Up to 85% Off on First and Business Class through the airline’s loyalty program anomalies.
We already know what some of you might be thinking: I will never fly American. So why bother joining its frequent flyer program?
Because the point isn’t to fly American; it is to take advantage of its lucrative frequent-flyer-mile sales—whether or not you are a frequent flyer doesn’t matter. As with many FCF strategies, the value lies in the partner opportunities and the opportunity to buy into airline frequency schemes, often in a matter of minutes, such as the one American recently announced. Then the reward: Using the miles on American’s extensive partner network, which includes British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Etihad Airways, Iberia, Japan Airlines, Qantas—and 20 other carriers.
The miles can also be used for itineraries that do not originate in the U.S.—take note subscribers who live abroad.
The Current Deal
American is offering a bonus of up to 50,000 miles when buying or gifting miles at 2.1 cents per mile, including taxes and processing fee. The maximum purchase is 100,000 miles for a total of 150,000. I just bought 90,000 miles (the minimum required to get the 50,000-mile bonus) for $2,884 (the math: $2,884 divided by 140,000 miles is 2.06¢). The sale ends June 12 and is offered to AA mileage program members who have had an account for at least 30 days. (Sign up now, so you are ready when the next one comes around, since American offers buying bonuses every few months.)
Sample International Savings
Save up to 85% on First Class on Cathay Pacific. The published First Class fare from New York to Hong Kong for travel in July is $18,859 round-trip.
With this special booking strategy, the price drops to $2,884 (includes award taxes), savings of $15,975 (85%). See chart below for more sample route savings. For good award inventory in First Class on Cathay Pacific.
Worldwide Opportunities via American Partner Awards:
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To/From Europe
Anomaly Upgrade Deals
British Airways | First Class: AA charges fewer miles to fly than British Airways does on its flights. For example, flying BA from Los Angeles to London using BA miles costs 170,000 miles round-trip; and from New York 136,000. Book the same flights using AA miles and pay only 125,000 miles from anywhere in the U.S. (including Hawaii) and Canada (save up to 45,000 miles / 26%).
British Airways | Business Class | From West Coast: Same goes as above; BA charges 125,000 miles round-trip from San Francisco to London, whereas AA charges 100,000 miles.
Upgrade Anomalies Beyond London: Using American miles gets you to anywhere in Europe, including Greece, Russia, and Turkey (many more countries here) for the same price. Using BA miles requires a second Business Class award, an additional 34,000 miles, for example, on the London–Moscow route. Here you see the breadth and depth of this strategy.
To/From Asia
Anomaly Upgrade Deals
Cathay Pacific | First Class: AA has lower mileage award prices than Cathay Pacific. From Chicago to Hong Kong, Cathay charges 220,000 miles round-trip, while American charges 135,000 from anywhere in the U.S. (including Hawaii) and Canada (save up to 85,000 miles / 39%). AA miles also include onward travel to Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam (many more countries here). Note that AA charges fewer miles (125,000) to Japan, Korea, and Mongolia, too.
Cathay Pacific | Business Class: Same again. Flying Cathay in Business Class from New York to Hong Kong costs 145,000 Asia Miles, but only 110,000 AA Miles.
To/From the Middle East and the South Pacific
Anomaly Upgrade Deals
Etihad | Surpass First Class: AA charges less for Etihad’s First Apartment than Etihad does: 180,000 versus 220,000 from New York to Abu Dhabi round-trip. (More on Etihad’s Surpass First Class here and here) From London to Abu Dhabi, the cost is 111,000 miles with Etihad, 80,000 with AA. Sydney to Abu Dhabi: 244,000 with Etihad, 120,000 with AA.
Save Cash in Addition to Miles
American has low mileage award taxes compared to its European partners. Fly British Airways First Class to London using BA miles incurs $1,167 in taxes; but on AA, the tax is only $314 (plus savings up to 45,000 miles).
Kick the Tires First
Some airlines, among them Air France and British Airways, require you to sign up for their mileage programs in order to check award space online. American does not, so you can see availability on AA (and US Airways) and partners Air Berlin, Alaska Airlines, British Airways, Finnier, Hawaiian, Qantas, and Royal Jordanian before joining and stocking upon miles. Search online—or call (800) 882-8880 for all other partners.
More AA Benefits
Award Hold Time: AA does not charge to hold free awards, giving you time to find something better. (I love this and have done it several times in the last month alone.) The hold window depends on when you make your reservation: five-day hold for booking 15 to 330 days before departure, one-day hold if you book 1 to 14 days before departure, and two hours if you book within 24 hours of departure. (Certain special awards and awards that involve some AA partners may have shorter hold times.)
Mileage Upgrades: American allows upgrades from any fare to the next class of service (plus a co-pay), and usually offers much more inventory for upgrades than free tickets, giving you significantly higher chances of using miles than you have with an airline that pulls free and upgrade inventory from the same bucket as British Airways. See FCF special reports here, here, and here comparing the availability of upgrades versus free seats.
Flexibility = Options: AA one-way awards allow you to use a different alliance or airline in each direction, or to book a one-way award. One-way bookings cost 50% of round-trips. If you have a hard time finding award space on one airline, book AA in one direction and another airline in the other.
More information here on using one-way awards and how it can increase your upgrade odds 72,900%.
Not Originating in the U.S.?
Partner awards with American can be redeemed to and from almost anywhere in the world. It matters not where you originate so think big.
One Way Around Annual Purchase Limits
If you travel often with a partner or friend, make sure each of you has a mileage account to take full advantage. My mother, who travels little, has various accounts that I can use to purchase miles when I hit my annual maximums—because miles can be bought with my credit card that are deposited into her account, that are then used for my travel. My dear dad has accounts, too.
Investment Think
Don’t think of this strategy as buying American Miles: Instead, view this as investing in a highly convertible currency. With these miles, you can save many, many thousands of dollars on premium air travel or net free upgrades. Your choice.
Sweet Redeems Survey: American Airlines
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