Last Updated on July 28, 2026 by Daniel Globe
American Airlines’ AAdvantage program lets members earn miles from eligible flights, credit cards, shopping, hotels, car rentals, and other partners, then redeem those miles for flights and other travel rewards. Members can also transfer miles they already own to another AAdvantage account, but the transfer comes with a fee and annual limits, so it is worth checking cheaper alternatives first.
Quick Answer
You can transfer AAdvantage miles to another AAdvantage member for a current fee of $5 per 1,000 miles. Transfers are made in 1,000-mile increments, and each member can currently send up to 300,000 miles and receive up to 300,000 transferred miles per calendar year. Always verify the final fee before submitting.
American-operated flight awards use variable pricing, so the number of miles needed can change with the route, date, cabin, demand, and available award inventory. American currently publishes estimated starting award levels rather than a single fixed mileage price for every route.
That makes the decision to transfer miles less about simply combining balances and more about whether the transfer fee unlocks an award that is actually available. In many cases, you can avoid the transfer charge completely by booking an award ticket for the other traveler from your own account.
Key Takeaways
Key Takeaways
- AAdvantage members can transfer miles they already own to another AAdvantage member’s account.
- The current transfer price is $5 per 1,000 miles, or 0.5 cents per mile, and transfers are made in 1,000-mile increments.
- Each member can currently transfer up to 300,000 miles out and receive up to 300,000 transferred miles per calendar year.
- Transferred miles do not earn Loyalty Points or count toward AAdvantage status or Million Miler status.
- AAdvantage miles generally cannot be converted into another airline’s loyalty currency. Instead, use AAdvantage miles to book eligible partner-airline awards directly.
- The cheapest alternative is often to book the award for the other traveler from your own AAdvantage account rather than transfer miles.
- Confirm award availability and all cash taxes or fees before paying to move a large mileage balance.
At a Glance
| Time Required | A few minutes online; mileage posting time can vary |
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Tools Needed | Your AAdvantage login, recipient’s AAdvantage details, and an accepted payment card |
| Cost | Currently $5 per 1,000 miles transferred; verify the displayed price before submitting |
Benefits of Transferring American Airlines Miles
Transferring American Airlines miles is most useful when the recipient needs miles in their own account for a specific redemption. For example, one family member may already have most of the miles required for an award but be a few thousand miles short. Moving the missing amount can complete the balance without buying an entirely new mileage package.
It can also help when the recipient needs control of the reservation from their own mileage account or wants to combine a small shortfall with miles they already hold. This can make some travel experiences easier to arrange when several people have earned AAdvantage miles separately.
A mileage transfer is most valuable when it fills a specific shortfall. Moving miles simply to pool balances can be expensive when you could book the same award directly for the other traveler.
Pro Tip: Search for the award first. American’s terms allow an AAdvantage member to issue an award ticket in another person’s name, so booking the flight from your own account can often eliminate the transfer fee completely.
Eligibility and Restrictions for Transferring American Airlines Miles
The American Airlines Transfer Miles page allows AAdvantage members to move miles from one AAdvantage account to another. The recipient therefore needs an AAdvantage account before a normal member-to-member transfer can be completed.
According to the current American Airlines Buy, Gift and Transfer FAQ, each member can transfer up to 300,000 miles out of their account and receive up to 300,000 miles from other members per calendar year. American states that these limits are subject to change, including during promotional periods.
The current transfer price is $5 for every 1,000 miles transferred. Because the cost increases directly with the number of miles moved, larger transfers can become expensive.
Note: Transferred miles are treated as bonus miles for qualification purposes. They can be redeemed like other AAdvantage miles, but they do not generate Loyalty Points or count toward AAdvantage status or Million Miler status.
How Much Does It Cost to Transfer AAdvantage Miles?
At the current rate of $5 per 1,000 miles, the math is straightforward. There is no benefit to moving more miles than the recipient actually needs for the planned redemption.
| Miles Transferred | Current Transfer Cost |
| 5,000 miles | $25 |
| 20,000 miles | $100 |
| 50,000 miles | $250 |
| 100,000 miles | $500 |
Before paying that cost, compare the cash fare, the award price and applicable taxes or carrier-imposed fees. A transfer that costs $250 may make sense if it completes a high-value award that would otherwise be unavailable, but paying the same fee simply to consolidate balances may provide little benefit.
Transfer Miles vs. Gift Miles vs. Buy Miles
American offers several mileage transactions that sound similar but work differently:
- Transfer Miles: You move miles you already own from your AAdvantage account into another member’s AAdvantage account. The miles leave your balance.
- Gift Miles: You purchase new miles and have those newly purchased miles deposited into another member’s account. Your existing mileage balance is not reduced.
- Buy Miles: You purchase new miles for your own AAdvantage account.
American applies separate rules and annual limits to these programs, so do not assume that the Buy Miles or Gift Miles limits are the same as the Transfer Miles limit.
Step-by-Step Guide to Transferring American Airlines Miles
| Step | What to Do |
| Step 1 | Log in to your American Airlines AAdvantage account and open the Buy, Gift or Transfer Miles area. |
| Step 2 | Choose Transfer Miles and select the number of miles you want to move in the available increments. |
| Step 3 | Enter the recipient’s requested AAdvantage account information carefully. |
| Step 4 | Review the recipient, mileage amount, current transfer charge and payment details before submitting. |
| Step 5 | Complete the transaction and keep the confirmation until both accounts reflect the completed transfer. |
Start by logging in to your AAdvantage account on the American Airlines website. From the Buy, Gift or Transfer Miles area, choose the Transfer Miles option and enter the amount you want to send.
Next, provide the recipient information requested by American. Check the AAdvantage account details carefully before continuing. You will then see the cost of the transaction before payment.
Warning: Do not submit the transfer until you have verified the recipient’s account information and the mileage amount. American states that these transactions cannot simply be refunded, reversed or exchanged after submission.
After completion, American sends confirmation when the miles have been deducted from the sender’s account and deposited into the recipient’s account. Because the current public FAQ does not promise a specific member-to-member transfer posting time, avoid relying on a fixed four-hour deadline when an award seat is about to disappear.
Using American Airlines Miles With Partner Airlines
American Airlines is a founding member of the oneworld alliance and also works with additional airline partners. That gives AAdvantage members access to award flights beyond American-operated aircraft.
The key distinction is that you normally do not transfer your AAdvantage miles into British Airways Club, Qantas Frequent Flyer, Cathay, Qatar Airways Privilege Club or another partner currency. Instead, you use AAdvantage miles to book eligible partner-operated awards through American.
Partner-airline access is a redemption benefit, not a currency conversion: your miles remain AAdvantage miles while American issues the eligible partner award.
The current American Airlines partner-award page lists eligible carriers and applicable award information. Partner flights can also appear in award searches on aa.com and the American app.
For example, an AAdvantage member looking for Los Angeles-to-Sydney travel may find an eligible Qantas-operated award through American and redeem AAdvantage miles for it without transferring those miles to Qantas.
Cash charges still matter. American states that award tickets are subject to taxes and applicable carrier-imposed charges, and its FAQ specifically notes that some partners, including British Airways and Iberia, can have additional charges. Compare the complete mileage-and-cash price before booking.
Can Other Credit Card Points Transfer Into AAdvantage?
This is different from transferring AAdvantage miles between two members. American’s AAdvantage terms and conditions generally prohibit moving AAdvantage mileage into another loyalty program or moving outside loyalty currency into AAdvantage unless American expressly permits the transfer.
Approved exceptions can exist. Citi currently lists American Airlines AAdvantage as a transfer partner for eligible ThankYou Rewards accounts. Transfer eligibility and ratios can depend on the Citi product and current program terms, so check the ThankYou transfer screen before moving points.
Note: Moving Citi ThankYou Points into AAdvantage is an external rewards-partner conversion. It is not the same transaction as paying American to transfer existing AAdvantage miles from one AAdvantage member to another.
Tips for Maximizing the Value of Transferred American Airlines Miles
First, calculate exactly how many miles the recipient is short. At $5 per 1,000 miles, transferring 20,000 miles costs $100, while transferring 50,000 costs $250. Sending only the required amount keeps the fee down.
Second, search the award before transferring. Award inventory and mileage prices can change, and a transfer is much less useful if the desired seat disappears before you book.
Third, check whether you can book the award directly from your own account. American’s program terms allow a flight award to be issued in another person’s name at ticketing. The person who actually travels earns any eligible flight mileage or Loyalty Points associated with qualifying paid travel rules; simply paying for somebody else’s trip does not transfer those earnings to you.
Finally, remember the annual limit. The current cap is 300,000 miles transferred out and 300,000 transferred miles received per member per calendar year, although American reserves the right to change those limits.
Potential Pitfalls to Avoid When Transferring American Airlines Miles
One of the biggest mistakes is entering incorrect recipient information. Confirm the recipient’s AAdvantage details before paying because a completed transaction is not something American promises to undo on request.
Warning: American states that Buy, Gift and Transfer transactions cannot be refunded, reversed or exchanged. Its transfer FAQ notes that miles could only return to the original member through a new transfer initiated by the recipient, assuming applicable limits allow it, and another transfer fee may apply.
Another mistake is paying the transfer fee before comparing alternatives. If you can issue the award ticket in the other traveler’s name from your own account, moving the miles first may accomplish nothing except adding a fee.
Also check the complete award cost before transferring. A flight that looks attractive based on mileage alone may still carry government taxes or partner-airline charges.
Finally, watch your mileage activity. Under the current AAdvantage terms, most accounts are subject to a 24-month qualifying-activity requirement. Completing a Buy Miles, Gift Miles or Transfer Miles transaction counts as qualifying activity and generally extends the expiration date of unexpired miles for another 24 months. Exceptions apply, including for members under age 21 and certain qualifying cardmember situations, so your account’s displayed expiration information is the best reference for your balance.
Alternatives to Transferring American Airlines Miles
The best alternative for many travelers is simple: keep the miles in your account and redeem them for somebody else’s flight. American’s terms permit AAdvantage flight awards to be issued in a name chosen by the member when the award is ticketed. This avoids the member-to-member transfer charge entirely.
Another option is to buy or gift only the small number of miles needed, although the pricing and limits for those transactions differ from the Transfer Miles program. Always compare the displayed cost before choosing between buying, gifting and transferring.
Travelers with eligible flexible credit-card rewards can also check whether their rewards program currently supports transfers into AAdvantage. Citi ThankYou currently includes AAdvantage among its airline transfer partners, but eligibility and conversion terms depend on the account and can change.
The practical rule is to transfer existing AAdvantage miles only when the recipient genuinely needs those miles in their own account. If the goal is simply to pay for somebody else’s award flight, direct booking is usually simpler and avoids the transfer fee.
Conclusion
Transferring American Airlines AAdvantage miles can solve a specific mileage shortfall, but it should not be the automatic way to combine family or friends’ balances. The current program allows up to 300,000 miles to be sent and 300,000 to be received per member each calendar year, and the current transfer price of $5 per 1,000 miles can become substantial on a large transaction.
Before paying, search for the award, confirm the recipient details, compare the full mileage-and-cash cost, and see whether you can book the ticket for the other traveler directly from your own account. That simple check can save hundreds of dollars on a large mileage transfer.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are American Airlines AAdvantage miles?
AAdvantage miles are the loyalty currency of the American Airlines AAdvantage program. Members can earn them through eligible flights, credit cards and participating partners, then redeem them for eligible flights and other travel rewards.
How can I transfer American Airlines miles?
Log in to your AAdvantage account, open the Buy, Gift or Transfer Miles area, select Transfer Miles, enter the requested recipient information and mileage amount, review the current transfer charge and complete payment.
What is the fee for transferring American Airlines miles?
The current published transfer price is $5 per 1,000 miles, equal to 0.5 cents per mile. For example, transferring 20,000 miles costs $100. Check the price shown by American before submitting because program pricing can change.
How many AAdvantage miles can I transfer each year?
American’s current limit is 300,000 miles transferred out of an AAdvantage account per calendar year and 300,000 transferred miles received per member per calendar year. American states that these limits can change, including during promotional periods.
How long does an AAdvantage mileage transfer take?
American confirms that the sender and recipient receive confirmation when transferred miles have been deducted and deposited, but its current public Transfer Miles FAQ does not promise a specific posting time. Avoid depending on a fixed deadline when an award seat is time-sensitive.
Can I transfer AAdvantage miles to another airline program?
Generally, no. AAdvantage miles stay in the AAdvantage program. To fly an eligible partner such as British Airways, Qantas or Qatar Airways, you normally redeem AAdvantage miles directly for the partner-operated award instead of converting the miles into that airline’s loyalty currency.
Can I book an award flight for someone else instead of transferring miles?
Yes. American’s AAdvantage terms allow an award ticket to be issued in another person’s name at the time of ticketing. This is often the better option because you can use your miles for the other traveler without paying a member-to-member transfer fee.
Do transferred AAdvantage miles earn Loyalty Points?
No. Miles received through a Transfer Miles transaction can be redeemed as AAdvantage miles, but they do not generate Loyalty Points or count toward AAdvantage status qualification or Million Miler status.
Does transferring miles extend their expiration date?
For members subject to the standard 24-month activity rule, completing a qualifying Transfer Miles transaction counts as qualifying activity and generally extends the expiration date of unexpired AAdvantage miles for another 24 months. Program exceptions apply, so check the expiration information shown in your account.
Sources
- American Airlines: Buy, Gift and Transfer FAQ — current transfer limits, transaction rules, qualification treatment and refund restrictions
- American Airlines: AAdvantage Terms and Conditions — cross-program transfer restrictions, mileage expiration, qualifying activity and award-ticket rules
- American Airlines: Use Miles on Partner Airlines — eligible partner-award redemption information
- American Airlines: AAdvantage FAQ — Loyalty Points, award travel, partner charges and program rules
- Citi: Travel Rewards and Transfer Partners — current availability of American Airlines AAdvantage as a Citi ThankYou transfer partner