If you have a pile of American Airlines AAdvantage miles, the natural question is what they’re worth. The honest answer: there’s no fixed price. American doesn’t put a cash value on your miles, and what they’re worth to you depends on whether you’ll actually use them, when, and how.
Here’s what makes AAdvantage miles more or less useful, why plenty of people would rather have the cash now, and how to find out exactly what MilesFlipper will pay for yours.
There’s No Official Cash Value for AAdvantage Miles
American’s own AAdvantage terms and conditions say flight award tickets “have no cash value,” and that “required miles and fees are subject to change with or without notice.” In other words, a mile isn’t a coin with a number stamped on it. It’s only worth what you can book with it when you go to use it, or what someone will pay you for it today.
That’s why “what are my miles worth?” really means “what are they worth to me?”
What Makes Your Miles More or Less Useful
Award prices change with the date and flight
American no longer charges one set number of miles for a route. On its page for using miles on American flights, the airline says “mileage levels vary by date and flight” and that the award level is shown “based on availability” when you book. The terms add that an award for the last seat on a flight “may require more AAdvantage miles to redeem than a typical flight award.” So the same balance can go a long way on a quiet travel day and much less far around holidays or popular dates.
Award seats on partners can be hard to find
AAdvantage miles can also book flights on oneworld and other partner airlines. But American’s terms note that partner awards “may be subject to special limitations on seating availability.” If you can’t find a seat on the dates you need, your miles just sit there.
Taxes and fees still come out of your pocket
Award tickets aren’t free. American says flight awards come “plus any applicable taxes and carrier-imposed fees” (aa.com), and the terms make the member responsible for applicable surcharges, departure taxes and other fees. On some routes, that can be a real cash cost on top of the miles.
Miles expire if your account goes quiet
Under the AAdvantage terms, if your account has no qualifying activity in any 24-month period, “all miles in the account will expire.” Qualifying activity includes earning or redeeming miles, and each qualifying activity pushes the expiration date out another 24 months. Expired miles can only be reactivated for a fee, and only within a limited window after they expire. Miles that lapse are worth nothing to anyone.
The rules can change
American’s terms also say the airline “may modify the Terms at any time.” Changes to how many miles an award costs rarely work in members’ favor, so a balance you’re saving for “someday” can buy less by the time someday comes.
Why Many People Would Rather Have Cash Now
Using miles on a trip you really want is great if it happens. But a lot of balances never turn into that trip. Selling can make more sense when:
- You don’t fly American much. If you rarely fly from an American hub, your miles may sit unused for years.
- You can’t find award seats. Availability on the dates you need isn’t guaranteed.
- Your account has been quiet. Cash in hand beats miles that could expire.
- You’d rather have money. Cash pays for anything, including a cheaper paid fare on another airline.
- You don’t want to bet on future award prices. Cash today doesn’t lose value when a program changes its rules.
The fair comparison isn’t against a dream trip you may never take. It’s against what you’d realistically do with the miles, which for many people is nothing.
One more thing to know: American’s AAdvantage terms say rewards and benefits “cannot be sold, advertised for sale or bartered,” and that violating the terms “can lead to loss of AAdvantage Rewards and Benefits and termination of your AAdvantage account.” Read more in our guide, Is It Legal to Sell Airline Miles?
How MilesFlipper Buys AAdvantage Miles
If you decide selling is right for you, the process is simple:
- Request a free quote. Tell us you have AAdvantage miles and how many you want to sell.
- Get our offer. Our prices are based on current market demand, and larger balances generally get better offers.
- Accept, and we guide you. We walk you through each step.
- Get paid. Payment goes out by PayPal the same business day, with international wire also available.
There’s no obligation. If the offer doesn’t work for you, keep your miles. Learn more on our Sell American Airlines Miles page.
Find Out What Your Miles Are Worth to You
The only number that matters is the one you’ll actually get. Request a free quote and see what we’ll pay for your AAdvantage miles today. Questions first? Contact our team or call (888) 921-3547.