AAdvantage FAQs

AAdvantage MileSAAver® and AAnytime® Awards (valid on American, American Eagle and AmericanConnection only)	5,411,769
Upgrade Awards	590,195
Product Redemptions (American Airlines Vacations, Magazines etc.)	604,769
Special Mileage Awards / Other Airline Awards / Other	938,003
Total Redemptions - 2011	7,544,736

Note: with the implementation of One-Way Flex Awards, AAdvantage awards are now reported as one-way awards

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2. Enroll In AAdvantage Program

Q:	How should I enter my name on the enrollment form? Am I able to use a nickname?
A:	You should enter your name exactly as it appears on your government issued photo ID.

Q:	What address should I enter?
A:	You may enter a home or business address. Whichever you decide to enter will be the mailing address that American Airlines uses for all correspondence.

Q:	When will I receive my AAdvantage card?
A:	Your AAdvantage card will be sent out approximately 4-6 weeks after your first activity is posted to your account.

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3. Managing Your AAdvantage Account

Q:	I have questions concerning my AAdvantage account. Where do I go?
A:	Select the My Account link from the top of the home page and log in. The AAdvantage Account tab includes your current mileage balance and other account information. If you still have unanswered questions, please contact the AAdvantage Desk at 1-800-882-8880 or your elite Service Desk.

Q:	Where can I locate my mileage information?
A:	Login with your AAdvantage number and valid password then click on the 'My Account' link at the top of the page.

Q:	How often is my mileage information updated?
A:	For travel on American Airlines your AAdvantage mileage information is updated within 2-3 days from the date of travel. Mileage postings for other AAdvantage participants are updated every 30 days. Occasionally miles will take longer to post.

Q:	What's the difference between "Miles with No Expiration" and Miles with "Expiration Deferred"?
A:	Miles with No Expiration are miles earned for transactions up to June 30, 1989 by members enrolled in the AAdvantage program prior to January 20, 1989. Miles with Expiration Deferred are miles earned for transactions on or after July 1, 1989, which has not expired.

Q:	When do "Miles with Expiration Deferred" expire?
A:	Your AAdvantage miles do not expire as long as you have qualifying account activity at least once every 18 months. Qualifying account activity is defined as any AAdvantage mileage accrual or AAdvantage award redemption.

Q:	How can I keep my miles active so they don't expire?
A:	All you need to do is earn or redeem miles on American Airlines, AmericanConnection, American Eagle, or an AAdvantage participant at least once every 18 months, and your mileage expiration date will automatically be extended for an additional 18 months from the date of your most recent account activity.

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4. Earning Miles

How can I earn AAdvantage miles?

Earn AAdvantage miles when you fly on American Airlines or any of the participating airlines, travel and non-travel companies and more. To view a list of all the companies participating in the AAdvantage program, go to the home page, select Partners&Mileage Programs from the AAdvantage menu.

You can also use the Mileage Maximier, an interactive tool which allows you to calculate mileage-earning opportunities to see just how quickly your AAdvantage account can grow. Of course you can earn miles by flying, but the Mileage Maximizer will show you other ways to quickly boost the number of miles in your account. And move you closer to that dream vacation. Check out the Mileage Maximizer at www.aa.com/max.

Q:	How do I receive mileage credit for flights?
A:	Just remember to provide your AAdvantage number when you make your reservation or when checking in for your flight. You also should keep your ticket receipt and boarding pass(es) until you see the flight miles on your AAdvantage summary.

Q:	If I purchase a ticket for another passenger, who receives the miles?
A:	The person who actually travels on that ticket is the one that is eligible to earn mileage credit.

Why didn't my flight mileage post?

If you did not provide your AAdvantage number either when you made your reservation or when you checked in at the airport, your miles will not post automatically. Also, the name on the ticket must match the name on your AAdvantage account, and will not credit if the name is spelled differently.

It is also possible that your flight was not eligible for mileage credit. If you have questions on eligibility, please call AAdvantage Customer Service at 1-800-882-8880 and ask for AAdvantage Accounts.

How do I receive mileage credit from the Citibank AAdvantage Card?

Your mileage should begin posting to your account within eight - ten weeks of the first purchase using your card. Subsequently, miles will post to your account within 30 days of your Citibank billing date for each month that you have eligible purchases.

In order to receive mileage credit, you must be the primary account holder with Citibank, and the name on your bill must match the name on your AAdvantage account.

When setting up your account with Citibank, be sure that you give the correct AAdvantage account number.

If you have any other questions about earning AAdvantage miles with the Citibank AAdvantage Card, you may contact Citibank at 1-888-766-2484.

Q:	How long does it take for my Citibank AAdvantage miles to post?
A:	Your miles will be credited to your account within 30 days from your Citibank billing date.

Q:	What should I do if my miles are being posted to the wrong AAdvantage account number?
A:	Contact Citibank at 1-888-766-2484 to have your account corrected. Please allow up to 60 days for mileage credit to begin appearing in the correct account. This applies to mileage posted from the time of the correction forward, not for previous postings. Mileage previously posted will remain in the account to which it was posted.

Q:	Why have I stopped earning miles for my Citibank purchases?
A:	Perhaps you have reached your annual earning maximum or you have a credit to your account for returned merchandise. In the case of returned merchandise, when your new purchases exceeds the amount of returned merchandise, mileage posting will resume.

How do I receive mileage credit for my hotel stay?

To receive mileage credit when paying an eligible rate at a participating location, just remember to provide your AAdvantage number when you make your reservation or when you check in. In order to receive credit, you must reserve the room in your name and stay overnight. Only one member per room will be credited with AAdvantage miles.

If your hotel participates in the AAdvantage Incentive Miles program, they will either issue a voucher to you or send credit electronically. If you receive a voucher, please complete the required information and then mail it to the address on the voucher. After the voucher is received, your mileage will be posted within eight weeks. If the mileage is electronically submitted, please allow up to eight weeks from the transaction date for your mileage to post.

Note: Some participating hotels may have additional requirements in order to accrue AAdvantage miles.

Q:	How long does it take for hotel miles to post?
A:	Your mileage credit should be automatically posted to your account within 30 days of your stay if your AAdvantage number was provide at the time you made your reservation or at check in.

Q:	How do I receive mileage credit for renting a car?
A:	To receive mileage credit when paying an eligible rate at a participating location, just remember to provide your AAdvantage number when you make your reservation with the car rental company or at the time of pickup.

Q:	How long does it take for my rental car miles to post?
A:	Your mileage credit should be automatically posted within 30 days of the rental if your AAdvantage number was provided at the time of booking or pickup.

Q:	How do I receive miles from the AAdvantage Dining program?
A:	You can register up to three credit or debit cards with the AAdvantage Dining program. Then, when you use the card at participating restaurants, you earn five AAdvantage miles for every dollar you spend. View more information about the AAdvantage Dining Program.

Q:	How do I earn miles for an American Airlines Vacations package?
A:	You can earn AAdvantage miles for traveling on select American Airlines Vacations packages. To receive mileage credit, just remember to provide your AAdvantage number when you make your reservation with American Airlines Vacations.

Q:	Whom should I contact if my American Airlines Vacation miles have not posted?
A:	If mileage from an eligible American Airlines Vacations package has not been posted, please call American Airlines Vacations at 1-800-321-2121. To find out more information about American Airlines Vacations, visit www.aavacations.com.

Q:	Where do I locate the rules for Earning AAdvantage Miles?
A:	In the 'AAdvantage' section, click on Program Details and go to AAdvantage Terms & Conditions.

Q:	Can I transfer my miles to another carrier's program?
A:	You will not be able to transfer mileage you accumulate in the AAdvantage program to any other carrier's program, nor can you transfer mileage you accumulate in another carrier's program to the AAdvantage program.

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5. Missing Mileage Credit

How do I request mileage credit that hasn't been applied to my account?

To request miles for American Airlines fights, select 'AAdvantage' from the AA.com navigation menu, then select Request Mileage Credit. Complete the form with all applicable information and submit.

For Participant Airline Mileage Credit requests, visit Request Mileage Credit and follow the instructions provided.

For Non-Airline Mileage Credit requests (i.e. cars, hotels, restaurants, retail establishments, etc), visit our Non-Air Mileage Credit section. This area provides a list of Non-Airline AAdvantage participant companies and directions on how to request missing mileage credit from specific Non-Airline AAdvantage participants.

Where can I find my ticket number?

The ticket number may be located as follows depending on the documentation you have:

Passenger Receipt - located on the bottom center of the page under Airline Form Serial Number.

Electronic Ticket - located on the itinerary & receipt that was faxed or mailed to you.

Credit Card Statement - If you paid by credit card, it is located in the description field of your credit card bill.

Canceled Check - if you paid by check, it is located on the back of the canceled check.

Travel Agent - if you purchased your ticket through a travel agent, contact the travel agent for the ticket number. The ticket number is 13 digits and begins with 001.

Q:	How long should I wait before I request my mileage credit?
A:	You should wait a minimum of 15 days from the completion date of your trip. For mileage credit transactions with other partners, allow a minimum of 30 days from the transaction. Any request for mileage not credited to your account must be requested within 12 months of the activity. Activity prior to your enrollment date is not eligible for mileage credit.

Q:	Once I request the mileage credit, how long will it take to be applied to my account?
A:	Allow up to 10 days for AA mileage credit. Partner airline mileage requests are generally credited within 30 days. To verify a posting, please check your AAdvantage Account online in 30 days. For many partner airlines, you can also view the status of your mileage request online.

Q:	If I submit a written request for missing mileage, how long will it take for the miles to post?
A:	After you have submitted a written request, please allow six weeks to see the mileage reflected on your account for American Airlines flights. Other participant mileage credit may take up to 12 weeks to appear on your statement. If you require a faster response and travel was on American Airlines, you can submit an online Mileage Request at AA.com. Mileage should be posted within 7 business days.

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6. AAdvantage Promotions, Registration and Bonus Offers

Q:	How do I register for an AAdvantage promotion?
A:	Login with your AAdvantage number and valid password. Go to 'AAdvantage' and click on 'AAdvantage Bonus Offers'.

Q:	I have tried to register online and it will not accept the promotional code - what now?
A:	If you are eligible to register for the promotion and have tried to register unsuccessfully, call AAdvantage Customer Service at 1-800-882-8880 and select "AAdvantage Account" and ask for an agent for specific information on the AAdvantage promotional code.

Q:	Where do I get the promotional code?
A:	American Airlines uses a variety of ways to promote specials. You may be able to view them via AA.com, you may have received it in the mail or via a email from American Airlines or received information from our participants such as hotels, car rentals, and special services.

Q:	Where do I go to see a listing of the promotions for earning bonus miles?
A:	Login with your AAdvantage number and valid password. Go to 'AAdvantage' and click on 'AAdvantage Bonus Offers'.

Q:	Do I have to register to get credit for this promotion?
A:	Many of our AAdvantage promotions do require registration. For further information, refer to the original promotional offer.

Q:	What if I didn't get credit for the promotion that I registered for?
A:	If your bonus miles have not been posted after you have registered for a promotion and met the criteria for the bonus offer, please e-mail AAdvantage Customer Service by clicking on "Contact AA" at the top of any page. You may also call AAdvantage Customer Service at 1-800-882-8880 in the U.S. and Canada (ask for AAdvantage Accounts) or contact your local reservation office.

If I am offered a bonus, when will it post to my account?

Normally bonus miles for American Airlines flights will credit at the time the flight miles post to your account. However, if the offer requires you to meet several qualifying conditions, the bonus will post only after all conditions have been met.

Example: If the bonus offer requires you to purchase and fly three round-trips in First or Business Class between Los Angeles and Miami, you will receive the bonus miles only after all three round-trips in First or Business Class have been completed and have posted to your account.

Bonus miles for some offers are posted after the promotional period ends. Check the individual offer details for specific information.

Q:	Can I receive my bonus miles if I flew before I registered for the offer?
A:	No. Anytime registration is required the bonus miles cannot be posted to your account until you have registered and met the criteria for the bonus offer. Registration must occur prior to travel and you only need to register once per offer.

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7. Redeeming Miles for Flights

Q:	How do I make a reservation using my AAdvantage miles?
A:	For travel on American Airlines, American Eagle, AmericanConnection, Alaska Airlines, Alaska Airlines flights operated by Horizon Air or SkyWest and Hawaiian Airlines login with your AAdvantage number and password. You may select "Redeem Miles" from the Home Page. You may also book an award by selecting "AAdvantage" then "Redeem Miles".

Q:	Where do I get a list of available awards? How many miles are required to use an award?
A:	View a complete list of American Airlines/American Eagle/AmericanConnection awards and a list of other participating airline awards.

Q:	What is a Business / First Award?
A:	American operates three basic aircraft cabin configurations: Economy and First Class Economy and Business Class Economy, Business and First Class A Business / First award is valid in the premium cabin when American operates either the Economy and First Class configuration or the Economy and Business Class configuration

What is the difference between the AAdvantage Participating Airline Awards and the oneworld multi-carrier awards?

The AAdvantage Participating Airline Awards require mileage region based on regions of travel and are designed for members traveling between specific cities within specific regions such as between Chicago and Paris.

The oneworld multi-carrier awards require mileage based on the distance flown These two types of award compliment each other and allow you to choose the type of award that best suits your travel needs.

Q:	Will there be AAnytime® Awards offered for travel on AAdvantage participating airlines?
A:	No, AAdvantage Participating Airline Awards are MileSAAver awards.

How do I book an AAdvantage award for one person and a fare sale for another person in the same itinerary or record?

An AAdvantage Award and a Fare Sale require two different booking inventories - thus, two separate reservations will be necessary. Since most travel awards are subject to seat availability restrictions and travel embargo dates, we suggest that you first reserve the Award reservation and place it on "Hold".

Second: book and purchase your flight on AA.com. Be sure to use the "Search by: Schedule" feature, to ensure you obtain the same flight/s as the Award Travel you previously placed on "Hold".

Lastly, retrieve your Award Reservation via the "My Reservations" page selecting the red "Purchase" button to confirm this itinerary using award miles.

Q:	How do I make a reservation for more than one passenger using more than one AAdvantage account?
A:	It is necessary to make separate reservations when you are using miles from more than one AAdvantage account. Logout after making each reservation and then login with the AAdvantage number and password for the next AAdvantage account that the miles will be deducted from.

Q:	My child will be traveling alone; can I book his/her AAdvantage award reservation online?
A:	No, to complete an award reservation for a child under the age of 15 traveling alone, please contact AAdvantage Reservations at 1-800-882-8880.

Q:	Can I make an AAdvantage Award Reservation on AA.com if I reside outside the USA?
A:	Yes. AAdvantage members who reside in Canada, the UK and select countries in Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East, Africa and South America may purchase tickets using AAdvantage miles on AA.com. AAdvantage members not residing in one of the above listed areas should contact their local American Airlines office for additional information regarding award travel.

How long may I hold an AAdvantage award reservation before ticketing?

If booked between 330 and 15 days prior to departure, an AAdvantage award reservation may be held for 5 days from the booking date. If booked 14 days prior to departure or less, an AAdvantage award reservation may be held for one day. If booked inside of 24 hours, an AAdvantage award reservation can be held until two hours prior to departure.

Note: Award processing charges apply to tickets issued less than 21 days before you begin travel.

Q:	I thought I could hold a reservation for 5 days; why is the system indicating I have to ticket my reservation earlier?
A:	Certain awards, such as special awards, may require ticketing by a specific date. If that date is earlier than the 5-day time limit, you are subject to the earlier date. For example, a special award may require ticketing within one day.

Q:	When I use the AAdvantage award booking tool after I've logged in to AA.com, I see mileage information for my account in the upper left-hand corner of the page. What does "Pending Balance" mean?
A:	Pending balance is an estimate of your mileage balance once the miles for the award you've selected are deducted. The pending balance may not reflect the most recent account transactions. If you do not complete the booking process and "purchase" the ticket, these miles are not deducted.

Q:	How many days in advance do I need to make my award reservation?
A:	Award Reservations may be made up to two (2) hours prior to departure. Please note, in order to avoid award processing charges, you need to ticket your reservation at least 21 days in advance.

Q:	How do I change my award travel reservation?
A:	Changing award reservations online is not an available feature at this time. Please contact AAdvantage Reservations at 1-800-882-8880 to make any changes to an award travel reservation. Any changes made to your reservation after ticketing may result in a charge.

Q:	How long is my ticket valid?
A:	All travel on an award ticket must be completed within one year from the date of issue.

Q:	What do I do if I claim an award and am not able to use it?
A:	Once ticketed, you will have one year from the date of ticketing to fly, unless otherwise stated. AAdvantage mileage will be reinstated for unused and unexpired award tickets upon return of the ticket and payment of a processing charge.

What kind of charges could be associated with an award booking?

A security service fee will be collected on tickets issued for passengers boarding at an airport in the US, Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands and US territories and possessions. The $2.50 USD security service fee applies per boarding, with a maximum of two boardings ($5.00 USD) per one-way trip or four boardings ($10.00 USD) per round-trip. International award tickets are subject to, and the passenger is responsible for, applicable departure taxes and/or federal inspection fees.

Additionally, reservations ticketed by our reservations offices, Travel Centers or airport agents are subject to a charge.

When claiming an award ticket less than 21 days before you begin travel, AAdvantage award service charges may apply.

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8. Donate Miles To Kids

Q:	What is Miles for Kids In Need?
A:	Through the Miles For Kids In Need program, you can donate your AAdvantage miles to help American Airlines provide free transportation for seriously ill children and their families. With your donation you can assist children from all over the world who are in need of urgent medical attention.

Can I donate my miles for a specific child to fly?

Miles donated to Miles for Kids may not be designated for use by a specific child. However, if you know of a child in need and have sufficient miles you can claim an award from your AAdvantage account for a specific child. If you would like to know more about the guidelines for a child to receive benefits from Miles for Kids In Need, call 1-800-882-8880 in the U.S. and Canada or email miles.kids@aa.com.

Q:	How can I donate to Miles for Kids in Need?
A:	Online mileage donations are accepted at AA.com. Select "AAdvantage", then "Redeem Miles", then "Donate Miles", and select " Miles for Kids Miles in Need ". Then simply select the "Donate" button.

Q:	Can I donate my miles to other charities?
A:	In addition to Miles for Kids, you can donate miles to the Operation Hero Miles. Select "AAdvantage", then "Redeem Miles", then "Donate Miles", and select " Operation Hero Miles ". Then simply follow the instructions.

Q:	Can I donate anything other than miles to Miles for Kids In Need?
A:	We can only accept miles as donations.

Q:	Can I claim the donation on my income tax return?
A:	No. Donations to Miles for Kids In Need are not tax-deductible.

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9. Reactivate Miles

Can I reactivate all of the miles that expired from my account, even if they expired at different times?

As long as the miles expired on or after December 31, 2002, then there's no limit to the number of miles you can reactivate. It doesn't matter if your miles expired at different times. Rates are charged based on the total number of miles reactivated from one account at one time, regardless of when the miles expired. You can reactivate your entire expired mileage balance or just the portion you need. View complete details on Reactivating Miles.

If it's so easy to keep miles from expiring, why must I pay a charge to reactivate them?

Keeping miles from expiring and reactivating expired miles are two very different activities. The AAdvantage policy on mileage expiration is extremely liberal, in that members have the ability to extend the validity of their miles indefinitely provided they have qualifying activity at least once every 18 months. However, after 18 months of non-activity, miles will expire and can no longer be used. The limited time offer to reactivateAAmiles provides customers with a special opportunity to use their expired miles by paying a charge.

Q:	If I reactivate my miles, how long will they be valid?
A:	Reactivated miles are subject to expiration, which occurs if your account has no qualifying activity in any 18-month period. Since mileage reactivation counts as a qualifying activity, you will have at least 18 months in which to redeem your reactivated miles for an award.

How can I tell the expiration date for my current mileage balance, and how would I know if I've had miles expire from my account?

Login to AA.com with your AAdvantage number and password, then select the "My Account" link at the top of the page. The date appearing in your Summary in the line "Miles with expiration deferred through..." tells you the number of miles set to expire on that date. As for expired miles, you can view your Mileage Summaries from the past six (6) months online to see if any miles expired. For additional details, please contact AAdvantage Customer Service at 1-800-882-8880 and select "AAdvantage Account" or select the "Contact AA" tab to send us an email.

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10. Buying 500-mile Upgrades

Q:	May I buy upgrades for another person using my credit card?
A:	Yes, any AAdvantage member can buy upgrades for another AAdvantage member by calling Reservations at 1-800-433-7300 or by visiting any American Airlines ticketing location.

Q:	Once I buy upgrades, how soon will my online Upgrade Balance be updated?
A:	If you are buying your upgrades prior to travel on AA.com, the upgrades will be available for usage after 2 hours. Your upgrade balance online will be updated 24-48 hours after the purchase is processed.Upgrades purchased via the Self-Service machines, during check-in on AA.com or through an airport agent, are available for immediate use.

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11. Using AAdvantage Marketing Programs (Reward With Miles) For Your Business

What is the AAdvantage Marketing Programs?

AAdvantage Marketing Programs offers companies the opportunity to purchase AAdvantage miles and use them as a highly desirable incentive. Businesses large and small can give miles to increase sales, reward or motivate employees, and thank business partners. It's any easy and cost-effective way to get results while offering something that everyone wants - travel.

Here are just a few ways that companies can use AAdvantage miles:

Customer Acquisition and Retention
Customer Rewards
Loyalty Programs
Sales Promotions
Employee Motivation
Special Events
Fund Raising
Distributor Incentives
Business to Business Incentives/Rewards

If you would like more information on the AAdvantage Incentive Miles program please call 1-800-771-5000, or visit www.aadvantage.com.

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12. Depositing AAdvantage Mileage Vouchers

How do I deposit miles that were awarded with an AAdvantage mileage voucher?

If the voucher you received asks you to provide your name, address and AAdvantage number on the back, please fill in all information in the spaces provided and mail it to the PO Box indicated. Please allow 6-8 weeks for the miles to post to your account.

If the front or back of your voucher contains the depositAAmiles logo or Web address, you may deposit your miles electronically. Follow the directions listed on the voucher to deposit your miles online at www.depositAAmiles.com. This voucher can not be mailed in to receive mileage credit. Please allow up to 72 hours for miles to post to your account after depositing them online.

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