Last Updated on July 25, 2026 by Daniel Globe
American Airlines AAdvantage members can transfer miles to another member, but the transfer is not free. Before paying, compare the transfer cost with the price of booking an award directly for the other traveler. You also need to understand that transferring miles to another AAdvantage account is different from redeeming miles for a partner flight, hotel stay, or gift card.
AAdvantage miles may be earned from eligible American Airlines travel, partner activity, credit-card spending, shopping, hotels, and other sources. For many American-marketed tickets, earnings are based on eligible ticket spending and the member’s status. Some partner-marketed tickets use fare class and flight distance. American also states that Basic Economy tickets purchased on or after December 17, 2025, do not earn AAdvantage miles or Loyalty Points. See the official AAdvantage FAQ for current earning rules.
Quick Answer
Yes. American Airlines allows AAdvantage members to transfer miles to another AAdvantage member. American currently lists a transfer cost of $0.005 per mile, and each member may send and receive up to 300,000 transferred miles per calendar year. Transfers are nonrefundable and do not earn Loyalty Points.
Key Takeaways
- AAdvantage miles can be transferred from one personal AAdvantage account to another.
- The published transfer cost is $0.005 per mile, so transferring 10,000 miles costs $50.
- A member may currently send up to 300,000 miles and receive up to 300,000 transferred miles per calendar year.
- AAdvantage miles cannot normally be converted into British Airways Avios, Qantas Points, Hilton Honors points, Marriott Bonvoy points, or World of Hyatt points.
- You can use AAdvantage miles to book eligible partner-airline flights or reserve hotels through American’s own redemption platforms.
- Booking an award ticket directly for a friend or family member may avoid the mileage-transfer fee.
- Transferred miles do not count toward AAdvantage status, Loyalty Point qualification, or Million Miler status.
- Transfer transactions and fees are nonrefundable, so check the award you want before moving miles.
At a Glance
| Time Required | About 5 to 10 minutes |
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Tools Needed | Your AAdvantage login, the recipient’s AAdvantage account details, and an accepted payment card |
| Cost | Published rate as of July 25, 2026: $0.005 per mile. Confirm the final charge at checkout. |
Can You Transfer American Airlines Miles?
Yes. American Airlines operates a Transfer Miles program for moving miles from one personal AAdvantage account to another personal AAdvantage account. The sender gives up miles that are already in the sender’s account, and the same number of miles is deposited into the recipient’s account.
This is different from the Gift Miles program. With Gift Miles, you pay American Airlines to purchase new miles for another member. No existing miles are removed from your own balance.
| Action | What Happens | Best Used When |
|---|---|---|
| Transfer miles | Existing miles leave your account and enter another member’s account. A transfer fee applies. | The recipient needs miles in their own account for a specific redemption. |
| Gift miles | You purchase new miles that are deposited into another member’s account. | You do not want to reduce your own mileage balance. |
| Book for someone else | Miles stay in your account until you redeem them for a ticket issued in another traveler’s name. | You want to help someone travel without paying a mileage-transfer fee. |
How AAdvantage Mileage Transfers Work
Current Transfer Fee
American Airlines currently publishes a mileage-transfer cost of $0.005 per mile. That equals half a cent for every mile transferred. The transfer charge is paid with an accepted credit card during the transaction.
| Miles Transferred | Transfer Cost at $0.005 per Mile |
|---|---|
| 5,000 miles | $25 |
| 10,000 miles | $50 |
| 25,000 miles | $125 |
| 50,000 miles | $250 |
| 100,000 miles | $500 |
At the published rate, transferring 50,000 AAdvantage miles costs $250. Compare that charge with the cost of booking the award directly for the traveler before completing the transfer.
Current Annual Transfer Limits
American Airlines currently states that each AAdvantage member may:
- Transfer up to 300,000 miles out of their account per calendar year.
- Receive up to 300,000 transferred miles from other members per calendar year.
- Send miles to multiple AAdvantage accounts, provided the total remains within the annual limit.
- Receive transfers from multiple members, provided the receiving limit is not exceeded.
These transfer limits are separate from the limits that apply to miles bought or received through the Buy Miles and Gift Miles programs. American may change the limits, including during promotional periods, so review the amount shown during checkout.
What Transferred Miles Do Not Provide
- Transferred miles do not earn Loyalty Points.
- They do not count toward AAdvantage status qualification.
- They do not count toward Million Miler status.
- Loyalty Points cannot be transferred with the miles.
- The transfer does not guarantee that a particular award will remain available.
Warning: Transfer transactions cannot be refunded, reversed, or exchanged. If the recipient wants to return the miles, the recipient must start a new transfer and may have to pay another fee, subject to the current limits.
How to Transfer American Airlines Miles to Another Account
- Check the award first. Search for the flight or other redemption the recipient wants. Confirm the mileage requirement, taxes, dates, and availability before paying a transfer fee.
- Compare the alternatives. Check whether booking the award directly from your account would be cheaper than transferring the miles.
- Sign in to your AAdvantage account. Use the official American Airlines website and open the Buy, Gift, or Transfer Miles area.
- Select Transfer Miles. Enter the number of miles you want to move.
- Enter the recipient’s account details. Provide the AAdvantage member information requested by the transfer form.
- Review the fee and limits. Make sure the sender and recipient are both within their annual transfer limits.
- Complete payment. American currently accepts major cards listed on its transfer FAQ, including Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express.
- Save the confirmation. Keep the confirmation number and email until both accounts show the completed transaction.
Pro Tip: Do not transfer a large balance simply to combine household miles. First calculate the full transfer charge and compare it with booking the award directly from the account that already has enough miles.
Can You Transfer American Airlines Miles to Another Airline?
No. AAdvantage miles generally cannot be converted into another airline’s loyalty currency. For example, you cannot normally turn AAdvantage miles into British Airways Avios, Qantas Points, Cathay miles, or Qatar Airways Avios.
American Airlines is a member of the Oneworld alliance and also works with other airline partners. These relationships allow members to redeem AAdvantage miles for eligible partner-operated flights. The miles remain AAdvantage miles and are deducted from the member’s American Airlines account when the award is ticketed.
How Partner-Airline Awards Work
- Search for an eligible partner flight through American Airlines.
- Review the mileage requirement, taxes, carrier-imposed charges, and availability.
- Book the award using AAdvantage miles from your account.
- The operating airline provides the flight, but no miles are transferred into that airline’s loyalty program.
American lists many partner awards that can be booked on its website, including eligible flights operated by Alaska Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Etihad Airways, Fiji Airways, Iberia, Japan Airlines, Qantas Airways, Qatar Airways, and other participating airlines. Check American’s current partner-airline page before planning a redemption.
Note: A partner award is a redemption, not a transfer. Award availability, mileage requirements, taxes, and fees may differ by airline and itinerary.
Can You Transfer American Airlines Miles to Hotel Partners?
| Hotel Program | Direct AAdvantage Transfer | Available Alternative |
|---|---|---|
| Hilton Honors | No published direct transfer | Redeem AAdvantage miles for an eligible hotel reservation through AAdvantage Hotels instead of receiving Hilton points. |
| Marriott Bonvoy | No published direct transfer | Use the AAdvantage Hotels platform for eligible mileage or miles-and-cash reservations. |
| World of Hyatt | No published direct transfer | Search AAdvantage Hotels for an eligible property rather than converting miles into Hyatt points. |
AAdvantage miles cannot normally be converted into Hilton Honors, Marriott Bonvoy, or World of Hyatt points. However, members may redeem AAdvantage miles for eligible hotel reservations through the AAdvantage Hotels platform.
An eligible hotel reservation may be paid fully with AAdvantage miles or with a combination of miles and a credit card when the platform offers that option. This is a hotel redemption, not a transfer into the hotel’s loyalty program.
American’s terms also state that miles from two or more AAdvantage accounts cannot be combined in one AAdvantage Hotels redemption. That makes it important to compare a paid transfer with other options before moving miles.
Transferring American Airlines Miles to Family and Friends
You may transfer AAdvantage miles to a family member, friend, or another eligible AAdvantage member. American does not publish a separate no-fee family-pooling program for personal accounts. The normal transfer fee, annual limits, and program rules apply regardless of the relationship between the sender and recipient.
Both people need AAdvantage accounts because the miles move from one AAdvantage account to another. American says a member may transfer miles into any eligible account as long as neither person has exceeded the applicable 300,000-mile annual transfer limit.
Before transferring, ask why the other person needs the miles. If the goal is simply to provide a flight, you may be able to use your miles to issue the award ticket directly in that person’s name. This usually avoids the transfer charge.
Booking an Award for Someone Else
American’s terms allow an AAdvantage flight award to be issued in any name selected by the member when the award is ticketed. The traveler does not need to be the owner of the mileage account.
Enter the traveler’s legal name correctly during booking. The traveler must be identified when the award is issued, and an issued award ticket cannot later be transferred to a different traveler.
Warning: Do not sell, barter, or accept payment for AAdvantage miles or award tickets. American may cancel awards, remove miles, close accounts, or take other action when program rules are violated.
Fees and Restrictions on Transferring American Airlines Miles
The published transfer charge and annual limit are not the only rules to consider. Review all transaction details before paying.
- Published transfer cost: $0.005 per mile.
- Annual sending limit: Up to 300,000 transferred miles per member per calendar year.
- Annual receiving limit: Up to 300,000 transferred miles per member per calendar year.
- Status credit: Transferred miles do not earn Loyalty Points or count toward AAdvantage or Million Miler status.
- Refunds: Transfer transactions and fees cannot be refunded, reversed, or exchanged.
- Return transfers: Returning miles requires a new transaction and remains subject to the applicable fee and limits.
- Expiration: Transferred miles remain subject to AAdvantage program expiration and qualifying-activity rules.
- Cross-program transfers: Miles and Loyalty Points generally cannot be transferred into a different loyalty program.
- Business accounts: Transfers from AAdvantage Business accounts are handled through the business travel-management portal and follow separate program rules.
American’s current terms generally require qualifying activity within a 24-month period to keep miles from expiring, although exceptions apply to members under age 21. American lists eligible Buy Miles, Gift Miles, and Transfer Miles transactions among its forms of qualifying activity. Always review the account’s displayed expiration date and current AAdvantage terms.
Tips for Maximizing the Value of Transferred American Airlines Miles
Confirm the Redemption Before Transferring
Search the exact travel dates and route before moving miles. Award prices and availability can change. A completed transfer does not reserve a seat or lock in an award price.
Calculate the Full Transfer Cost
Multiply the number of miles by $0.005. For example:
30,000 miles × $0.005 = $150 transfer cost
Compare that amount with the cash fare, the recipient’s mileage shortfall, the cost of buying miles, and the option of booking from your account.
Transfer Only the Needed Amount
Moving more miles than the recipient needs increases the fee and leaves a larger balance in an account you do not control. Transfer only after confirming the required mileage amount.
Check Partner Awards Through American
Do not transfer miles because a partner airline operates the flight. Search for the partner award through American Airlines and redeem your AAdvantage miles directly when the itinerary is eligible.
Compare Hotel Redemptions Carefully
A hotel booked through AAdvantage Hotels does not produce Hilton, Marriott, or Hyatt points. Compare the mileage requirement with the property’s cash rate and any benefits you might lose by booking outside the hotel’s own loyalty program.
Keep the Confirmation
Save the transaction number and confirmation email until the miles have left the sender’s account and appeared in the recipient’s account.
Alternatives to Transferring American Airlines Miles
Book a Flight for the Other Person
This is often the simplest alternative. Use miles from your account and issue the award in the traveler’s name. The traveler does not need to own the account containing the miles.
Purchase Gift Miles
Gift Miles allows you to buy new miles for another AAdvantage member without deducting miles from your balance. Compare the purchase price with the transfer fee before choosing this option.
Redeem for a Partner-Airline Flight
Use AAdvantage miles to book eligible flights operated by participating Oneworld and other airline partners. The miles remain in the AAdvantage program until redeemed.
Use Miles for Hotels, Cars, Cruises, or Experiences
American offers mileage redemption options through AAdvantage Hotels, AAdvantage Cars, AAdvantage Cruises, and participating experiences. Platform availability and terms may vary by location.
Redeem Miles for Gift Cards or Merchandise
American introduced an AAdvantage gift-card platform in 2026, with eligible gift cards from participating retail, dining, entertainment, and other brands. Members may also find eligible merchandise through the AAdvantage Exchange marketplace. These are redemptions rather than person-to-person mileage transfers.
Before completing any transfer, read the official Buy, Gift, and Transfer Miles FAQ and the current AAdvantage terms. Program fees, limits, partners, and redemption options can change.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you transfer American Airlines miles to another person?
Yes. American Airlines allows AAdvantage members to transfer existing miles from their account into another AAdvantage member’s account. A transfer fee and annual limits apply.
How much does it cost to transfer AAdvantage miles?
American currently publishes a transfer cost of $0.005 per mile. At that rate, transferring 10,000 miles costs $50 and transferring 50,000 miles costs $250. Confirm the final amount at checkout because fees can change.
How many American Airlines miles can I transfer?
American currently allows each member to transfer up to 300,000 miles out of their account and receive up to 300,000 transferred miles per calendar year. American may change these limits.
Can I transfer AAdvantage miles to British Airways or another airline?
No. AAdvantage miles generally cannot be converted into another airline’s loyalty currency. You may instead redeem AAdvantage miles for eligible flights operated by British Airways and other participating airline partners.
Can I transfer AAdvantage miles to Hilton, Marriott, or Hyatt?
American does not currently publish direct conversions from AAdvantage miles into Hilton Honors, Marriott Bonvoy, or World of Hyatt points. You may be able to redeem AAdvantage miles for an eligible hotel reservation through AAdvantage Hotels.
Can I use my American Airlines miles to book a flight for someone else?
Yes. American’s terms allow an award ticket to be issued in any name selected by the member when the ticket is issued. Enter the traveler’s correct legal information and do not sell or barter the award.
Do transferred miles count toward AAdvantage status?
No. Transferred miles do not earn Loyalty Points and do not count toward AAdvantage status qualification or Million Miler status.
Can Loyalty Points be transferred to another person?
No. The Transfer Miles program moves redeemable AAdvantage miles, not Loyalty Points. Loyalty Points remain tied to the member who earned them.
Can I reverse an AAdvantage mileage transfer?
No. American says transfer transactions cannot be refunded, reversed, or exchanged. The recipient could start a new paid transfer back to the original member if both accounts remain within the applicable limits.
Can AAdvantage miles be transferred after a member dies?
American’s terms allow it to consider certain requests involving a deceased member, court order, or final settlement at its discretion. Documentation, deadlines, and fees may apply, and approval is not guaranteed. Contact AAdvantage Customer Service for the current requirements.
Can I redeem AAdvantage miles for gift cards?
Yes. American launched an AAdvantage gift-card platform in 2026 for eligible gift cards from participating brands. This is a redemption from your mileage balance, not a transfer into another person’s AAdvantage account.
Sources
- American Airlines Buy, Gift, and Transfer Miles FAQ — transfer eligibility, annual limits, status treatment, confirmation, and refund rules.
- American Airlines Optional Fees — published transfer cost per mile.
- AAdvantage Terms and Conditions — cross-program restrictions, booking awards for another person, expiration rules, and prohibited sales or barter.
- American Airlines Partner Airlines — airlines on which eligible AAdvantage award travel may be booked.
- AAdvantage Third-Party Site Terms — hotel, car, and cruise mileage-redemption rules.
- American Airlines AAdvantage Gift Card Announcement — current gift-card redemption option.