American Airlines miles are the currency of the skies, allowing travelers to redeem flights, upgrades, and other travel-related perks. With American Airlines being one of the largest airlines in the world, earning miles can help you save money on your next trip and make your travels more enjoyable. But with so many options for earning miles, it can be difficult to know where to start. That’s why we’ve created this comprehensive guide to help you learn how to earn American Airlines miles. From flying to using credit cards, shopping and dining, and more, we’ll cover all the best ways to rack up miles so that you can take advantage of all the benefits that come with being an American Airlines loyalty program member.
Earning American Airlines Miles Through Flying
One of the most straightforward ways to earn American Airlines miles is through flying. When you fly with American Airlines or one of its partner airlines, you’ll earn miles based on the distance flown and the fare class you purchased. American Airlines has a large global network of partner airlines, including some of the world’s largest carriers like British Airways, Cathay Pacific, and Qantas. By flying with these airlines, you can earn miles that can be redeemed for flights with American Airlines. Additionally, you can earn miles by purchasing products and services onboard American Airlines flights, such as drinks, Wi-Fi, and premium entertainment.
Earning American Airlines Miles Through Credit Cards
Another great way to earn American Airlines miles is through credit cards. American Airlines offers several co-branded credit cards that allow cardholders to earn miles on everyday purchases. These cards offer generous sign-up bonuses, allowing you to earn tens of thousands of miles after meeting minimum spending requirements. For example, the AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard offers 60,000 miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening. Additionally, these cards offer high earning rates on American Airlines purchases and another travel-related spending. For example, the AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard earns 2 miles per $1 spent on American Airlines purchases, and 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases.
Earning American Airlines Miles Through Shopping and Dining
Shopping and dining are two other great ways to earn American Airlines miles. American Airlines has a shopping portal that allows you to earn miles for online purchases at hundreds of retailers. Simply log into the shopping portal, select the retailer you want to shop with, and make your purchase. Miles will be credited to your account within a few days. Additionally, American Airlines has a dining program that allows you to earn miles for dining at participating restaurants. Simply link your credit card to your dining account, and miles will be credited to your account every time you dine at a participating restaurant.
Earning American Airlines Miles Through Hotel Stays
One often overlooked way to earn American Airlines miles is through hotel stays. American Airlines has partnerships with several hotel chains, including Marriott, Hilton, and IHG. By booking your hotel stays through these partners, you can earn miles that can be redeemed for flights with American Airlines. Additionally, many of these hotel chains offer co-branded credit cards that allow cardholders to earn miles for hotel stays and other purchases.
For example, the Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card offers 15 Elite Night Credits and a free night award every year after account anniversary, as well as 3 Marriott Bonvoy, points per $1 spent at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels. These points can be redeemed for American Airlines miles through Marriott’s loyalty program. Additionally, Marriott’s loyalty program allows you to transfer points to American Airlines’ miles at a 1:1 ratio.
Similarly, Hilton Honors have a partnership with American Airlines that allows members to earn Hilton Honors points for hotel stays and other purchases, which can be redeemed for American Airlines miles. Hilton Honors members can transfer their points to American Airlines miles at a 10:1 ratio, with a minimum transfer of 10,000 points.
Earning American Airlines Miles Through Car Rentals
Another great way to earn American Airlines miles is through car rentals. American Airlines has partnerships with several car rental companies, including Avis, Budget, and Hertz. By booking your car rentals through these partners, you can earn miles that can be redeemed for flights with American Airlines. Additionally, many of these car rental companies offer co-branded credit cards that allow cardholders to earn miles for car rentals and other purchases.
For example, the AAdvantage Aviator Red World Elite Mastercard offers 2 miles per $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases, including eligible car rentals, and 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases. Similarly, the Hertz Gold Plus Rewards program allows members to earn Hertz points for car rentals, which can be redeemed for American Airlines miles. Hertz points can be redeemed for American Airlines miles at a 5:1 ratio, with a minimum redemption of 500 points.
Earning American Airlines Miles Through Miscellaneous Partners
In addition to hotel stays and car rentals, there are several other miscellaneous partners that allow you to earn American Airlines miles. For example, American Airlines has a partnership with the home security company ADT, which allows members to earn miles for home security services. Additionally, American Airlines has partnerships with several online retailers, including Amazon, that allow you to earn miles for online purchases.
American Airlines also has a partnership with the wine retailer Wine Insiders, which allows members to earn miles for wine purchases. American Airlines also has partnerships with several subscription services, including the monthly box delivery service Birchbox, which allows members to earn miles for their monthly subscriptions.
In conclusion, there are many ways to earn American Airlines miles beyond just flying, including through hotel stays, car rentals, and miscellaneous partners. By taking advantage of all the different options, you can rack up miles quickly and easily, allowing you to redeem them for flights, upgrades, and other travel-related perks. So why not try out some of these lesser-known methods of earning American Airlines miles today and start taking your travels to new heights with American Airlines?
Redeeming American Airlines Miles
Once you’ve accumulated a sufficient number of American Airlines miles, it’s time to redeem them for flights, upgrades, and other travel-related perks. American Airlines offers several options for redeeming your miles, including flights, upgrades, and vacation packages.
One of the most popular ways to redeem American Airlines miles is for flights. You can use your miles to book flights on American Airlines and its partner airlines, including oneworld partners such as British Airways, Cathay Pacific, and Qantas. The number of miles required for a flight will vary depending on the destination, class of service, and time of year. You can use the American Airlines award chart to estimate the number of miles required for a flight.
Another popular way to redeem American Airlines miles is for upgrades. You can use your miles to upgrade your existing flight to a higher class of service, such as from economy to business or from business to first class. The number of miles required for an upgrade will vary depending on the flight and the class of service.
In addition to flights and upgrades, American Airlines also offers vacation packages, which allow you to redeem your miles for flights and hotel stays. These packages offer a convenient and cost-effective way to plan your travels and can be a great option for those looking to maximize their miles.
Tips for Earning More American Airlines Miles
- Sign up for the American Airlines Advantage program and start earning miles for every flight you take.
- Take advantage of the American Airlines dining program, which allows you to earn miles for dining at participating restaurants.
- Consider applying for a co-branded American Airlines credit card, such as the AAdvantage Aviator Red World Elite Mastercard, which offers bonus miles for purchases.
- Book your hotel stays through American Airlines’ hotel partners, such as Marriott and Hilton, and earn miles for your stays.
- Rent a car through American Airlines’ car rental partners, such as Avis and Budget, and earn miles for your rentals.
- Shop through American Airlines’ shopping partners, such as Amazon, and earn miles for your purchases.
- Take advantage of special promotions and bonuses offered by American Airlines and its partners.
- Transfer points from other loyalty programs, such as Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors, to American Airlines miles.
- Book flights through American Airlines and its partner airlines, such as British Airways and Cathay Pacific.
- Consider enrolling in the American Airlines mileage upgrade program, which allows you to use your miles to upgrade your existing flight.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Earning American Airlines Miles
- Not enrolling in the American Airlines Advantage program: This is the first step to earning American Airlines miles, so make sure you enroll as soon as possible.
- Not using a co-branded American Airlines credit card: By using a co-branded credit card, you can earn bonus miles for purchases, which can add up quickly.
- Not booking hotel stays and car rentals through American Airlines’ partners: By booking through these partners, you can earn miles for your stays and rentals, so make sure you take advantage of these opportunities.
- Not using the American Airlines dining program: By dining at participating restaurants, you can earn miles, so make sure you enroll in this program and start earning.
- Not taking advantage of special promotions and bonuses: American Airlines and its partners offer special promotions and bonuses from time to time, so make sure you stay up-to-date on these offers and take advantage of them when they are available.
Conclusion
In conclusion, there are many ways to earn American Airlines miles, from flying to using credit cards, shopping and dining, and more. By taking advantage of all the different options, you can rack up miles quickly and easily, allowing you to redeem them for flights, upgrades, and other travel-related perks. Whether you’re a frequent traveler or just starting to build your mile balance, this guide will help you understand the best ways to earn American Airlines miles and maximize the value of your miles. So why wait? Start earning miles today and take your travels to new heights with American Airlines.