152. The Ultimate Guide to Earning and Redeeming American Airlines Miles

Let's Get To The Points

The hosts and guest Holly from Mostly Free Travel conduct a deep dive into the American Airlines AAdvantage program, covering strategies to

Key takeaways

• Holly booked an Iceland trip using 57,500 AA miles, routing through Charlotte, London (Cathay Pacific Lounge), and Helsinki on Finnair business class.
• Miguel secured a round-trip business class ticket to Argentina for approximately $867 by leveraging a Denver-Dallas-South America promotion in 2024.

Main topics

• American Airlines AAdvantage earning strategies
• Credit card sign-up bonuses and annual fee waivers

Notable quotes

"You can get just about anywhere with AA miles."

Conclusion

The episode equips listeners with concrete tactics for accumulating an

Transcript preview

Speaker 2 (0:00) Coming up on Let's Get to the Points. We're talking about our favorite ways to earn and burn American Airlines miles. So Speaker 1 (0:07) you can get just about anywhere with AA miles. I book a lot of domestic flights. I've had pretty good luck with finding 6,000 point one ways. Because Speaker 3 (0:17) now we can transfer our points from city over to American Airlines. Is that a good choice or not? This Speaker 2 (0:22) is how I switch off between all my players to accumulate some American Airlines miles for myself. Cathay Speaker 3 (0:30) Pacific, Japan Airlines, probably my two favorite one world partners. You can make redemption sound with American Airlines. I Speaker 4 (0:37) have thoroughly enjoyed quite a few stays in Cambodia, but I don't have that passport stamp. Let's do that new thing now. And Speaker 2 (0:48) now, let's get to the points. Speaker 3 (0:51) All right, tonight we've got another one of our megasodes for you, and we think we may be able to help you get your system-wide upgrade to clear. Well, maybe. There's no guarantees with that, because that's right, it's everyone's favorite airline loyalty program, American Airlines Advantage. And believe it or not, this year, American Airlines, they've got their centennial birthday, and they've got stuff planned, like limited edition luggage tags. free fleet-wide Wi-Fi. While all of that is nice, what we really care about on our show is how to earn and where to burn our advantage miles. Regardless if you're an executive platinum or you just have a lot of AA miles from credit card sign-up bonuses, we've got some great discussion for you and hopefully decide if it's still the gold standard for one world partner redemptions. Tonight, we've got our favorite ways to earn, our favorite ways to burn, and later we're going to decide if status is is still worth the chase. And to help with our discussion tonight, we have our extra special guest co-host Holly from the Instagram channel, Mostly Free Travel. And as always, Speaker 4 (1:55) we invite you to join in our conversation online by leaving a comment below. Little Speaker 3 (2:00) extra there, Holly. I like that. I think that's a first. All right. So we're all dressed up. for tonight's show. And I don't even know where to start with this. Can you please prompt why we are all dressed up like this? Speaker 1 (2:12) So we are all wearing something that is a destination where we flew with American Airlines miles or on a paid ticket with AA. Speaker 3 (2:22) Now, let's be clear. This was your idea, right? This was my Speaker 1 (2:26) idea because I like your little games and everything that y'all play. So, yeah, it was my idea. Speaker 3 (2:33) Okay. So how this works is basically we're going to go around and we're going to give the little story about the item. Is that how you envision? This is your vision, Polly. This is your moment. Yeah. Lead the way. Speaker 1 (2:45) Yeah. Okay. You want me to talk about my sweatshirt? Yeah. First of all, show us. Show Speaker 2 (2:51) us. Speaker 1 (2:52) So this is my puffin sweatshirt because I flew to Iceland and I got to see a puffin. I flew American Airlines part of the way and then also Finnair and I booked it with AA Miles. And it was like mid-August and everyone said, oh, all the puffins are gone. But I was determined and I looked it up. on Google and I had a lead of a certain area where there were puffins. A guy wrote a review the day before and I saw one puffin. So it was. Pretty exciting. They're so cute. I had no idea puffins were a thing in Iceland. They are. Yeah, I think. Now, don't quote me on this, but I think the season is maybe, well, it's supposed to end like August 15th. So I think maybe it's like May to August. And I went the end of August. I was there. I think I saw it on maybe August 23rd. So I got really lucky. Speaker 4 (3:52) Yeah, you know, but we really liked Iceland. We actually flew. United. So I won't talk about my flights there. But Speaker 3 (3:59) we Speaker 4 (4:01) actually got a great deal. I don't want to get sidetracked. But it was United Airlines 40th anniversary. So it was like 40,000 miles round trip to Europe. But anyway, Speaker 2 (4:08) 40, that's nothing. We're talking about Americans 100th. I Speaker 4 (4:12) went back in 2021. And I thought 40,000 miles with another unnamed airline was a pretty good deal because it was a promotion. But how many miles did you spend, Holly, to get to Iceland using AA miles? And what cabin were you flying? Speaker 1 (4:25) I spent 57,500 miles and that was from my home airport in Alabama through Charlotte. And then it was Charlotte to London on AA, London to Helsinki on Finnair in their new business class, you know, the non-reclining seats that some people love, some people don't. And then to Iceland in... business class, but you know, it was European business class. So it wasn't anything comfortable. So it was a lot of flying to get there when I could have just flown like. a five-hour flight from Boston, you know, but it was great. I enjoyed AA. I loved thin air, except I'm not, I'm still not sure about the seat, that non-reclining seat. It was only a three-hour flight from London. So it really is not that comfortable when you're sitting up. So I'm excited to fly it again this summer and just kind of see, you know, I'll be on like a six-hour flight and actually did an overnight in Helsinki as well. Yeah, Speaker 4 (5:26) those new seats are... I wouldn't say controversial, but it's some people like them, some people don't. I flew Seattle to Helsinki a little bit longer and, you know, I thought it was comfortable. But my question is not about the seat. It's actually about the blueberry juice. Are you a fan of their blueberry juice? Speaker 1 (5:42) Oh, the blueberry juice was amazing. And the fried chicken was really good from London to Helsinki. And I got to go in the. Cathay Pacific Lounge in London. That Speaker 2 (5:57) was great. Speaker 1 (5:58) Yeah. Speaker 4 (5:59) We're Speaker 1 (5:59) going Speaker 4 (5:59) to talk about elite status later on. And I'll let you know whether I'm chasing elite status with American Airlines slash One World again this year. But here comes my story about the shirt that I'm wearing. So I'm wearing a jersey, a football jersey, or as in the US, they call them soccer. And I got this in Argentina last year. No, actually, sorry, two years ago. I forgot we're in 2026. Back in 2024, there was a really good deal. leaving Denver on American Airlines through Dallas to South America. So some of the destinations were Argentina, Chile, or Brazil. And I believe I paid about $867 round trip. in business class. So it was an amazing deal that usually should retail for at least $4,000. So as soon as I saw that, you know, actually, I think I was in Helsinki when I booked this. I was on another trip in Helsinki that year when I booked this. And again, I like to research what is the thing to do when I go to a different destination. And one of the big things they do in South America and Latin America is go to football games. I found out that they were playing in Buenos Aires. The two main clubs are Boca Juniors and River Plate was played. So we got some matches and we're walking up to the match. And I wanted to take a jersey and I got a, this is not real. I got this in, you know, in the street for like less than $20. But, you know, you gave me another reason to wear it, Holly, because I haven't worn it in a while. Speaker 1 (7:16) Great. Speaker 4 (7:17) But that flight still earned me a lot of miles and loyalty points to qualify for status, which I still have when I'm running out here this year. But all right, Serena, I want to know, I have a feeling you're dressed for a destination somewhere in the Pacific Ocean. So what does your outfit represent? You Speaker 2 (7:35) are correct, Miguel. I represent Hawaii. So a lot of people don't really think about using AA miles to go to Hawaii. But a long time ago, I used my AA miles to book a flight on Alaska Airlines to go from San Francisco to Honolulu. Now, nowadays, that economy flight costs 20,000 AA miles. then? This was maybe, I don't know, eight years ago. And since then, Southwest does flying now to Hawaii. So I prefer to fly on Southwest because it's just easier for me. This is a flight where I met Lucille, who is a celebrity and a reoccurring character on our show. And Speaker 3 (8:20) we all know who Lucille is. Speaker 1 (8:22) Do you know who Lucille is, Holly? I don't know. Speaker 4 (8:28) Apparently he's an A-list celebrity. Speaker 4 (8:31) celebrity in the Bay Area. He Speaker 2 (8:33) is the mascot for the San Francisco Giants, which is our baseball team. Okay, gotcha. When we went to the Grand High at Kauai, we did a photo shoot with my family, and I wore this dress, and these are some shells that they give you at the hotels, and my kids wore this, lay on their head. How about you, Mitch? I think your shirt might give it away. Speaker 3 (8:55) It's kind of written in the words, right? Tokyo Tower. My favorite thing about American Airlines, there's actually two things. There's Asia One and Asia Two. Those are my two favorite zones with American Airlines. And this comes from Asia One, but it went on to Asia Two as well. I had booked Japan Airlines to go from LA. We stopped in Tokyo and then we went on down to Southeast Asia. But the reason I got this shirt is because we wanted to go do a little tour, a little out and about of Tokyo. And I have come to the conclusion. that in Japan and in South Korea, their motto is to never let you be cold. You are always going to be warm regardless of whatever the temperature is outside. If it's 100 degrees outside, if it's 20 below, you're going to be warm. So we went to go take a tour of the Tokyo Tower and... I was worried it was going to be cold, so I had on a sweater and I didn't have anything on underneath. And of course, we get into the Tokyo Tower and I'm drenched. I'm sweating because, of course, they have it like 100 degrees in Tokyo Tower. I pay like 30 bucks for this T-shirt because I did not want to wear my sweater any longer and how hot it was in Tokyo Tower. So, but that's what I use my American Airlines for to get to Tokyo and on to Southeast Asia. Asia One, Asia Two. It's what I love. Speaker 2 (10:11) Mitch, I'm glad that you brought up that story because I did wonder why you have a shirt that says Tokyo Tower on it. I think we and most of our viewers who watch us on YouTube know that Mitch usually wears a shirt with an alligator on it. Speaker 3 (10:25) Yeah, not my style, right? It was not my style at Speaker 2 (10:29) all. Speaker 3 (10:30) Yeah, it was hot in Tokyo Tower. You have no idea. I don't know what was more upsetting, Speaker 4 (10:35) having to pay 30 some dollars for the T-shirt or how hot it was Speaker 3 (10:38) in there because I was like drenched. It was pouring sweat. That's how hot it was in Tokyo Tower. But, you know, these are the memories we make with our American Airlines miles. So speaking of that, we got to earn some AA miles because I'm getting kind of low in my balance. So what are some good ways? including credit cards to get some American Airlines miles. Okay, Speaker 2 (10:58) Mitch, I'm glad you brought that up because... The credit cards is my favorite way to earn American Airlines miles, especially when it comes with a very nice welcome offer. These are the five cards that are on the market right now and are available for you to apply for. The American Airlines Mile Up Card, the American Airlines Globe Card, the Platinum Select Card, the American Airlines Advantage Executive Card, and the City Business American Speaker 1 (11:27) Airlines Card. Speaker 2 (11:28) Those are the five American Airlines cards that are on the market right now and are available for you to apply for. But previously we had the Aviator cards that were part of Barclays and they have since been transitioned to either Citi or another Barclays card. So which cards do you have right now? Or are Speaker 1 (11:48) you Speaker 2 (11:48) interested in any of these Speaker 1 (11:49) cards? Yeah, well, right now I just got the Platinum Select. which is the $99 annual fee card. And this is my second time having that because you can get it every 48 months. And then, so I have a mile up card, which is the no annual fee card that I downgraded my first one to. And then I've also had the city Speaker 2 (12:12) AA business card before. You Speaker 1 (12:15) know, I've earned some pretty good bonuses on those three. And then years ago I had The Barclays Business AA card. And then I got in on that. Do y'all remember that Conservation International deal that they had? I think it was during the pandemic where you could donate. I donated $1,000 and I got $240,000. AA miles. That was pretty awesome. And then I did like the Basque bank savings account. You know, I just have my emergency fund in there. So I've earned some miles that way. Luckily right now I have a decent chunk of AA miles. That's pretty good. Do you still have this Basque Speaker 2 (12:58) bank account? Speaker 1 (12:59) I do still have it and maybe I should move it to earning interest instead. I don't know. I just, yeah, I still have it. It used to earn, what, 2.5 points per dollar, and then it went down to two. I don't even know what it's at right now. But Speaker 2 (13:15) I hear that a really good thing about this BASC account is in terms of taxes, they value those points at a very favorable rate for you when it comes to paying taxes on those mails. So that's a good thing. Speaker 1 (13:28) Yeah. Yeah, definitely. I Speaker 4 (13:30) used to have four cards, two from Citi, two from... Barclays, one personal, one business for American Airlines. But I did get the email from the bank telling me that my credit cards from Barclays were going to be transitioned over to Citi. I'm interested in that new Globe card primarily because it's a new signup bonus. And even though it has a $350 annual fee, I'll get my money's worth with the signup bonus alone. So I think we're going to see a few of those around my household because it's a... time for me in 2026 to stash up on a bunch of American Airlines miles. Oh, Speaker 3 (14:02) I didn't show my props. I forgot to show my props, but here are my Speaker 4 (14:06) four cards from American Airlines, but two of them, I guess, will no longer be valid soon, or maybe they're not valid