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Starting today, you can redeem your American Airlines AAdvantage® miles for one of the airline's most exclusive airport experiences. Through the “Enhance with Miles” program, AAdvantage Platinum Pro® members (and above) can redeem miles to access the airline's famed Flagship® First Dining room.
Here's what you need to know about this perk — what it is and what it costs — and how you can access Flagship First Dining on your next pass through Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) or Miami (MIA).
What Is Flagship® First Dining?
American Airlines has improved its American Airlines Admirals Clubs over the past couple of years, but these lounges aren't the best American Airlines has to offer. Travelers flying in Flagship Business or First Class — as well as qualifying elites on qualifying itineraries — can access American Airlines Flagship Lounges at some of the airline's most important hubs.
These lounges offer a wide range of amenities, from showers to chef-inspired buffet dining. Part of what makes them so special is their tightly controlled access. You'll need to fly on a qualifying ticket, hold elite status, or pay a chunk of change at the door.
But wait, there's more. Tucked away at these outposts is a luxe experience called Flagship First Dining. This special dining room is exclusive for those flying a Flagship First or Flagship Business Plus ticket — and elite members who have selected a pass as part of AA's Loyalty Point Rewards program. Here, you can enjoy a sit-down restaurant-style dining experience with premium food and beverages.
American operates Flagship First Dining locations at just two of the airline's most important hubs — Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) and Miami (MIA). There's a third location at Los Angeles (LAX), but it's been closed for quite some time.
New York's JFK used to offer Flagship First Dining, but the space has now been converted into the Greenwich Lounge. Meanwhile, American Airlines opened an exclusive Chelsea Lounge that offers sit-down dining — although it's not called Flagship First Dining.
Related: American Airlines, British Airways' Three New Premium Lounges at New York-JFK
Use Enhance With Miles to Get Access to Flagship® First Dining
Starting today, you can redeem your American Airlines miles to unlock passes to the Flagship First Dining room. Here's how.
If you've qualified for AAdvantage Platinum Pro status (or higher) for next year, you can now redeem miles for Flagship First Dining passes. The number of miles required varies depending on which AA elite tier you hold:
- Platinum Pro: One pass costs 24,000 miles (redeem up to two times).
- Executive Platinum: One pass costs 20,000 miles (redeem up to two additional times).
To make these redemptions, navigate to the “Enhance with Miles” section in your AAdvantage account. Provided you've earned at least 125,000 Loyalty Points during the 2024 qualification year (the amount required for Platinum Pro), you should see passes up for redemption.
If you haven't qualified for Platinum Pro or Executive Platinum for next year, you cannot redeem miles for Flagship First Dining passes.
How to use Flagship First Dining passes
Once you've redeemed American Airlines miles for a Flagship First Dining pass, the next step is showing up at the door of the Flagship First Lounge in DFW or MIA. However, there are a few rules you'll need to abide by to ensure the friendly receptionists will let you in:
- You must have a same-day ticket on any departing or arriving flight that is marketed or operated by American or any Oneworld airline.
- One Flagship First Dining pass provides access to the primary pass holder plus any immediate family members or up to two guests.
- Use of your Flagship First Dining pass is subject to capacity in the Flagship First Dining room.
- A Flagship First Dining pass is valid for a single use at eligible Flagship Lounge locations.
- Passes are non-transferable.
Final Thoughts
If you've got more American Airlines AAdvantage miles than you know what to do with, and you're a Platinum Pro member or higher who's qualified for status next year, you can now redeem miles for Flagship First Dining passes. It's always exciting when a new benefit is added, even if it's a pseudo-benefit that you have to redeem miles for to enjoy in full.
But we'd be remiss not to ask. Should you redeem AA miles for a Flagship First Dining pass? Unless this is an experience on your bucket list, the answer is more than likely “no.”
Even at their cheapest, just one Flagship First dining pass costs 20,000 miles. Even if you value AAdvantage miles conservatively at one cent apiece, the value of a pass is about $200. And we'd argue these miles are worth far more than that.
With rare exceptions, you'll get better value from your AA miles on redemptions for flights. And with the money you save traveling, you can enjoy a nice meal on the ground for probably far less than the cost of a Flagship First Dining pass.
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