Got an AAdvantage credit card issued by Citibank or Barclays? Then you may be entitled to book American award flights for fewer miles.
Holders of the various AAdvantage-affiliated credit cards can book awards to selected U.S. and Canadian destinations at discounted prices. The discount varies, according to the card type.
For the Platinum, World Elite, Select, and other higher-annual-fee cards, first-class award prices are reduced from 25,000 miles to 21,250 miles each way; and coach awards are discounted from 12,500 to 8,750 miles each way. That’s a 15 percent discount for first class and an even heftier 30 percent discount for coach.
For Gold and Aviator Blue cardholders, the first and coach awards are discounted by 10 and 20 percent, to 22,500 and 10,000 miles each way, respectively.
The list of eligible award destinations for the October-January period has just been published. For October, there are 78 discounted cities on the list, with even more available during November. And during January, traditionally an off-peak month for air travel, there are 173 cities listed.
The discounts range from decent, at 10 percent, to compelling, at 30 percent. Most high-demand destinations are absent from the list – no discounts on award flights to Chicago or New York or Orlando, for example. But there are plenty of cities well worth visiting: Austin, Houston, Memphis, New Orleans, Richmond, San Diego, Tucson, and Vancouver.
The discounted awards must be booked by phone. There’s no fee to make the booking via American’s toll-free reservations number, but there will be a $35 service charge for non-Executive Platinum elite members booking at a ticket office or airport location. There is a $75 fee for tickets booked less than 21 days before departure, waived for elite AAdvantage members.
If you have a Citi AAdvantage or a Barclays AAdvantage Aviator card, have a look at the list of discounted award destinations. You might just find a city on your bucket list.
And if you’re thinking of adding an AAdvantage credit card to your collection, consider these discounts among the reasons for doing so.
Reader Reality Check
Have you taken advantage of these award discounts?
After 20 years working in the travel industry, and almost that long writing about it, Tim Winship knows a thing or two about travel. Follow him on Twitter @twinship.
This article first appeared on SmarterTravel.com, where Tim is Editor-at-Large.
I booked an AAdvantage flight back in July. AAirlines changed both ends of my flight. I suggested compensation in the form of an Upgrade or luggage fee cancelled on the flight. They gave me 5,000 miles back. Now , I find out thought would have happened anyway. Shame, shame, Stephanie Sloan in custom relations. One word: upgrade!! Sincerely, Mark Pope
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Are these really new? They’ve been around for years. Only the destinations by month change every quarter or so.
The discounts aren’t new; the destinations are. January’s were just published.
They haven’t charged the $35 fee for booking these since last year unless they reimplemented it. If you get a dumb AA agent (typical) then hang up and try again!
They’re trying to make us feel better. American frequent flyer miles used to be a great program. They have been destroying it for years, especially recently! I hate the current management. They have been the worst!