Do you dream of flying with American Airlines, perhaps to a destination you've always longed to visit, but find yourself a few miles short in your AAdvantage account? Or perhaps you have a stash of points with a credit card or hotel program and are wondering if you can convert them into American Airlines miles. Good news! While American Airlines' AAdvantage program isn't as open to direct transfers from various airline partners as some other loyalty programs, there are definitely ways to get those precious miles into your account!
Let's embark on this journey together and explore the most effective ways to transfer miles to American Airlines, turning your travel dreams into reality.
The Ultimate Guide: How to Transfer Miles to American Airlines AAdvantage
Step 1: Discover Your Existing Mile/Point Stash (and where they can go!)
Before we dive deep, let's take a quick inventory. Where do your current miles or points reside? Are they with a credit card, a hotel loyalty program, or perhaps another airline? This initial assessment is crucial because not all points are created equal when it comes to transferring them to American Airlines AAdvantage.
Are you holding a premium credit card like the Citi Strata Elite℠ Card or the Citi Strata Premier® Card? Then you're in luck!
Do you frequently stay at Marriott Bonvoy or World of Hyatt hotels? Those points might be convertible too!
Or perhaps you're wondering about points from other airlines? We'll clarify that as well.
Understanding your current loyalty program holdings is the first and most important step in determining your transfer options.
Step 2: Unveiling American Airlines' Direct Transfer Partners
This is where things can get a bit tricky, as American Airlines has fewer direct transfer partners than some other major airlines. Unlike flexible points programs such as American Express Membership Rewards or Chase Ultimate Rewards (which generally don't transfer directly to AAdvantage), American Airlines' partners are more selective.
Sub-heading: Credit Card Transfer Partners
As of late July 2025, a significant development occurred that's great news for many points enthusiasts:
Citi ThankYou® Rewards: American Airlines AAdvantage has been re-added as an official transfer partner for Citi ThankYou® Rewards. If you hold a Citi Strata Elite℠ Card, Citi Strata Premier® Card, or the no-longer-available Citi Prestige® Card, you can now transfer your ThankYou Points to AAdvantage at a 1:1 ratio, typically in increments of 1,000 points. This is a game-changer!
It's worth noting that previously, Bilt Rewards also transferred to AAdvantage, but that partnership ended in June 2024.
Sub-heading: Hotel Loyalty Program Transfer Partners
While not always the most lucrative option due to often unfavorable transfer ratios, it's still a possibility if you're looking to top off your AAdvantage account.
Marriott Bonvoy: You can transfer Marriott Bonvoy points to American Airlines AAdvantage at a 3:1 ratio. This means for every 3,000 Marriott Bonvoy points, you'll receive 1,000 AAdvantage miles. There's also a bonus: you generally receive 5,000 bonus miles for every 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points transferred, except for American Airlines AAdvantage, Avianca LifeMiles, and Delta SkyMiles. So, transferring 60,000 Marriott points would yield 20,000 AAdvantage miles. The minimum transfer is typically 3,000 points.
World of Hyatt: World of Hyatt points can be converted to American Airlines AAdvantage miles at a ratio of 1,250 World of Hyatt points to 500 AAdvantage miles, with a minimum conversion of 5,000 points. This ratio is generally less favorable than Marriott's.
Step 3: Navigating the Transfer Process
Once you've identified your eligible points and the desired transfer program, the process is usually straightforward.
Sub-heading: Transferring from Credit Card Programs (Citi ThankYou Rewards)
Log in to your Credit Card Account: Access your online account for the credit card that earns Citi ThankYou Points.
Navigate to Rewards: Look for a section related to "Rewards," "Points," or "Transfer Points."
Select American Airlines AAdvantage: Find American Airlines AAdvantage in the list of transfer partners.
Link Your AAdvantage Account (if necessary): If it's your first time transferring, you'll likely need to link your AAdvantage account by entering your AAdvantage number. Ensure the name on your credit card account matches the name on your AAdvantage account exactly.
Enter the Desired Transfer Amount: Input the number of ThankYou Points you wish to transfer. Remember the 1:1 ratio and typical increments.
Confirm the Transfer: Review the details of your transfer and confirm. Transfers are generally irreversible.
Allow for Processing Time: While some transfers can be instant, it's wise to allow for a few business days for the miles to reflect in your AAdvantage account.
Sub-heading: Transferring from Hotel Loyalty Programs (Marriott Bonvoy, World of Hyatt)
Log in to your Hotel Loyalty Account: Go to the website of your respective hotel loyalty program (Marriott Bonvoy or World of Hyatt).
Find the "Transfer Points to Airline Miles" Option: This option is usually found under the "Redeem" or "Use Points" section.
Select American Airlines AAdvantage: Choose American Airlines AAdvantage from the list of airline partners.
Enter Your AAdvantage Number: Provide your American Airlines AAdvantage account number. Again, ensure the names match.
Specify the Transfer Quantity: Enter the number of hotel points you want to transfer, keeping the transfer ratio in mind.
Review and Confirm: Double-check all the details before confirming the transfer.
Anticipate Processing Time: Hotel point transfers can sometimes take longer than credit card transfers, so allow up to a week or more for the miles to appear in your AAdvantage account.
Step 4: Alternative Strategies for Earning AAdvantage Miles (Beyond Direct Transfers)
While direct transfers are convenient, it's important to remember that they aren't the only way to accumulate AAdvantage miles. Consider these other avenues to boost your balance:
American Airlines Co-branded Credit Cards: This is arguably the easiest and most rewarding way for many to earn AAdvantage miles directly. Cards like the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® or the AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard® offer significant welcome bonuses and earn miles on everyday spending.
Flying American Airlines and Partner Airlines: This is the bread and butter of any frequent flyer program. When you fly on American Airlines, American Eagle, or any oneworld alliance airline (e.g., British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Qantas, Japan Airlines, Qatar Airways), you earn AAdvantage miles.
AAdvantage eShopping Portal: Shop online through the AAdvantage eShopping portal and earn miles for purchases at hundreds of popular retailers. It's a fantastic way to earn miles on spending you're already doing.
AAdvantage Dining Program: Register your credit cards with AAdvantage Dining, and you'll earn miles simply by dining at participating restaurants.
AAdvantage Hotels & Car Rental Partners: Book hotels through AAdvantage Hotels or car rentals with partners like Avis and Budget to earn additional miles.
Buying American Airlines Miles: While generally not recommended due to high costs, American Airlines does allow you to buy miles directly. This should only be considered as a last resort if you're just a few miles short for a specific award redemption and the cost-per-mile is acceptable for your travel plans.
Step 5: Understanding the Value of Your Miles and Potential Fees
Mile Valuation: It's helpful to understand the approximate value of American Airlines AAdvantage miles. Many experts value them around 1.6 cents per mile for economy award flights, but this can vary greatly depending on the redemption. Always aim for a redemption that gives you at least this value, if not more.
Transfer Fees: While most credit card point transfers to airline partners do not incur a fee, transferring miles directly between AAdvantage accounts (from one person to another) typically involves a fee. This is different from converting credit card points or hotel points. When converting from Citi ThankYou Rewards or hotel programs, you generally won't pay a fee for the conversion itself, but taxes and carrier-imposed fees will apply when redeeming your miles for an award flight.
By carefully considering your options and strategizing your approach, you can effectively transfer miles and points to your American Airlines AAdvantage account, unlocking incredible travel possibilities!
10 Related FAQ Questions
How to transfer miles to American Airlines from other airlines?
It's generally not possible to directly transfer miles from one airline's frequent flyer program (e.g., Delta SkyMiles, United MileagePlus) to American Airlines AAdvantage. Each airline loyalty program is distinct.
How to convert credit card points to American Airlines miles?
You can convert Citi ThankYou Rewards points to American Airlines AAdvantage miles at a 1:1 ratio if you hold an eligible Citi credit card like the Citi Strata Elite℠ Card or Citi Strata Premier® Card. Other major transferable points programs (like Amex Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Capital One Miles) generally do not transfer directly to AAdvantage.
How to transfer Marriott Bonvoy points to American Airlines?
Log into your Marriott Bonvoy account, navigate to "Use Points" or "Redeem Points," select "Transfer Points to Airline Miles," and choose American Airlines AAdvantage. The transfer ratio is typically 3 Marriott Bonvoy points to 1 AAdvantage mile.
How to transfer Hyatt points to American Airlines?
Access your World of Hyatt account, find the option to transfer points to airline partners, and select American Airlines AAdvantage. The conversion ratio is 1,250 World of Hyatt points to 500 AAdvantage miles.
How to earn American Airlines miles without flying?
You can earn American Airlines miles through co-branded credit cards, shopping online via the AAdvantage eShopping portal, dining through the AAdvantage Dining program, booking hotels/cars with AAdvantage partners, and sometimes by participating in specific promotions.
How to check American Airlines AAdvantage mile balance?
You can check your AAdvantage mile balance by logging into your American Airlines AAdvantage account on the American Airlines website or through their mobile app.
How to use American Airlines miles for flights on partner airlines?
You can use American Airlines AAdvantage miles to book award flights on American Airlines and any of its oneworld alliance partners (e.g., British Airways, Qatar Airways, Japan Airlines, Qantas) directly through the American Airlines website.
How to avoid fees when transferring miles to American Airlines?
When converting points from eligible credit card or hotel programs to AAdvantage, the conversion itself typically doesn't incur a fee. However, if you are transferring miles from one AAdvantage account to another AAdvantage account (person-to-person transfer), fees generally apply.
How to get bonus miles when transferring to American Airlines?
Marriott Bonvoy offers a bonus of 5,000 extra miles for every 60,000 points transferred to most airline partners, though this specific bonus does not apply to American Airlines AAdvantage. Keep an eye out for promotional transfer bonuses from credit card programs, although these are rare for AAdvantage.
How to find the best value for American Airlines mile redemptions?
The best value for American Airlines mile redemptions often comes from booking international business or first-class flights, or leveraging sweet spots on partner award charts. Always compare the cash price of a flight with the miles required and any associated taxes/fees to determine the per-mile value you're getting.
