American Airlines
Photograph ©2018 by Brian Cohen.

Dynamic Pricing for AAdvantage Awards. For Posterity, Refer to the Award Charts in the Future in This Article.

In attempting to introduce a broader range of award redemption prices, American Airlines has introduced dynamic pricing of the redemption of AAdvantage frequent flier loyalty program miles for award travel in phases this year…

Dynamic Pricing for AAdvantage Awards. For Posterity, Refer to the Award Charts in the Future in This Article.

…but the award charts have not been eliminated — yet, anyway — so in case that does occur, they are included in this article for posterity.

Dynamic pricing has been introduced in general — as well as award charts being eliminated by other airlines — because the increase of award prices for the flights which are in the most demand allows the airlines to purportedly offer lower prices on other flights. If your award travel is flexible, these updates will supposedly help you get the most value out of your miles.

Some award prices will be lower than what are currently published in the award charts. If you have already seen these lower prices, you will be able to take advantage of them immediately…

…but other award prices may be higher than what are currently published in the award charts — especially if you are traveling at a popular time. These award redemption prices are already in effect.

In other words, award prices have become variable instead of fixed — so despite the existence of award charts, you will likely have no idea how many AAdvantage miles you will need to redeem until you actually start the process of booking an award ticket. The amount of AAdvantage miles you will need to redeem for an award will more likely than not be based on the revenue price of the flight: the cheaper the cost of the flight in cash will likely mean fewer AAdvantage miles to redeem for an award flight; and the more expensive the cost of the flight in cash will likely mean more AAdvantage miles to redeem for an award flight.

“When American Airlines launched their ‘web specials’ they were discounted awards, for less than the cost of a saver award. These awards allow no changes versus traditional awards which permit date changes free of charge and routing changes for a fee”, according to this article written by Gary Leff of View From The Wing on April 18, 2019. “Now though these non-changeable web specials appear to be offering fully dynamic pricing. They aren’t just discounted awards compared to traditional saver, costing as little as 5000 miles one way when fares are cheap.”

Along with examples which illustrated the initial phase of dynamic pricing of the redemption of AAdvantage miles for award travel, Gary Leff also wrote in the aforementioned article that the “web specials” instead “are priced all over the map — and more expensive than saver awards — but less than traditional ‘AAnytime’ awards which offer last seat availability and greater flexibility.”

…And Now: Presenting Possibly the Last Award Charts From AAdvantage…

The most recent AAdvantage award charts which were posted by American Airlines are being preserved for posterity in this article so that you can have a reference as to whether or not you are getting a good value in the future when booking an award ticket — but what is important to keep in mind is that if you are getting a relatively great deal on the amount of AAdvantage miles to redeem for an award ticket, chances are that the revenue cash price of the ticket may also likely be a good value as well. Always check both options before arriving at a final decision as to whether to pay cash for your flight or redeem your AAdvantage miles.

Each section includes travel award charts, which may be further formatted for a cleaner appearance. Links — which are in green — are provided for the award charts while they still exist. The redemption of AAdvantage miles below represent travel one way and not round trip.

TRAVEL FROM…

Contiguous 48 United States and Canada

Main Cabin

To: MileSAAver
Off Peak
MileSAAver AAnytime
Level 1
AAnytime
Level 2
Contiguous 48 U.S. states & Canada Not available 12,500 20,000 30,000
Contiguous 48 U.S. states & Canada (≤ 500 miles)^ Not available 7,500 20,000 30,000
Alaska Not available 15,000 25,000 40,000
Hawaii 20,000 22,500 40,000 50,000
Caribbean 12,500 15,000 27,500 37,500
Mexico 12,500 15,000 27,500 37,500
Central America 12,500 15,000 27,500 37,500
South America Region 1 17,500 20,000 35,000 50,000
South America Region 2 Not available 30,000 55,000 75,000
Europe 22,500 30,000 47,500 65,000
Asia Region 1 32,500 35,000 62,500 80,000
Asia Region 2 32,500 35,000 65,000 85,000
South Pacific Not available 40,000 70,000 90,000

^Valid only on non-stop flights

Premium Economy

To: MileSAAver
Off Peak
MileSAAver AAnytime
Level 1
AAnytime
Level 2
Contiguous 48 U.S. states & Canada Not available Not available Not available Not available
Contiguous 48 U.S. states & Canada (≤ 500 miles)^ Not available Not available Not available Not available
Alaska Not available 25,000 40,000 55,000
Hawaii Not available 50,000 65,000 85,000
Caribbean Not available Not available Not available Not available
Mexico Not available Not available Not available Not available
Central America Not available Not available Not available Not available
South America Region 1 Not available Not available Not available Not available
South America Region 2 Not available 40,000 80,000 105,000
Europe Not available 40,000 75,000 110,000
Asia Region 1 Not available 50,000 80,000 105,000
Asia Region 2 Not available 50,000 85,000 115,000
South Pacific Not available 65,000 130,000 155,000

^Valid only on non-stop flights.

Business / First

To: MileSAAver
Off Peak
MileSAAver AAnytime
Level 1
AAnytime
Level 2
Contiguous 48 U.S. states & Canada* Not available 25,000 45,000 55,000
Contiguous 48 U.S. states & Canada (≤ 500 miles)^ Not available 15,000 45,000 55,000
Alaska* Not available 30,000 50,000 65,000
Hawaii** Not available 55,000 67,500 90,000
Caribbean* Not available 25,000 50,000 60,000
Mexico* Not available 25,000 50,000 60,000
Central America* Not available 25,000 50,000 60,000
South America Region 1* Not available 30,000 65,000 90,000
South America Region 2 Not available 57,500 110,000 150,000
Europe Not available 57,500 110,000 135,000
Asia Region 1 Not available 60,000 120,000 155,000
Asia Region 2 Not available 70,000 140,000 175,000
South Pacific Not available 80,000 175,000 195,000

^Valid only on non-stop flights.

*If the award includes travel on an aircraft that offers lie-flat seats in the U.S. and Canada, the Business/First levels will be 7,500 miles higher than what is shown in the chart above.

**If the award includes travel on an aircraft that offers lie-flat seats, the MileSAAver levels will be 7,500 miles higher; AAnytime levels will be 20,000 miles higher than what is shown.

First

To: MileSAAver
Off Peak
MileSAAver AAnytime
Level 1
AAnytime
Level 2
Contiguous 48 U.S. states & Canada Not available 50,000 85,000 95,000
Alaska Not available 55,000 90,000 105,000
Hawaii Not available 80,000 107,500 130,000
Caribbean Not available 50,000 90,000 100,000
Mexico Not available 50,000 90,000 100,000
Central America Not available 50,000 90,000 100,000
South America Region 1 Not available 55,000 105,000 130,000
South America Region 2 Not available 85,000 160,000 190,000
Europe Not available 85,000 140,000 175,000
Asia Region 1 Not available 80,000 170,000 200,000
Asia Region 2 Not available 110,000 180,000 210,000
South Pacific Not available 110,000 220,000 260,000
Alaska
Hawaii
Caribbean
Mexico
Central America
South America Region 1
South America Region 2
Europe
Asia Region 1
Asia Region 2
South Pacific

Summary

Let’s face it: airlines have overall morphed from a failed and unsustainable model of practically giving everything away to its customers to getting stingier and stingier with providing its customers with value and fewer reasons for loyalty — and that has increasingly forced frequent fliers to become agnostic with regard to frequent flier loyalty programs.

Although United Airlines has followed the lead of Delta Air Lines, which eliminated its SkyMiles award charts effective as of Wednesday, June 1, 2016 — but you can still reference to when the last award charts for SkyMiles used to exist.

Airlines are not eliminating award charts for the benefit of customers. They are not offering Basic Economy airfares for the benefit of customers. They are not reducing seat pitch for the benefit of customers.

In fact, airlines rarely do anything in recent years for the benefit of customers. Rather, what they do is for their own benefits…

…and for those reasons, you can almost certainly count on American Airlines eventually eliminating award charts as well. I am surprised that they have not already done so with the gradual introduction of dynamic award pricing.

As for me, I do not like the trend of eliminating award charts; and although I am not exactly welcoming dynamic pricing of redeeming frequent flier loyalty program miles for award tickets, consumers will be able to snag an occasional good deal — or, perhaps, even a bargain now and then.

Photograph ©2018 by Brian Cohen.


  1. Loyalty programs are a voluntary gift, nobody told the airlines they had to do it. Likewise, nobody told anyone they had to participate. Award Dynamic pricing is just mimicking the way that airline (and hotel) pricing has been for decades.

    I agree that when you have been spoiled with too-good-to-be-good deals for so long, it hurts when you have to pay realistic prices even when using miles. That having been said, there are still very good deals coming out from time to time. Also there are cash prices that are amazing from some to time, including with Business Class.

    I still think these loyalty programs offer good deals for those that are willing to see the benefits. Airlines are just trying to help their employees feed their families, just like any other company. I don’t think that’s wrong. It was wrong when they were going bankrupt on a regular basis.

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