Transferring AAdvantage miles without fees?

Archived From: Travel Discussion
  • Page :
  • 1
  • Text Only

My dad has 18,000 AA miles that expire in 2 days. He wanted to transfer them to me...the cost to transfer 18,000 miles is apparently $200, plus a $30 transfer fee and a $15 processing fee, totaling $245. This is absurdly not worth it, since it's not even half the miles needed for a domestic flight that might only cost $250-$350 to pay in full for anyway...

Does anyone know of a way to transfer these miles without this fee?



It is better to do a qualifying activity to keep the miles live. you can take a survey or use their shopping or subscribe magazines. If you spend or earn miles, then your miles are active for next 18 months.


I don't think there's anyway for him to transfer the miles without a fee. As the poster above me said, he needs to do something quickly before he loses them. I wouldn't advise using AAdvantage shopping though, because that will take too long to post.

The magazine subscription is a good idea, but I don't know the specific details. Customer service would have to advise him. Some airlines also let you donate 1K or so miles to a charity over the phone to get an activity. Or if he has points in a hotel program, he may be able to transfer some of those into American. hilton and Starwood do this. Check Points.com for other possible hotel transfer options.


1. 12500 miles are enough for OW within the USA. 20000 will get you to Europe (off peak)

2. Buy 1 itune through aadvantage shopping.


If you signup for Points.com they'll give you 10 bonus miles which should prevent the ones he has from expiring. I did this for another airline and the miles posted within a couple of days. Not sure how soon the ones for AA will post, but it will probably be sooner than if you go through AA shopping.


rolipoli said: If you signup for Points.com they'll give you 10 bonus miles which should prevent the ones he has from expiring. I did this for another airline and the miles posted within a couple of days. Not sure how soon the ones for AA will post, but it will probably be sooner than if you go through AA shopping.

I did this with my dad's account, it claims it's 100 bonus miles. how long will they take to post? the exp date on the miles is 10/22.


dpakman91 said:

I did this with my dad's account, it claims it's 100 bonus miles. how long will they take to post? the exp date on the miles is 10/22.

Call Aadvantage desk and ask: "What's relevant...post or transaction date?"


So any opinions of points.com from experience? Is there a fee somewhere in there?


As long as the transaction occurs prior to the expiration date they will reactivate the miles once the transactions posts.


another quick option is a charitable donation. As we speak one can go to the AA website and donate to Haiti via american red cross and get AA miles. They always have a link related to Susan Komen charities on the site as well.




Disclaimer: By providing links to other sites, FatWallet.com does not guarantee, approve or endorse the information or products available at these sites, nor does a link indicate any association with or endorsement by the linked site to FatWallet.com.


While FatWallet makes every effort to post correct information, offers are subject to change without notice.
Some exclusions may apply based upon merchant policies.
© 1999-2012