All airline factors and miles usually are not created equal.
Whereas United MileagePlus miles and Delta SkyMiles have been simpler to earn due to transferable bank card packages, I persistently discover that American Airways AAdvantage miles supply higher worth when it comes time to redeem them, particularly for premium worldwide journey.
From decrease saver award charges to a formidable roster of companion airways, AAdvantage miles can unlock extra aspirational alternatives with fewer miles.
Here is why I personally worth them greater than their main U.S. counterparts.
Associated: American Airways provides 2 brand-new locations in 7-route growth
TPG’s data-backed valuations agree
In TPG’s July 2025 valuations, these three packages 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 information factors on fashionable round-trip home and worldwide itineraries, weighted as follows:
- Home financial system: 20%
- Home enterprise/firstclass: 10%
- Hawaii: 10%
- Brief-to-medium-haul worldwide financial system: 25%
- Transatlantic financial system: 15%
- Lengthy-haul enterprise class: 20%
Every day E-newsletter
Reward your inbox with the TPG Every day publication
Be a part of over 700,000 readers for breaking information, in-depth guides and unique offers from TPG’s consultants
We use a three-month rolling common of knowledge to reduce outlier pricing in periods of excessive demand, equivalent to main holidays.
Merely put, when 1000’s of flights to redeem these three currencies proper now, AAdvantage miles are price greater than MileagePlus miles and considerably greater than SkyMiles.
Associated: How (and why) to calculate award redemption values
American miles have been tougher to earn from bank cards
AAdvantage miles have historically been tougher to earn via 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 price noting that Marriott Bonvoy factors could be transferred to all three airline packages, albeit at a poor switch price.
Psychologically, a minimum of, I thought of American Airways miles extra useful as they’ve traditionally been tougher 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 Strains miles, as I did not have transferable factors choices for AAdvantage till just lately.
I am actually excited to start out transferring my Citi factors to AAdvantage. It has immediately made the ThankYou Rewards program extra useful to me.
The data 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 via 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 start line than Delta SkyMiles, is much like the most cost effective United MileagePlus redemptions, so it is not a slam dunk “benefit.”
However on longer flights, particularly in premium cabins, the place you could find charges on the lowest saver ranges, the AAdvantage program actually shines.
I repeatedly journey throughout the Atlantic, so I am all the time seeking to spend the fewest miles potential. Here is how the three packages stack up for routes to and from Europe:
- Economic system: AAdvantage gives nonstop flights from 19,000 miles versus 20,000 miles via MileagePlus and SkyMiles.
- Premium financial system: AAdvantage gives nonstop flights from 39,000 miles versus 50,000 miles via MileagePlus and 52,000 miles via SkyMiles.
- Enterprise class: AAdvantage gives nonstop flights from 65,000 miles versus 80,000 miles via MileagePlus and 145,000 miles via SkyMiles.
- Top notch: AAdvantage gives nonstop flights from 75,000 miles, whereas United and Delta now not function worldwide firstclass. (American Airways can be phasing out this product as properly.)
The place you could find saver availability, you may want fewer American miles than Delta or United miles, so I worth them extra extremely.
Associated: Is American Airways premium financial system price 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 of 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 confer 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 capable of be a 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 Oneworld award availability
Associate redemptions stay a terrific worth
My single favourite factor concerning the AAdvantage program is its companion award chart. As different packages transfer to dynamic pricing for partner-operated flights and eliminate printed 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 slightly than distance-based, permitting you to actually maximize your journey by selecting longer itineraries, such because the East Coast to western and central Australia.
Whenever you issue within the wide selection of premium airways you may redeem AAdvantage miles with, together with Etihad Airways, with its fabulous Airbus A380 first-class Residences, you may understand there are unimaginable candy spots out there from the U.S. For instance, you may fly:
Associated: Enormous suites and phenomenal facilities: A overview of Japan Airways’ new A350 firstclass
How you can earn AAdvantage miles
You’ll be able to earn AAdvantage miles with an American Airways cobranded bank card or choose Citi Strata playing cards and obtain a beneficiant welcome supply:
- 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® Government 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 data 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 tougher 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 financial 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 high my record of fascinating airline miles to gather and redeem.
Associated studying:
