While hardly the most exciting development ever, American Airlines has rolled out a new way to redeem AAdvantage miles, which should prove useful for many, especially for those who only collect miles casually.
In this post:
Purchase buy on board items with AAdvantage miles
As of today (March 18, 2025), American AAdvantage members can redeem their miles to purchase drinks and snacks during eligible flights. The process is simple — members just need to share their boarding pass with a flight attendant, who will scan the pass and pull from the AAdvantage account mileage balance. So it sounds like a pretty seamless process.
Each AAdvantage mile is worth one cent toward a purchase, and items for purchase range in cost from 500 miles to 1,100 miles. As a reminder, American charges $9 for beer, and $10 for spirits and wine. Snacks range in cost from $5-11. 
Alcoholic beverages are available for purchase on flights of over 250 miles, while snacks are available for purchase on flights of over 1,300 miles. The ability to pay with miles only works on American mainline flights, and not on American Eagle flights.
This is a nice development, though if you ask me, American needs to overhaul its buy on board selection. It’s totally uncompetitive with what other airlines offer, in terms of the variety, quality, flight length, etc.
Is redeeming AAdvantage miles onboard worth it?
Personally, I value AAdvantage miles at 1.5 cents each, while this redemption opportunity only offers 1.0 cents of value per mile. Therefore this isn’t how I’d want to redeem my AAdvantage miles.
That being said, I think this is actually a pretty compelling redemption opportunity for many. Keep in mind that most people only earn miles casually, and might fly an airline once or twice per year.
If you’re not otherwise engaged in a loyalty program, and aren’t using an American co-branded credit card for your spending, then being able to get a free drink or snack is a nice way to get some value out of your miles, and it also provides instant gratification. It’s certainly better than letting miles expire.
Bottom line
American AAdvantage now lets members redeem their miles for onboard food and beverage purchases, at the rate of one cent per mile. With buy on board options costing $5-11, that means you can expect to pay 500-1,100 AAdvantage miles for items.
While this isn’t how I’d choose to redeem my miles, it’s a useful opportunity for those who casually collect AAdvantage miles, and who wouldn’t otherwise earn a meaningful number of rewards. Now if only American would actually improve its selection of buy on board items…
What do you make of redeeming AAdvantage miles for buy on board items?
Seems somewhat pointless to me (pun intended).
What is it with all of these airlines, etc. offering subpar "new redemption opportunities"? Oh, right, making sure they give as little back as possible for those miles.
[At least this "should" put a floor on redemption value in folks' minds?]
Nothing new - just miles as an option. The Fruit and Cheese is only food item and only on 1,300+ mile flights. And they don't stock enough - not even enough for all EXPs which get for free. AA needs to up the game and do what UA does - other foods.
Barclay Silver gives $25 credit - so after I get my free item - I purchase other items. For $25 spend I get 75 LP and mile points. And the $25 is refunded per day.
If you hold the Aviator card with 25% off inflight purchases, you are gettin .75 cents per mile.
But not of it is worth it. I remember a couple of years prepandemic when they actually had good sandwiches.
But this is the new idea of premium.
Good luck finding a flight with food for sale.
Ok yes these are 1 cpp redemptions. But $8 for almonds and $5 for Doritos are some absolutely insane cash prices