{"id":46559,"date":"2025-06-15T21:10:01","date_gmt":"2025-06-15T21:10:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/?p=46559"},"modified":"2026-04-08T14:17:27","modified_gmt":"2026-04-08T14:17:27","slug":"aa-award-travel-rules","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/airlines\/american-aadvantage\/aa-award-travel-rules\/","title":{"rendered":"A Complete Guide to American Airlines Award Travel Rules"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>American Airlines AAdvantage<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> is one of our favorite mileage programs. Thanks to <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/airlines\/american-aadvantage\/american-airlines-partners\/\" rel=\"noopener\">dozens of partners<\/a>, you can fly to over 1,000 destinations using AAdvantage miles. And American Airlines has (largely) kept its partner mileage redemption chart the same for nearly a decade now. In this post, we'll cover all the rules for American Airlines award travel to help you use miles for your next adventure.<\/p>\n<p>One of the key ways to get more value from your rewards is to spend a little time learning the rules for booking awards with the points and miles you acquire. Each program has its own set of strengths and weaknesses. Once you understand them clearly, you\u2019ll be able to choose the program that best suits your goals for a particular trip.<\/p>\n<div id=\"toc_container\" class=\"toc_light_blue no_bullets\"><p class=\"toc_title\">Page Contents<\/p><ul class=\"toc_list\"><li><a href=\"#Types_of_Rules\">Types of Rules<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#American_Airlines_AAdvantage_Award_Travel_Costs_Partner_Airlines\">American Airlines AAdvantage Award Travel Costs & Partner Airlines<\/a><ul><li><a href=\"#Award_pricing\">Award pricing<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Redemption_partners\">Redemption partners<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><a href=\"#American_Airlines_Award_Booking_Rules_and_Fees\">American Airlines Award Booking Rules and Fees<\/a><ul><li><a href=\"#Which_airlines_can_I_book_using_American_AAdvantage_miles\">Which airlines can I book using American AAdvantage miles?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Can_I_use_my_miles_to_book_for_another_person\">Can I use my miles to book for another person?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#How_far_in_advance_can_I_book_my_ticket\">How far in advance can I book my ticket?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Can_I_put_an_AA_award_travel_reservation_on_hold\">Can I put an AA award travel reservation on hold?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Does_American_charge_a_close-in_booking_fee\">Does American charge a close-in booking fee?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Does_American_charge_a_phone_booking_fee\">Does American charge a phone booking fee?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Can_I_upgrade_my_flight_with_AAdvantage_miles\">Can I upgrade my flight with AAdvantage miles?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#How_much_does_it_cost_to_include_a_lap_infant\">How much does it cost to include a lap infant?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><a href=\"#American_Airlines_Award_Ticket_Cancellation_Policy\">American Airlines Award Ticket Cancellation Policy<\/a><ul><li><a href=\"#How_much_does_American_Airlines_charge_to_change_or_cancel_an_award_ticket\">How much does American Airlines charge to change or cancel an award ticket?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Does_American_Airlines_allow_free_changes_within_24_hours\">Does American Airlines allow free changes within 24 hours?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#How_can_I_track_award_flight_changes\">How can I track award flight changes?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><a href=\"#American_Airlines_Award_Travel_Itinerary_Rules\">American Airlines Award Travel Itinerary Rules<\/a><ul><li><a href=\"#Can_I_book_a_stopover_with_American_miles\">Can I book a stopover with American miles?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Can_I_book_one-way_travel_with_American_miles\">Can I book one-way travel with American miles?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Can_I_book_an_open_jaw_with_American_miles\">Can I book an open jaw with American miles?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Can_I_fly_with_multiple_partner_airlines_on_the_same_trip\">Can I fly with multiple partner airlines on the same trip?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Can_I_book_an_itinerary_with_multiple_classes_of_service\">Can I book an itinerary with multiple classes of service?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Can_I_book_a_round-the-world_ticket_with_American_miles\">Can I book a round-the-world ticket with American miles?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#American_third-region_exceptions\">American third-region exceptions<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><a href=\"#Itinerary_Rules_for_Complex_Award_Bookings\">Itinerary Rules for Complex Award Bookings<\/a><ul><li><a href=\"#Published_route_requirement\">Published route requirement<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Maximum_Permitted_Mileage_MPM\">Maximum Permitted Mileage (MPM)<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#American_Airlines_award_segment_limits\">American Airlines award segment limits<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Married_segment_logic\">Married segment logic<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><a href=\"#Final_Thoughts\">Final Thoughts<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\n<h2 id=\"Types_of_Rules\"><span id=\"Types_of_Rules\">Types of Rules<\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Booking rules<\/strong> cover the details you need to know to get your trip confirmed. Can you use your miles to book a flight for your grandma? How much does it cost to add an infant who doesn\u2019t need her own seat? <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/airlines\/far-advance-can-book-airline-award-tickets\/\" rel=\"noopener\">How far in advance can you confirm your flights?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/airlines\/award-ticket-change-and-cancellation-policies\/\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Change and cancellation rules<\/strong><\/a> cover all the fine print to ensure you don\u2019t pay unnecessary fees and know exactly what to expect if your plans change.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Itinerary rules<\/strong> cover your options and limitations for the flights you add to your trip. For example, can you add a <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/travel\/beginners-guide-stopover-open-jaw\/\" rel=\"noopener\">stopover<\/a> in Europe on the way to Asia? Can you book a one-way flight at half the price of a round-trip? Will you save miles if part of a business-class trip is in economy?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<figure id=\"attachment_110546\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img data-aspectratio=\"600\/480\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-110546 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/joshua-hanson-unsplash-american-airlines-tails-featured-300x240.png\" alt=\"a row of American Airlines planes as seen from a plane window\" width=\"600\" height=\"480\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/joshua-hanson-unsplash-american-airlines-tails-featured-300x240.png 300w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/joshua-hanson-unsplash-american-airlines-tails-featured-768x614.png 768w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/joshua-hanson-unsplash-american-airlines-tails-featured-325x260.png 325w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/joshua-hanson-unsplash-american-airlines-tails-featured.png 1000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><center><em>Credit: Joshua Hanson\/Unsplash<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n<h2 id=\"AA_Award_Travel_Costs_Partner_Airlines\"><span id=\"American_Airlines_AAdvantage_Award_Travel_Costs_Partner_Airlines\">American Airlines AAdvantage Award Travel Costs & Partner Airlines<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Before we get started, two important factors aren\u2019t covered in this post: award pricing and redemption partners.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Award_pricing\">Award pricing<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The number of miles you need and the taxes and fees you\u2019ll pay out of pocket are determined by the type of points you redeem. In many cases, the costs in miles and money can be more important than other rules. This post isn't about how much you'll spend for an AA award or a comparison of AA's booking prices against competitors. Note that AAdvantage miles are separate from <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/airlines\/american-aadvantage\/loyalty-points\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Loyalty Points<\/a>. The former is what you can use to book award flights, while the latter is used to determine the level of <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/airlines\/american-aadvantage\/elite-status\/\" rel=\"noopener\">elite status you have with American Airlines<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Related<\/strong>: <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/airlines\/american-aadvantage\/platinum-status\/\" rel=\"noopener\">AAdvantage Platinum status: upgrades, lounge access, free checked bags, and more benefits<\/a><\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Redemption_partners\">Redemption partners<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>You can <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/airlines\/american-aadvantage\/american-airlines-partners\/\" rel=\"noopener\">use AAdvantage miles to book travel with more than 20 partner airlines<\/a>. But it\u2019s also true that you can use dozens of different types of points to book flights operated by American or its partner airlines. If you aren\u2019t familiar with this, check out our <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/airlines\/beginners-guide-award-flights\/\" rel=\"noopener\">beginner\u2019s guide to award travel planning<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019ve done a good job of diversifying your points and miles, you should have the option to use rewards from other frequent-flyer programs to book a similar (or identical) itinerary.\u00a0<span style=\"box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;\">Here are the rules for <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/airlines\/american-aadvantage\/best-ways-to-use-american-miles\/\" rel=\"noopener\">redeeming AAdvantage miles for their best uses<\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"American_Airlines_Award_Booking_Rules_Fees\"><span id=\"American_Airlines_Award_Booking_Rules_and_Fees\">American Airlines Award Booking Rules and Fees<\/span><\/h2>\n<h3 id=\"Which_airlines_can_I_book_using_American_AAdvantage_miles\"><span id=\"Which_airlines_can_I_book_using_American_AAdvantage_miles\">Which airlines can I book using American AAdvantage miles?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>\n<table id=\"tablepress-213\" class=\"tablepress tablepress-id-213 tablepress-responsive\">\n<thead>\n<tr class=\"row-1 odd\">\n\t<th class=\"column-1\">Partner Airline<\/th><th class=\"column-2\">Region<\/th><th class=\"column-3\">Hubs<\/th><th class=\"column-4\">On AA.com?<\/th><th class=\"column-5\">Affiliation<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody class=\"row-hover\">\n<tr class=\"row-2 even\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Alaska Airways<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">North America<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">Seattle (SEA), Anchorage (ANC), Los Angeles (LAX), Portland (PDX), San Francisco (SFO)<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">Yes<\/td><td class=\"column-5\">Oneworld<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-3 odd\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">British Airways<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Europe<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">London (LHR) and (LGW)<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">Yes<\/td><td class=\"column-5\">Oneworld<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-4 even\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Cathay Pacific<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Europe<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">Hong Kong (HKG)<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">Yes<\/td><td class=\"column-5\">Oneworld<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-5 odd\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Fiji Airways<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Australia, New Zealand & Pacific Islands<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">Nadi (NAN)<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">Yes<\/td><td class=\"column-5\">Oneworld Connect<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-6 even\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Finnair<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Europe<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">Helsinki (HEL)<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">Yes<\/td><td class=\"column-5\">Oneworld<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-7 odd\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Iberia <\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Europe<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">Madrid (MAD)<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">Yes<\/td><td class=\"column-5\">Oneworld<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-8 even\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Japan Airlines<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Asia<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">Tokyo (NRT & HND)<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">Yes<\/td><td class=\"column-5\">Oneworld<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-9 odd\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Malaysia Airlines<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Southeast Asia<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">Kuala Lumpur (KUL)<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">Yes<\/td><td class=\"column-5\">Oneworld<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-10 even\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Qantas<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Australia, New Zealand & Pacific Islands<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">Brisbane (BNE), Melbourne (MEL), Sydney (SYD)<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">Yes<\/td><td class=\"column-5\">Oneworld<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-11 odd\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Qatar Airways<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Middle East<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">Doha (DOH)<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">Yes<\/td><td class=\"column-5\">Oneworld<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-12 even\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Royal Air Maroc<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Africa<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">Casablanca (CMN)<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">Yes<\/td><td class=\"column-5\">Oneworld<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-13 odd\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Royal Jordanian Airlines<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Middle East<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">Amman (AMM)<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">Yes<\/td><td class=\"column-5\">Oneworld<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-14 even\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">SriLankan Airlines<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Southeast Asia<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">Colombo (CMB)<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">Yes<\/td><td class=\"column-5\">Oneworld<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-15 odd\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Air Tahiti Nui<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Australia, New Zealand & Pacific Islands<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">Papeete (PPT)<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">Yes<\/td><td class=\"column-5\">Independent<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-16 even\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Cape Air<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">North America<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">Boston (BOS), St. Louis (STL), San Juan (SJU)<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">Yes<\/td><td class=\"column-5\">Independent<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-17 odd\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">China Southern Airlines<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Asia<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">Beijing (PEK & PKX), Guangzhou (CAN)<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">No (ExpertFlyer)<\/td><td class=\"column-5\">Independent<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-18 even\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Etihad Airways<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Middle East<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">Abu Dahbi (AUH)<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">Yes<\/td><td class=\"column-5\">Independent<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-19 odd\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">GOL Airlines<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">South America<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">Bras\u00edlia (BSB), Rio de Janeiro (GIG), S\u00e3o Paulo (GRU & CGH), Fortaleza (FOR)<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">Yes<\/td><td class=\"column-5\">Independent<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-20 even\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Hawaiian Airlines<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">North America<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">Honolulu (HNL)<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">Yes<\/td><td class=\"column-5\">Independent<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-21 odd\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">IndiGo<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">India<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">Delhi (DEL), Mumbai (BOM), Bengaluru (BLR)<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">No<\/td><td class=\"column-5\">Independent<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-22 even\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Aer Lingus<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Europe<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">Dublin (DUB), Shannon (SNN)<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">No<\/td><td class=\"column-5\">Independent<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/p>\n<p>While AAdvantage doesn\u2019t impose fuel surcharges on most partners, it passes along significant fees on some airlines &#8212; such as British Airways &#8212; especially in premium cabins. Be sure to review the total taxes and fees before booking.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"Can_I_use_my_miles_to_book_for_another_person\"><span id=\"Can_I_use_my_miles_to_book_for_another_person\">Can I use my miles to book for another person?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Yes, American Airlines will let you book a flight for anyone you wish. However, program terms and conditions prohibit selling miles, so you shouldn\u2019t book for people you don\u2019t know or receive payment to book on someone else's behalf.<\/p>\n<p>When paying for the taxes and fees on award tickets, American Airlines requires that the name on the credit card match the name of the AAdvantage account holder. Thus, your brother can't use your credit card when booking a ticket using his miles.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Related: <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/airlines\/can-you-book-a-flight-for-someone-else\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Rules on Booking Award Flights for Other People<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"How_far_in_advance_can_I_book_my_ticket\"><span id=\"How_far_in_advance_can_I_book_my_ticket\">How far in advance can I book my ticket?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>American Airlines opens award bookings around 331 days before departure. However, it's worth noting that many partners \u2014 like Qatar Airways, British Airways, and Japan Airlines \u2014 release award space earlier through their own programs.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Related: <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/airlines\/far-advance-can-book-airline-award-tickets\/\" rel=\"noopener\">How Far in Advance Can You Book Airline Award Tickets?<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"Can_I_put_an_AA_award_travel_on_hold\"><span id=\"Can_I_put_an_AA_award_travel_reservation_on_hold\">Can I put an AA award travel reservation on hold?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Yes, on eligible reservations you can put a hold for up to 24 hours. These must be booked at least seven days in advance.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"Does_American_charge_a_close_in_booking_fee\"><span id=\"Does_American_charge_a_close-in_booking_fee\">Does American charge a close-in booking fee?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>American Airlines no longer charges a close-in-booking fee. In February 2020, American Airlines <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/news\/american-aadvantage\/close-in-booking-fee\/\" rel=\"noopener\">eliminated its $75 close-in booking fee<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>What is this?<\/strong> Some frequent flyer programs charge an extra fee when you book a ticket within 21 days of departure. American Airlines award travel no longer has this fee.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_109738\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img data-aspectratio=\"600\/480\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-109738 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/hassan-ouajbir-unsplash-phone-call-featured-300x240.jpg\" alt=\"a man talks on a phone\" width=\"600\" height=\"480\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/hassan-ouajbir-unsplash-phone-call-featured-300x240.jpg 300w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/hassan-ouajbir-unsplash-phone-call-featured-768x614.jpg 768w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/hassan-ouajbir-unsplash-phone-call-featured-325x260.jpg 325w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/hassan-ouajbir-unsplash-phone-call-featured.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><center><em>Credit: Hassan Ouajibir\/Unsplash<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n<h3 id=\"Does_American_charge_a_phone_booking_fee\"><span id=\"Does_American_charge_a_phone_booking_fee\">Does American charge a phone booking fee?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>American Airlines no longer charges a fee to book reservations over the phone. <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/news\/american-aadvantage\/award-fees-eliminated\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Before November 2020<\/a>, AA charged a $25 fee to book travel within the U.S. by phone but waived this fee for tickets that couldn't be booked on AA.com. The fee jumped to $35 for international travel, but this is gone also.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Can_I_upgrade_my_flight_with_AAdvantage_miles\">Can I upgrade my flight with AAdvantage miles?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Yes, you can <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/airlines\/american-aadvantage\/upgrade-with-miles\/\" rel=\"noopener\">upgrade eligible tickets using your AAdvantage miles<\/a>. However, this option isn't available on economy awards or basic economy tickets.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"How_much_does_it_cost_to_include_a_lap_infant\"><span id=\"How_much_does_it_cost_to_include_a_lap_infant\">How much does it cost to include a lap infant?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The cost to add a lap infant to an AAdvantage award depends on where you're flying:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>International awards: <\/strong>American charges 10% of the cash price of an adult ticket to add a lap infant to your reservation. If you\u2019re flying on a business- or first-class award, 10% of the retail ticket cost can be a lot of money.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Domestic awards:<\/strong>\u00a0Within the U.S. or to Canada, Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands, there is no additional cost.<\/li>\n<li>You can add your child to your ticket by calling AA reservations at 800-433-7300. If travel is within the U.S. (including Puerto Rico), you also can add a lap infant online when booking a trip or modifying an existing reservation.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Pro tip:<\/strong> If you're flying internationally, it's often best to book your award ticket first and then call American to add your lap infant. That's because AA will charge the full mileage price if you add an infant at the time of booking. So, this extra step can help you avoid being charged additional AAdvantage miles \u2014 though, as is often the case, your experience may depend on the agent.<\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.aa.com\/i18n\/travel-info\/special-assistance\/traveling-children.jsp\" rel=\"noopener\">American Airlines' resource on traveling with children<\/a> and infants.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Related: <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/airlines\/infant-on-lap-award-policies\/\" rel=\"noopener\">These are the best award programs for traveling with a lap infant<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"AA_Award_Travel_Change_and_Cancellation_Rules\"><span id=\"American_Airlines_Award_Ticket_Cancellation_Policy\">American Airlines Award Ticket Cancellation Policy<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The AAdvantage program really shines with its rules for travel changes and cancellation policy. The airline <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/news\/american-aadvantage\/award-fees-eliminated\/\" rel=\"noopener\">eliminated change and cancel fees in November 2020<\/a> and <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/airlines\/american-aadvantage\/change-cancel-award-ticket\/\" rel=\"noopener\">(re)added the ability to change certain awards in July 2023<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"How_much_does_American_Airlines_charge_to_change_or_cancel_an_award_ticket\"><span id=\"How_much_does_American_Airlines_charge_to_change_or_cancel_an_award_ticket\">How much does American Airlines charge to change or cancel an award ticket?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>American Airlines no longer charges a fee to change or cancel an award ticket. Before November 11, 2020, American Airlines charged up to $150 per passenger to change or cancel an award ticket \u2014 unless you had Executive Platinum elite status.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_54831\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img data-aspectratio=\"600\/480\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-54831 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/American-Airlines-AA-787-First-Class-Cabin-Featured-300x240.jpg\" alt=\"interior of American Airlines first class cabin on Boeing 787 aircraft\" width=\"600\" height=\"480\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/American-Airlines-AA-787-First-Class-Cabin-Featured-300x240.jpg 300w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/American-Airlines-AA-787-First-Class-Cabin-Featured-1024x819.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/American-Airlines-AA-787-First-Class-Cabin-Featured-1536x1228.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/American-Airlines-AA-787-First-Class-Cabin-Featured-2048x1637.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/American-Airlines-AA-787-First-Class-Cabin-Featured-325x260.jpg 325w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><center><em>American Airlines first class on a Boeing 787 aircraft. Credit: J.T. Genter\/AwardWallet<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n<p>Now, you can cancel award tickets and have your miles reinstated free of charge up to one year after the ticket was issued. The latest you can cancel an award ticket is before the first flight in your itinerary departs.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"Does_American_allow_free_changes_within_24_hours\"><span id=\"Does_American_Airlines_allow_free_changes_within_24_hours\">Does American Airlines allow free changes within 24 hours?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The U.S. Department of Transportation requires airlines serving the U.S. to allow travelers to put itineraries on hold or to change or cancel a ticket for 24 hours after booking without a penalty.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Related: <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/airlines\/24-hour-cancellation-policies\/\" rel=\"noopener\">24-Hour Cancellation Policies for Major U.S. Airlines<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"How_to_can_I_avoid_change_fees\"><span id=\"How_can_I_track_award_flight_changes\">How can I track award flight changes?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/features\/track-your-travel-plans\/\" rel=\"noopener\">AwardWallet tracks all your travel plans<\/a> automatically (and alerts you to any changes) by importing reservations from your email or connected accounts. The best method for getting all your travel plans into AwardWallet is to <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/features\/connect-your-mailbox-to-awardwallet\/\" rel=\"noopener\">link the email<\/a> you use for reservations.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"American_Airlines_Award_Itinerary_Rules\"><span id=\"American_Airlines_Award_Travel_Itinerary_Rules\">American Airlines Award Travel Itinerary Rules<\/span><\/h2>\n<h3 id=\"Can_I_book_a_stopover_with_American_miles\"><span id=\"Can_I_book_a_stopover_with_American_miles\">Can I book a stopover with American miles?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>American Airlines <strong>does not<\/strong> allow free stopovers on award travel. Any connection of 24 hours or more on an international award will result in paying for more than one award ticket.<\/p>\n<p>American Airlines and Alaska Airlines have a lot of redemption partners in common. <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/airlines\/alaska-atmos-rewards\/free-stopover\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Alaska MileagePlan allows free stopovers<\/a> as long as you follow a few rules. That combines with the fact\u00a0there are some awards we <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/airlines\/alaska-atmos-rewards\/oneworld-awards-to-book-with-alaska-miles\/\" rel=\"noopener\">recommend booking with Alaska miles instead of American miles<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"Can_I_book_one_way_travel_with_American_miles\"><span id=\"Can_I_book_one-way_travel_with_American_miles\">Can I book one-way travel with American miles?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Yes, you can book one-way awards with American Airlines AAdvantage miles. AAdvantage generally charges half the price of a round-trip award for one-way itineraries &#8212; but this is only guaranteed on partner awards. On some AA-operated awards, AAdvantage offers a <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/news\/american-aadvantage\/round-trip-award-discount\/\" rel=\"noopener\">cheaper per-price flight on round-trip bookings<\/a> than the cost of two one-way awards.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Pro tip:<\/strong> For international tickets, be aware that many countries require proof of onward travel. Thanks to American's one-day hold policy, you can create a record locator for a return trip without actually confirming the ticket. If you prefer to have a confirmed reservation, consider booking a fully refundable ticket or using a ticket-rental service like <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/onewayfly.com\/\" rel=\"noopener\">OneWayFly<\/a>.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_45478\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img data-aspectratio=\"600\/480\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-45478 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Featured-American-Airlines-First-Class-777-300ER-Photo-by-JT-Genter-300x240.jpg\" alt=\"Image of American Airlines first class seat\" width=\"600\" height=\"480\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Featured-American-Airlines-First-Class-777-300ER-Photo-by-JT-Genter-300x240.jpg 300w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Featured-American-Airlines-First-Class-777-300ER-Photo-by-JT-Genter-1024x819.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Featured-American-Airlines-First-Class-777-300ER-Photo-by-JT-Genter-1536x1229.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Featured-American-Airlines-First-Class-777-300ER-Photo-by-JT-Genter-2048x1639.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Featured-American-Airlines-First-Class-777-300ER-Photo-by-JT-Genter-325x260.jpg 325w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><center><em>American Airlines first class seat on Boeing 777-300ER. Credit: J.T. Genter\/AwardWallet<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n<h3 id=\"Can_I_book_an_open_jaw_with_American_miles\"><span id=\"Can_I_book_an_open_jaw_with_American_miles\">Can I book an open jaw with American miles?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>American allows open-jaw tickets at both the origin and destination. An open jaw ticket that includes more than one region will be priced as two one-way awards.<\/p>\n<p>If you don't know what we're talking about, check out our <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/travel\/beginners-guide-stopover-open-jaw\/\" rel=\"noopener\">beginner\u2019s guide to stopovers and open jaws<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"Can_I_fly_with_multiple_partner_airlines_on_the_same_trip\"><span id=\"Can_I_fly_with_multiple_partner_airlines_on_the_same_trip\">Can I fly with multiple partner airlines on the same trip?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Yes, American allows you to combine partners on an award ticket. Award prices are the same for all partner airlines, so there shouldn't be any extra cost if your flights are operated by more than one carrier.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"Can_I_book_an_itinerary_with_multiple_classes_of_service\"><span id=\"Can_I_book_an_itinerary_with_multiple_classes_of_service\">Can I book an itinerary with multiple classes of service?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>American prices its awards according to the highest class of service you book on your itinerary. This differs from some programs like <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/airlines\/avianca-lifemiles\/avianca-lifemiles-sweet-spots\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Avianca LifeMiles<\/a>, which charge a prorated number of miles based on the percentage of your trip in each class. With American, you won't save any miles by booking one flight in economy and other flights in business class.<\/p>\n<p>However, American does not have any rules that prohibit you from booking a ticket with different classes of service (you may see this referred to as a &#8220;mixed-cabin award&#8221;). This can be a good thing. In some situations, you might not be able to find business- or first-class awards for the entire trip.<\/p>\n<p>For example, if you're flying from Amsterdam (AMS) to Boston (BOS) via New York (JFK), you might find a business-class ticket across the Atlantic, but the short flight from New York to Boston might only be available in economy. You can lock in that award, and if the short flight becomes available in business class, you might be able to upgrade without paying any extra miles.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_54833\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img data-aspectratio=\"600\/480\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-54833 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/American-Airlines-AA-787-Main-Cabin-Seats-Featured-300x240.jpg\" alt=\"Photo of Main Cabin on an American Airlines Boeing 787\" width=\"600\" height=\"480\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/American-Airlines-AA-787-Main-Cabin-Seats-Featured-300x240.jpg 300w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/American-Airlines-AA-787-Main-Cabin-Seats-Featured-1024x819.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/American-Airlines-AA-787-Main-Cabin-Seats-Featured-1536x1228.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/American-Airlines-AA-787-Main-Cabin-Seats-Featured-2048x1637.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/American-Airlines-AA-787-Main-Cabin-Seats-Featured-325x260.jpg 325w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><center><em>Main Cabin on an American Airlines Boeing 787. Credit: American Airlines<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n<p>Most domestic &#8220;first-class&#8221; awards are treated as business class when you pair them with an international flight. In other words, you won't be charged the first-class price on an international business-class award when you add a domestic flight in AA's domestic first class.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Pro tip: <\/strong>American's mixed-cabin award rules generally work in your favor. But be aware that American will happily charge you the business-class price for itineraries with a 10-hour flight in economy and a 45-minute flight in business class.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"Can_I_book_a_round_the_world_ticket_with_American_miles\"><span id=\"Can_I_book_a_round-the-world_ticket_with_American_miles\">Can I book a round-the-world ticket with American miles?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>American uses a zone-based <a href=\"\/airlines\/american-aadvantage\/upgrade-with-miles\/\">AAdvantage award chart<\/a> for partners which means that the price of travel between two regions (like Europe and the Continental U.S.) should be consistent, regardless of the specific origin and destination airports. Prague to Los Angeles should cost the same number of miles as Dublin to Boston \u2014 even though the former is twice the distance! This isn't the case for flights operated by AA, which prices its awards dynamically. And trips with stops in more than one award region (as <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.aa.com\/i18n\/aadvantage-program\/miles\/redeem\/award-travel\/oneworld-and-other-airline-partner-award-chart.jsp#regiondefinitions\" rel=\"noopener\">defined here<\/a>) are not a strength of the AAdvantage program.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Related<\/strong>: <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/news\/american-aadvantage\/partner-award-booking-workaround\/\" rel=\"noopener\">My trick to booking an American Airlines award that includes a partner<\/a><\/p>\n<p>When your itinerary connects at an airport that is <strong>not in the same region as your origin or destination<\/strong>, American Airlines may charge you for each trip separately. For example, if you book a flight directly from Paris to New York, you\u2019ll pay the Europe-to-U.S. price on the award chart. But if you fly from Paris to Doha (in the Middle East region) and then to New York, you\u2019ve transited a \u201cthird region\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>As a general rule on award travel booked with American Airlines, you\u2019ll pay more when you transit through a third region. But American has a list of exceptions that don\u2019t require separate awards.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"American_Third_Region_Exceptions\"><span id=\"American_third-region_exceptions\">American third-region exceptions<\/span><\/h3>\n\n<table id=\"tablepress-217\" class=\"tablepress tablepress-id-217 tablepress-responsive\">\n<thead>\n<tr class=\"row-1 odd\">\n\t<th class=\"column-1\">Between<\/th><th class=\"column-2\">And<\/th><th class=\"column-3\">Via<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody class=\"row-hover\">\n<tr class=\"row-2 even\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Africa<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">South Pacific<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">Middle East<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-3 odd\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Asia Region 1<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Middle East<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">Asia Region 2 or Indian Subcontinent<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-4 even\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Asia Region 1<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Indian Subcontinent<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">Asia Region 2<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-5 odd\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Asia Region 1<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">South Pacific<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">Asia Region 2<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-6 even\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Asia Region 1<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Africa<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">Asia Region 2 or Middle East<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-7 odd\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Asia Region 2<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Middle East<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">Indian Subcontinent<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-8 even\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Asia Region 2<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Africa<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">Middle East<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-9 odd\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Caribbean<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">South Pacific<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">South America Region 2<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-10 even\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Central America<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">South Pacific<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">South America Region 2<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-11 odd\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Central America<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Middle East<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">Europe<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-12 even\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Central America<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Indian Subcontinent<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">Europe or Middle East<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-13 odd\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Central America<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Africa<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">Europe or Middle East<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-14 even\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Europe<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">South Pacific<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">Asia Region 1 or Asia Region 2 or Middle East<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-15 odd\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Europe<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Indian Subcontinent<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">Middle East<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-16 even\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Europe<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Africa<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">Middle East<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-17 odd\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Europe<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Asia Region 2<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">Middle East or Indian Subcontinent<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-18 even\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Europe<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Asia Region 1<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">Asia Region 2 or Middle East or Indian Subcontinent<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-19 odd\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Hawaii<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Indian Subcontinent<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">Europe or Middle East<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-20 even\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Indian Subcontinent<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">South Pacific<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">Asia Region 2<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-21 odd\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Indian Subcontinent<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Africa<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">Middle East<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-22 even\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Mexico<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">South Pacific<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">South America Region 2<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-23 odd\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Middle East<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">South Pacific<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">Asia Region 2 or Indian Subcontinent<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-24 even\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">North America<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Middle East<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">Europe<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-25 odd\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">North America<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Africa<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">Europe or Middle East<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-26 even\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">North America<br \/>\n(excluding Hawaii)<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Indian Subcontinent<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">Europe or Middle East or Hong Kong (HKG) on AA or Cathay Pacific<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-27 odd\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">North America<br \/>\n(excluding Hawaii)<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Asia Region 2<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">Asia Region 1<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-28 even\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">North America<br \/>\n(excluding Mexico)<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">South America Region 2<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">South America Region 1<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-29 odd\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">South America Region 1<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">South Pacific<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">South America Region 2<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-30 even\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">South America Region 1<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Middle East<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">Europe<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-31 odd\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">South America Region 1<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Indian Subcontinent<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">Europe or Middle East<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-32 even\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">South America Region 1<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Africa<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">Europe, Middle East<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-33 odd\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">South America Region 2<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Middle East<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">Europe or Africa<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-34 even\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">South America Region 2<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Africa<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">Europe, Middle East<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-35 odd\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">South America Region 2<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Indian Subcontinent<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">Europe or Middle East<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n<p>Unless otherwise noted, North America includes the regions of the contiguous U.S., Alaska, Hawaii, Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean.<\/p>\n<p>You can find an in-depth discussion of the third region exceptions for AA award travel in this <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flyertalk.com\/forum\/american-airlines-aadvantage\/1543680-aa-oneworld-other-airline-partner-award-information-rules-master-thd.html\" rel=\"noopener\">FlyerTalk forum<\/a>. However, note that some of the content is outdated.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"Itinerary_Rules_for_Complex_Award_Bookings\"><span id=\"Itinerary_Rules_for_Complex_Award_Bookings\">Itinerary Rules for Complex Award Bookings<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The remaining routing rules aren't likely to be a factor for most award bookings. However, if you find yourself unable to book the flights you want online, one of these could be the problem. It's worth noting that American's reservations system is known to make mistakes. If you see a price in miles that is higher than what you expect based on the award chart, check these rules first.<\/p>\n<p>It's also worth noting that few American reservations agents understand these rules (or even know they exist). If the computer says 110,000 miles, that's what the agent will try to charge you. Fortunately, the AAdvantage program does have a process for manually ticketing reservations when the system makes a mistake. If you've checked these advanced rules and the price doesn't look right, ask your agent to check with the rates desk or a supervisor.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"Published_route_requirement\"><span id=\"Published_route_requirement\">Published route requirement<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>American Airlines' general award travel rule is that awards must be booked on a published route. More specifically, the airline that flies you across the ocean (the overwater carrier) needs to sell a ticket between your origin and destination.<\/p>\n<p>Let's take a trip to the Maldives, for example. There's no better way to go than in Etihad's Apartments. However, in order to book an AAdvantage award, Etihad has to sell a ticket between your origin and Male (MLE). To confirm this, you'll want to check <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.expertflyer.com\/air\/fareInformation.do\" rel=\"noopener\">ExpertFlyer's Fare Information search<\/a>. If you're unfamiliar with the tool, check out our <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/travel\/expertflyer\/\" rel=\"noopener\">guide to ExpertFlyer<\/a> before proceeding further.<\/p>\n<p>While it's not as exact, you also can search the route on Google Flights and see if there's an option to book on Etihad.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_47811\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img data-aspectratio=\"749\/429\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-47811 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/NYC-Male-Etihad-availability.png\" alt=\"AA award travel rules being checked for ticket availability on Etihad partner flight\" width=\"749\" height=\"429\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/NYC-Male-Etihad-availability.png 1163w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/NYC-Male-Etihad-availability-300x172.png 300w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/NYC-Male-Etihad-availability-1024x586.png 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 749px) 100vw, 749px\" \/><center><em>Credit: Google<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n<p>If you're departing from a major hub, such as New York City or Los Angeles, you aren't going to have any issues finding a ticket sold by Etihad:<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_211447\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img data-aspectratio=\"750\/562\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-211447 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/ExpertFlyer.png\" alt=\"ExpertFlyer\" width=\"750\" height=\"562\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/ExpertFlyer.png 797w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/ExpertFlyer-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/ExpertFlyer-768x575.png 768w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/ExpertFlyer-276x207.png 276w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/ExpertFlyer-476x357.png 476w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><center><em>Credit: ExpertFlyer<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>However, there are no published fares on Etihad between Billings, Montana (BIL) and Male:<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_211448\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img data-aspectratio=\"750\/172\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-211448 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/ExpertFlyer-2.png\" alt=\"ExpertFlyer\" width=\"750\" height=\"172\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/ExpertFlyer-2.png 798w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/ExpertFlyer-2-300x69.png 300w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/ExpertFlyer-2-768x176.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><center><em>Credit: ExpertFlyer<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n<p>Thus, you wouldn't be able to book an AAdvantage award on Etihad flights on this route. If you run into this dilemma, it may still be possible to book the ticket depending on the agent who's ticketing the award. Otherwise, you might need to buy a separate &#8220;positioning&#8221; flight from the smaller airport to a major hub with a published fare to your final destination.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Related: <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/airlines\/american-aadvantage\/how-to-use-american-airlines-miles\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Free Holds, Maximizing Award Regions, Other Tricks for Booking Awards Using AAdvantage Miles<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"Maximum_Permitted_Mileage_MPM\"><span id=\"Maximum_Permitted_Mileage_MPM\">Maximum Permitted Mileage (MPM)<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>&#8220;Maximum Permitted Mileage&#8221; is a lovely piece of jargon that means exactly what it says. For each origin and destination, there is a maximum number of miles you can travel. This American Airlines award travel rule relies primarily on the &#8220;published route&#8221; requirement explained above. However, in cases where your desired award ticket isn't a published route, you may still be able to book it if the itinerary is less than 125% of the MPM.<\/p>\n<p>Unfortunately, the MPM isn't published online. ExpertFlyer members can check the MPM under the &#8220;Travel Information&#8221; section:<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_150251\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img data-aspectratio=\"750\/318\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-150251 size-full lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/ExpertFlyer-maximum-permitted-mileage-search.png\" alt=\"ExpertFlyer maximum permitted mileage search\" width=\"750\" height=\"318\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/ExpertFlyer-maximum-permitted-mileage-search.png 750w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/ExpertFlyer-maximum-permitted-mileage-search-300x127.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><center><em>Credit: ExpertFlyer<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n<h3 id=\"Segment_Limits\"><span id=\"American_Airlines_award_segment_limits\">American Airlines award segment limits<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>American allows up to two connections (three flight segments) on one-way domestic awards. You can add one more connection (four segments) on one-way international awards.<\/p>\n<p>For round-trip travel, you must follow these same limits in each direction of travel. Your destination is the first stop that lasts more than 24 hours (international) or 4 hours (domestic). If your trip requires more than this limit, American Airlines will charge you for more than one award.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"Married_Segment_Logic\"><span id=\"Married_segment_logic\">Married segment logic<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>In the past, American Airlines released award availability flight by flight. Say you wanted to fly from Los Angeles (LAX) to Frankfurt (FRA). If you found award availability on a flight from Los Angeles to Dallas\u2013Fort Worth and on a flight from Dallas\u2013Fort Worth to Frankfurt, you could book the award. Likewise, someone just flying from Dallas to Frankfurt also could book an award on just that nonstop flight.<\/p>\n<p>That all changed in late 2017. Instead of releasing award availability by flight, American Airlines now releases award availability <em>by trip<\/em>. Under these rules, you might only be allowed to book the Dallas to Frankfurt flight if you start in Los Angeles or some other city \u2014 but not in Dallas. If you want to start in Dallas, you might need book a connecting flight through Charlotte or Miami on the way to Frankfurt to book the cheapest award. Married segment logic might prohibit booking a nonstop flight from A to B on certain routes.<\/p>\n<p>This irritating way of releasing award availability is referred to as &#8220;married segment logic.&#8221; That's because the award availability for each individual flight is &#8220;married&#8221; to the entire itinerary. Put simply, American uses these rules to make the cheapest awards less convenient with the hope of getting you to pay more miles for a nonstop award.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"Final_Thoughts\"><span id=\"Final_Thoughts\">Final Thoughts<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>American Airlines AAdvantage miles can be extremely valuable if you know how and when to use them and are aware of the basic rules for award travel. While there is certainly a learning curve for more complex itineraries, there are plenty of awards you can book at a great price with limited experience.<\/p>\n<p>American's policy for putting award tickets on hold is among the most generous of any frequent flyer program. When planning travel that will require more than one type of miles, it's a huge asset to be able to lock in your AAdvantage award for up to five days while you figure out the other parts of your trip.<\/p>\n<p>The rules for changing tickets are another standout feature of this program. American Airlines eliminated award mileage redeposit fees, so you no longer have to pay a fee to cancel an award.<\/p>\n<p>The AAdvantage booking rules are more complex than revenue-based programs like <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/airlines\/southwest-rapid-rewards\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Southwest Rapid Rewards<\/a> and <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/airlines\/jetblue-trueblue\/\" rel=\"noopener\">JetBlue TrueBlue<\/a>. However, a little extra effort to learn how this program works can pay huge dividends.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>American Airlines AAdvantage miles can offer huge value if you know how and when to use them. If you learn the rules for booking awards, you\u2019ll spend fewer miles, avoid unnecessary fees, and save valuable time planning your next trip. Here\u2019s everything you need to know about booking award tickets with AAdvantage miles.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":80,"featured_media":150216,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_wpscppro_dont_share_socialmedia":null,"_wpscppro_custom_social_share_image":0,"_facebook_share_type":"default","_twitter_share_type":"default","_linkedin_share_type":"default","_pinterest_share_type":"default","_linkedin_share_type_page":"","_instagram_share_type":"default","_medium_share_type":"default","_threads_share_type":"","_google_business_share_type":"","_selected_social_profile":[],"_wpsp_enable_custom_social_template":false,"_wpsp_social_scheduling":{"enabled":false,"datetime":null,"platforms":[],"status":"template_only","dateOption":"today","timeOption":"now","customDays":"","customHours":"","customDate":"","customTime":"","schedulingType":"absolute"},"_wpsp_active_default_template":true},"categories":[12068],"tags":[12776,12627],"coauthors":[36432,36395],"class_list":["post-46559","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-award-programs","tag-american-aadvantage","tag-fees-rules-and-policies"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46559","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/80"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=46559"}],"version-history":[{"count":48,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46559\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":257057,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46559\/revisions\/257057"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/150216"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=46559"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=46559"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=46559"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=46559"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}