Have you ever found yourself with a seemingly unusable stash of American Airlines AAdvantage miles spread across multiple accounts? Perhaps a family member has a small balance nearing expiration, or you need just a few more miles to snag that dream award flight. If so, you're not alone! Many travelers encounter this scenario, and the good news is, American Airlines offers a way to consolidate those miles: transferring them from one account to another.
However, it's crucial to understand that this convenience comes with a cost. This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know about transferring American Airlines miles, from the exact fees involved to a step-by-step process, and even considerations to help you decide if it's the right move for you.
How Much Does it Cost to Transfer American Airlines Miles?
Let's get straight to the most important question. American Airlines charges a fee for transferring AAdvantage miles, and it's calculated per mile.
The current cost to transfer American Airlines AAdvantage miles is 0.5 cents per mile.
This means:
Transferring 1,000 miles would cost $5 (1,000 miles * 0.005).
Transferring 10,000 miles would cost $50 (10,000 miles * 0.005).
Transferring 20,000 miles would cost $100 (20,000 miles * 0.005).
It's important to note that American Airlines recently lowered this fee from its previous rate of 1.5 cents per mile, making transfers significantly more affordable than they once were. There are no additional transaction fees beyond this per-mile cost.
Why the Fee?
Airlines generally charge for mileage transfers because miles are a valuable currency. Allowing free transfers could lead to speculative trading or make it too easy for individuals to accumulate vast sums of miles without flying, impacting the economics of their loyalty programs. The fee acts as a deterrent for frivolous transfers and aims to cover administrative costs.
Step-by-Step Guide: Transferring American Airlines Miles
Ready to combine your AAdvantage miles? Here's a detailed, step-by-step guide to help you navigate the process:
Step 1: Assess Your Needs and Consider Alternatives (Engage the user here!)
Before you even log in, let's really think about this. Do you absolutely need to transfer these miles? Are there other ways to achieve your goal without incurring fees? Sometimes, the best solution isn't a transfer.
Scenario A: You need more miles for a specific award booking. If you're just short a few thousand miles for a flight, consider if you could:
Buy the missing miles directly from American Airlines. This can sometimes be a better value than transferring, especially if there are "buy miles" promotions.
Earn miles quickly through other means: American Airlines co-branded credit card spending, AAdvantage eShopping portal, AAdvantage Dining, or hotel partners.
Have the person with the miles book the award for you. If you're transferring miles to a family member or friend for a specific trip, they might be able to book the award ticket in your name directly from their account, avoiding transfer fees altogether. This is often the most cost-effective solution.
Scenario B: Preventing miles from expiring. While transferring miles can reset the expiration clock, so can other activities like:
Earning or redeeming any amount of miles. Even a small purchase through AAdvantage eShopping or a small donation can keep your miles active.
Using an American Airlines co-branded credit card.
Booking a flight, even a short, inexpensive one.
Think about your specific situation. What's your primary motivation for transferring miles? Once you have a clear answer, proceed to the next step.
Step 2: Log In to Your AAdvantage Account
This is where the practical steps begin.
Visit the American Airlines Website: Go to aa.com.
Log In: Click on "Log in" and enter your AAdvantage number and password. Make sure you are logging into the account from which you want to transfer miles (the sender's account).
Step 3: Navigate to the "Buy, Gift, and Share Miles" Section
Once logged in, you'll need to find the correct section for mileage transfers.
Find "AAdvantage" in the top menu.
Hover over "Miles" or "AAdvantage Program" (the exact wording might vary slightly over time).
Look for an option like "Buy, Gift, and Share Miles" or "Transfer Miles." Click on it.
You might be redirected to a dedicated page for these transactions, often managed by Points.com on behalf of American Airlines.
Step 4: Initiate the Transfer
On the transfer page, you'll provide the details for the transfer.
Select "Transfer Miles": There will typically be options for "Buy Miles," "Gift Miles," and "Transfer Miles." Choose "Transfer Miles."
Enter Recipient Information: You will need:
The recipient's AAdvantage number. Double-check this for accuracy!
The recipient's last name.
Specify Transfer Amount: Enter the number of miles you wish to transfer.
American Airlines allows transfers in increments of 1,000 miles.
There's typically a minimum transfer amount (often 1,000 miles) and a maximum transfer amount per transaction (e.g., up to 200,000 miles in some cases). Check the specific limits displayed on the transfer page.
Step 5: Review and Calculate the Cost
This is a critical step to ensure you understand the full financial implication.
The system will automatically calculate the fee. Based on the 0.5 cents per mile rate, you'll see the total dollar amount for your transfer.
Review the details carefully:
Number of miles being transferred.
Recipient's AAdvantage number and name.
Total cost of the transfer.
Step 6: Provide Payment Information
If you're satisfied with the details and the cost, proceed to payment.
Enter your credit or debit card details. The name on the credit or debit card used for payment should match the name on the AAdvantage account from which the miles are being transferred.
Confirm the transaction. You may need to agree to terms and conditions.
Step 7: Confirmation
After successful payment, you'll receive a confirmation.
Confirmation Page: You'll see a confirmation message on the screen.
Email Confirmation: American Airlines will also send a confirmation email to the email address associated with your AAdvantage account.
Mileage Posting: Allow some time for the miles to post to the recipient's account. This usually happens within 24 hours, but can sometimes take up to 72 hours.
Important Considerations Before Transferring Miles
While the process is straightforward, here are some crucial points to keep in mind:
Value of Miles vs. Transfer Cost
Is it worth it? The value of an American Airlines mile varies depending on how you redeem it, but a common valuation is around 1.6 cents per mile for economy award flights. If you're paying 0.5 cents per mile to transfer, you're effectively "buying" those miles at that rate. Consider if the value you'll get from the redeemed miles significantly outweighs the transfer cost.
For example: If you transfer 20,000 miles for $100 (0.5 cents/mile), and those 20,000 miles help you book a flight that would otherwise cost $320 (1.6 cents/mile value), then the transfer was a good deal. However, if you're only gaining a small amount of value, it might not be worth it.
Mileage Expiration
Transferring miles does count as account activity and will reset the expiration clock for the recipient's miles. This can be a valid reason to transfer if miles are about to expire and other options aren't feasible.
Transfer Limits
American Airlines typically has minimum and maximum transfer amounts per transaction and potentially per calendar year. Be aware of these limits, which will be clearly stated on the transfer page.
Non-Refundable Transactions
Mileage transfers are generally non-refundable and non-reversible. Once you complete the transaction, you cannot get your miles back or reverse the charge. Be absolutely sure before you click confirm!
Loyalty Points and Elite Status
Miles transferred into an account typically do not count towards earning AAdvantage Loyalty Points or elite status qualification. These miles are purely for redemption.
Alternative Strategies Revisited
Booking directly: As mentioned in Step 1, if the goal is for someone else to use your miles, consider booking the award ticket for them from your account. This is usually the most cost-effective approach.
Pooling miles (unofficially): While American Airlines doesn't have an official "family pooling" program like some other airlines, transferring miles is the closest equivalent.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How to calculate the cost of transferring American Airlines miles?
To calculate the cost, multiply the number of miles you wish to transfer by $0.005 (0.5 cents). For example, 10,000 miles * $0.005 = $50.
How to transfer American Airlines miles online?
Log in to your AAdvantage account on aa.com, navigate to the "Buy, Gift, and Share Miles" section, select "Transfer Miles," enter the recipient's details and the amount, then proceed to payment.
How to avoid fees when using someone else's American Airlines miles?
The most effective way is to have the person with the miles book the award ticket for you directly from their AAdvantage account. This bypasses any transfer fees.
How to find the "Transfer Miles" option on American Airlines' website?
After logging into your AAdvantage account on aa.com, look for a link related to "AAdvantage Program," "Miles," or "Buy, Gift, and Share Miles" in the main navigation.
How to know if transferring miles is worth it for my specific trip?
Compare the cost of transferring the miles to the cash price of the ticket you would otherwise buy. If the cash price is significantly higher than the transfer fee plus any taxes/fees on the award ticket, it might be worth it. Also, consider if it's the only way to prevent miles from expiring.
How to ensure miles transfer successfully and quickly?
Double-check the recipient's AAdvantage number and last name. Ensure your payment information is correct. Miles usually post within 24 hours, but allow up to 72 hours for processing.
How to prevent American Airlines miles from expiring without transferring them?
You can prevent miles from expiring by having any earning or redeeming activity in your account at least once every 24 months. This includes flying, using an AAdvantage credit card, shopping through the AAdvantage eShopping portal, or dining with AAdvantage Dining.
How to transfer miles to a family member or friend?
Follow the same online transfer process, ensuring you have their correct AAdvantage number and last name. Remember the fees apply per mile transferred.
How to understand the maximum and minimum limits for transferring miles?
When you go through the online transfer process, the system will display the current minimum and maximum mileage amounts you can transfer per transaction. These can vary and are subject to American Airlines' policies.
How to contact American Airlines AAdvantage customer service for transfer inquiries?
You can typically find contact information for AAdvantage customer service on the American Airlines website under the "Help" or "Contact Us" sections. They can assist with specific questions about your account or transfers.
