AAdvantage miles you want to purchase.
Input Desired Amount: The page will usually have a dropdown menu or a field where you can select or input the number of miles you wish to buy.
Observe Pricing and Bonuses: As you adjust the quantity, the total cost and any applicable bonuses will update in real-time. Pay close attention to the price per mile after any discounts or bonuses.
Minimum and Maximum Limits: Be aware of the minimum purchase amount (typically 2,000 miles) and the maximum annual purchase limit (generally 150,000 miles per calendar year, though this can be increased during special promotions). Miles are usually sold in increments of 1,000.
Step 5: Provide Payment Information
Once you've selected the quantity, you'll proceed to the payment section.
Enter Credit Card Details: You'll need to provide your credit card information.
Consider Credit Card Benefits: The transaction for buying AAdvantage miles is processed directly by American Airlines' partner, Points.com. Therefore, it's generally categorized as a travel expense on your credit card. Consider using a credit card that offers bonus points on travel purchases to maximize your return.
Review all charges: Before finalizing, double-check the total cost, including any processing fees and federal excise taxes.
Step 6: Review and Confirm Your Purchase
This is your last chance to verify all the details before completing the transaction.
Check Miles Quantity and Cost: Ensure the number of miles you are buying and the total price match your expectations.
Read Terms and Conditions: It's crucial to read the terms and conditions associated with buying miles. These will cover important aspects like:
Refund Policy: Purchased miles are typically non-refundable and non-reversible.
Posting Time: Miles usually post to your account within 24 hours, but can sometimes take up to 72 hours.
Expiration: Purchased miles are subject to the standard AAdvantage mileage expiration policy (24 months of inactivity).
Elite Status Earning: Crucially, purchased miles generally do not count towards AAdvantage elite status qualification (Loyalty Points). Loyalty Points are earned from eligible AAdvantage miles accrued through flying, co-branded credit card spending, and partner activities.
Click "Complete Purchase" or "Buy Now": Once everything looks correct, finalize your transaction.
Step 7: Confirmation and Mileage Posting
After your purchase, you'll receive confirmation and your miles will be added to your account.
Confirmation Email: You should receive an email confirmation of your purchase.
Check AAdvantage Account: Log back into your AAdvantage account to verify that the purchased miles have been credited. This usually happens very quickly but can sometimes take a bit longer.
Congratulations! You've successfully purchased American Airlines AAdvantage miles. Now you can use them to unlock exciting travel experiences!
Frequently Asked Questions about Buying AAdvantage Miles
How to: Determine if buying AAdvantage miles is worth it?
The value of AAdvantage miles varies. A common valuation is around 1.6 cents per mile, but this can fluctuate greatly depending on how you redeem them. Compare the cost of buying miles to the cash price of the flight or upgrade you want. If the value you get from the redemption far exceeds the cost of buying the miles, it might be worth it. Premium cabin redemptions often offer the best value.
How to: Find current promotions for buying AAdvantage miles?
Always check the official American Airlines "Buy, Gift or Transfer Miles" page on aa.com. They frequently run promotions offering bonus miles or discounts, which are crucial for getting a good value. Third-party travel blogs and points/miles websites also often highlight these promotions.
How to: Know the maximum number of AAdvantage miles I can buy?
Generally, AAdvantage members are limited to purchasing a maximum of 150,000 miles per calendar year. However, during special promotions, American Airlines may increase this limit, sometimes allowing purchases up to 400,000 miles.
How to: Calculate the per-mile cost when buying AAdvantage miles?
Divide the total cost of your purchase (including taxes and fees) by the total number of miles received (including any bonus miles). For example, if you pay $1,000 for 50,000 miles, your per-mile cost is $1,000 / 50,000 = $0.02, or 2 cents per mile.
How to: Use purchased AAdvantage miles for flights?
Purchased AAdvantage miles can be used just like any other miles in your account. Log in to aa.com, select "Redeem miles" when searching for flights, and proceed with booking your award travel.
How to: Ensure purchased AAdvantage miles don't expire?
AAdvantage miles expire after 24 months of inactivity. To prevent expiration, you need to have eligible earning or redeeming activity on your account at least once every 24 months. Purchasing miles counts as activity and will reset the expiration clock.
How to: Gift AAdvantage miles to someone else?
American Airlines allows you to gift miles to another AAdvantage member through their "Gift Miles" option on the same "Buy, Gift or Transfer Miles" page. Be aware that gifting miles often incurs a higher per-mile fee than buying them for yourself. A more cost-effective alternative is often to simply book a flight for the recipient directly from your own AAdvantage account.
How to: Transfer AAdvantage miles to another account?
Similar to gifting, American Airlines offers a "Transfer Miles" option. This also comes with fees per mile transferred plus a processing fee. As with gifting, directly booking an award ticket for someone from your account using your miles is often a cheaper alternative.
How to: Track the posting of purchased AAdvantage miles?
After purchase, you should receive a confirmation email. You can then log in to your AAdvantage account on aa.com and check your mileage summary. Miles typically post within 24 hours, but allow up to 72 hours for them to appear.
How to: Get a refund on purchased AAdvantage miles?
Generally, purchased AAdvantage miles are non-refundable and non-reversible. It's crucial to be certain of your purchase before completing the transaction, as American Airlines has a strict no-refund policy for purchased miles.
