While we're sad to see some of the current Citi Prestige benefits go away like Admirals Club access and 1.6 cent direct
American Airlines redemptions, our favorite travel benefit is here to stay and now even better.
Deals like Europe to the Middle East for $ 1,538.50 and the US to Tokyo for $ 2,172 are exceptionally good value when booked on airlines of the caliber of Etihad and JAL (even after you factor in taxes and fees) and even some of
the American Airlines redemptions don't look too bad considering the good Business Class seats the airline offers.
Clearly it wasn't sustainable for Citibank, and that was only with
American Airlines redemptions.
If you have the Citi Prestige card, then the points are worth 1.33 cents per point when redeeming for travel and 1.6 cents for
American Airlines redemption's.
Another American Airlines redemption to consider with Etihad is an award flight to South America.
Not exact matches
For above - average rewards, a slew of
airline transfer partners and plenty of rewards
redemption options, the Starwood Preferred Guest ® Credit Card from
American Express is hard to beat.
The
American Express Membership Rewards program provides some amazing
redemption options thanks to its 17
airline transfer partners.
From the east coast, using
American AAdvantage miles during their off - peak timeframe is still a solid
redemption but, if you have a lot of SPG Starpoints, considering transferring them to JAL Mileage Bank to book the same flight on
American Airlines for 39,000 miles.
But the best benefit of this card is the 10 percent
redemption rebate program: Every time you book an award flight using your
American Airlines miles, the
airline will give you back 10 percent of the miles you spent, up to 10,000 miles per calendar year.
Best Customer Service —
American Airlines — AAdvantage Best Earning Promotion —
American Airlines — AAdvantage Best Elite Level —
American Airlines — AAdvantage Best
Redemption Ability — TAM Fidelidade Best
Redemption Promotion — Delta Air Lines — SkyMiles Program of the Year —
American Airlines — AAdvantage
Best Award — Cathay Pacific — Asia Miles Best Award
Redemption — Air New Zealand — Airpoints Best Bonus Promotion — Thai Airways — Royal Orchid Plus Best Customer Service —
American Airlines — AAdvantage Best Elite Level — Northwest
Airlines — WorldPerks Best Member Communications — Emirates — Skywards Best Website — Emirates — Skywards Program of the Year — Emirates — Skywards
Program of the Year — Southwest
Airlines — Rapid Rewards Best Elite Program —
American Airlines — AAdvantage Best Promotion — Avianca — LifeMiles Best Customer Service — Southwest
Airlines — Rapid Rewards Best
Redemption Ability — Southwest
Airlines — Rapid Rewards 210 AWARD — Avianca — LifeMiles
Program of the Year — Southwest
Airlines — Rapid Rewards Best Elite Program —
American Airlines — AAdvantage Best Promotion — Southwest Rapid Rewards Best Customer Service — Southwest
Airlines — Rapid Rewards Best
Redemption Ability — Southwest
Airlines — Rapid Rewards 210 AWARD — Avianca — LifeMiles
Best Customer Service — Southwest
Airlines — Rapid Rewards Best Earning Promotion —
American Airlines — AAdvantage Best Elite Level —
American Airlines — AAdvantage Best
Redemption Ability — AviancaTACA LifeMiles Program of the Year —
American Airlines — AAdvantage
Program of the Year — Southwest
Airlines — Rapid Rewards Best Elite Program —
American Airlines — AAdvantage Best Promotion — Avianca — LifeMiles Best Customer Service — Southwest
Airlines — Rapid Rewards Best
Redemption Ability — Avianca — LifeMiles 210 AWARD — Avianca — LifeMiles
You may have to reach the
American Airlines call center in Australia (or another country) for the representative to see availability for business and first class
redemptions.
Best Customer Service — Southwest
Airlines — Rapid Rewards Best Promotion — Avianca — LifeMiles Best Elite Program —
American Airlines — AAdvantage Best
Redemption Ability — Avianca — LifeMiles Program of the Year —
American Airlines — AAdvantage
Countries Visited: 31 Favorite First Class: Etihad Apartment (A380) Favorite Business Class: Singapore
Airlines (777) Best
Redemption Value: BA Travel Together Ticket (First Class) Favorite Type of Points: Chase Ultimate Rewards Top 3 Cards in Wallet: Chase Sapphire Reserve ℠ Card, Chase Ink Business Preferred ℠ & Business Platinum ® Card from
American Express
Here are some sample
redemption rates that include either flights on Qantas or
American Airlines (not both):
Airlines are changing their frequent flier programs in other ways as well:
American Airlines AAL, -0.57 % changed its rewards structure in April (for travel beginning in June) so that for about half the year it will increase its
redemption rate to 30,000 miles, up from the previous 25,000 miles, and on the busiest days will charge 50,000 miles; however, during less busy times, it will lower the rate to 20,000 miles.
This guide highlights some of the best award
redemption opportunities with
American Airline miles.
The
American Express Membership Rewards program provides some amazing
redemption options thanks to its 17
airline transfer partners.
These aren't the best premium cabin
redemptions out there, especially if you are looking to connect on to a further destination (since British Airways charges separately for all flights), but it's not a bad option if you want to experience Japan
Airlines or
American Airlines business or first class.
With a few programs that provide good
redemption rates, you shouldn't have any trouble earning the necessary miles to fly
American Airlines business class.
Bottom Line: Travelers who want more flexible
redemption options might consider the Starwood Preferred Guest ® Credit Card from
American Express, which allows you to transfer points to Alaska
Airlines and has lots of benefits.
American Airlines often has better
redemption rates than Etihad Guest.
Airline cards Co-branded airline cards — such as the American Express Delta SkyMiles, Citi American AAdvantage, Barclaycard American AAdvantage Aviator, and Chase United MileagePlus, Chase Southwest Rapid Rewards — tend to have the fewest redemption o
Airline cards Co-branded
airline cards — such as the American Express Delta SkyMiles, Citi American AAdvantage, Barclaycard American AAdvantage Aviator, and Chase United MileagePlus, Chase Southwest Rapid Rewards — tend to have the fewest redemption o
airline cards — such as the
American Express Delta SkyMiles, Citi
American AAdvantage, Barclaycard
American AAdvantage Aviator, and Chase United MileagePlus, Chase Southwest Rapid Rewards — tend to have the fewest
redemption options.
Citi, Chase and
American Express all allow you to redeem reward points for cruises, usually at the same
redemption rate as for
airline travel.
In general, taxes are low for most
American Airlines award
redemptions.
Using your
American Airlines miles to fly Japan
Airlines in a premium cabin presents another great option for a luxury
redemption with your miles.
From United's eliminating last - minute ticketing fees,
American Airlines allowing one - way mile
redemption, and JetBlue eliminating... Read More...
This is one decent first class
redemption that is still left in
American Airlines» award chart after the 2016 devaluation.
Flights within Australia and New Zealand can be quite expensive and present a good
redemption option for your
American Airlines miles.
Once you know what to look for and where to find it, you'll be on your way to making some world - class award
redemptions with your
American Airlines miles!
Even though you probably aren't as familiar with the Virgin America Elevate program as you are with other
airlines like United and
American, there are clearly some good
redemption options available.
This card has gone through a roller coaster of sorts after several key benefits were removed (among them
American Admirals Club lounge access and a higher
redemption rate of 1.65 cents per point for
American Airlines flights).
Japan
Airlines Mileage Bank miles can provide you the cheapest
redemption option if you want to fly
American Airlines to Paris.
Countries Visited: 22 Favorite First Class: Etihad Apartment (A380) Favorite Business Class: Singapore
Airlines (777) Best
Redemption Value: Singapore Suites from JFK > FRA > SIN Favorite Type of Points:
American Express Membership Rewards Top 3 Cards in Wallet: Chase Sapphire Reserve ℠ Card, Chase Freedom Unlimited ® & The Platinum ® Card from
American Express
For example, did you know that Air Tahiti Nui and Fiji Airways are
redemption partners with
American Airlines putting many popular South Pacific destinations on the map for those looking to redeem miles.
Another benefit that this card touted was a 1.6 cent
redemption for points on
American Airlines when booked through the Citi Travel Rewards Center.
Additionally, the 33 % boost in value for all other
redemptions will be lowered to 25 % for all
airlines (including
American) during this future date.
1.6 cents per point
redemptions on
American Airlines through Travel Center (all flights now at 1.25 cents per point)
Using the
redemption value of 1.6 cents per point for
American Airlines airfare, that 50,000 point bonus is worth $ 800, plus you'll get two calendar years worth of $ 250
airline credits.
Accrued miles can then be used on any
American flight, upgrade, or
redemption travel on a partner
airline, as well as some vacations, car rentals, hotels, and other retail products.
Generally,
American Airlines will have better
redemption rates than Etihad Guest.
To get this award
redemption at this price, you must fly
American Airlines, which allows you to use the first award chart.
The
American Express Membership Rewards program provides some amazing
redemption options thanks to its 17
airline transfer partners.
This guide highlights some of the best award
redemption opportunities with
American Airline miles.
Using Alaska miles to get to the following countries flying
American Airlines is one of the best
redemptions available at 30,000 miles roundtrip (off - peak).
The option for short - haul flights at 15,000 round trip is tied with
American Airlines» short - haul mileage requirement but the difference is that you can use this
redemption for trips up to 1,150 miles!