All airline factors and miles will not be created equal.
Whereas United MileagePlus miles and Delta SkyMiles have been simpler to earn due to transferable bank card applications, I persistently discover that American Airways AAdvantage miles provide larger worth when it comes time to redeem them, particularly for premium worldwide journey.
From decrease saver award charges to a powerful roster of companion airways, AAdvantage miles can unlock extra aspirational alternatives with fewer miles.
This is why I personally worth them greater than their main U.S. counterparts.
Associated: American Airways provides 2 brand-new locations in 7-route enlargement
TPG’s data-backed valuations agree
In TPG’s July 2025 valuations, these three applications are valued as follows:
- American Airways AAdvantage: 1.55 cents
- United MileagePlus: 1.3 cents
- Delta SkyMiles: 1.15 cents
These aren’t finger-in-the-air guesses. These three valuations have been made utilizing our data-backed calculation technique, which analyzes greater than 23,000 particular person knowledge factors on common round-trip home and worldwide itineraries, weighted as follows:
- Home economic system: 20%
- Home enterprise/first-class: 10%
- Hawaii: 10%
- Quick-to-medium-haul worldwide economic system: 25%
- Transatlantic economic system: 15%
- Lengthy-haul enterprise class: 20%
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We use a three-month rolling common of information to attenuate outlier pricing during times of excessive demand, equivalent to main holidays.
Merely put, when taking a look at 1000’s of flights to redeem these three currencies proper now, AAdvantage miles are value greater than MileagePlus miles and considerably greater than SkyMiles.
Associated: How (and why) to calculate award redemption values
American miles have been more durable to earn from bank cards
AAdvantage miles have historically been more durable to earn by way of bank card factors transfers than SkyMiles or MileagePlus miles as a result of AAdvantage had no main versatile transferable factors and miles bank card companions.
So, I used to be thrilled to see the latest information that the Citi ThankYou Rewards program has added AAdvantage as its newest 1:1 switch companion for 3 of its rewards playing cards in its lineup: The brand new Citi Strata Elite℠ Card (see charges and charges), the Citi Strata Premier® Card (see charges and charges) and the Citi Status® Card.
SkyMiles is a switch companion of American Categorical Membership Rewards, and MileagePlus companions with Bilt Rewards and Chase Final Rewards.
It is value noting that Marriott Bonvoy factors might be transferred to all three airline applications, albeit at a poor switch charge.
Psychologically, no less than, I thought-about American Airways miles extra worthwhile as they’ve traditionally been more durable for me to earn. I’ve usually been much more cautious in how I redeem them than I have been with United Airways or Delta Air Traces miles, as I did not have transferable factors choices for AAdvantage till not too long ago.
I am actually excited to start out transferring my Citi factors to AAdvantage. It has immediately made the ThankYou Rewards program extra worthwhile to me.
The knowledge for the Citi Status has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or supplied by the cardboard issuer.
The bottom saver redemption charges are cheaper by way of AAdvantage
Redemptions for flights operated by American Airways begin from simply 5,000 AAdvantage miles on brief routes like Chicago’s O’Hare Worldwide Airport (ORD) to Pittsburgh Worldwide Airport (PIT), which, whereas a decrease place to begin than Delta SkyMiles, is much like the most cost effective United MileagePlus redemptions, so it isn’t a slam dunk “benefit.”
However on longer flights, particularly in premium cabins, the place you’ll find charges on the lowest saver ranges, the AAdvantage program actually shines.
I frequently journey throughout the Atlantic, so I am all the time trying to spend the fewest miles doable. This is how the three applications stack up for routes to and from Europe:
- Economic system: AAdvantage provides nonstop flights from 19,000 miles versus 20,000 miles by way of MileagePlus and SkyMiles.
- Premium economic system: AAdvantage provides nonstop flights from 39,000 miles versus 50,000 miles by way of MileagePlus and 52,000 miles by way of SkyMiles.
- Enterprise class: AAdvantage provides nonstop flights from 65,000 miles versus 80,000 miles by way of MileagePlus and 145,000 miles by way of SkyMiles.
- First-class: AAdvantage provides nonstop flights from 75,000 miles, whereas United and Delta not function worldwide first-class. (American Airways will likely be phasing out this product as properly.)
The place you’ll find saver availability, you will want fewer American miles than Delta or United miles, so I worth them extra extremely.
Associated: Is American Airways premium economic system value it between London and New York?
Oneworld is a premium airline alliance
Every of the “Large Three” U.S. airways is a member of the “Large Three” international airline alliances:
Though Oneworld is the smallest of the three alliances, I’ve all the time thought-about it probably the most premium by way of member airways. Qatar Airways, Japan Airways, Finnair, Cathay Pacific, Oman Air and Qantas are all members, and they’re airways with spectacular merchandise, particularly in premium cabins on long-haul flights.
I respect that Star Alliance has probably the most member airways and an enormous international route community, particularly throughout the Atlantic. Nonetheless, many members do not function long-haul flights or have a correct long-haul premium product, so, in my eyes, they’re much less aspirational to redeem miles to fly.
SkyTeam has a handful of respectable airways, like Air France, KLM and Korean Air, however I jokingly discuss with the SkyTeam alliance as “the most effective of what is left,” which means to me, it’s largely made up of airways that weren’t in a position to be part of Oneworld or Star Alliance.
Merely put, if I might solely select one alliance to earn and redeem miles with for the remainder of my life, it will be Oneworld.
Associated: The very best web sites for looking out Oneworld award availability
Companion redemptions stay a terrific worth
My single favourite factor concerning the AAdvantage program is its companion award chart. As different applications transfer to dynamic pricing for partner-operated flights and get rid of revealed award charts, I am frankly amazed AAdvantage has retained one for this lengthy, and the charges are nonetheless so low.
I additionally respect that it’s region-based quite than distance-based, permitting you to actually maximize your journey by selecting longer itineraries, such because the East Coast to western and central Australia.
If you issue within the big selection of premium airways you’ll be able to redeem AAdvantage miles with, together with Etihad Airways, with its fabulous Airbus A380 first-class Flats, you will notice there are unbelievable candy spots obtainable from the U.S. For instance, you’ll be able to fly:
Associated: Enormous suites and phenomenal facilities: A evaluate of Japan Airways’ new A350 first-class
earn AAdvantage miles
You possibly can earn AAdvantage miles with an American Airways cobranded bank card or choose Citi Strata playing cards and obtain a beneficiant welcome provide:
- Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Choose® World Elite Mastercard®: For a restricted time, earn 80,000 American Airways AAdvantage bonus miles after spending $3,500 on purchases throughout the first 4 months of account opening.
- Citi® / AAdvantage® Govt World Elite Mastercard® (see charges and charges): Earn 70,000 bonus miles after spending $7,000 throughout the first three months of account opening.
- Citi® / AAdvantage Enterprise™ World Elite Mastercard® (see charges and charges): Earn 65,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases throughout the first 4 months of account opening.
- Citi Strata Elite Card: Earn 80,000 bonus ThankYou Rewards factors after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening.
- Citi Strata Premier Card: Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou Rewards factors after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening.
The knowledge for the Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Choose has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or supplied by the cardboard issuer.
Backside line
Regardless of traditionally having been more durable to earn, AAdvantage miles persistently outperform United and Delta miles the place it issues most for me: award pricing, fascinating companion airways and premium redemptions.
Whether or not you are flying throughout the nation in economic system or throughout the globe in a lie-flat seat on a top-tier Oneworld airline, your miles stretch additional with American — and that is why they prime my record of fascinating airline miles to gather and redeem.
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