The Best AAdvantage Miles Deals … That American Never Advertises
9 min readAmerican Airlines AAdvantage miles are some of the most valuable airline miles on the planet – we’ve been saying it for years – whether you’re a diehard AA flyer or not. But finding the best deals to use your stash of AAdvantage Miles isn’t always easy if you don’t know where to look.
We do know where to look. In fact, the deals have arguably been better than ever lately.
Just ask our Thrifty Traveler Premium members, who get alert after alert every time we find an AAdvantage deal flying American or one of their five-star partner airlines to the Caribbean, Europe, Asia, and even Australia – sometimes at a fraction of what it normally costs. So while you might see sky-high rates searching yourself for many flights, stellar deals are still out there.
And that’s the problem: American doesn’t usually advertise its best deals … but we find them anyway. We’re talking about business and first class deals to Australia from 75,000 miles each way; business class flights to Japan from 60,000 miles each way; roundtrip flights to Europe from 35,000 points; flights to Mexico and the Caribbean for 10,000 miles roundtrip or less; and many, many more!
Many of these deals are gone now … but the next AAdvantage deal is just around the corner. Until then, take a look at some amazing AAdvantage deals you might be missing.
Want the next insane American AAdvantage deal? Get Thrifty Traveler Premium now!
American Biz or First Class to Australia & New Zealand from 75K Miles Each Way
For the long, long-haul down to Australia or New Zealand, you’ll want to stretch out in some of American’s comfiest seats. But between $5,000-plus fares and hard-to-find award space to use your miles on a lie-flat seat, that can be tough to pull off.
A few weeks ago, we unearthed tons of business and even first class award space flying from Los Angeles (LAX) to Sydney (SYD), giving you a chance to redeem just 75,000 miles each way for business class – or 85,000 points each way in first class. Here’s a perfect example of each option … and it was one of nearly 100 dates available.
It was all part of this Thrifty Traveler Premium award alert we sent our members a few weeks back for this big sale, including a little sneak peek of the fancy seats you can expect in American’s first class cabin.
Read Next: How to Quickly Earn 110K American Airlines Miles … or More!
And it wasn’t just L.A. that benefitted from some terrific pricing on lie-flat seats Down Under, however. This nonstop route from Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) to Auckland (AKL) was another insanely good value at just 83,000 miles each way for a lie-flat seat.
But there was something even better about that deal. It’s on American’s brand new Flagship Business Class on the 787 Dreamliner, equipped with closing doors and some of the most modern amenities in flying.
For a flight to New Zealand or Australia, you’d be hard-pressed not to use your AA miles if you want to fly lie-flat.
Japan Airlines Business Class from 60K Miles Each Way
Here’s a not-so-hot take: Using your American Airlines miles to book Japan Airlines business class to Tokyo for just 60,000 miles each way is one of the best (if not the best) redemptions on earth.
And just so you believe me, here’s proof that it’s possible.
Known for its second-to-none service, cozy seats, and thorough route network throughout the United States and Canada, Japan Airlines (JAL) is a nearly perfect ride across the Pacific, especially at that price. That’s why we’re constantly searching for JAL award availability … and we’re constantly finding it, like this gem.
On top of the simple nonstop flights to Tokyo, we also unearthed something that could make for a truly epic trip. How about a trip to France first … and then over to Tokyo in business class!
If you want to fly Japan Airlines’ newest, fanciest seats (pictured below), you’ll have to aim for New York City (JFK) or Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) or look abroad at destinations like Paris-Charles de Gaulle (CDG).
I apologize if I just added “Flying business class from Paris to Tokyo” to your bucket list, but with rates like this, it’s certainly something to consider.
Caribbean & Mexico for 10K Miles RT
If there’s one sure bet with even a small stash of AA miles, look to Mexico and the Caribbean.
The airline routinely offers dirt-cheap economy redemptions down to islands throughout the Caribbean – even the expensive ones. For example, just 10,000 AAdvantage miles can get you down to Turks and Caicos (PLS) and back!
The taxes and fees on Caribbean fares can be more expensive than normal – the example above to Turks & Caicos was more than $120 per ticket. But with how few miles you’re forking over, it’s still a tremendous deal.
Plus, just look at all of the destinations that you could find 10,000-mile rates on with our latest find.
And best of all: American AAdvantage mile fares are totally refundable – yes, even in economy. These are all Main Cabin fares that include seat selection and free changes and cancellation. If you can’t make the trip work or you find a better deal later on, all you have to do is cancel and get all your miles redeposited and all your taxes and fees refunded!
Economy Europe from 35K Points RT
The lie-flat seats may get all the love, because the bang-for-your-AAdvantage mile is just so high. But you don’t need a Fort Knox-worthy stash of AA miles to fly all over the world. In fact, sometimes, all you need is 35,000 AA miles and you’ve got roundtrip flights to Europe.
That’s right: Roundtrip flights to Europe for half the usual cost. We routinely found deeply discounted American flights in economy to Europe and other destinations, too. This flight from Los Angeles (LAX) to Milan (MXP) is the perfect example.
When American runs one of these flash sales, normal rates of 60,000 miles roundtrip fall to just 35,000 miles total (and sometimes even less) from the U.S. to airports all over Europe. As always, these fares are refundable, too.
Here’s a screenshot from a recent deal we sent, including more than 100 U.S. cities flying with quick connections to Europe for 35,000 AA miles roundtrip.
AA Biz Class to London from 65K Miles Each Way
Australia? Check. Asia? Check. But what about business class flights to Europe?
I’m so glad you asked.
This flight deal to London-Heathrow (LHR) from cities all over the U.S. is the perfect example of the kinds of deals we find several times a year. American runs a deep network of nonstop flights to Europe – many of which open up to sale pricing a few times a year … including prized summer availability!
London is the most frequent example, but we’ve seen AA slash prices to Germany, Ireland, Italy, Spain, and more throughout the year – often offering rates of 65,000 AA miles each way and sometimes even less.
AA First Class to Rome from 72K Miles Each Way
Speaking of Italy, American operates several flights a day nonstop from the U.S. to Italy, including Rome (FCO). On one of those routes, from New York City (JFK), American actually offers first class, too!
That was the impetus for this flight deal alert highlighting first class availability from JFK to Rome during… during peak summer, no less! The best availability on this deal alert was during June, July, and August – a sizzling deal for travelers looking for that idyllic Italian summer.
Chile Under 40K Miles RT
Those killer economy discounts over to Europe sometimes extend down to South American routes, too. For just 40,000 miles roundtrip or less, you can secure roundtrip flights on AA to Santiago, Chile (SCL)!
For the long haul to Chile, this is another incredible value for your points with taxes and fees totaling just $54 roundtrip.
Like the Europe fares, American’s AAdvantage miles rates are Main Cabin. That means you get free changes and cancellation as well as free seat selection.
Tokyo, Shanghai & Seoul for 50K Miles RT
If you’re just looking for the cheapest way to make your way over to Asia using miles, look no further.
We recently unearthed a massive (and unadvertised sale) flying economy to Tokyo-Haneda (HND), Shanghai (PVG), and Seoul (ICN), too. In each and every case, the price was the same: 50,000 American Airlines miles roundtrip.
Again, these are refundable Main Cabin fares, meaning you get to select your seat and are able to change or cancel your flights and have your miles redeposited if plans change.
Hawaiian First Class for 64K Miles Each Way
Using AAdvantage miles to book flights on partner airlines is often the best ways to use them, period. We saw that with the Japan Airlines Business class deals above, and you’ll see it again if you look for nonstop flights to Hawaii on Hawaiian Airlines.
These new, fancy Hawaiian Airlines First Class suites are easily the best way to fly to Hawaii. Just 64,000 AA miles each way is all you’ll need to make these suites yours for the long-haul across the Pacific Ocean.
Like all U.S. airlines, American flies from coast-to-coast in the U.S. all the time, every day. And on those planes criss-crossing the country, they feature some of the best seats they sell.
On the airline’s brand new Airbus A321XLR, American has these state-of-the-art business class suites flying between both Boston (BOS) and New York City (JFK) to Los Angeles (LAX) and San Francisco (SFO). And they can be yours from just 27,000 points each way!
For the 6-plus hour flight across the country, a business class suite (especially one that cheap) could do wonders. But maybe all you need is a premium economy seat like this one. Still spacious and luxurious, you could have snagged these seats between New York and Los Angeles from just 24,000 miles each way, too.
Here’s proof. And it’s during the peak summer travel months, too!
Cathay Pacific Biz Class to Hong Kong & SE Asia from 70K Miles Each Way
Another American Airlines partner you might want to investigate is Cathay Pacific. Like Japan Airlines and Hawaiian, you can use your AA miles to book Cathay flights up in the front cabin for tremendous value. Take it from me: With top-notch service and some awesome lounges in Hong Kong (HKG), you’re going to want to fly Cathay business class!
Especially at these rates.
That’s right: Just 70,000 American miles to fly nonstop to Hong Kong (HKG) and even connecting onward to Kuala Lumpur (KUL) is a steal for your American Airlines miles. And as you can see below, it’s a much better deal than booking with Cathay Pacific miles directly.
These alerts always give you all the best ways to book … and in this case (and many cases), that’s using American Airlines miles.
Etihad Biz Class to the Maldives from 70K Miles Each Way
Last but not least, American’s ultra-luxurious partner Etihad jumped into the conversation with one of the best ways to use AA miles on this entire list.
This deal, connecting in its Abu Dhabi (AUH) hub, could get you to the Maldives (MLE), Africa, or elsewhere in the Middle East – all for just 70,000 AA miles each way.
With these flights coming out to nearly $7,000 apiece, using just 70,000 miles is one of the best bargains in travel.
Bottom Line
We know, we know: Trying to use your AAdvantage miles can be frustrating. Just trust us … the deals are out there.
That’s what our Thrifty Traveler Premium service is all about: Letting you know exactly when you can book flights for fewer AAdvantage miles. These deals are just the tip of the iceberg – we’ve found far more deeply discounted American deals in recent months. And we’re on the hunt for even more through the rest of the year.
