American Airways has rolled out a brand new approach to redeem AAdvantage miles, which ought to show helpful for a lot of, particularly for individuals who solely acquire miles casually. Whereas this rolled out on mainline flights as of this spring, this has now been expanded to regional jets, so let’s cowl all the main points.
Buy purchase on board objects with AAdvantage miles
American AAdvantage now lets members redeem their miles to buy drinks and snacks on all eligible flights. The method is easy — members simply must share their boarding move with a flight attendant, who will scan the move and pull from the AAdvantage account mileage stability. So it seems like a reasonably seamless course of.
Every AAdvantage mile is value one cent towards a purchase order, and objects for buy vary in price from 500 miles to 1,600 miles. As a reminder, American expenses $9-10 for beer, $10 for spirits, and $10-11 for wine. Snacks vary in price from $5-16.
Alcoholic drinks can be found for buy on flights of over 250 miles, whereas snacks can be found for buy on flights of over 1,100 miles. The power to pay with miles now works on each American mainline flights and American Eagle regional jet flights.
This can be a good growth, and it follows American not too long ago bettering its purchase on board food and drinks choice. Nevertheless, the airline nonetheless has a approach to go to meet up with carriers like Alaska and United.
Is redeeming AAdvantage miles onboard value it?
Personally, I worth AAdvantage miles at 1.5 cents every, whereas this redemption alternative solely presents 1.0 cents of worth per mile. Due to this fact this isn’t how I’d need to redeem my AAdvantage miles.
That being mentioned, I feel that is really a reasonably compelling redemption alternative for a lot of. Needless to say most individuals solely earn miles casually, and would possibly fly an airline a few times per yr.
If you happen to’re not in any other case engaged in a loyalty program, and aren’t utilizing an American co-branded bank card on your spending, then with the ability to get a free drink or snack is a pleasant approach to get some worth out of your miles, and it additionally offers instantaneous gratification. It’s actually higher than letting miles expire.
Put one other approach, AAdvantage members earn a minimal of 5x miles per greenback spent. So in case you spend $200 on a ticket you’ll earn 1,000 miles, and that’s sufficient for a free drink in your subsequent flight. That’s higher than nothing, I’d say!
Backside line
American AAdvantage now lets members redeem their miles for onboard meals and beverage purchases, on the price of 1 cent per mile. With purchase on board choices costing $5-16, meaning you possibly can anticipate to pay 500-1,600 AAdvantage miles for objects.
Whereas this isn’t how I’d select to redeem my miles, it’s a helpful alternative for individuals who casually acquire AAdvantage miles, and who wouldn’t in any other case earn a significant variety of rewards. Now if solely American would really enhance its collection of purchase on board objects…
What do you make of redeeming AAdvantage miles for purchase on board objects?
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