OMAAT offers a referral bonus to anyone who has been approved by OMAAT through the links below. OMAAT is an advertising partner with Citi. These are the most relevant public offers (terms apply), that we found for each product and service. These opinions are solely the author's and not the views of any bank, credit card issuer or airline. They have not been approved or endorsed by any entity. For more information about our partners, please see our advertiser policy. Thank you for your support!American AAdvantage is my favorite loyalty program when it comes to redeeming miles for international premium travel. It offers both partner airlines and the best redemption rates. Although that may change in the future I believe it to be the case right now.Although international travel has been made more difficult since the outbreak of the pandemics, more places are opening up slowly.This post will highlight some of my favorite American Airlines AAdvantage mile uses. Although American Airlines has not been great at making saver-level award seats on its own flights, there is a lot of partner airline award opportunities that are fantastic and are my favorite way I use American miles.With The Citi Premier, Earn 80,000 American Miles with AAdvantageThe Citi Premier Card (review), is one of the most attractive mid-range credit cards. The card offers many great benefits and a fantastic welcome bonus of 80,000 ThankYou Points after you spend $4,000 in the first three months.This would have been in direct connection with American Airlines. AAdvantage was not a Citi ThankYou partner. American AAdvantage has been temporarily added as a Citi ThankYou partner. This is until November 13, 2021.This is a great opportunity to apply for Citi Premier Card and convert the 80,000 ThankYou Points into American AAdvantage Miles. These miles can be used for the most beneficial purposes.American Airlines Miles: Best UsesAmerican AAdvantage Partner Awards were devalued March 2016 but the good news is there hasn't been a devaluation of partner awards since then, in more than five years. The value of international first-class awards became much less valuable after the last devaluation. I now consider international business class tickets to be the sweet spot.Let's now look at the top uses of AAdvantage points for travel to the United States.American Airlines International Award ChartHere's how the Americans award chart looks for first and business class redemptions made in the United States by partner airlines. You should always redeem your miles on partner airlines whenever you can.Contiguous 48 U.S. To: Business Class First Class Contiguous 48 U.S. States 25,000 50,000 Canada & Alaska 30,000 55,000 Hawaii 55,000 80,000 Caribbean 25,000 50,000 Mexico 25,000 50,000 Central America 25,000 50,000 South America Zone 1 30,000 55,000 South America Zone 2 57,500 85,000 Europe 57,500 85,000 Middle East / India 70,000 115,000 Africa 75,000 120,000 Asia Zone 1 60,000 80,000 Asia Zone 2 70,000 110,000 South Pacific 80,000 110,000 American Airlines AAdvantage Premium Cabin Award ChartWhile we are at it, I should also mention the following:None of the awards I have listed below are subject to surcharges by carriersYou can book all of the below-mentioned partner awards directly through aa.com. It's super simple!American AAdvantage award tickets can now be cancelled and changed for free. This gives you a lot of flexibility to speculatively lock down award ticketsBusiness Class to The Middle East and India (70,000 Miles).American AAdvantage miles are still very valuable for travel to India and the Middle East. This region covers everything from India to Oman to Sri Lanka, according to the Americans award chart. This area is full of beauty, which makes it easy to reach.The best part is that Etihad and Qatar have American partners. Both also offer excellent business class products. Royal Jordanian also offers business class, but it is not as well-known.Royal Jordanian 787 business ClassThe availability of awards is good for all three airlines, especially if you book in advance.It is interesting to note that Etihad, Qatar and others are inconsistent in releasing award space. Sometimes they release tons of space well in advance. Sometimes they don't have enough space for months, but suddenly it becomes available most days. At the moment, I am seeing lots of Qatar Airways business-class awards.Etihad Airways 787 business classBusiness Class To Africa (75,000 Miles)This is an extension to the previously mentioned concept of traveling to the Middle East. Africa is one of Africa's most difficult continents to reach using miles. With Etihad and Qatar, you could have great access.You could fly to Africa with British Airways or Iberia. However, this would require you to pay substantial surcharges. Instead, I recommend Etihad or Qatar because they have amazing products and can fly to many points in Africa.There are many options for flying to South Africa, Tanzania, Kenya or Rwanda. Qatar Airways is my favourite choice. I used 75,000 miles to fly from Cape Town to Dallas a few years back.Royal Air Maroc joined oneworld recently, which means that you can use American miles to fly to Morocco or anywhere else on the national carrier. American considers Morocco Europe, and so you would pay only 57.500 AAdvantage points for a one-way award in business class between the United States of America and Morocco.Qatar Airways A350 business classBusiness Class to Asia 2 (70,000 Miles).Cathay Pacific and Japan Airlines are two of my favourite oneworld airlines. Both are very good at releasing business class awards availability. Fly business class for as low as 70,000 miles between the United States of America and Asia 2, including China, Singapore, Thailand, and other countries.Cathay Pacific A350 business classBoth Japan Airlines and Cathay Pacific are great at making available award seats as soon as they become bookable. As long as there aren't too many unsold seats, both airlines will release more award seats each day.Japan Airlines 787 business classFirst Class to Asia 1 (80,000 miles)American's award chart was devalued and the program adjusted the sweet spots for redemptions from business class to first class. Before these changes, I used to almost always redeem American miles for international first-class. My view is that many first-class redemptions aren't worth the effort.It is not worth redeeming 85,000 miles to fly first class to Europe. American has a history of not releasing much space and British Airways award travel is subject to high carrier surcharges.It is expensive to redeem 110,000 miles for first-class Asia 2 on Cathay Pacific, especially when you consider that the same award can be booked with an Alaska Mileage Plan stopover for 70,000 milesIt is costly to redeem 110,000 miles for first-class to Australia on Qantas.With this in mind, I think the Japan Airlines flight to Asia 1 (which also includes Japan) is the best international first-class redemption that originates in the United States. It offers a great first class product and 80,000 miles can be redeemed for first class on a 13-hour flight.Japan Airlines 777 first classJapan Airlines doesn't always release award availability in first-class. Sometimes, the airline will release a seat as soon as the schedule opens. However, booking closer to departure is better, as JAL frequently has more availability. This is not the best option for couples traveling together or for people who want to book in advance.Japan Airlines first classAmerican Airlines Web Special Awards (Prices vary)American Airlines has not released any saver-level first or business class awards on its flights historically, but that situation has changed significantly.American offers web special awards that allow award seats to be made available at lower prices than those listed on the award chart. Sometimes, availability is better than for saver awards.For example, first class in the United States to Asia 2 would normally cost 110,000 miles. However, I see web special awards that allow me to fly to Hong Kong first class on American Airlines for only 84,000 miles.American Airlines 777 First ClassThere is also potential value at the other end, including short-haul flights and even economy.Bottom lineThese aren't the only ways to redeem American Miles, but they're my favorite when you consider availability, relative pricing among programs, and the products that you can enjoy.There are many great sweet spot awards, but I thought it would be helpful to focus on the top options for Americans.This card offers a fantastic opportunity with a Welcome Bonus of 80,000 ThankYou Points and temporarily transferable to American American AAdvantage. After you have met the minimum spend requirement, you will be able to fly one-way in business class on any of these markets once you have enough miles.Which are your favourite ways to redeem American Miles for travel from the US?
