Category: American Airlines

How to Earn More Miles and Loyalty Points With AAdvantage Hotels

Before you even get to the fun part of redeeming points and miles, there’s the other half of the equation: earning them.

You can’t apply for a new credit card every day. And while the cards you already have might offer some pretty rewarding earning rates, everyday spending doesn’t always build your balance quickly enough to book the trip you have in mind.

That’s why it’s worth keeping a few other ways to earn miles in your back pocket.

My go-to, when I’m not flying, using a shopping portal, or working on a credit card welcome bonus, is AAdvantage Hotels.

AAdvantage Hotels (or AA Hotels, for short) is American Airlines’ hotel booking platform. It’s a third-party online travel agency (OTA) powered by Rocket Travel that lets AAdvantage members book hotel stays and earn redeemable miles and status-qualifying Loyalty Points.

Here’s how it works, plus a few tips for getting more out of the stays you book through AA Hotels.

How AAdvantage Hotels Works

When you book a stay through AAdvantage Hotels, you’ll earn American Airlines miles and Loyalty Points instead of the rewards you’d typically earn by booking directly with a hotel.

Each eligible hotel listing displays how many AAdvantage miles you can earn on the stay. Those miles count toward your Loyalty Points balance, too, so hotel bookings can help you qualify for AAdvantage elite status.

The number of miles and Loyalty Points you earn varies by property, dates, your AAdvantage status, and whether you have an eligible cobranded credit card.

According to American, the earning opportunities break dow like this:

AAdvantage status members: Earn up to 5 times more miles and Loyalty Points on hotels.
AAdvantage credit cardmembers: Earn up to 5 times more miles and Loyalty Points on hotels.
AAdvantage credit cardmembers with status: Earn up to 10 times more miles and Loyalty Points on hotels.

After completing your stay, rewards generally post within a few days, although it can take several weeks.

The tradeoff of booking through AA Hotels

The elephant in the room is the tradeoff. Since AAdvantage Hotels is a third-party booking platform, stays won’t qualify for hotel loyalty points, elite-night credits, or elite benefits through the hotel’s own rewards program. Depending on the rate, you might also have less flexibility, which means stricter change and cancellation policies.

But depending on your goals, that tradeoff might be worth it.

You also don’t necessarily need to be chasing elite status to find value here. Even if you’re primarily interested in redeemable miles, AA Hotels can be a useful way to build your balance through stays you were already planning to book.

Young couple talking and walking through hotel — FG TRADE LATIN / ISTOCK

Tips to Get More Out of Your AAdvantage Hotels Stays

There are a few ways to get more out of your AAdvantage Hotels bookings. Some involve which credit card you use, while others come down to how you structure your reservations and where you are on the AAdvantage elite status hamster wheel.

Pay with an eligible AAdvantage credit card

If you’re looking to earn the most redeemable miles on AAdvantage Hotels stays, paying with a cobranded American Airlines credit card is worth considering.

Several Citi / AAdvantage cards offer bonus miles on eligible bookings:

Credit Card	Miles Earned on Eligible AAdvantage Hotels Purchases
Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Legend Mastercard	12X miles
Citi / AAdvantage Globe Mastercard	6X miles
Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard	3X miles starting Jan. 24, 2027
CitiBusiness / AAdvantage Platinum Select Mastercard	3X miles starting Jan. 24, 2027

These are credit card earning rates, so they’re separate from the miles and Loyalty Points offered by the hotel booking itself.

You’ll also generally earn one Loyalty Point per dollar spent on eligible purchases with these cards.

One important caveat: Hotels booked through American Airlines Vacations or using the “Reserve Now, Pay Later” option aren’t eligible for the additional credit card bonus miles.

The Globe card is particularly interesting because it offers an annual Splurge Credit of up to $100. AAdvantage Hotels is one of the eligible brands you can select for this benefit, meaning you could potentially save $100 on a hotel booking each year.

That’s a useful perk if you’re already planning to book through the platform.

Be aware of the earning cap

A detail worth knowing is that AAdvantage Hotels has an earning cap.

Eligible reservations earn a minimum of 100 base AAdvantage miles per night, but there’s also a maximum of 15,000 base miles per reservation.

That means it’s worth paying attention to how you structure longer stays.

Say you’re booking a six-night hotel stay, and AAdvantage Hotels shows that you’ll earn 15,000 miles for the reservation. Before booking, try searching the same dates as two separate three-night stays.

Depending on the property and available rates, splitting the reservation could allow you to earn more miles and Loyalty Points than booking all six nights together.

Of course, you’ll want to compare the total price, cancellation terms, and any other costs before doing so. Splitting a reservation isn’t automatically the better deal.

And if you’re finding hotels that offer relatively few miles for the price, consider checking other properties or booking directly instead.

Sometimes the juice just isn’t worth the squeeze.

Compare the different room rates

Another tip is to expand the available room rates before booking. The cheapest option isn’t necessarily the worst for earning miles, and the rate offering the most miles isn’t always the best value.

For example, I found several rates for the same three-night stay in Peru, with some pretty significant differences:

Total Price	Redeemable Miles	Loyalty Points*	Rate Details
$569	3,100	3,100	Free cancellation, pay at hotel
$569	14,600	14,600	Nonrefundable
$653	17,600	14,600	Nonrefundable, 3,000 bonus miles
$674	15,000	15,000	Free cancellation, breakfast included

Loyalty Points exclude any additional Loyalty Point Rewards bonuses or eligible credit card spending.

There’s a lot to unpack here, but two things stand out.

First, for the same $569, you could earn either 3,100 or 14,600 miles and Loyalty Points. The catch is that the higher-earning rate is nonrefundable, so you’d be giving up some flexibility.

Second, look at the two nonrefundable rates. For $84 more, you could earn an additional 3,000 redeemable miles, but no additional Loyalty Points.

That’s because AAdvantage Hotels sometimes offers rates labeled “Bonus miles applied.” These bonus miles are redeemable, but they don’t count toward elite status.

All to say, don’t just look at the mileage total. Compare the price, cancellation policy, included benefits, and how many of those miles actually count as Loyalty Points.

Woman exploring architecture in culture during experiential trip to Lima, Peru — OLEH SLOBODENIUK / ISTOCK

Take advantage of Loyalty Point Rewards

Your AAdvantage status can already influence how many miles and Loyalty Points you’re eligible to earn through AAdvantage Hotels.

But there’s another benefit worth knowing about, and it comes through American’s Loyalty Point Rewards program.

Once you earn 60,000 Loyalty Points in a qualification year, you’ll unlock a 25% Loyalty Point bonus on eligible spending with select partners, including AAdvantage Hotels.

The benefit lasts for six months after you unlock and activate it, so timing matters.

Here’s an example of how that works.

Say you have the 25% bonus active and book an AAdvantage Hotels stay offering 10,000 redeemable miles and Loyalty Points.

Once the stay posts to your account, you’d earn:

10,000 redeemable AAdvantage miles
12,500 Loyalty Points, including the 25% bonus

That’s an additional 2,500 Loyalty Points toward your next AAdvantage status threshold or Loyalty Point Reward, without needing to spend more on the hotel itself.

The important distinction is that the bonus applies to Loyalty Points, not redeemable miles. Your redeemable mileage earnings stay the same.

More on This: When Do Airline Miles Expire? Rules for 7 U.S. Airlines

Is Booking Through AAdvantage Hotels Worth It?

It depends on what you’re trying to accomplish.

If you’re working toward AAdvantage elite status or trying to build up your mileage balance for an upcoming redemption, AA Hotels can be an excellent way to earn a substantial number of miles and Loyalty Points without getting on a plane.

But I wouldn’t automatically book every hotel stay through the platform.

If you have elite status with a hotel chain, booking directly might offer more value through points, elite-night credits, upgrades, and other benefits. And even if you don’t have hotel status, it’s worth comparing prices and cancellation policies before committing.

The way I look at it, AAdvantage Hotels is another tool in the toolbox. It won’t make sense for every stay, but when the price is competitive and the mileage earnings are generous, it can be one of the more useful ways to work toward your next award flight or AAdvantage status goal.

November 2, 2026

Fly to Fiji From Just 28,000 American Airlines Miles
If Fiji is on your travel bucket list, you might need fewer American Airlines miles to get there than you think.

Earlier this year (and with little fanfare), American Airlines and Fiji Airways lowered the starting price of economy award tickets on nonstop flights between North America and Fiji from 40,000 to just 28,000 AAdvantage miles each way.

That’s a 30% reduction from the previous pricing floor, and we’re finding plenty of dates with tickets available at the lower rate.

Book Fiji Airways Flights From 28K Miles

The reduced pricing applies to eligible nonstop Fiji Airways flights to Nadi (NAN). In our searches, we’ve found economy tickets starting at 28,000 AAdvantage miles one-way between Fiji and three North American gateways:
- Los Angeles (LAX)
- San Francisco (SFO)
- Vancouver (YVR)
For example, we’re seeing nonstop flights from San Francisco to Nadi for 28,000 miles plus $5.60 in taxes and fees. Coming back the other way, taxes and fees are closer to $117.

POINTSYEAH

The lowest prices are available on select dates, including some close-in departures (flights leaving within the next few days or weeks) and dates during Fiji’s traditionally rainier season, which generally runs from November through April.

It’s also worth knowing that Fiji Airways award pricing through American Airlines is “enhanced,” meaning prices can fluctuate above that floor depending on factors such as demand.

{{ search-widget mode=”flight” }}

One catch is that the 28,000-mile rate is limited to nonstop flights. Adding a connection (say, Phoenix to Los Angeles to Nadi) brings the starting price back to 40,000 miles.

So, you might be able to save miles by booking a separate positioning flight to LAX, SFO, or YVR. Just allow plenty of time between flights.

Prefer to fly up front? Business class awards still start at 80,000 AAdvantage miles each way. Those rates didn’t drop when the economy ones did.

More on This: How to Search for Flights with PointsYeah

How to Get American Airlines Miles

If you don’t have enough AAdvantage miles to book one of these flights, you can earn more with a co-branded American Airlines credit card or by transferring Citi ThankYou Points to American Airlines.

The transfer ratio depends on which Citi card you have. Eligible Citi ThankYou Points-earning cards with annual fees offer 1:1 transfers.
October 29, 2026
Two Citi AAdvantage Cards Are Getting More Expensive (and More Benefits)

Citi and American Airlines are refreshing two cards in the AAdvantage portfolio. And starting January 24, 2027, both will cost more to keep.

The Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard and Citi / AAdvantage Business World Elite Mastercard will each see their annual fees increase from $99 to $150 on that date.

Along with the fee increases, both cards are getting expanded earning rates and a handful of new travel and lifestyle benefits. But the perks that make these cards attractive in the first place (like free checked bags, preferred boarding, and their core American Airlines earning rates) aren’t going anywhere.

What’s New on the Platinum Select Card

The Platinum Select is American Airlines’ card designed for occasional travelers, and the refresh leans into everyday spending and a few lifestyle perks.

Cardholders will earn 3X AAdvantage miles on eligible bookings through AAdvantage Hotels and AAdvantage Cars. The existing 2X gas station category will also expand to include EV charging stations.

New 2X categories include select streaming services and eligible Rides and Rails purchases (including ferries, commuter railways, subways, taxis, limousines, car services, rideshare services, passenger railways, tolls, parking, and bus lines).

The American Airlines flight discount earned after spending $20,000 in a cardmember year and renewing the card will also increase from $125 to $150.

Citi is adding up to $120 toward a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee every four years, plus up to $100 annually in statement credits for inflight purchases. Primary cardmembers will also receive a complimentary annual Walmart+ membership and a 50% discount on an annual FOX One subscription.

New travel protections include trip delay, trip cancellation and interruption, car rental coverage, and lost baggage protection.

What Stays the Same on Platinum Select

Several staple benefits aren’t changing.

Cardholders will continue earning 2X miles on eligible American Airlines purchases and at restaurants, 1X on everything else, and one Loyalty Point for every $1 spent on eligible purchases.

The card also retains up to $180 annually in Turo credits (up to $30 per eligible trip), 10% savings on eligible American Airlines Vacations packages, preferred boarding for the cardmember and up to four companions on the same reservation, and a free first checked bag on domestic American Airlines itineraries for the cardmember and up to four companions.

CITIBANK

What’s New on the Business Card

The Business card’s refresh focuses more on earning flexibility rather than lifestyle perks.

Cardholders will earn 3X miles on eligible AAdvantage Hotels and AAdvantage Cars bookings. They’ll also be able to select one category for 2X miles: U.S. shipping providers, office supply stores, or U.S. advertising services.

Citi is also adding up to $120 toward Global Entry or TSA PreCheck every four years, up to $100 annually in inflight statement credits, 25% off a Melio subscription plan (bill paying software for businesses), and travel protections covering trip cancellation and interruption, lost or damaged baggage, car rentals, and trip delays.

What Stays the Same on the Business Card

The card’s core earning rates aren’t changing. Cardholders will continue earning 2X miles on eligible American Airlines purchases, car rental merchants, gas stations, and telecommunications, cable, and satellite providers, plus 1X on everything else.

Businesses will continue earning one Loyalty Point per dollar of eligible card spending for each cardmember. Primary cardmembers will also keep earning one additional Loyalty Point per dollar spent by authorized users through December 31, 2028.

After spending $30,000 in a cardmember year and renewing the card, cardholders will still receive a $99 American Airlines Companion Certificate for a qualifying domestic round-trip Main Cabin flight.

Preferred boarding for the cardmember and up to four companions on the same reservation, a free first checked bag on domestic American Airlines itineraries (for the cardmember and up to four companions), and 10% savings on eligible American Airlines Vacations packages are all staying on board, too.

What to Do Before January 24, 2027

Nothing is changing with how either card works today.

Cardmembers will get access to the new benefits on January 24, 2027, when the higher annual fees also take effect. Existing cardholders will pay the new fee when their cards renew on or after that date.

That gives you time to try the new benefits and decide whether they’re worth the additional $51 per year.

On the personal side, there are other AAdvantage cards worth considering if the refreshed Platinum Select no longer makes sense. Two sit above it with more benefits and higher annual fees, while the no-annual-fee AAdvantage MileUp offers a cheaper alternative with fewer perks.

On the business side, options are more limited. The Citi / AAdvantage Business card is currently the only AAdvantage business credit card available to new applicants, so there isn’t another Citi AAdvantage business product to move to if the refresh doesn’t appeal to you.

That said, the expanded earning categories are a welcome improvement. Earning flexibility has long been one of the Business card’s weaker points, and these changes help address that, even with the higher annual fee.

Ultimately, refresh or not, it’s worth periodically reviewing the cards in your wallet to make sure you’re getting enough value from their benefits to justify keeping them.

October 27, 2026
When Do Airline Miles Expire? Rules for 7 U.S. Airlines

Do airline miles expire? It depends on which loyalty program you’re using.

Most major U.S. airlines have eliminated mileage expiration. This means you don’t have to worry about losing your rewards just because you haven’t flown in a while. But a few programs still have expiration rules, and they’re not all the same.

Here’s how mileage expiration works across seven U.S. airline loyalty programs, including what you can do to keep your points and miles from disappearing.

American Airlines AAdvantage

American Airlines AAdvantage miles expire after 24 months without qualifying account activity.

Fortunately, keeping your miles alive is fairly easy. Earning or redeeming miles resets the clock, including through eligible partner activity (like using the AAdvantage eShopping portal, for example) or by buying, gifting, or transferring miles.

There are also two important exceptions. Members under 21 are exempt from mileage expiration until they turn 21. And if you’re the primary cardmember on an open AAdvantage co-branded credit card, your miles won’t expire under the standard 24-month rule.

United MileagePlus

United MileagePlus miles don’t expire, regardless of how long your account has been inactive.

As long as your MileagePlus account remains open and in good standing, your miles won’t go anywhere. There’s no activity requirement to keep them.

Delta SkyMiles

Delta SkyMiles don’t expire, either.

You can go years without earning or redeeming miles and still keep your balance. However, Delta can close accounts under certain circumstances, which may result in forfeiting any remaining miles.

As long as your account remains open and in good standing, there’s no mileage expiration deadline to worry about.

Southwest Rapid Rewards

Southwest Rapid Rewards points don’t expire.

Like United and Delta, Southwest doesn’t require you to earn or redeem points periodically to keep them active.

However, closing your Rapid Rewards account will result in forfeiting any points you haven’t redeemed. So if you have a balance, keep the account open even if you’re not flying Southwest regularly.

JetBlue TrueBlue

JetBlue TrueBlue points never expire.

There’s no inactivity requirement, so you don’t need to book flights or earn additional points just to preserve your balance.

Alaska Airlines Atmos Rewards

Atmos Rewards points don’t expire.

That policy carried over when Alaska Airlines introduced Atmos Rewards and replaced its former Mileage Plan program.

Although accounts may be locked after extended inactivity and require identity verification to regain access, the points themselves don’t expire.

So there’s no need to earn or redeem points periodically just to keep your balance. Just make sure you can still access your account when you’re ready to use them.

Breeze Breezy Rewards

Breeze Airways is a notable exception. BreezePoints expire 24 months after they’re issued, regardless of whether you’ve had other account activity since then.

That means earning more points won’t reset the expiration date on your existing balance. Each batch of points has its own 24-month validity period, and Breeze uses your oldest points first when you redeem them.

There is one way around this: Primary cardmembers with an open Breeze Easy Visa account in good standing are exempt from points expiration. If you close the card, the points remaining in your account receive a new 24-month expiration period beginning on the closure date.

October 26, 2026
American Airlines Offers Business Travelers Up to 50,000 Bonus Miles
American Airlines has launched a new promotion offering eligible business travelers up to 50,000 bonus AAdvantage miles on flights through the end of 2026.

The offer awards 5,000 bonus miles per eligible flight segment to or from the New York City area, Los Angeles, or Chicago.

The promotion appears to be targeted at select corporate and AAdvantage Business travelers, so not every AAdvantage member will qualify.

How to Earn 5,000 Bonus Miles Per Flight

Eligible travelers must register, book, and complete their flights by December 31, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. CT.

The promotion covers flights to or from five airports:
- New York Kennedy (JFK)
- New York LaGuardia (LGA)
- Newark (EWR)
- Los Angeles (LAX)
- Chicago O’Hare (ORD)
You’ll earn 5,000 bonus miles per eligible segment, up to a maximum of 50,000 miles. For example, a nonstop round trip between Los Angeles and Dallas would earn 10,000 bonus miles.

A few restrictions apply:
- Registration is required before booking. Previously ticketed flights won’t qualify.
- Only American-marketed flights qualify. Basic Economy tickets and flights booked with miles are excluded.
- Business travel identifiers are required. Corporate travelers must have their company’s identifiers attached to their reservations and AAdvantage Business travelers must have their business account information included.
Worth noting: bonus miles won’t count as Loyalty Points, so they won’t help you qualify for elite status.

Check Your Eligibility Before Booking

Having an AAdvantage Business account or booking through a corporate travel program doesn’t necessarily guarantee eligibility, so you’ll need to log in and check your account.

If you’ve received the offer, it’s worth registering before booking any qualifying flights. A couple of business trips could earn you thousands of additional AAdvantage miles.
October 15, 2026
American Airlines Plans Its Largest Admirals Club Yet in Charlotte

American Airlines is planning a massive new Admirals Club at Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT). And once it opens, it’ll be the largest Admirals Club in the airline’s network.

The new lounge will span more than 40,000 square feet. Construction is expected to begin later this year, although American hasn’t announced an opening date.

The Oct. 6 announcement follows plans unveiled last August to expand American’s lounge footprint at Charlotte, including opening the airport’s first Flagship lounge.

A Massive New Admirals Club in Charlotte

The new Admirals Club will occupy the mezzanine level overlooking Charlotte’s central atrium.

American says the lounge will have separate areas for dining, working, and relaxing, along with bars, food service areas, and spa-style shower suites. The design will also incorporate elements inspired by Charlotte’s tree canopy and textile heritage.

Charlotte is American’s second-largest hub, where the airline operates more than 650 flights on peak days to over 180 destinations across 27 countries. Given the number of passengers connecting through the airport, the additional space should be a massive improvement and help ease crowding at American’s existing lounges.

What Happens to Charlotte’s Existing Lounges?

American currently operates Admirals Clubs in Concourses B and C/D, along with its newer Provisions by Admirals Club location near Gate A1.

All three locations will remain open during construction. However, American hasn’t said what will happen to them once the new lounge opens.

There’s also the matter of Charlotte’s first Flagship lounge, which will offer a more premium experience for eligible international premium cabin passengers and certain elite members. American hasn’t announced where that lounge will be located or when it might open.

October 6, 2026
American Airlines Is Adding Cash and Miles Bookings

In the near future, American Airlines will introduce another payment method for booking flights: cash and miles.

American announced on October 2 that “in the coming weeks eligible AAdvantage members will be able to combine cash and miles when booking flights on aa.com and American’s digital app.”

Even though this feature isn’t live yet, American has already published enough details to give us a pretty good idea of how it’ll work.

Cash and Miles Will Show Up During Checkout

There won’t be a separate cash and miles search.

Instead, members will log in to an AAdvantage account and search for flights using cash as usual. After selecting a flight and getting through the trip insurance prompt, American will display any available cash and miles options.

A slider will let members choose from the available combinations. Move the slider, the price updates, and whatever is left gets paid in cash.

But American’s cash and miles terms reveal that there won’t necessarily be a single exchange rate between AAdvantage miles and dollars.

The airline says the rate can vary depending on the destination, itinerary, flight, or service. American will also decide which combinations of cash and miles are offered, and those choices can vary based on how many miles are in an account.

So, 10,000 miles could theoretically knock a different amount off one ticket than another. We won’t know what those numbers actually look like until cash and miles bookings go live.

It’s also not yet clear whether the option will be limited to flights operated by American and American Eagle or extend to eligible partner-operated flights booked through American.

TYLER GLATT / POINTS INSIDER

You’ll Still Earn Miles and Loyalty Points

Using miles to cover part of a ticket won’t stop the remaining cash portion from earning AAdvantage miles.

American says members will earn base miles (and therefore Loyalty Points) on the part paid in cash. That includes the base fare and carrier-imposed fees, but not government taxes and fees.

There are a few other quirks buried in the terms. Taxes and fees always have to be paid in cash, and cash and miles won’t necessarily be available for every destination, fare, itinerary, flight, or seat.

Once one of these tickets is booked, it can’t be changed, either. If plans change, the reservation needs to be canceled and booked again.

If a ticket is eligible for a refund, the miles go back to the AAdvantage account. The cash portion follows the normal rules for the fare.

More on This: How to Change an American Airlines Award Flight Online

How Useful This Is Comes Down to the Math

For someone sitting on, say, 15,000 AAdvantage miles without enough to cover an entire flight, cash and miles gives that balance another potential use. Those miles could instead knock down the cash price of an eligible ticket.

Whether that’s worth doing is a question for a little bit later on.

American already made clear that the value of those miles can change from one booking to another. Until the feature goes live, we don’t know whether using 10,000 miles might save $100, $150, or something else entirely, for better or worse.

But once cash and miles starts appearing on aa.com and in the American app, we’ll check some actual flights and see what American is offering.

October 2, 2026
United and American Are Using Starlink to Try to Win Over Delta Elites
Airline status matches aren’t anything new. But using better onboard Wi-Fi as the reason to uproot and switch loyalty programs is.

United Airlines launched a limited-time status match aimed specifically at Delta and American elites, and there’s really no ambiguity about how it’s pushing the offer.

On the landing page, big, bold font reads, “Don’t keep buffering: switch to United and get the fastest Wi-Fi in the sky.”

But United isn’t the only airline making a play for Delta elites right now.

American is also promoting a status match that includes Delta members, along with elites from United, JetBlue, and Southwest. And while American doesn’t have Starlink onboard yet, nor does its status match really emphasize Starlink at all, it’s taking the moment to try to woo travelers anyway.

The timing isn’t the least bit random.

Delta is taking a different approach to its next generation of onboard Wi-Fi. The airline selected Amazon Leo, which won’t begin rolling out until 2028. That decision generated plenty of chatter on social media this week, and United and American are now trying to capitalize on the moment.

More on This: Airline Status Matches Can Turn One Elite Status Into Another

United Is Making Wi-Fi the Reason to Switch

United isn’t disguising this as a routine status match.

The offer is built around Starlink, which United is already rolling out across its fleet. Eligible Delta and American elites have through October 22 to apply and submit proof of their existing status.

If approved, the corresponding United Premier status kicks in for 90 days.

Keeping it through January 31, 2028, comes down to how much is spent on United or United Express flights during that period:
- Premier Silver requires $1,500
- Premier Gold requires $3,000
- Premier Platinum requires $4,500
- Premier 1K requires $7,000
The status match itself isn’t particularly unusual. Airlines have used them for years to give another carrier’s best customers a relatively painless way to switch allegiances.

And with this offer, United is betting that its onboard experience, and faster Wi-Fi specifically, might be enough to get some Delta and American elites to give it a try.

American Wants Delta Elites, Too

American’s pitch isn’t nearly as pointed.

Its current status-match offer is open to eligible elites from Delta, United, JetBlue, and Southwest. Delta members can match all the way from Silver Medallion to AAdvantage Gold, up through Diamond Medallion to Executive Platinum.

Approved members get four months of matched AAdvantage status through American’s Instant Status Pass. Keeping it requires hitting a Loyalty Point target every four months, with thresholds ranging from 13,000 Loyalty Points for Gold to 67,000 for Executive Platinum.

There’s no formal deadline to apply.

Unlike United, though, American isn’t selling its status match on Starlink. It can’t quite do that yet.

Starlink installations aren’t scheduled to begin until the first quarter of 2027. But once they do, American plans to equip more than 500 Airbus narrowbody aircraft, including its A321neos and new A321XLRs. It’s not yet known if or when the airline plans to extend that coverage to its Boeing 737 and 787 fleets.

So, for now, United is the only one of the two that can legitimately use Starlink as part of the pitch. But both airlines are courting Delta elites at the same time they’re making Starlink part of their onboard experience.

Whether Wi-Fi is actually enough to convince someone to change airline loyalty programs is another question. United, at least, seems interested in finding out.
October 2, 2026
3 New Europe Flights to Book With Points This Week

American, Delta, and United are all adding new transatlantic flights next year. And a look at the schedules and current pricing turned up three worth knowing about this week, including a trip to Portugal from just 21,000 miles.

Boston to Porto From 21,000 American Miles

American is adding a new flight from Philadelphia (PHL) to Porto (OPO) next year, one of several new routes that will use its Airbus A321XLR.

But Philadelphia doesn’t have to be the starting point to get that price.

POINTSYEAH

On March 29, for example, American is selling an itinerary from Boston (BOS) to Porto for 21,000 AAdvantage miles plus $5.60 in economy. The trip connects in Philadelphia before continuing on American’s new nonstop to Portugal.

Change the date to April 4, and the same 21,000-mile price is available out of Los Angeles (LAX).

This route inaugurates on March 28.

Newark to Luxembourg From 36,000 United Miles

United’s new flight from Newark (EWR) to Luxembourg (LUX) is one of the more unusual additions to next summer’s transatlantic map.

It’s already bookable with MileagePlus miles, too.

POINTSYEAH

On April 28, the nonstop costs 40,000 United miles plus $5.60 in economy. Eligible United cardholders can book the same flight for 36,000 miles plus $5.60.

Luxembourg probably isn’t the first airport that comes to mind for a trip to Europe. But its location is part of the appeal. The country borders France, Germany, and Belgium, putting the new nonstop within easy reach of several places that might otherwise require a connection anyway.

This route takes off on on April 2.

Detroit to Athens From 29,700 Delta Miles

Delta is adding the first nonstop flight between Detroit (DTW) and Athens (ATH) next summer beginning on June 8, and seats are already bookable with SkyMiles.

POINTSYEAH

On July 20, Main Basic starts at 35,000 SkyMiles plus $6 one way. Eligible Delta cardholders get a 15% discount through TakeOff 15, dropping the price to 29,700 miles plus $6.

There is a tradeoff for taking the cheaper option, though.

Main Basic charges a fee to cancel or change the ticket, doesn’t include advance seat selection, and charges for the first checked bag. Main Classic on the same flight costs 45,800 miles, or 38,900 miles with the cardholder discount, and offers more flexibility, advance seat selection, and a free checked bag.

That’s a difference of 9,200 miles for cardholders. On a trip being booked nearly 10 months ahead, paying more miles for the extra flexibility could make a good amount of sense.

Search for Your Own Trip

These prices are snapshots of a moment in time and can move up or down as the wind blows. Changing the dates, departure airport, or cabin can also produce very different results.

That’s particularly useful with new routes. United’s Luxembourg flight starts in Newark, while American’s new Porto nonstop starts in Philadelphia. But as the Boston and Los Angeles examples show, itineraries don’t necessarily have to start there.

{{ search-widget mode=”flight” }}

September 28, 2026
American and STARLUX Are Working Toward Mileage Redemptions

American Airlines and STARLUX have officially launched their codeshare partnership. But for anyone with American miles, the more interesting part is what could come next.

American says the airlines are working toward mileage redemptions and additional benefits. If that happens, STARLUX would become another way to use AAdvantage miles to get to Asia.

That’s already one of the more useful aspects of American’s program. AAdvantage miles can be used on American’s own flights across the Pacific, along with partners including Japan Airlines and Cathay Pacific. Malaysia Airlines can help with trips farther into Southeast Asia, while Qantas opens up additional possibilities through Australia.

STARLUX could add another piece to that network, with flights from several U.S. cities to Taipei and connections throughout Asia.

More on This: Where Everyone Wanted to Go Abroad This Summer, According to PointsYeah Search Data

STARLUX Redemptions Aren’t Available Yet

The codeshare is the first step. American is now selling select STARLUX flights from Los Angeles (LAX), Ontario (ONT), San Francisco (SFO), and Seattle (SEA) to Taipei (TPE), with Phoenix (PHX) expected to follow pending approval.

AAdvantage members can earn miles and Loyalty Points when those STARLUX flights are sold under an American flight number.

What isn’t possible yet is booking a STARLUX flight with AAdvantage miles.

American says the airlines will work together on future opportunities including “mileage redemption and additional travel benefits,” but hasn’t said when that will happen, what flights will be available, or how many miles they’ll cost.

STARLUX isn’t the only potential addition, either. Philippine Airlines is preparing to join Oneworld, the airline alliance that includes American, Japan Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Qantas, and several other carriers. Its membership should eventually create another way to use American miles for flights in Asia.

There’s plenty left to learn about both additions. But the direction is pretty interesting. AAdvantage already offers several ways to cross the Pacific using miles, and that list looks likely to get longer.

September 25, 2026