Spend Miles AAdvantage

So, as many of you know, American Airlines AAdvantage Program has adjusted the requirement of miles for award ticket redemption since March 22, 2016.

You can see their new award chart here.

With my early planning, I managed to take maximum advantage on their program before the devaluation kicked in. Here is what I've done with my miles (and my family's)

 

I redeemed total of 890,000 miles on 16 tickets (or 29 sectors) that cost me about $17,800 but has face value of $68,300! A whopping 74% savings!

So how does it cost me $17,800 on 890,000 miles?  I value pre-devaluation AAdvantage miles at 0.02 cents per mile on a conservative basis (more or less my cost of miles from purchase them with AA directly during various promotions)

I could have spent a few more on First Class flights with Cathay, Etihad, Qantas, JAL etc but I chose flights base on what I need. You could argue I could maximize for more but I am happy for what I've got because these flights are what I need.

   

Here are some of the flights I redeemed for myself or my family to travel this year on:

American A330 Business Class (Barcelona to Philadelphia)

 

AA B777-300/ER First Class (LAX - Miami - Barcelona)

 

Etihad A380 Business Class  4 tickets from Sydney to Abu Dhabi

Etihad A380 fearture a bar lounging area perfect for 4 of us.

 

Etihad A380 First Class "Apartment" from Abu Dhabi to London

 

I am ready for another Etihad Shave. The Award ticket come with all the usual perks such as Lounge Access, Spa and Chaffeur drive

 

Oh I am also going to enjoy their rival Qatar Airways First Class on A380 from Bangkok to Doha!

 

Qatar Airways also have an excellent swanky bar at the end of Business Class.

 

And not to mention their amazing Al Safwa First Class lounge Spa and Jacuzzi!

 

And a last flight with good old Cathay Pacific B747-400 in the nose from Tokyo Haneda to Hong Kong!

 

I also redeemed several ticket in Etihad Business Class ticket for my family to see me in Abu Dhabi.

Below is the Etihad Business Class on B777-300/ER

Below is the Etihad Business Class on A330-200 which has only 22 seats.

I also flew on British Airways B787-9 Dreamliner in First recently to Muscat and Abu Dhabi courtesy of AA miles redemption.

 

And a First Class on Qantas A380 from Dubai to Sydney next month!

   

Travel isn’t free…..but there are ways to make it affordable and travel in luxury!

To name a few: Maximize frequent flyer miles benefit, status match, industry airfare, news, creative routing, travel engine tools….

Please visit Smart Travel Page on my website! Stay tuned for more smart travel posting.