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American Airlines’ AAdvantage loyalty programme is once again running a discount promotion on miles purchases.

Until 31st August 2019, you can benefit from a 10% discount PLUS up to 85,000 bonus miles:

Obviously the prices vary a lot, depending on how many you buy. At the top end, you could buy 235,000 American AAdvantage Miles for about £3,565 ($4,318.81 USD)

That works out at slightly over 1.5p per mile.

Note that AAdvantage accounts less than 30 days old aren’t eligible to purchase miles, and that you can only buy 150,000 AAdvantage miles per calendar year (not including the bonus miles!).

Good deal?

As always, it really depends on how you intend to use the miles.

1.5p per mile isn’t as low as the ~1.36p that American AAdvantage sometimes sells them for.

The AA award chart isn’t as good as it used to be, but there are still some superb redemption options on partners like Etihad and Qatar.

In particular, 42,500 miles each way for Business Class between Europe and the Middle East / Indian Subcontinent regions is excellent – not least if you can get one of Qatar’s industry-leading ‘QSuites’.

The chance to try Etihad’s  First Class ‘Apartments’ (on A380 aircraft only) for 62,500 miles is, arguably, an even better deal.

Bottom line

I’m not personally tempted by this offer, because I’ve already got a decent American AAdvantage balance. I’d rather buy a smaller amount of miles to top up my account for an award, than invest in 235,000.

As long as you focus on high-value redemptions (and check there is award space on the flights you want!), there is potentially good value to be found here though.

Terms

To be eligible for a the bonus miles and/or discount AAdvantage members must purchase 15,000 AAdvantage miles or more in a single transaction from the Buy or Gift Miles program beginning 00:00:00am CT on August 3, 2019 to 11:59:59pm CT on August 31, 2019. The prices shown include the discount. The discount applies to the AAdvantage miles purchased. The bonus miles earned are calculated based on each individual purchase amount and the corresponding bonus award. Bonus miles earned do not count toward the annual purchase limits. The applicable bonus miles are awarded to the recipient for Gift Miles transactions.

The miles purchased with the Buy Miles program and received with the Gift Miles program do not count towards AAdvantage Gold, AAdvantage Platinum, AAdvantage Platinum Pro, AAdvantage Executive Platinum or AAdvantage Million Miler^SM status qualification. Transactions are nonrefundable and nonreversible. The miles successfully purchased or transferred usually post to the designated account right away, but please allow up to 8 hours for processing. Each AAdvantage member is limited to purchasing or receiving in a calendar year, a combined total of no more than 150,000 AAdvantage miles. Miles purchased through the Buy Miles program or received as a gift through the Gift Miles program count against this total. A confirmation email will be sent to the primary buyer/gifter and/or recipient, using the email address(es) associated with the AAdvantage account(s) and any additional email address provided. AAdvantage accounts less than 30 days old are not permitted to Buy or Gift Miles. Prices are in U.S. dollars and do not include applicable taxes or $35 per transaction processing charge. The promotion, pricing and/or fee to Buy, Gift or Share Miles is subject to change without notice. Your credit card company may add a currency conversion fee.