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Where does american airlines fly to.

American Airlines (Oneworld) serves 225 domestic destinations and 128 international destinations in 63 countries, as of May 2024.

List of American Airlines destinations

The following is an overview of all American Airlines flights and destinations:

Where does American Airlines fly from?

American Airlines (Oneworld) departs from 353 airports in 63 countries, as of May 2024.

List of American Airlines departures

The following is an overview of all cities and countries American Airlines departs from:

American Airlines most popular routes

These are currently the most popular flights operated by American Airlines, based on the number of scheduled flights for this month:

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Good to know, faqs about flying with american airlines, what is american airlines' carry-on size allowance.

On board American Airlines flights, cabin baggage should not exceed 22x14x9in. If your hand luggage is bigger, the American Airlines assistance team will most likely ask you to pay extra for checked luggage.

Where does American Airlines fly to?

American Airlines offers direct flights to 234 cities in 60 different countries. Los Angeles, Dallas, and Las Vegas are the most popular cities covered by American Airlines.

What is American Airlines’ primary hub?

American Airlines concentrates most of its flight operations in Dallas.

How does KAYAK find such low prices on American Airlines flights?

KAYAK is a travel search engine, meaning that we continuously look across the web to find the best deals for our users. With over 2 billion flight queries processed yearly, we are able to display a variety of prices and options on flights from all airlines, including American Airlines.

When are American Airlines plane tickets cheapest?

Flight prices with American Airlines will depend on the season and route you are flying. Our data shows that overall, the cheapest month to fly with American Airlines is January, while the most expensive is August.

What’s the cheapest route that American Airlines flies?

In the last 72 hours, the cheapest route flown by American Airlines found on KAYAK was from Los Angeles to San Francisco, with a price of $90 for a round-trip.

What are the most popular airports for American Airlines flights to depart from?

With 173 American Airlines flights departing each week, Dallas/Fort Worth airport is the most popular airport for American Airlines flights to depart from. The most popular destination from this airport is Rapid City. The next most popular departure airport is Charlotte Douglas airport, with 129 American Airlines flights departing from there each week.

Is American Airlines part of an airline alliance?

Yes, American Airlines is part of the oneworld airline alliance.

How many destinations does American Airlines fly to?

In total, American Airlines flies to 237 destinations.

Top tips for flying with American Airlines

• If you’re looking for the cheapest American Airlines tickets, then try to fly from Los Angeles, where flights have been cheapest lately. The cheapest route from here available recently is to San Francisco, and cost $90.
• The cheapest month for flights with American Airlines is January, while the most expensive is generally August.

American Airlines customer reviews

• Crew was friendly and nice. (in 1650 reviews)
• Flight crew was pleasant enough. (in 1617 reviews)
• First class was pretty comfortable. (in 59 reviews)
• Flight attendant was very fun. (in 3260 reviews)
• Our flight was delayed two hours. (in 3286 reviews)
• Flight was delayed due to weather. (in 62 reviews)

Traveler rating:

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• Dallas/Fort Worth Airport to Los Angeles
• Los Angeles to Dallas/Fort Worth Airport
• Dallas/Fort Worth Airport to Las Vegas
• Miami to New York John F Kennedy Intl Airport
• Dallas/Fort Worth Airport to Austin
• Chicago O'Hare Intl Airport to Dallas/Fort Worth Airport
• Miami to Chicago O'Hare Intl Airport
• Dallas/Fort Worth Airport to Chicago O'Hare Intl Airport
• Austin to Dallas/Fort Worth Airport
• Dallas/Fort Worth Airport to San Francisco
• Miami to Charlotte
• Charlotte to Miami
• Dallas/Fort Worth Airport to San Antonio
• Dallas/Fort Worth Airport to Denver
• Phoenix Sky Harbor Intl Airport to Dallas/Fort Worth Airport
• Dallas/Fort Worth Airport to Miami
• Chicago O'Hare Intl Airport to Miami
• Miami to Dallas/Fort Worth Airport
• Los Angeles to Miami
• Dallas/Fort Worth Airport to Phoenix Sky Harbor Intl Airport
• Miami to Los Angeles
• Dallas/Fort Worth Airport to Charlotte
• San Antonio to Dallas/Fort Worth Airport
• Dallas/Fort Worth Airport to Nashville
• New York John F Kennedy Intl Airport to Miami
• San Francisco to Dallas/Fort Worth Airport
• Miami to Orlando Airport
• Las Vegas to Dallas/Fort Worth Airport
• Washington, D.C. Reagan-National Airport to Miami
• Chicago O'Hare Intl Airport to Los Angeles
• American Airlines flights to Miami
• American Airlines flights to Phoenix Sky Harbor Intl Airport
• American Airlines flights to Dallas/Fort Worth Airport
• American Airlines flights to Cancún
• American Airlines flights to Los Angeles
• American Airlines flights to Las Vegas
• American Airlines flights to Charlotte
• American Airlines flights to Philadelphia
• American Airlines flights to New York
• American Airlines flights to Boston
• American Airlines flights to Tampa
• American Airlines flights to Chicago
• American Airlines flights to Austin
• American Airlines flights to San Francisco
• American Airlines flights to Orlando
• American Airlines flights to Punta Cana
• American Airlines flights to Nashville
• American Airlines flights to Montego Bay
• American Airlines flights to San Diego
• American Airlines flights to New Orleans
• American Airlines flights to Honolulu
• American Airlines flights to London
• American Airlines flights to San José del Cabo
• American Airlines flights to Madrid
• American Airlines flights to Washington, D.C.
• American Airlines flights to Raleigh
• American Airlines flights to Fort Myers
• American Airlines flights to Key West
• American Airlines flights to Puerto Vallarta
• American Airlines flights to Nassau

Top airports served by American Airlines

• Dallas/Fort Worth Airport (DFW)
• Charlotte Douglas Airport (CLT)
• Miami Airport (MIA)
• Phoenix Sky Harbor Intl Airport (PHX)
• Chicago O'Hare Intl Airport (ORD)
• Philadelphia Airport (PHL)
• Los Angeles Airport (LAX)
• Washington, D.C. Reagan-National Airport (DCA)
• New York John F Kennedy Intl Airport (JFK)
• Orlando Airport (MCO)
• New York LaGuardia Airport (LGA)
• Boston Logan Intl Airport (BOS)
• Austin Bergstrom Airport (AUS)
• Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl Airport (LAS)
• Tampa Airport (TPA)

American Airlines contact information

• AA IATA Code
• +1 800 433 7300 Call
• AA.com Visit

Overview of American Airlines

Founded way back in 1930, American Airlines is one of the oldest carriers in the world. Existing as part of the America Airlines Group and partnering with US Airways since 2013, it has contributed to recording the largest number of passengers carried and destinations served in a calendar year on multiple occasions. Flights are offered to more than 50 countries around the world and serviced by roughly 125,000 employees.

The airline has their headquarters in Fort Worth; however, it also has a further 9 hubs around the United States, including in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Miami. They also operate a maintenance hub in Tulsa, which has its work cut out with a massive fleet size. American Airlines mainly uses a mix of Airbus and Boeing planes. McDonnell Douglas, Bombardier and Embraer jets are also part of their fleet, with a range of 44 to 140 seats. The most common aircraft in operation is the Boeing 737-800 model.

A founding member of the oneworld alliance, the airline has codeshare agreements with international companies such as Qantas, British Airways, Korean Air and Japan Airlines, among others. The partnering relationship provides customers a greater range of round-the-world tickets and can lead to more efficient flight transfers. Some of the American Airlines’ fleet have been painted dark grey with oneworld branding.

Passengers can choose between Economy, Premium Economy, Business and First Class seating. All customers receive complimentary snacks and non-alcoholic beverages, while First Class provides the luxury of a personal pod onboard and access to dining at Flagship Lounges back on land.

American Airlines information

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What to Know Before Flying American Airlines

Here's everything you need to know before you fly the largest airline in the world.

Elizabeth Rhodes is a special projects editor at Travel + Leisure , covering everything from luxury hotels to theme parks to must-pack travel products. Originally from South Carolina, Elizabeth moved to New York City from London, where she started her career as a travel blogger and writer.

With nearly 6,700 daily flights serving destinations in over 50 countries around the world, American Airlines (and its regional partner, American Eagle) is the nation's largest passenger airline. Whether you're a dedicated American Airlines credit card holder or simply fly with whichever carrier has the best flights for you, you're likely to find yourself aboard an American Airlines flight at some point in your travels.

With a range of fare classes, forgiving flight change policies, and a variety of seat styles and configurations, there's a lot to consider before booking your next flight with American Airlines.

American Airlines Fare Classes

American Airlines offers eight fare classes with select amenities at a wide range of price points. Note that the amenities and services offered can change depending on the plane type and the destination.

Flagship First

Flagship First is the airline's most premium experience (only available on long-distance flights with Boeing 777-300 aircraft), with a private check-in process, priority privileges (for quickly getting through check-in, security, and boarding), lounges, and five-star service. During the flight, passengers can sleep in lie-flat seats, indulge in chef-inspired dining, and stay pampered with Shinola and D.S. & Durga amenity kits and Casper sleep sets. In 2024, American Airlines is expected to launch an even more premium experience with Flagship Suites .

Flagship Business

This class offers many of the same perks as Flagship First, including priority privileges and lounge access at the airport, as well as spacious lie-flat seats, elevated dining, and the aforementioned amenity kits. However, the seats are not as roomy. You can also upgrade to Flagship Business Plus, which will include up to three checked bags and access to pre-flight Flagship Dining .

First Class

This is the highest level of service on flights across the United States, and passengers can expect priority privileges at the airport. During the flight, they'll enjoy premium dining and comfortable seats with more space than the typical economy seats. First-class and Flagship customers will board the plane in Group 1. Yelp and TripAdvisor reviews about first class show a wide range of experiences: While some customers appreciate the more spacious seats, others criticize the service and lack of decent snacks or meals.

Business is the highest level of service on shorter international flights to destinations like Bermuda, Canada, the Caribbean, and more. Before the flight, passengers can enjoy priority privileges, lounge access (for some flights), and more, plus wider seats with more legroom and premium dining (including alcoholic beverages). Business-class travelers board the plane with Group 1 or 2.

Premium Economy

This class is a step up from a Main Cabin fare, with priority privileges at the airport and more spacious seats, free entertainment, chef-inspired dining, and amenity kits (for select flights) on board. These passengers board the plane in Group 4, ahead of the Main Cabin passengers.

Main Cabin Extra

Main Cabin Extra offers the same advantages as a Main Cabin fare plus perks like early boarding, extra legroom, and complimentary snacks and drinks (including alcoholic beverages). These travelers can board the aircraft in Group 5 ahead of other Main Cabin passengers.

The Main Cabin

This is a standard economy class that includes seat selection and free snacks. Your ticket also includes one personal item and one carry-on bag, but no checked bags. If you're on a long-haul flight, you can expect in-flight meals.

Basic Economy

The lowest-cost fare has the most restrictions. While passengers can still enjoy free snacks, soft drinks, and entertainment, they can't choose their seats without paying a fee. (If you choose to skip the fee to select your seat, members of your party may be separated.) This group typically boards the aircraft last.

American Airlines Flight Change and Cancellation Policies

If you need to make a change to your ticket, you have a 24-hour window from the time of booking to do so without being charged a fee. Basic economy fares can't be changed, so if you can't make the flight you will lose what you paid for the ticket.

Excluding basic economy tickets, which are completely nonrefundable, American Airlines has a forgiving policy when it comes to making changes and canceling flights. If you change your flight to a more expensive option, you will have to pay the difference, but if your new flight is less expensive, you will receive a travel credit for the difference. If you cancel a non-refundable ticket, you will receive a flight credit for future travel.

Baggage Policies and Fees

All fares include one free carry-on bag (that does not exceed 22 x 14 x 9 inches) and one free personal item that can fit under the seat in front of you. Customers in first class can bring two to three complimentary checked bags that weigh up to 70 pounds (depending on the aircraft). Business-class passengers can check two complimentary bags that weigh up to 70 pounds, while Premium Economy passengers can carry two complimentary bags that weigh up to 50 pounds. Main Cabin passengers can bring up to two 50-pound bags, but they will likely have to pay a fee, typically around $30 for the first checked bag.

While some online reviewers criticize the baggage fees or say they were unaware that they had to pay, the headache of a surprise cost can be avoided if you do your research before your flight. Exact policies and fees can vary depending on your fare class, destination, military status, credit card or airline status, and number and weight of the bags. You can find more details on the American Airlines website .

Seats and Legroom

Thanks to a range of fare classes and different airplane configurations, exact legroom and seat design can vary from flight to flight. Flagship fares include lie-flat seats for the most spacious and comfortable experience, while first and business class still provide wider seats and more legroom than typical Main Cabin seats. To find the exact seat pitch and width for your flight, look up your plane type on the American Airlines website . You can also use sites like SeatGuru to research your exact plane layout ahead of time to find the most desirable seats. American Airlines received 3.5 stars for legroom on TripAdvisor , which has over 70,000 reviews of the airline.

Amenities and Entertainment

Passengers in all classes can enjoy free entertainment on most flights and purchase Wi-Fi on select planes. They can stream movies, music, TV shows, and more (including Apple Music and Apple TV+) from their personal phones, tablets, laptops, or their seat-back entertainment system on select flights. Passengers can also learn new skills or even a new language, thanks to Skillshare and Rosetta Stone, available on the Lifestyle channel. Yelp reviewer Greg T . commended the airline's planes but pointed out the need to use personal devices to stream, saying, "The planes I have flown on with American usually seem to be in good repair, clean, and as comfortable as an airplane can be. My only complaint would be the trend to make you use your own electronics to access the entertainment — I prefer the seat back screens!"

Depending on the destination and flight length, Main Cabin tickets could include soft drinks and a snack, a meal, and even an alcoholic beverage (on some long-haul international flights). Additional snacks and beverages — wine, beer, and spirits — can be purchased on flights over 250 miles. First-class fares include snacks and alcoholic beverages, with larger meals on longer flights. TripAdvisor reviewer Anthony H . described the food, saying, "AA has improved their in-flight food and beverage for the main meals, although, frankly, it's still airplane food."

American Airlines Credit Cards

Frequent American Airlines fliers might want to take advantage of the perks offered by the airline's credit cards. There are four Citi/American Airlines credit cards.

• AAdvantage MileUp Mastercard:  This card has no annual fee and offers 10,000 American Airlines AAdvantage bonus miles and a $50 statement credit after $500 in purchases within the first three months.
• Citi/AAdvantage Platinum Select Mastercard:  You'll earn 50,000 bonus miles after spending $2,500 in the first three months, and the $99 annual fee is waived for the first year. This card also gets holders their first checked bag free on domestic American Airlines flights and preferred boarding.
• Citi/AAdvantage Executive Mastercard:  This card has an annual fee of $450 and   offers 50,000 bonus miles plus 10,000 elite qualifying miles after spending $5,000 in the first three months, plus it includes an Admirals Club membership.
• CitiBusiness/AAdvantage Platinum Select Mastercard:  You'll earn 65,000 bonus miles after $4,000 in purchases in the first four months, and its annual fee of $99 is waived for the first year.

You can find full details about these cards' perks and mileage benefits on the American Airlines website .

Related Articles

Your ultimate guide to American Airlines AAdvantage

American Airlines is one of the largest airlines in the world, and its AAdvantage loyalty program is popular with many travelers. While AAdvantage has seen some changes over the last few years — including the removal of published award charts — you can still get a ton of value from the program, especially if you can utilize its sweet spots .

In 2022, American completely overhauled how flyers qualify for AAdvantage elite status . Rather than being based solely on flying, you now earn Loyalty Points across various activities in the AAdvantage program — including spending on American Airlines cobranded credit cards , shopping through online shopping portals and dining.

Plus, American announced a slew of big changes to its AAdvantage program in February. Among these changes, which are set to go into effect on tickets issued from May 1, American will only award AAdvantage miles and Loyalty Points for flights booked directly with American, eligible Oneworld and partner airlines, and preferred travel agencies .

After this change, flights booked with non-eligible partners or agencies will not earn miles or Loyalty Points unless you're registered with AAdvantage Business or have a contracted corporate agreement with the airline. American will release its full list of preferred travel agencies in April, so the change's full effect remains to be seen .

Here's everything you need to know about the American AAdvantage loyalty program.

American Airlines partners

American Airlines is part of the Oneworld alliance . Therefore, you can earn and redeem miles with a handful of international partners. American elite members often get benefits, such as lounge access and an extra baggage allowance, when flying with these partner airlines:

• Alaska Airlines
• British Airways
• Cathay Pacific
• Fiji Airways (Oneworld Connect member)
• Japan Airlines
• Malaysia Airlines
• Oman Air (future member)
• Qatar Airways
• Royal Air Maroc
• Royal Jordanian Airlines
• SriLankan Airlines

The airline also partners with a handful of airlines outside of Oneworld, including:

• Air Tahiti Nui
• China Southern Airlines
• Etihad Airways
• Gol Airlines
• Hawaiian Airlines
• Silver Airways

However, each partner has its own criteria on how you can earn or redeem miles with American, so be sure to review the specific partner page for full details.

American Airlines elite status

American AAdvantage has four public levels of elite status — Gold, Platinum, Platinum Pro and Executive Platinum — plus an invite-only level called Concierge Key .

AAdvantage members earn Loyalty Points when they fly on American or spend with a cobranded credit card or with select AAdvantage partners. Upcoming changes to the AAdvantage program in May will make it so AAdvantage miles and Loyalty Points are only earned when you transact directly with American, select partner airlines and preferred travel agencies, which is important to note if you're looking to accumulate status.

In general, 1 eligible AAdvantage mile earned is equal to 1 Loyalty Point. So, if you earn 500 base miles on an American Airlines flight, you earn 500 Loyalty Points. Likewise, spending $1,000 on a cobranded credit card would earn 1,000 Loyalty Points.

Here's the number of Loyalty Points you must earn during the current qualification period — March 1, 2023, to Feb. 29, 2024 — for each elite status tier:

• Gold: 40,000 Loyalty Points
• Platinum: 75,000 Loyalty Points
• Platinum Pro: 125,000 Loyalty Points
• Executive Platinum: 200,000 Loyalty Points

As an AAdvantage Gold member, you'll get a 40% mileage bonus, complimentary Main Cabin Extra seats within 24 hours of departure, complimentary preferred seats at check-in (when available) and one free checked bag on itineraries marketed and operated by American Airlines.

Meanwhile, Platinum members get a 60% mileage bonus, complimentary Main Cabin Extra and preferred seats at booking (when available), and two free checked bags on itineraries marketed and operated by American Airlines.

Platinum Pro members get an 80% mileage bonus, complimentary Main Cabin Extra and preferred seats at booking (when available), and three free checked bags on itineraries marketed and operated by American Airlines.

Finally, Executive Platinum members get a 120% mileage bonus, complimentary Main Cabin Extra and preferred seats at booking (when available), and three free checked bags on itineraries marketed and operated by American Airlines.

All AAdvantage elite members have access to complimentary upgrades on American-marketed and -operated flights within the U.S. (including Hawaii) and between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, the Bahamas, Bermuda, the Caribbean and Central America for themselves and one companion. Complimentary upgrades on award flights are available to elite members, though it is not a guarantee that you will secure an upgrade on your flight.

AAdvantage elite members get Oneworld status, which provides perks when flying on other Oneworld airlines. Specifically, AAdvantage Gold members get Oneworld Ruby, Platinum members get Oneworld Sapphire, and Platinum Pro and Executive Platinum members get Oneworld Emerald status.

Even if you don't have elite status with American, there are some notable perks to being an AAdvantage member. American AAdvantage announced the following exclusive benefits for AAdvantage members in 2024 (including entry-level members with no elite status):

• The ability to voluntarily cancel basic economy tickets for a partial travel trip credit for a $99 fee
• Complimentary 24-hour ticket holds
• The ability to purchase single-use Admirals Club and Flagship Lounge entry
• The ability to take an earlier flight on the same day at no extra cost

Also new in 2024 is the ability to redeem Loyalty Point Rewards for additional Loyalty Points to help members reach their elite status goals.

You can choose:

• 1,000 bonus Loyalty Points (after earning 15,000 Loyalty Points)
• 5,000 bonus Loyalty Points (after earning 175,000 Loyalty Points)
• 15,000 bonus Loyalty Points (after earning 250,000 Loyalty Points)

Related: American Airlines unveils 10 changes to the AAdvantage program

Coming later in 2024 is the ability to earn redeemable miles and additional Loyalty Points on premium cabin upgrades paid with cash.

How to earn AAdvantage miles

There are many ways to earn AAdvantage miles . Below is a summary of the top ways.

Fly on American Airlines

When you fly on an American-marketed flight, you'll usually earn miles according to your ticket's base price — without taxes and fees. However, it's important to note that after American's changes roll out May 1, you'll have to book the flight directly with the airline , an eligible Oneworld or partner airline, or a preferred travel agency to earn miles and Loyalty Points.

The miles you earn also vary based on your AAdvantage elite status . The higher your status, the more miles you will earn.

Here's how many miles each status tier earns per dollar spent:

• Member (no status) : 5 miles
• Gold : 7 miles
• Platinum : 8 miles
• Platinum Pro : 9 miles
• Executive Platinum : 11 miles

Related: How to earn miles in the American Airlines AAdvantage program

Fly on partner airlines

You can also earn AAdvantage miles on flights marketed by American's partners. Starting May 1, you'll have to book these flights through the partner or an eligible travel agency to earn miles or Loyalty Points for the trip.

For most partners, you'll earn miles and Loyalty Points based on flight distance. However, the exact earning rate depends on the fare class of your ticket . Here's an example of the earning chart for Qantas-operated flights:

Get and use American Airlines credit cards

One of the easiest ways to earn American AAdvantage miles is through American Airlines credit cards . Here's a list of current offers:

• Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® (see rates and fees ): Earn 70,000 miles after you spend $7,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening. Earn 4 miles per dollar on eligible American Airlines purchases. Earn 10 miles per dollar spent on eligible car rentals and hotels booked through American's car rental and hotel booking sites . Earn 1 mile per dollar spent on other purchases. Earn 10,000 bonus Loyalty Points after reaching 50,000 Loyalty Points in a status qualification year. Earn another 10,000 bonus Loyalty Points after reaching 90,000 Loyalty Points in the same status qualification year.
• Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® : Earn 50,000 bonus miles after spending $2,500 on purchases in the first three months of account opening. Earn 2 AAdvantage miles per dollar on gas station, restaurant and eligible American Airlines purchases, and 1 mile per dollar on other purchases.
• Citi® / AAdvantage Business™ World Elite Mastercard® (see rates and fees ): Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first five months of account opening. Earn 2 AAdvantage miles per dollar on eligible American Airlines purchases plus telecom merchants, cable and satellite providers, car rentals, and gas stations. Earn 1 mile per dollar on other purchases.
• American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® : Earn 10,000 bonus miles after spending $500 on purchases within the first three months of account opening. Earn 2 AAdvantage miles per dollar on grocery store and eligible American Airlines purchases, and 1 mile per dollar on other purchases.
• AAdvantage Aviator Red World Elite Mastercard : Earn 60,000 bonus miles after making your first purchase and paying the annual fee in full in the first 90 days. Earn 2 AAdvantage miles per dollar on American Airlines purchases and 1 mile per dollar on other purchases.
• AAdvantage Aviator World Elite Business Mastercard : Earn 2 AAdvantage miles per dollar on office supply, select telecom, car rental and eligible American Airlines purchases, and 1 mile per dollar on other purchases. Earn a 5% AAdvantage mileage bonus every year after your account anniversary date based on the total number of miles earned with the card.

The information for the Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard, American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp, AAdvantage Aviator Red World Elite Mastercard and AAdvantage Aviator World Elite Business Mastercard has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuers.

Remember that the sign-up bonuses and bonus category earnings won't get you Loyalty Points toward AAdvantage elite status. You'll only earn 1 Loyalty Point per dollar spent on American Airlines cards.

Related: Choosing the best credit card for American Airlines flyers

Transfer Bilt points

American AAdvantage partners with just one program with a transferable currency: Bilt Rewards . You can transfer your Bilt points to your AAdvantage account at a 1:1 ratio, so if you're currently earning Bilt points by paying rent , this can be a great option for your rewards.

Click through the AAdvantage shopping portal before shopping online

When you click through the AAdvantage shopping portal , you can earn extra miles when making purchases with select online merchants. Using the portal is simple: Sign up for an account and click through the portal to your merchant of choice before shopping online.

Related: Maximizing shopping portals for your online purchases

Use SimplyMiles

American offers a program called SimplyMiles that allows you to earn miles when shopping online or in person with select merchants. You'll first need to sign up for SimplyMiles, link one or more Mastercards to your profile and enroll in offers.

Then, when you use a linked Mastercard to make an eligible purchase at a merchant for which you've enrolled in an offer, you'll earn AAdvantage miles.

Dine at restaurants that participate in AAdvantage Dining

AAdvantage Dining is similar to the AAdvantage shopping portal but for eating at restaurants. Just sign up for an account and link your favorite credit cards for dining . Once you do so, you'll earn miles when you dine at participating restaurants.

You can earn 5 AAdvantage miles per dollar spent as a VIP member, 3 AAdvantage miles per dollar spent as a Select member and 1 AAdvantage mile per dollar spent as a basic member.

Book through AAdvantage travel partners

American Airlines partners with major car rental companies so its members can earn miles on car rentals. Check out AAdvantage's car rental partner page for information on partners and earning rates.

You can also earn AAdvantage miles on hotel stays as follows:

• AAdvantage Hotels : Earn up to 10 times more base miles on hotels.
• Hyatt : Earn 500 miles each stay at select properties.
• IHG : Earn 2 miles per dollar spent on qualifying room rates.
• Marriott : Earn 2 miles per dollar spent on qualifying charges.

Additionally, Hyatt and American loyalists can earn more rewards by linking accounts . After linking accounts, AAdvantage elite members can earn 1 AAdvantage mile for every eligible dollar spent on qualifying Hyatt stays and experiences.

In addition to the hotel and rental car partners mentioned above, you can earn miles on vacation packages booked at aavacations.com or cruises booked at bookaacruises.com .

Open a savings account

If you open a savings account with Bask Bank, you can elect to earn AAdvantage miles instead of cash as the interest on your account. You can read our analysis here: Introducing Bask Bank, a new way to earn miles . Unfortunately, miles earned with Bask Bank do not count as Loyalty Points.

Buy AAdvantage miles

Finally, you can buy American Airlines miles. Watch for promotions that allow you to buy American Airlines miles with a bonus or a discount.

Related: Book a pricey suite or flight for a fraction of the cost: Points promotions to save you money

How to redeem AAdvantage miles

You'll usually get the best value when you redeem your American AAdvantage miles for flights. TPG's most recent valuations estimate American miles to be worth 1.55 cents each, so try to get at least this value when redeeming miles.

Redeeming miles for American-operated flights

To find out how many miles an American-operated flight will cost, head to the American Airlines website or mobile app and do an award search.

AAdvantage redemptions for travel on American are now exclusively priced dynamically, allowing the airline to adjust the award rate for any flight.

In 2024, Platinum Pro, Executive Platinum and Concierge Key members will be able to redeem miles to visit the Flagship First dining facility , though the mileage cost is not yet known.

Partner awards

American partners with over a dozen airlines, many world-renowned for their excellent premium-cabin products.

However, these flights aren't always available to partner airlines, as the operating carrier must release saver-level award inventory.

Related: Guide to earning and burning with American Airlines' Business Extra program

AAdvantage sweet spots

While American makes it relatively easy to redeem miles across its own network, many awards can offer spectacular value. These "sweet spots" typically get you well over TPG's valuation of AAdvantage miles.

Here are just a few of these terrific redemptions.

Short-haul flights to the Caribbean

Flights to the Caribbean can cost you hundreds of dollars each way.

Instead, you can book flights from New York to the sunny island of Barbados for just 8,000 AAdvantage miles plus $7.10 in fees and taxes.

Premium-cabin flights to Japan or South Korea

American Airlines divides Asia into three award regions: Asia Region 1, Asia Region 2 and South Pacific. Asia 1 covers Japan and Korea, while Asia 2 includes Brunei, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.

The lower prices on premium flights to Asia 1 apply to Oneworld partners such as Japan Airlines. So, you can book JAL first class from Chicago to Tokyo for only 80,000 miles.

Related: Best sweet spots in the American Airlines AAdvantage program

Etihad business class to the Maldives

You can redeem just 70,000 AAdvantage miles for a flight from the United States to the Maldives via Abu Dhabi in Etihad's business class, with flights from Chicago's O'Hare International Airport (ORD) featuring the carrier's fantastic new A350 product.

While in theory you can book the same itinerary flying Qatar Airways in its award-winning Qsuite, unfortunately, Qatar is currently only releasing business-class availability from the United States at the last minute to AAdvantage members.

Award pricing

While American eliminated saver and anytime awards in 2023, it isn't removing award charts entirely.

Instead, American's refreshed award chart displays initial values for flight awards.

Bottom line

The American Airlines AAdvantage program is far from perfect. But if you know how to make it work, there's still plenty of value, particularly for redemptions on partner airlines, where sensible award charts still exist.

It's important to note the changes coming in 2024 to earning AAdvantage miles and Loyalty Points. When these changes go into effect May 1, American will begin limiting earnings to travel booked directly with American and eligible partner airlines, booking through preferred travel agencies and booking anywhere as an AAdvantage Business member or as a contracted corporate traveler.

If you're considering earning miles with the AAdvantage program, we recommend applying for an American Airlines credit card . Doing so can give you a big stash of miles from the sign-up bonus and the ability to continue to earn miles with your daily spending. It's also worth using the AAdvantage shopping portal and SimplyMiles , especially if you want to earn Loyalty Points and qualify for American Airlines elite status.

American Airlines bracing for largest schedule ever at DFW Airport this summer

Dfw, which is american's largest hub, will surpass pre-pandemic levels of flying this summer, by alanna quillen • published may 8, 2024 • updated on may 8, 2024 at 8:48 am.

With summer vacation just weeks away for North Texas school districts, many families are gearing up for a vacation.

There is a travel warning that may come as no surprise – this summer could be the busiest travel season yet.

Fort Worth-based American Airlines is bracing for their largest schedule ever this summer at DFW Airport. The company expects to serve over 11 million customers at the big airport on more than 97,000 flights between May 17 and September 3. AA will also have 10 percent more departures than last summer.

DFW, which is American's largest hub, will surpass pre-pandemic levels of flying this summer.

Get DFW local news, weather forecasts and entertainment stories to your inbox. Sign up for NBC DFW newsletters .

"American set a new standard for operational reliability in 2023, and that track record is the foundation that allows us to grow to historic levels this summer," said American Airlines Senior Vice president of DFW Hub Operations. "By putting the customer at the center of everything we do, we're running the best operation in our history. And none of this would be possible without our 25,000 DFW-based team members who are the driving force behind out success."

See how we've invested in new technologies to get customers on their way faster and more efficiently during the peak travel season and how to prepare for travel. ✈️ https://t.co/GPcPEjHmI0 pic.twitter.com/h881PEqmOM — americanair (@AmericanAir) May 7, 2024

American began preparing for the summer last year by hiring and training more team members, ensuring its vendor partners are ready, and preparing its aircraft, equipment and facilities.

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AA also completed advance work on its fleet to reduce maintenance delays. It has improved tools and technology to react fast and more efficient to storms and other issues.

"We would not take on a schedule like that if we didn't think we were prepared both from a team members perspective and ensuring we've got the staff to do it," said Moses.

As for the peak travel time this summer, travelers will need to be on their toes this July.

"The busiest day will be July 7. We will offer over 925 departures that day and offering over 128,000 seats for sale at DFW Airport that day,” said Moses.

Airlines have worked to stabilize following years of post-pandemic travel nightmares as travel numbers continue to surge globally.

American reports that it is currently running the most reliable operation in its history. Last year, the airlines canceled the fewest flights in its history and achieved the best results for on-time departures and arrivals since 2017. American also improved bag handling by 15% compared to 2022.

For more information, click here .

Moses added they do not anticipate any flight disruptions or reduction this summer because of the recent investigations into plane-manufacturer Boeing . He said they have made some fall/winter schedule adjustments to their 787 aircraft.

Travelers can also expect some changes to Southwest Airlines.

The Dallas-based company announced recently they plan to scale back routes because of Boeing's airplane delay and a 7 percent loss during the first quarter of the year.

One of those changes is canceling routes at bush intercontinental airport in Houston.

SWA said they will also stop service at the airport in Syracuse, New York, Bellingham International Airport in Washington state, and Cozumel International Airport in Mexico. The airline is also reducing capacity at Chicago and Atlanta airports.

The route changes are expected to start August 4, 2024.

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American Airlines gears up for busy summer travel at Phoenix Sky Harbor

PHOENIX (AZFamily) — It’s starting to heat up in the Valley and with the beautiful weather comes thousands of travelers wanting to enjoy (or escape) the hot Arizona sun.

After Phoenix Sky Harbor saw record numbers in 2023, American Airlines says it’s ready to ensure travelers have a smooth experience in the airport this summer.

The airline expects to serve nearly 3 million customers on over 26,000 flights between May 17 and Sept. 3 at Sky Harbor.

“We have invested in our team members, and we’ve really invested in our technology and our tools. So I believe that their experience is going to be much more seamless, and they’re going to enjoy it,” said Sophia Philis-Ortiz, American Airlines vice president of Phoenix hub operations.

To prepare for the influx of summer travelers, American Airlines says it hired and trained team members and ensured its vendors were ready to prepare the aircraft, equipment and facilities.

The airline has also worked to reduce maintenance delays, find ways to keep the aircraft cool and invest in more technology, like an analytical tool that helps reduce the amount of time a traveler is delayed on an aircraft.

“We’ve done a lot of work on ensuring that when we do have irregular operations that we go ahead and we bounce back a lot quicker so that the delays are minimized,” said Philis-Ortiz.

These adjustments come after “America’s Friendliest Airport” had its busiest year in 2023 . Around 48 million people walked through Sky Harbor’s doors last year, 10% higher than in 2022.

Sky Harbor added new destinations, such as a nonstop flight to Paris . American Airlines also added more destinations from Phoenix, including Tijuana, Mexico , Provo, Utah , and Pasco, Washington.

American Airlines expects its busiest travel day in Phoenix to be on July 7, with 239 flights taking off from Sky Habor.

To learn more about how to prepare for summer travel, click/tap here.

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American Airlines Reduces International Routes Due to Boeing 787 Delays

Meghna Maharishi , Skift

April 26th, 2024 at 5:01 PM EDT

American is the latest airline to alter its schedule as delivery delays at Boeing mount.

Meghna Maharishi

American Airlines said Friday it would reduce some of its international routes during the second half of the year and early into 2025 because of ongoing Boeing 787 Dreamliner delays. 

The carrier is the latest to trim its schedule as a result of Boeing delivery delays.

“We’re making these adjustments now to ensure we’re able to re-accommodate customers on affected flights,” American said in a statement. “We’ll be proactively reaching out to impacted customers to offer alternate travel arrangements.”

American will suspend multiple routes to Europe at the end of the summer. Here are the affected routes:

• JFK to Athens seasonal flights will be suspended earlier, starting September 3. Previously, service was supposed to end October 26. 
• Philadelphia to Venice will be suspended October 5.
• O’Hare to Paris will be suspended September 3; service will resume in summer 2025. 
• JFK to Barcelona will be suspended September 3; service will resume in summer 2025. Previously, the route was year-round. 
• Dallas-Fort Worth to Dublin and Rome service will end October 26; service will resume in summer 2025. Both routes were originally scheduled as year-round. 

American said it will also reduce flights from Miami to Rio de Janeiro, JFK to Buenos Aires and JFK to Rome. Some of the carrier’s Hawaii routes will also see reductions. For example, American said it would no longer fly from Dallas-Fort Worth to Kona this winter. 

Despite the cuts, American is also increasing capacity on other routes. Philadelphia to Barcelona flights will fly daily starting in January. American said it would also operate flights from Miami to Sao Paulo three times a day from October 27 to March 25. 

Boeing said it would delay the production of the 787 due to a shortage of certain parts. The plane maker previously halted 787 deliveries in 2021 due to manufacturing issues. 

U.S. Airlines Rethink Operations

American isn’t the only carrier to be affected by the Boeing delivery delays. Southwest Airlines said in an earnings release Thursday that it would make a rare move and exit from four airports : Syracuse, New York, Houston-IAH, Cozumel, Mexico and Bellingham, Washington. 

Southwest CEO Bob Jordan also said it planned to end 2024 with 2,000 fewer employees in a bid to cut costs due to delivery delays with the Max 7, an aircraft that has yet to be certified. 

United Airlines said it would pause pilot hiring in the spring because it doesn’t expect its orders for 80 Max 10s to be fulfilled this year. The airline also asked some of its pilots to take unpaid time off since the delivery delays reduced its forecasted block hours in 2024. 

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Possible bird strike diverts American Airlines flight, plane lands safely in Baltimore

An American Airlines flight heading from Washington, D.C. to Key West, Florida diverted to Baltimore after a possible bird strike.

The plane departed from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport slightly before 1 p.m. and was scheduled to head to Key West International Airport, according to an American Airlines statement. Instead, the plane landed at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport around 2 p.m.

"The aircraft landed without incident and taxied to the gate under its own power, where it will be inspected by our maintenance team," the statement read. "We’re working to get customers on their way to EYW as soon as possible and apologize for any inconvenience."

The aircraft, an Embraer 175, held 69 customers and four crew members. No injuries were reported.

A new flight to take the passengers to Key West was scheduled to take off around 4:45 PM and land around 7:26 PM, according to American Airlines website.

Pilots union warns spike in safety, maintenance issues

The flight delay comes after the American Airlines’ pilots union warned last month that it’s been tracking a "significant spike" in safety and maintenance issues at the airline unrelated to birds.

In a memo to its members that USA TODAY reviewed, the Allied Pilots Association’s Safety Committee said it observed a trend of tools left in wheel wells after maintenance work was performed, an increase in aircraft collisions on the ground during towing operations as well as poor recordkeeping and abbreviated check flights following maintenance.

"While  United Airlines  is currently under public and government scrutiny, it could just as easily be American Airlines," the memo said. The union added that airline employees are seemingly under pressure to return aircraft to service in order to protect flight schedules.

Union representatives have addressed these concerns with the airline's management team, APA President Ed Sicher said in a separate letter to the union’s members.

"We secured management’s commitment to involve the union earlier in the safety risk assessment (SRA) process, and we are likewise seeking a commitment that APA will have a seat at the table for the entire quality assurance process," Sicher’s letter said.

Contributing: Zach Wichter , USA TODAY

Air India adds Zurich to its growing European network

Air India, India’s leading global airline, will start a non-stop service between Delhi and Zurich starting 16 June 2024, marking the airline’s entry in Switzerland and taking the total number of cities served by Air India in mainland Europe to seven.

Using its two-class configured Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft, Air India will operate on the new European route on four days every week – Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays.

Air India’s new service will provide travellers in Switzerland, as well as those in southern Germany and western Austria with a non-stop option to travel to Delhi, and onward to destinations across Air India’s growing route network, particularly in the Indian Subcontinent, Southeast Asia, and Australia.

Air India flight AI151 will depart Delhi at 1405hrs, arriving in Zurich at 1915hrs. AI152 will depart Zurich at 2050hrs, arriving in Delhi at 0805hrs the next day. The schedule enables travellers to conveniently connect to Air India’s flights from Delhi to popular destinations, such as Bangkok, Colombo, Dhaka, Ho Chi Minh City, Kathmandu, Melbourne, Phuket, Singapore, and Sydney, amongst others.

Campbell Wilson, Chief Executive Officer, Air India , said: “This new route strengthens the ties between India and Switzerland, which are not only major trading partners, but also boast a vibrant exchange of people. With over 250 Swiss companies operating in India, hundreds of Indian companies in Switzerland, and a growing Indian diaspora of nearly 18,000, these flights will cater to a strong demand for business and leisure travel in both directions.”

“Switzerland, a consistently top-ranking European destination for Indian tourists, will now be even more accessible, with these flights further solidifying the economic and cultural bridges between the two nations,” Wilson added.

Travellers can look forward to great comfort and care when travelling with Air India, from the warm Indian hospitality of its cabin crew to the choice of international and authentic Indian cuisine on board and complimentary beverages.

Air India currently operates a total of 60 weekly flights to and from six cities in mainland Europe, namely Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Frankfurt, Milan, Paris, and Vienna.

Bookings for flights to Zurich are being progressively opened across channels, including Air India’s website, mobile app, via travel agents as well as online travel agents.

Departure and arrival times are displayed in local times. +1 denotes next day arrival.

Air India adds flights to Phuket route from 1 June

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Watch CBS News

Will a pilot strike disrupt your summer travel plans? Here's what to know.

By Khristopher J. Brooks

Updated on: May 11, 2023 / 4:21 PM EDT / MoneyWatch

Contract negotiations are keeping thousands of commercial pilots grounded at a time when the nation will soon be entering the busy summer travel season. 

American Airlines pilots voted to authorize a strike  earlier this month. Southwest Airlines pilots made the same move on Thursday. 

"The lack of leadership and the unwillingness to address the failures of our organization have led us to this point," Casey Murray, the president of Southwest's union, said in a statement . "Our pilots are tired of apologizing to our passengers on behalf of a company that refuses to place its priorities on its internal and external customers."

Here's what to know about the potential labor actions and how it could impact passengers' summer travel plans. 

Why are pilots threatening to strike?

The two main reasons are pilots' demands for higher pay and better schedules. 

American Airlines executives are under pressure to match or beat the pay terms Delta Air Lines gave its pilots earlier this year — a 34% raise over a four-year contract. AA has offered a four-year deal that includes a 21% pay bump in the first year. Including higher profit-sharing and 401(k) retirement contributions, by the end of the contract, pilots who fly narrower planes would earn $475,000 a year, while senior pilots flying wide-body planes would make $590,000 a year, 

American Airlines' pilots union said it is also seeking scheduling changes it says would improve efficiency and prevent the kind of widespread delays and cancellations seen last summer.

Would a strike impact passengers' summer travel plans?

It all depends on how quickly airlines and pilots can agree to a new contract. In statements this week, officials from American said they're confident they can reach an agreement with their unions quickly.

"We understand that a strike-authorization vote is one of the important ways pilots express their desire to get a deal done, and we respect the message of voting results," American Airlines spokeswoman Sarah Jantz said Monday.

Adam Carlisle, vice president for labor relations at Southwest, said  in a statement that the strike won't hurt the airline's "ability to take care of our customers." 

"Our negotiations continue, with talks resuming this week, and we'll keep working with the assistance of the National Mediation Board to reach an agreement that rewards our pilots and places them competitively in the industry," he said.

But failing to reach agreements soon could leave passengers frustrated in the coming months, said Ed Sicher, president of the pilots' union at American.

"The summer travel season is almost here, and we're all wondering whether this will be another summer of uncertainty for American Airlines," Sicher said in a statement this week. 

What's happening in the meantime?

American Airlines pilots have organized a series of demonstrations at airports, including in Boston, Dallas, Miami and New York, hoping to put further pressure on management. Both sides will continue negotiating for now. If talks sour and pilots decide to strike, they'll first need approval from a U.S. mediation board. 

Airlines have expressed confidence they can resolve their differences with pilots. 

"We remain confident that an agreement for our pilots is within reach and can be finalized quickly," American Airlines said in a statement Monday. "The finish line is in sight." 

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

• Southwest Airlines
• American Airlines

Khristopher J. Brooks is a reporter for CBS MoneyWatch. He previously worked as a reporter for the Omaha World-Herald, Newsday and the Florida Times-Union. His reporting primarily focuses on the U.S. housing market, the business of sports and bankruptcy.

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Bonza doomed to failure from the start, just like so many Australian airlines before it

Analysis Bonza doomed to failure from the start, just like so many Australian airlines before it

Former Qantas boss Geoff Dixon used to regale clients and investors with a standing joke every time another domestic airline went under.

The Australian market, he reckoned, was only big enough for one and a half airlines.

The one, obviously, was Qantas. And the half was whichever foolhardy group attempted to take on the goliath of the Australian skies with its not so discreet backing from the Australian government. 

He had a point.

A quick look through Wikipedia reveals almost 300 defunct Australian airlines since we took to the skies last century.

Many were tiny regional operators, a few were amalgamated into bigger regional operators such as Rex — which has hung in there with thrifty management from its Singaporean owners — and a handful had grander ambitions that blew up in spectacular style.

Bonza, the latest upstart to come a cropper in one of the world's most cutthroat aviation markets, never really stood a chance.

It hit turbulence early on, even in the ideas stage as the pandemic wreaked havoc with airlines globally and international travel ground to a halt.

Officially launched by former Virgin Blue executive Tim Jordan early last year, the new operation quickly became known as Bogan Air, and played up to the image with planes bearing monikers like Bazza and Shazza.

Behind the scenes, even before it got off the ground, Bonza struggled to work its way through the regulatory maze, battled Qantas and Virgin for slots at airports and found it difficult to hire experienced staff.

Then there were the usual operational problems inherent with starting any new business. Luggage delays, flight cancellations and communication issues.

But perhaps its biggest obstacle was self-imposed. In a bid to differentiate itself from its bigger rivals, it forged a plan to service mostly regional centres that the others didn't frequently service.

And, unlike Rex's reliance on relatively low cost turboprops to service its regional routes, Bonza chose to do so using expensive, larger capacity jet airliners.

Mildura, Mackay, Port Macquarie direct from major centres like Melbourne sounded like a great idea. Clearly, it didn't work in practice.

A mere 15 months since launch, reports began circulating that the operation wasn't paying its way and that its American parent had delivered ownership of the airline's 737 Max aircraft to its creditors.

On Tuesday, passengers arrived at airports across its network to discover all flights had been cancelled.

Bazza and Shazza join a not so exclusive party

Bonza's short life in Australian skies isn't unusual.

Three decades ago, Compass Airlines launched with all the hoopla you'd expect from a group attempting to become the third wheel in Australian aviation. It lasted a year.

The following year, it was relaunched. It failed soon after.

But then, in 2002, the seemingly unthinkable happened. Ansett Airlines, the second wheel in the Australian aviation industry collapsed. Founded by Reg Ansett, it had been around since 1936.

Ansett's demise cemented Qantas's position as the dominant player and two years later it took out another rival, Impulse, in a deal that embroiled one of the country's best known stockbrokers, Rene Rivkin, in an insider trading case.

That left the field open for the launch of Virgin Blue. But even it struggled to survive. Years of heavy losses were borne by a well heeled group of foreign airline shareholders who needed a domestic carrier through which to funnel their foreign visitors.

The irony behind the sad history of Australian aviation is that the Sydney-Melbourne route is one of the most lucrative in the world and provides both Qantas and Virgin with more revenue than any other.

The COVID pandemic was the final straw for Virgin Australia, which fell into administration in April 2020 , but has since been resurrected by American private equity group Bain. It now reportedly turns a profit but its return to the bourse has been delayed.

Along the way there were other collapses, such as Tiger Air — once funded by Singapore Airlines — and Strategic Air.

The writing may have been on the wall for Bogan Air from day one. But that probably won't douse the ambition of some other budding entrepreneur donning the aviator glasses within a year or two.

If only you could make half an airline work.

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