American Airlines AAdvantage is now the most valuable loyalty program among the three major US network carriers. One reason is because of its both objectively and relatively attractive award redemption charts. Here, I’ll highlight my top five American AAdvantage Redemption Sweet Spots.
5 American AAdvantage Redemption Sweet Spots – Still The Most Valuable Program For Apsiraitonal Redemptions
To be sure, American Airlines offers a number of excellent domestic economy class redemptions…you can find many 6K redemptions not just for $99 tickets but for tickets that may cost up to $300 at the last minute. Last-minute domestic first class awards are as cheap as 19K miles, which may be an even better deal.
But AA offers what I consider to be truly incredible redemption options when it comes to international premium travel and I want to look at those below, in addition to one particularly attractive domestic redemption.
1. US ⇄ Japan, South Korea – 80K First Class, 60K Business Class
You cannot beat JAL First Class for 80K miles…it’s how I flew on the brand new A350-1000 from New York to Tokyo. The price is unbeatable and AA does not add carrier surcharges on JAL.
> Read More: JAL A350-1000 First Class Review JFK-HND
2. Asia ⇄ Middle East – 50K First Class, 40K Business Class
You can experience an 11.5-hour flight from Tokyo to Doha in Qatar Qsuites with a connection to anywhere in the region (as far west as Egypt) for only 40K miles in business class. Or you could fly “Qatar Pacific” (Qatar Airways leases Cathay Pacific 777 jets) First Class from Hong Kong to Doha for 50K miles.
This is an amazing deal and worth hopping down to Cairo if you are traveling between Europe and the Far East.
> Read More: Qatar Airways 777 Qsuite Business Class Review NRT-DOH
3. Europe ⇄ Middle East, Indian Subcontinent – 62.5K First Class, 42.5K Business Class
Fancy a flight on Etihad Airways onboard the A380 in a First Class “Apartment?” You can fly from anywhere in Europe to London in business class, then connect in first class on Etihad, then connect again onward to India, the Maldives, or other destinations in the region, all for only 62.5K miles. Business class is only 42.5K miles.
> Read More: Etihad A380 First Class Apartments Review LHR-AUH
4. North Asia to/from South Pacific ⇄ North Asia – 40K Business Class, 60K First Class
Here, I consider business class the sweet spot, though take the first class for 20K more if you can find it. A 10-hour flight from Australia to Japan for 40K miles? Yes, please!
> Read More: Qantas 747-400 Business Class Review HKG-SYD
5. “Flagship” Premium Transcontinental Service – 22K Miles Business Class, 35K First Class
Walk-up tickets on AA’s premium transcontinental “flagship” service (between SFO/LAX-JFK/LAX-BOS) can be as little as 22K miles in business class or 35K in first class. In almost all cases, that will be at least half the price (and as much as 1/4) of the price that United or Delta will charge for their premium transcontinental routes.
Fair warning, one reason these seats may be so cheap is because AA is not taking care of these aircraft.
> Read More: AA A321T Flagship Business Class LAX-JFK Review
CONCLUSION
American Airlines has maintained a highly competitive award chart, particularly on the sort of aspirational premium cabin redemptions that drew many of us into the world of points and miles in the first place.
Truth be told, we are long overdue for a devaluation…that’s why I’d book sooner rather than later. When AA does devalue, I hope that 1.) it gives us notice and 2.) pricing does not go dynamic on partner awards (as it now has on Alaska Airlines and Fiji Airways).
I’ve also shared five redemption sweet spots with United MileagePlus as well and do the same for Delta Air Lines and Alaska Airlines.
top image: Etihad
This is all well and good, but what’s been absolutely GUTTED is the ability to use Advantage points for Qatar Airways from the US to various places through Doha for like 75k miles each way. I NEVER see biz class available using AA miles from the US anymore, which is very very unfortunate. Ditto premium space on Etihad leaving the US. All very unfortunate. Yes, perhaps you can use AA miles at the rates you mention for flights from Europe to Asia or wherever, but getting out of the US? Not really. Very disappointing. And something that should be acknowledged.
That’s supply shortage and nothing AA has control over. They could charge 5k miles for QSuites and it would still hardly matter since they get access to the calendar so late (disregarding dropped seats due to cancellations, etc…)
are you suggesting we book 2 seats with Avios on Qatar.com then later cancel them and hope they show up on AA.com to book there?
It’s true – one reason I don’t have USA – Africa on the top five is that while that is an amazing price, in practice the space just isn’t there.
Also fantastic was HND-SIN/BKK in JAL First Class, a 7 hour flight for just 40k AA miles. I even lucked out with the A350 on my Singapore-bound flight when it was offered there for a limited time!
There are loads of 7500 to 10k one way redemptions domestically for summer that are 3-5 cents a miles compared to fares. Almost every vacation destination is included if you are semi flexible.
And yes I sadly agree, a devaluation is coming.
AA is highly successful with AAdvantage and so there is some hesitation in messing with the golden goose, but the sad reality is that AA could devalue everything by 25% and still be more competitive than United and Delta…which is why I think that is exactly what is going to happen. I’m just hoping these awards don’t double in price (or worse…).
Example 1 looks good on paper but finding seats for my wife and I to Asia in first class at saver price is close to impossible these days. If the space isn’t there, is it still a bargain?
I saw no space this morning…which is a concern. But it seems to come and go and I’ve had great luck over the years with JL F. I hope that it returns. Ben just got four seats from SFO-NRT, but I think services like SeatsAero make it harder because people pounce on it more quickly.
AA simply has to give away more because it doesn’t get the high fare paying passengers that DL and UA do.
It is not a surprise that UA is following DL in tightening up award pricing.
As a formerly fanatical Delta fan I can attest that there’s such a thing as going too far. Delta devaluations hit that point before Covid and they’ve impressively enough made things considerably worse since then. On top of that Delta has treated my wife and I quite poorly overall to the point where if I even suggest flying Delta to my wife it’s a guaranteed fight. Yes, they’re that bad. If they hadn’t ripped the guts out of Skymiles and just treated us badly I might have forgiven them but since they have, Delta is my last choice among U.S. carriers. I know you love to be smug and sanctimonious about Delta and once upon a time I was kind of the same way but I’m living proof that treating your customers like dirt can be a losing proposition.
we all get to have our preferences and we experience life differently but DL not only gets more revenue from its loyalty and credit programs and also consistently does better in customer service metrics including DOT complaints.
YMMV
I would largely agree with your top 5 but probably add USA to Australia. Loads of vey cheap business class redemptions for less than 100k, often including first class on the long leg.
Miles cost 9.0042 during the simply miles promotion. $250 for Sydney to Tokyo in JAL First class. Unfortunately my balance is almost out.
I have managed to visit every sovereign Caribbean country (except Dominica & Haiti) over the past year mainly on 8K-10K redemptions. My upgrades generally clear as well. Crazy good value.
Another good value is 7.5K on Gol anywhere in Brazil (it’s a BIG Country), and premium economy flights withing South America. Generally great availability on Gol.
My son spent 65,000 AA miles on a business class DFW-BNE flight recently. This is about 15 hours long, so it definitely should be on the list. Plus award seats were easy to find, certainly easier than USA-Europe flights.
Matt, you need to show me how to book business award tickets from JFK to Tokyo for 60K miles.
I just checked on the phone App DFW/HND or HMJGK/HND 265K plus miles for Oct/Nov 2025 mid week travel. Economy fare is cheap as low as 35K one way.
You’re never getting JAL first or biz from west coast. I spent 6 months daily trying for it a year out. Nothing. I pick premium economy so I can actually go using AA miles vs sitting at home.
Ben just four tickets from SFO-HND…