Book with AAdvantage
Chicago → Madrid
- Low Price
- 72k points + $6
- Broader Availability
- 257k points + $6
Airline rewards program guides 
AIRLINE REWARDS PROGRAM GUIDE
American Airlines AAdvantage
Find business-class opportunities, compare points and fees, and learn how to book American and partner airlines.
Find better flights with your points
BUSINESS CLASS · RESEARCHED EXAMPLEChicagoMadridBook through American Airlines AAdvantage72k points + $6
AAdvantage calls its rewards currency miles. We use “points” for prices and comparisons throughout this site. Transfer instructions and booking-site labels retain their official terminology.
Know the program
AAdvantage at a glance
Best uses
- Include AAdvantage in your search: its Low Prices are often competitive, especially for Mexico, Colombia and selected long-haul routes.
- For Europe, check American-operated flights to London with a British Airways connection onward, while watching for high fees on BA-operated transatlantic flights.
Can you change or cancel?
- Cancel an unused, valid award before departure to get your points back without a fee.
- No award change fee; a different flight may require more points or cash.
Can you hold a flight?
- Eligible awards may offer a short hold. Book by the deadline shown; a points transfer can take longer than the hold.
Business class · one way
What could your points book?
Book with AAdvantage
New York → Marrakech
- Low Price
- 58k points + $13
- Broader Availability
- 58k points + $800
Book with AAdvantage
Los Angeles → Cancún
- Low Price
- 20k points + $63
- Broader Availability
- 90k points + $64
What does Broader Availability mean?
The upper end of the typical award price range. Flights on most dates were available between the Low Price and this amount. Actual prices and availability vary by date.
Researched prices; confirm flights and pricing with the airline. Research details
Example value of your points
Chicago → Madrid · Business Class · One way
Book through American Airlines AAdvantage
Estimated purchase price
$1,800
Book with AAdvantage points
72k points + $6
72k points = $1,794
$1,800 purchase price − $6 fees
2.5 cents per point
Illustrative example. Confirm actual fares and award pricing for your dates.
Build your balance
How to earn AAdvantage points
Transfer Citi ThankYou points
Eligible premium Citi cards: 1,000 points → 1,000 AAdvantage miles.
Citi ThankYou GuideEarn directly with credit cards
Earn AAdvantage miles directly; these are separate from Citi ThankYou points.
Credit card disclosure: We may receive cash, points or other rewards if you apply for a credit card through links on this site and meet the referral or affiliate offer requirements. Disclosure details
Personal · Earns AAdvantage miles directly
Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Legend Mastercard
- Earn 4 miles per dollar on eligible American Airlines purchases.
125,000 welcome bonus miles
Spend $15,000 on purchases in the first 5 months.
Welcome bonus last confirmed Oct 17, 2026
Card details & offer terms
Personal · Earns AAdvantage miles directly
Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard
- Earn 2 miles per dollar at restaurants and gas stations.
80,000 welcome bonus miles
Spend $3,500 on purchases in the first 4 months.
Welcome bonus last confirmed Oct 17, 2026
Card details & offer termsEarn through travel and partners
- oneworld flights: Add your AAdvantage number when booking eligible paid flights on oneworld airlines to earn AAdvantage miles.
- AAdvantage Dining: Join free, link an eligible credit or debit card, and earn miles when you pay at participating restaurants.
- AAdvantage eShopping: Start your online shopping through the portal to earn miles on qualifying purchases from participating stores.
- SimplyMiles: US members can register an eligible Mastercard, activate offers, and pay with the linked card to earn miles.
Partner opportunities
Airlines worth checking
American-operated flights: Explore Mexico, the Caribbean and Latin America through American’s extensive network, especially via Miami.
| Destination focus | What to look for |
|---|---|
| Japan — Japan Airlines | Watch for highly rated business-class service, especially the private suites on its A350-1000. |
| Middle East, India, Maldives and Africa — Qatar Airways | Look for award-winning business class via Doha, particularly flights featuring Qsuite. |
| Morocco — Royal Air Maroc | Reach Morocco via Casablanca using Europe award rates; AAdvantage places Morocco in its Europe award region. |
| Europe — British Airways, Iberia and Finnair | Search your final destination via London, Madrid or Helsinki. |
From search to booking
Find and book on aa.com
- Include partner airlines. Select Redeem miles and enter your full route and traveler count. Keep all airlines included; the American-only option in Advanced search excludes partner flights.
- Open the monthly calendar. From the results, select Calendar and set the cabin to Business / First. Use the month arrows to scan dates; an unfiltered calendar can show economy prices.
- Set the stops filter deliberately. Choose Nonstop only to isolate a direct flight, or allow connections to include partner routings through their hubs. Restricting stops can hide useful options.
- Open a promising date. Review its actual flight options and cash charges. The lowest-points calendar result is not necessarily the lowest total cost; check the cabin on the long flight in a connecting itinerary.
Keep your points working
Managing your points
Points expiration
- Generally, earn or redeem qualifying miles at least once every 24 months.
- Members under 21 and primary AAdvantage credit cardmembers have qualifying exceptions.
Using points for family
- Book for someone else from your account by entering their traveler details; no mileage transfer is needed.
- There is no free household pool. Paid mileage transfers are available, but booking directly from your balance avoids that transfer cost.
Find an AAdvantage opportunity
Sources and review · October 18, 2026
Flight examples use our current pricing research. The value check uses an illustrative cash estimate rounded up to the next $100. It is not a matched live fare quote. Your account and booking terms govern.
- American: using miles and managing awards
- American: partner airlines and award chart
- American: award taxes, partner charges and mileage expiration
- American: cancellation and mileage reinstatement
- American: AAdvantage terms and conditions
- Citi: Strata Elite transfer access
- American: British Airways awards
- American: reservations and hold options
- American: buying, gifting and transferring miles
- American: earning miles
- American: credit card terms
- Skytrax: 2026 business-class awards
- Qatar Airways: Qsuite and aircraft availability
- Japan Airlines: A350-1000 business-class suites
- American: Latin America and Caribbean network
- American: partner award regions
- MileValue: American award-search calendar and filters