- Elite status perks
- Lifetime elite status for one million (Gold) and two million milers (Platinum)
- Several international airline partners with One World Alliance
- Simple online award booking
- Ability to combine miles from airline partners to book reward trips
- Low cost seats (MileSAAvers) are hard to come by
- Limited U.S.-based airline partners
- Rewards, loyalty, and travel incentive program
- Earn miles on your business travel and gain elite status and upgrades
- Turn earned points into free travel
Signing up for AAdvantage is easy: from the American Airlines website, fill in your personal information and create a user name and password. AAdvantage will send you a welcome email explaining the program in detail.
Earning Points:
Travel on American, American Eagle, or any of the 20 airline partners (including OneWorld Alliance members), will earn you points. With status, you'll earn a minimum of 500 miles for each leg of a trip, or the mileage of a trip (whichever is greater). Miles earned with OneWorld Alliance partners may vary in how they are accrued. Partner airlines will also accept your AAdvantage number.
AAdvantage miles can be earned through a number of credit card partners. The main credit/debit partner is Citibank, which offers MasterCard and American Express. Varying with special promotions, each dollar spent with a credit card partner will generally earn one AAdvantage mile. See the complete list of partners and mileage programs here.
Redeeming Points:
Cashing in your miles for flights is easy. From the "Redeem Miles" tab on the website, plug in your travel dates and hit "Go!" The best value in flight redemption is with MileSAAver trips, which are 25,000 miles, round trip. The next level is AAnytime Fares, which are 50,000 points, round trip.
Trips booked at least 21 days in advance will be assessed a $20 booking fee. Flights booked 20 to 7 days in advance of travel are charged $50, and those booked 6 days to 2 hours before travel will cost you $100. All ticket changes will cost $150 (in addition to whatever days-in-advance charge is appropriate).
Overall, AAdvantage is a solid program. The perks for elite members and relatively inexpensive (and simple) rewards booking make it a must for every business traveler.