Do you have American Airlines AAdvantage miles you're looking to share, or perhaps points from another loyalty program you're hoping to convert into AAdvantage miles for that dream redemption? You've come to the right place! While "transferring miles to American Airlines" can sometimes be a bit more nuanced than a direct transfer, there are definitely ways to make your miles work for you.
Let's dive into the world of AAdvantage miles and uncover the best strategies for getting those points where you need them.
The Ins and Outs of Transferring Miles to American Airlines
It's important to clarify upfront: you generally cannot directly transfer miles from one airline's frequent flyer program to another airline's program. For example, you can't take Delta SkyMiles and directly put them into your American Airlines AAdvantage account. The same goes for other alliances. However, there are several key ways you can effectively "transfer" value to your AAdvantage account or use other points to book American Airlines flights.
Step 1: Understanding the "Direct" Transfer – AAdvantage to AAdvantage
Hey there! Do you have American Airlines AAdvantage miles sitting in one account and want to move them to another AAdvantage account? This is the most straightforward "transfer" you can make. Let's get started with how to do it!
If you have American Airlines AAdvantage miles in one account and wish to transfer them to another AAdvantage account (for example, to a family member or friend), this is indeed possible, though it comes with a fee.
Sub-heading: Eligibility and Requirements
Active AAdvantage Accounts: Both the sender and the recipient must have active AAdvantage accounts. If either doesn't, they'll need to sign up for free on the American Airlines website.
Minimum Transfer: You generally need to transfer in increments of 1,000 miles.
Transfer Limits: There are limits on how many miles you can transfer out of an account (typically up to 200,000 miles per calendar year) and how many miles an account can receive (also typically up to 200,000 miles per calendar year).
Sub-heading: The Step-by-Step Process for AAdvantage to AAdvantage Transfers
Log In to Your AAdvantage Account:
Go to the official American Airlines website (aa.com).
Click on "Log In" and enter your AAdvantage number or username and password.
Navigate to the "Buy, Gift & Transfer Miles" Section:
Once logged in, look for a section related to your AAdvantage account. This is often found under "AAdvantage" or "My Account."
Within that section, you should find an option like "Buy, Gift & Transfer Miles" or simply "Transfer Miles." Click on this.
Select "Transfer Miles":
You'll be presented with options to buy miles, gift miles, or transfer miles. Choose "Transfer Miles."
Enter Recipient Details:
You will be prompted to enter the AAdvantage number and the last name of the recipient. Double-check this information carefully to avoid errors!
Specify the Amount of Miles to Transfer:
Enter the number of miles you wish to transfer. Remember the minimum increment and yearly limits.
Review and Confirm Fees:
This is a crucial step. American Airlines charges a fee for transferring miles. Currently, this fee is often around 0.5 cents per mile. For example, transferring 20,000 miles would cost approximately $100 (20,000 miles * $0.005).
The total fee will be clearly displayed before you finalize the transaction. Evaluate if the cost is worth the value you're getting from consolidating the miles.
Complete Payment:
Enter your credit or debit card details to pay the transfer fee.
Confirm the transaction.
Confirmation:
You should receive an on-screen confirmation and an email confirming the transfer.
Transfers usually happen instantly, but in some cases, it might take a few days for the miles to appear in the recipient's account.
Sub-heading: Is Transferring AAdvantage Miles Worth It?
It depends. While the fees have recently been lowered, they can still add up. Consider transferring miles if:
You need to top off an account to reach a specific award redemption.
You want to prevent miles from expiring in a family member's account.
You have a small balance in one account that would be more useful combined with another.
You're using it as a gift, and the recipient will get significant value from the combined miles.
Alternative: Booking for Someone Else A common and often more cost-effective alternative to transferring miles is simply to book an award flight for someone else directly from your own AAdvantage account. American Airlines allows you to redeem your miles for anyone you choose without incurring transfer fees. This is often the preferred method if the goal is simply to get someone on a plane using your miles.
Step 2: Converting Credit Card Points to American Airlines Miles
This is where things get a bit more complex, as American Airlines does not have a direct transfer partnership with major flexible points programs like American Express Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, or Capital One Miles. However, you can still leverage these points to book American Airlines flights!
Sub-heading: The Indirect Approach – Transferring to Partner Airlines
American Airlines is a key member of the oneworld Alliance, and also has numerous independent airline partnerships. This is your primary avenue for "transferring" points from credit card programs to book American Airlines flights.
Identify Transferable Credit Card Points:
Marriott Bonvoy: This is one of the most common ways to convert points to AAdvantage miles. Marriott Bonvoy points can be transferred to over 40 airline partners, including American Airlines AAdvantage. The standard transfer ratio is 3 Marriott Bonvoy points to 1 airline mile. Plus, for every 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points you transfer, you usually get an additional 5,000 bonus miles (meaning 60,000 Marriott points become 25,000 airline miles).
While this is a direct transfer, the ratio isn't always fantastic, so compare the value carefully.
World of Hyatt: You can convert World of Hyatt points to AAdvantage miles, typically at a ratio of 2.5 Hyatt points to 1 AAdvantage mile. While it's a possibility, the value here is generally not optimal as Hyatt points are often more valuable for hotel stays.
Other Credit Card Programs (Indirectly):
American Express Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Capital One Miles, Citi ThankYou Rewards: These programs do not transfer directly to American Airlines AAdvantage.
However, they do transfer to other airline loyalty programs that are partners with American Airlines within the oneworld Alliance or through bilateral agreements.
Choose an American Airlines Partner Airline with Transfer Options:
British Airways Executive Club (Avios): A popular choice! American Express, Chase, Capital One, and Citi ThankYou all transfer to British Airways Avios. You can then use Avios to book American Airlines flights because they are oneworld partners.
Iberia Plus (Avios): Similar to British Airways, these are also Avios, and you can transfer points from Amex, Chase, and Capital One. Iberia can sometimes offer different award availability or pricing on American Airlines flights.
Qatar Airways Privilege Club (Avios): Another Avios partner! Amex, Chase, Citi, and Capital One transfer here. Qatar Airways is also a oneworld member and can book American Airlines flights.
Qantas Frequent Flyer: Amex and Citi ThankYou points can transfer to Qantas, which is a oneworld alliance member.
Etihad Guest: While not a oneworld member, Etihad has a partnership with American Airlines. Amex, Citi, and Capital One points can transfer to Etihad Guest.
Check Award Availability on Partner Websites:
This is a critical step before transferring any points! Search for the American Airlines flight you want on the website of the partner airline you plan to transfer to (e.g., British Airways, Iberia, Qatar Airways).
Ensure that award availability exists for the specific flight you desire. Not all flights available for cash will be available for miles redemption through partners.
Pro Tip: Use a tool like ExpertFlyer or search on multiple partner sites to confirm award space before committing your transferable points.
Initiate the Transfer from Your Credit Card Program:
Once you've confirmed award availability, go to your credit card rewards portal (e.g., American Express Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards).
Select the partner airline you wish to transfer your points to.
Enter your frequent flyer number for that partner airline and the amount of points you want to transfer.
Be aware of transfer times. Some transfers are instant (like Amex to Avios), while others can take a few business days (like Marriott to airlines). Do not transfer until you are confident the award space will hold.
Book Your American Airlines Flight with Partner Miles:
Once the points have appeared in your chosen partner airline's frequent flyer account, log in.
Search for your desired American Airlines flight using the partner's award search engine.
Complete the booking and pay any associated taxes and fees.
Sub-heading: Important Considerations for Credit Card Point Transfers
Transfer Ratios: Always check the transfer ratio. A 1:1 ratio is generally good, but some are worse.
Transfer Bonuses: Occasionally, credit card programs offer bonuses for transferring points to specific airline partners (e.g., 20% more Avios). These can significantly increase the value of your transfer.
Taxes and Fees: Be mindful of carrier-imposed surcharges. Some airlines, like British Airways, can add substantial surcharges to award tickets, especially in premium cabins. Others, like American Airlines when booked directly or through Qatar Airways, might have lower surcharges.
No Reversal: Once you transfer points to an airline program, they cannot be transferred back to your credit card program. Make sure you have a plan!
Step 3: Leveraging Hotel Loyalty Programs for American Airlines Miles
As mentioned briefly in Step 2, some hotel loyalty programs allow you to convert your hotel points directly into airline miles, including American Airlines AAdvantage.
Sub-heading: Key Hotel Partners and Transfer Ratios
Marriott Bonvoy: This is the most significant hotel partner for direct transfers to American Airlines.
Ratio: 3 Marriott Bonvoy points = 1 AAdvantage mile.
Bonus: You get 5,000 bonus AAdvantage miles for every 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points transferred (effectively making 60,000 Marriott points equal to 25,000 AAdvantage miles).
Process: Log in to your Marriott Bonvoy account, navigate to "Transfer Points to Miles," select American Airlines AAdvantage, and follow the prompts.
Timeframe: Transfers can take several business days.
World of Hyatt:
Ratio: 2.5 World of Hyatt points = 1 AAdvantage mile.
Bonus: For every 50,000 World of Hyatt points converted, you receive a 5,000 AAdvantage mile bonus.
Process: Similar to Marriott, you'll initiate the transfer from your World of Hyatt account.
Consideration: Hyatt points are generally very valuable for hotel stays, so transferring them to airlines is often not the best use unless you have a specific, high-value redemption in mind.
IHG One Rewards:
Ratio: 10,000 IHG One Rewards points = 2,000 AAdvantage miles (a 5:1 ratio).
Consideration: This ratio is generally quite poor, making it an unfavorable option unless you have a small balance you want to clear out or are desperate for a few extra miles.
Sub-heading: Strategic Use of Hotel Point Transfers
Last Resort Top-Up: Hotel point transfers are typically best used when you're just a few thousand miles short of an award redemption and don't have other options.
Expiration Prevention: If your hotel points are nearing expiration and you won't use them for a hotel stay, converting them to airline miles can be a way to preserve their value, even with a less-than-ideal transfer ratio.
Promotions: Keep an eye out for occasional transfer bonuses from hotel programs to airline partners, which can make these transfers more appealing.
Step 4: Alternative Strategies to "Transfer" Value for American Airlines Flights
Beyond direct transfers or converting points, there are other clever ways to access American Airlines flights using various loyalty currencies.
Sub-heading: Booking Through American Airlines' Own Platform
Direct Redemption with AAdvantage Miles: The most obvious way to use AAdvantage miles is to book flights directly on aa.com. This is often where you'll find the best availability and sometimes better pricing compared to partner redemptions, especially for American Airlines-operated flights.
Step-by-Step:
Go to aa.com.
Log in to your AAdvantage account.
Enter your flight details and check the "Redeem miles" box.
Search for award flights.
Review options and select your desired flight.
Pay any required taxes and fees.
Sub-heading: Leveraging Alliance and Partner Redemptions
Oneworld Alliance Partners: Since American Airlines is a founding member of the oneworld Alliance, you can use miles from other oneworld airlines to book flights on American Airlines. For instance, if you have British Airways Avios, you can book AA flights through the British Airways website. This effectively acts as a "transfer" of value without moving the miles.
Key Partners: British Airways, Iberia, Qatar Airways, Japan Airlines, Qantas, Finnair, Cathay Pacific, etc.
Benefit: Sometimes, the award pricing or availability through a partner can be better than directly through American Airlines.
Bilateral Airline Partners: American Airlines also has partnerships with airlines outside the oneworld Alliance, such as Etihad Airways and GOL Airlines. While you can't typically transfer miles to these partners, you can often redeem AAdvantage miles for flights on these airlines. Conversely, you might be able to use miles from their programs to book American Airlines flights, if they have such a reciprocal agreement.
Sub-heading: American Airlines Co-Branded Credit Cards
While not a "transfer" in the traditional sense, signing up for and spending on American Airlines co-branded credit cards (e.g., from Citi or Barclays) is a direct way to earn AAdvantage miles that are immediately deposited into your account. This is often the easiest and fastest way to accumulate a significant number of AAdvantage miles.
Sign-up Bonuses: These cards often come with lucrative sign-up bonuses after meeting a minimum spending requirement.
Everyday Spending: Earn miles on all your purchases, with bonus categories for American Airlines flights, dining, gas, etc.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are 10 related FAQ questions to help you navigate the world of AAdvantage mile transfers and redemptions:
How to transfer miles to American Airlines from another person's AAdvantage account?
You can transfer miles between two AAdvantage accounts directly on the American Airlines website (aa.com) under the "Buy, Gift & Transfer Miles" section. Be aware that a fee is charged per mile transferred, typically 0.5 cents per mile.
How to transfer credit card points to American Airlines?
You generally cannot transfer points directly from major flexible credit card programs (like Amex, Chase, Capital One) to American Airlines. However, you can transfer these points to American Airlines' partner airlines (e.g., British Airways, Iberia, Qatar Airways, Qantas) and then use those partner miles to book American Airlines flights.
How to transfer Marriott Bonvoy points to American Airlines?
Log in to your Marriott Bonvoy account and go to the "Transfer Points to Miles" section. Select American Airlines AAdvantage as the airline partner. The standard transfer ratio is 3 Marriott Bonvoy points to 1 AAdvantage mile, with a 5,000-mile bonus for every 60,000 Marriott points transferred.
How to transfer World of Hyatt points to American Airlines?
You can transfer World of Hyatt points to American Airlines AAdvantage at a ratio of 2.5 Hyatt points to 1 AAdvantage mile. A 5,000-mile bonus is offered for every 50,000 Hyatt points converted. This transfer can be initiated through your World of Hyatt account.
How to avoid transfer fees when moving miles to American Airlines?
If you're moving AAdvantage miles between two AAdvantage accounts, the fee is generally unavoidable. However, a great way to "avoid" fees is to simply book an award flight for someone else directly from your own AAdvantage account, as American Airlines allows this without transfer charges.
How to know if transferring miles is worth the cost?
Calculate the value you're getting from the redeemed flight or benefit versus the cost of the transfer fee. If the value per mile you achieve (e.g., 2 cents per mile) significantly outweighs the transfer fee per mile (e.g., 0.5 cents per mile), then it might be worth it. Consider the cash price of the ticket you'd otherwise buy.
How to book American Airlines flights with partner airline miles?
First, transfer your flexible credit card points to a oneworld alliance partner of American Airlines (e.g., British Airways, Iberia, Qatar Airways). Then, log in to that partner's frequent flyer account and use their award search engine to find and book American Airlines flights.
How to find award availability for American Airlines flights on partner websites?
Use the award search engine on the partner airline's website (e.g., britishairways.com, qatarairways.com). It's always best to confirm availability before transferring any points from your credit card program, as transfers are typically irreversible.
How to earn American Airlines miles without flying?
Besides flying, you can earn AAdvantage miles by:
Signing up for and using American Airlines co-branded credit cards.
Shopping through the AAdvantage eShopping portal.
Dining through the AAdvantage Dining program.
Booking hotels through AAdvantage Hotels.
Renting cars with AAdvantage partners.
Participating in various other AAdvantage partner promotions.
How to use American Airlines miles for international flights?
Log in to your AAdvantage account on aa.com and use the "Redeem miles" option when searching for flights. You can book flights on American Airlines' own metal or on their oneworld alliance partners and other bilateral airline partners to thousands of international destinations.