[Sticky] Buy American AAdvantage Miles For 50% Off, Best Price Of The Year: Worth It?

No mention of the new Citi transfer options? Definitely relevant to a decision about purchasing

@ breathesrain -- Good point, thank you! Just added that detail.

Does American now have dynamic pricing on partner awards?! Looking at redemptions on Fiji airways from syd to nadi and akl to nadi in January and the prices are wildly different over different days and flights. Eg nadi to syd on 22 Jan has business flights up to 173k points. Other days it’s 30k. Did I miss this change?

@ Mick -- Dynamic pricing is primarily just on Fiji Airways, and that's because the airline uses AAdvantage as its own frequent flyer program:
https://onemileatatime.com/news/fiji-airways-american-aadvantage/

Thanks mate! I did wonder whether that might be the case. Did a quick sydney Tokyo search and saw the usual 40k biz and 60k F options.

Good morning 1990, have you forgotten your password and therefore need to respond as Ben …. 🙂

I still don't understand why there is no news about the massive increase in point prices on transcon flights. Sure, oh-dark-thirty is still cheap. But, during "reasonable" hours, F had been 145k and now is often 240k to 310k. Han Solo says he got a bad feeling about this. Don't be surprised when (not if) partner awards go dynamic. There's no way I'm an acquirer of AA points. Not even transfers from Citi.

When can you redeem a ticket for business class on Cathay from the USA to Asia? I have looked diligently for a year and only economy has ever been available for any dates.

So while partner charts may be available, the actuality of booking premium travel on partners is remarkably different. JAL in my experience has been the only one that you can find availability from USA to Asia in its premium cabins.

Availability in Main Cabin, sure. But, if you want J to Japan, good luck. And, you're typically looking at 300k each way.

As Ben mentions in the post, the primary value is in booking partner awards. But I personally get lots of value on short haul economy routes on AA, which can be 9k roundtrip for something that costs $200+.

As I mentioned, don't be surprised when (not if) partner awards go dynamic. Sure, one can find value in certain spots. But, it's like saying one can get 2cpp+ on Hyatt redemptions . . . but, not anywhere one wants to go . . . or the quality of property if there is one.

Never, I'm sorry. Try using Cathay Asia Miles or BA Avios if you have a chance

@Lee

Incorrect. I flew JAL in mid September in First from USA to Tokyo for 80,000 points each way.

I am currently holding a JAL First class for travel in April 2026 that I booked for 80,000 Advantage miles again, plus $5.60.

@JamesK

You don't realize that this thread that Ben created is about purchasing AA miles with a mention of its partner charts and an indication of how said miles can be used? What is the relevance of "Try using Cathay Asia Miles or BA Avios"

The miles I accumulate are predominantly for business travel using AA, because it is my company's must used carrier.

It's a small detail, but primary AAdvantage credit cardholders are exempt from mile expiration as long as they hold the card (though if you have the card, you're probably having some AAdvantage activity within the 24 month window, tbh)

If they offer an 80% bonus, I'm all in. Otherwise, hard pass

Will the AA miles purchase count towards the $200 annual Airline credit from Amex Plat?

Has anyone redeemed AA points on Etihad First recently?

What is availability like please?

Thank you
Howard

No mention of BA. BA generally has good availability of US to Europe - but of course there is the significant added fee.

Also note - that AA subtracts any miles you have already purchased for the year - in my case 17K, so the max the site would allow me to buy was 483K (which then excludes the 50%). 483K was close to $10K with the 45% discount.

If you use a Citi AA card, do you get 3x points when purchasing miles?

There was an unofficial devaluation of AA miles on JAL metal last week. Business and First is now 80k and 100k miles

Normally I would have bought miles at this price, but I got a ton of Thank You points that I can transfer any time.

@Lucky: 300-499k gets 250k bonus miles

If you can actually still find availability in F or J on JL metal using AA points, even at those rates, consider yourself very fortunate, especially for long-haul, N. America to Asia. That’s like finding Q-Suite at 70K these days. Those sweet redemptions are harder and harder to come by.