This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. For an explanation of our Advertising Disclosure, visit this page.
American Airlines miles have a variable price that requires a little extra effort to find the best redemption value. Each AAdvantage mile is typically worth from 1 to 3 cents, depending on the destination, travel dates, cabin class, and even your departure time. Here are examples of how far 50k American Airlines miles will get you.
How Much Are 50k American Airlines Miles Worth? AA Award Chart
The legacy carrier ditched its fixed award price chart in early 2023, featuring the Saver Award and AAnytime Awards. Thankfully, you can still see the base rate that award flights start at in the main cabin and premium cabins.
Here is the minimum you should anticipate spending on an American Airlines award flight:
- Within the contiguous 48 U.S. states and Canada: 7,500 miles (main cabin) and 15,000 miles (business/first)
- Mexico, Caribbean, and Central America: 10,000 miles (main cabin) and 20,000 miles (business/first)
- Hawaii and Alaska: 20,000 miles (main cabin) and 60,000 miles (business/first)
- Europe: 25,000 miles (main cabin) and 75,000 miles (business/first)
- South America (short haul): 15,000 miles (main cabin) and 30,000 miles (business/first)
- South America (long haul): 30,000 miles (main cabin) and 90,000 miles (business/first)
- Asia, Middle East, and South Pacific: 35,000 miles (main cabin) and 95,000 miles (business/first)
Once again, this is the least you will spend on a one-way award flight, plus fees and taxes. You will most likely find discounted flights during the off-peak season.
In many cases, 50,000 American Airlines miles can book a round-trip itinerary where you only pay cash for fees and taxes.
You may also consider using one of the best credit cards for American Airlines flights to earn miles on each purchase. Other card benefits can include free checked bags, priority boarding, and complimentary access to Admirals Lounge locations.
Related: Do American Airlines Miles Expire?
How Many Miles for an American Airlines oneworld Flight?
You may also redeem AAdvantage miles for flights operated by an oneworld partner. The minimums can be higher than going directly through American Airlines. But, as most flights require more miles, a oneworld alliance flight can be a good deal as this is still a fixed-price award chart.
The select number of miles you need for a oneworld for select destinations are:
- Within the contiguous United States and Canada: 12,500 miles (main cabin) and 25,000 miles (business/first)
- Alaska: 15,000 miles (main cabin) and 30 miles (business/first)
- Hawaii: 22,500 miles (main cabin) and 50,000 miles (business/first)
- Mexico, Caribbean, and Central America: 17,500 miles (main cabin) and 27,500 miles (business/first)
- Europe: 22,500 miles (off-peak main cabin) or 30,000 miles (peak season main cabin) and 57,500 miles (business/first)
- South Pacific: 40,000 miles (main cabin) and 80,000 miles (business/first)
These alliance flights can be an excellent option if you want to fly to New Zealand or Australia. The off-peak rates to Europe are also enticing.
Related: Which Credit Card Is The Best For oneworld Miles?
Examples of Redeeming American Airlines Miles
Now that we’ve gotten an idea of how much 50k American Airlines miles are worth, let’s check out some examples. Here is how much you could pay when booking award flights through American Airlines.
Los Angeles to Mexico City
A one-way flight from Los Angeles (LAX) to Mexico City (MEX) ranges from 8,000 to 20,000 miles in the main cabin. Business class flights require from 20,000 to 40,000 miles, depending on the travel date and availability.
Los Angeles to San Francisco
One-way flights go from 6,000 to 12,500 between Los Angeles and San Francisco in the main cabin. Business and first-class award space go from 15,000 to 40,000 miles.
This short-haul flight is more likely to be eligible for discounted pricing. However, you can also find cross-country routes with rock-bottom prices. One example is a coast-to-coast award flight from Los Angeles (LAX) to Hilton Head Island, SC (HHH) for 6,000 miles in the main cabin.
Los Angeles to Chicago
A one-way trip between Los Angeles and Chicago (ORD) typically requires between 9,000 and 12,000 miles, but there are rare instances when a red-eye 6,000-mile award flight is available. Business class seats go from 16,000 to 25,000 miles in most months.
Related: The Best American Airlines Business Credit Cards
Los Angeles to Miami
Los Angeles to Miami (MIA) can require from 7,500 to 17,500 miles in the main cabin. If you prefer business class to reach tropical Florida, plan on spending between 17,500 and 29,500 miles each way.
Los Angeles to Honolulu
Typically, award flight prices to Hawaii are the most affordable from the West Coast. A main cabin flight from Los Angeles to Honolulu (HNL) goes for 20,000 miles to 22,500 miles on most days during the winter and summer. Business or first-class itineraries tend to require 50,000 on up to 105,500 one way.
If you’re flying to Hawaii from the central or eastern United States, the mileage requirements are a tad higher. For instance, one-way flights start at 22,500 from Chicago, but LAX-baed flyers only need to shell out 20,000 miles.
Los Angeles to Rome
When traveling to Europe, Los Angeles to Rome, Italy (FCO) requires 22,500 to 30,000 miles one-way in the main cabin and 57,500 up to 349,000 in business or first class. So, you will need to stay in economy if you only have 50k AAdvantage miles to work with.
The award flight prices are similar when you depart from an East Coast airport such as New York’s JFK or La Guardia (LGA). Still, you will need to play with your travel dates and routes as flights can sometimes be more expensive even though you’re not flying across the country before boarding the final leg across the Atlantic.
Related: 12 Things to Know Before You Travel to Europe
Los Angeles to Sydney
It’s also possible to fly to the South Pacific on less than 50,000 American Airlines miles when you have a flexible travel schedule. One-way flights in the main cabin are available for as little as 28,000 miles to 40,000 miles.
A premium cabin flight to Australia can be found for as little as 80,000 miles, but there are many days on the award flight calendar listing between 223,000 and 450,000 miles.
Summary
So, how much are 50k American Airlines miles worth? Having 50,000 miles is usually enough for a single round-trip fare within the mainland United States or Canada. But, it’s also possible to find many fares that need 12,000 miles or less so you can get two round trips. Most international and transoceanic tickets are going to require the majority of your points balance, and you may need to pay cash for your return flight.
Related Articles:
