| For: 🌍 | Off-Peak | Main Cabin 🏠 | Economy 💺 | Executive / Premium ✈️ | First ⭐ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 48 Continental States of the USA and Canada | – | 20,000 | 40,000 | 57,500 | 85,000 |
| Alaska | – | 32,500 | 42,500 | 62,500 | 90,000 |
| Hawaii | – | 40,000 | 67,500 | 80,000 | 102,500 |
| Caribbean | – | 32,500 | 42,500 | 62,500 | 90,000 |
| Mexico | – | 32,500 | 42,500 | 62,500 | 90,000 |
| Central America | – | 32,500 | – | 62,500 | 90,000 |
| South America Region 1 | – | 12,500 | – | 25,000 | – |
| South America Region 2 | – | 10,000 | – | 20,000 | – |
| Europe | – | 60,000 | 70,000 | 87,500 | 120,000 |
| Middle East | – | 60,000 | 77,500 | 90,000 | 135,000 |
| Indian Subcontinent | – | 60,000 | 77,500 | 90,000 | 135,000 |
| Africa | – | 70,000 | 85,000 | 97,500 | 135,000 |
| Asia Region 1 | – | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Asia Region 2 | – | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Pacific South | – | 45,000 | 70,000 | 82,500 | 112,500 |
| Only within the country: | |||||
| Argentina | – | 6,000 | – | – | – |
| Chile (except within the country) | – | 6,000 | – | – | – |
| Brazil | – | 7,500 | – | 17,500 | – |
| Between: | |||||
| Santiago (Chile) and Ilha de Páscoa (Chile) | – | 17,500 | – | 30,000 | – |
What you need to know:
The miles displayed are for one-way travel. Book a one-way trip or combine rewards for a round-trip or multi-city trip. Prizes are subject to availability check. Participating airlines and schedules may change over time.
If no participating airline offers direct flight between the origin and destination zones, some awards may be unavailable or multiple awards may be required. Each award is subject to carrier charges and fees starting at $5.60 per person per award.
These charges and fees may vary by itinerary and are calculated based on the origin and destination of the trip.
The exact amount of taxes and carrier fees that will apply will be displayed when you search for a specific itinerary.
Change, cancellation and ticketing fees.
Sweet Points Sweet Spots is what we call in the world of miles and points the best redemptions of a loyalty program. AAdvantage, by pricing tickets using a table of awards by regions and having a high number of partner airlines, offers excellent sweet spots. Below are some examples of fee-based redemptions on the MileSAAver award (learn about the different types of awards in the program in the topic Types of Award).
🇬🇧 British Airways ✈️
You can redeem British Airways flights online on AAdvantage.
Route: USA/Canada ↔️ England
Cost: 57,500 miles
Class: Business
🇭🇰 Cathay Pacific 🛫
You can redeem Cathay Pacific flights online on AAdvantage.
Route: USA/Canada ↔️ Hong Kong
Cost: 70,000 miles
Class: Business
Route: Hong Kong ↔️ Australia/New Zealand
Cost: 50,000 miles
Class: First
🇦🇪 Etihad Airways 🛩️
This redemption is not available online. Book via reservation center.
Note: Etihad may end its partnership with American Airlines.
Route: France ↔️ Australia (via AUH)
Cost: 115,000 miles
Class: First
A380 with onboard bar & shower (The Apartment)
Route: France ↔️ South Africa (via AUH)
Cost: 55,000 miles
Class: Business
A380 with onboard bar (one leg)
Route: UAE ↔️ South Korea
Cost: 50,000 miles
Class: First
A380 with bar & shower (The Apartment)
🇯🇵 Japan Airlines 🛬
You can redeem JAL flights online on AAdvantage.
Route: Japan ↔️ USA/Canada
Cost: 60,000 miles
Class: Business
Route: Japan ↔️ USA/Canada
Cost: 80,000 miles
Class: First
Comparing American Airlines and United Airlines
American Airlines and United Airlines are two major carriers with distinct strengths in their networks, loyalty rewards, onboard offerings, and baggage policies. Understanding these differences helps travelers decide which airline best suits their needs when booking flights or using miles.
Route Networks and Destinations
American Airlines operates daily flights to over 350 destinations across 60 countries, focusing heavily on domestic and regional routes. It offers approximately 30% more seat capacity on domestic flights compared to United. This makes American a strong choice for travelers prioritizing U.S.-based travel or connecting to nearby international locations.
United Airlines emphasizes international connectivity, leveraging its Star Alliance membership. Its route network often suits travelers seeking global connections with a broad selection of partner airlines worldwide. United’s international focus can offer more options for long-haul and intercontinental flights.
| Feature | American Airlines | United Airlines |
|---|---|---|
| Destinations | 350+ in 60 countries | Extensive international via Star Alliance |
| Strength | Domestic and regional coverage | International long-haul routes |
| Alliance | Oneworld | Star Alliance |
Frequent Flyer Programs Overview
American Airlines’ loyalty program, AAdvantage, allows members to earn and redeem miles with American and Oneworld partners. It offers flexible redemption options but may require more miles for premium cabins. Fees on partner redemptions like British Airways can be high, though some alternatives reduce this cost.
United’s MileagePlus program is known for its global reach through Star Alliance. It often provides more availability for international premium seats. However, fees and taxes can sometimes be less transparent or higher on partner awards. Both programs have elite tiers with lounge access and priority services.
| Program | AAdvantage (American) | MileagePlus (United) |
|---|---|---|
| Alliance | Oneworld | Star Alliance |
| Redemption Focus | Flexible but fees vary | Strong international options |
| Elite Benefits | Lounge access, priority | Similar elite perks |
Onboard Services and Amenities
American Airlines offers a wide selection of in-flight entertainment, including movies, TV shows, and music, enhancing passenger comfort. It typically scores slightly higher in customer satisfaction for service quality, according to Skyscanner (2022). Wi-Fi is available on most flights, with a variety of seating classes.
United Airlines provides comparable in-flight amenities but places more emphasis on international routes where enhanced meals and seating options are available. Both airlines feature standard economy, premium economy, and business class cabins, with differing configurations and upgrade availability.
Baggage Policies and Fees
Both airlines have similar base baggage allowances on domestic flights, typically including one free checked bag in premium cabins. Economy passengers often pay fees for checked bags unless covered by loyalty status or credit card benefits.
American Airlines tends to have slightly more straightforward fee structures but low-cost carrier competitors influence both. United’s baggage fees are comparable but may vary depending on route and fare class. Both airlines enforce strict carry-on size limits and have additional fees for excess or overweight bags.
| Baggage Aspect | American Airlines | United Airlines |
|---|---|---|
| First checked bag | Fee varies by fare and route | Similar fee structure |
| Carry-on allowance | Standard size limits enforced | Same as American |
| Overweight fees | Apply as per regulation | Comparable enforcement |
How to Buy Cheap Flights
Finding affordable flights involves careful planning around ticket prices, airline policies, and market trends. Travelers can save money by choosing the right time to book, understanding how prices fluctuate, and watching for special promotions.
Timing and Flexibility for the Best Deals
Booking flights several weeks in advance usually offers better prices. For domestic flights, buying tickets about 4-6 weeks ahead can secure lower rates. International flights often require booking 2-3 months before departure.
Being flexible with travel dates and airports also helps. Midweek flights and off-peak hours tend to be cheaper than weekend or peak-hour flights. Some sites like Skyscanner allow users to view prices for entire months to identify the cheapest travel windows.
Flexibility with destinations can further reduce costs by comparing nearby airports. Travelers who adjust either their departure or return dates by a few days often find significant savings.
Understanding Dynamic Pricing
Airline ticket prices change frequently based on supply, demand, and competition. This system, called dynamic pricing, causes fares to shift multiple times daily. Airlines use algorithms that monitor booking trends and adjust prices accordingly.
Flight search engines like Expedia and Kayak aggregate these changes to show current deals. Watching fares closely and booking when prices dip is crucial. Setting price alerts can notify travelers of sudden decreases.
Certain booking platforms may offer discounts if the user clears browser cookies or compares fares in incognito mode, avoiding price increases linked to repeated searches.
Seasonal Promotions and Sales
Airlines regularly run seasonal sales and targeted promotions. These often align with major holidays, travel seasons, or events. United Airlines and American Airlines, for example, frequently offer flash sales during early January, late summer, and Black Friday.
Subscribing to airline newsletters and following them on social media provides early access to these deals. Special discounts may also apply to specific routes or when purchasing flights with miles.
Using travel credit cards can add benefits by unlocking exclusive sales and earning rewards that reduce the effective cost of flights during these promotions.
Using Skyscanner and Expedia for Flight Comparisons
Skyscanner and Expedia both offer extensive tools to compare flights from multiple airlines and online travel agencies. Users can track price changes, customize search results to match their preferences, and watch for hidden fees that might affect the final cost.
Setting Up Price Alerts
Both platforms allow travelers to create price alerts for specific routes and travel dates. Skyscanner sends notifications via email or app alerts when fares drop, helping users book at the most affordable rates. Expedia offers similar alert functions but also integrates these with its rewards program for frequent users.
Setting a price alert requires entering travel details and specifying whether to track one-way, round-trip, or multi-city options. Alerts can be paused or deleted easily, offering flexibility as travel plans evolve.
Filtering and Sorting Flight Results
Flight results on both sites can be filtered by departure time, number of stops, airlines, and price. Skyscanner includes useful filters for cabin class and flight duration, while Expedia often emphasizes package deals and bundled options.
Sorting options typically let users order results by price, duration, or best overall value. This helps narrow down flights efficiently, especially when comparing multiple airlines like American Airlines and United Airlines.
Hidden Fees and Fare Transparency
Skyscanner displays fares found on various online travel agencies and airlines but warns some cheaper options might have lower customer service standards. It primarily directs users to the seller’s booking page, where additional fees sometimes appear.
Expedia tends to provide clearer pricing upfront, often including taxes and fees in the initial fare displayed. However, optional add-ons like seat selection and baggage may still be extra. Both sites recommend reviewing all charges before finalizing a purchase to avoid surprises.
Buy with Miles: Maximizing Loyalty Programs
Using miles to book flights offers savings and flexibility, but doing so effectively requires strategy. Earning miles strategically, redeeming them for the highest value, and transferring points when beneficial are crucial steps to stretching the value of travel rewards.
Earning Miles Efficiently
Earning miles efficiently goes beyond flying. Airline credit cards often provide bonus miles on everyday purchases such as groceries and gas. Many cards also offer sign-up bonuses that can significantly boost a miles balance.
Booking through airline or partner portals can increase mile earnings. For example, using United’s MileagePlus Shopping or American Airlines Shopping portal adds miles on top of what a flight purchase would earn.
It is important to monitor promotions for bonus miles from both airlines and hotel partners. Timing purchases around such promotions maximizes accumulation. Frequent travelers should track expiration dates to avoid losing miles due to inactivity.
Redeeming Miles for Maximum Value
Redeeming miles for flights typically provides the best value when booking premium cabins like business or first class. These redemptions often yield more cents-per-mile than economy awards.
Using miles for last-minute or peak travel can also save money, especially when cash prices are high. Some loyalty programs offer partner awards, which can unlock access to flights otherwise expensive with cash.
Avoid redeeming miles for low-value options like merchandise or gift cards, as these provide poor return. Always compare the cash cost of a ticket against the miles required and calculate the value before booking.
