The AAdvantage program is a simple and powerful loyalty program that makes it easy to earn and redeem miles. This guide will give you the basics of redeeming your miles for award flights that provide your points maximum value.
AAdvantage Redemption Basics
Once you transfer your points to AAdvantage miles, you can redeem your miles for travel on an American Airlines-operated itinerary or partner-operated flight.
You can use your AAdvantage miles to book flights on over 20 different American Airlines partners around the world. For example, if you want to fly from the U.S. to Japan, you can use your miles to fly on a Japan Airlines flight from New York to Tokyo.
How Much Do Award Flights Cost?
American Airlines publishes an award chart on its website that will tell you the range of miles a particular itinerary will usually cost. Depending on the region you are departing from, the area you are flying to, and in what class you want to fly, you can quickly determine how many miles you should expect to redeem for an award ticket. In peak periods, some pricing may be higher than the published award chart due to increased demand, but the chart is a helpful guide for redeeming miles.
Ways to Redeem AAdvantage Miles
AAdvantage members have several different ways to redeem their miles on American or partner flights. There are many strategies to determine the best redemption for your miles, but ultimately the best value is the one that best suits your needs at the moment of redemption.
Best uses of American Airlines Miles include:
AAdvantage miles can be redeemed with:
- First Class to Asia for 80,000 miles
- Business class to Asia, Middle East, India & Asia for 70,000 & 75,000 miles
- Web Special Awards – These are dynamically priced awards and maybe at a lower cost
Web Special Award redemption costs are dynamically priced and will vary based on several factors. However, MileSAAver and AAnytime award options generally follow the zone-based charts that American provides on its website.
American Airlines Military Benefits
American Airlines offers military discounts not available to civilian customers. Contact their reservation number (800-433-7300) for more information. Additionally, U.S. military veterans and their families can save up to 10% on domestic and international flights by enrolling in VetRewards and booking through Veterans Advantage.
Active-Duty Military and their dependents traveling on orders can check up to five bags for free up to 100lbs each by showing their military ID at check-in. Additionally, active-duty military traveling on personal or leisure travel may check three bags up to 50lbs each. 
A lesser well-known perk is that U.S. military members and family members traveling on the same reservation MAY have access to Preferred and Main Cabin Extra seats should there be availability. So be sure to ask at the same time you’re checking your bags.
U.S. Military Personnel with an active military ID are welcomed to enter the Admirals Club lounges with immediate family or up to two guests should the lounge have enough space to accommodate if traveling on a same-day flight operated by American Airlines.