Today is the first day that US Airways and AA members can book each other’s flights using their miles – so, if you have US Airway miles, you can now book flights on AA flights and vice versa.
Earning and Redeeming
Starting today, you can earn miles in each program by flying either airline. So, if you are a US Airways flyer, you can now fly AA flights and credit those miles back to US Airways. The same works in the reverse.
As for redeeming, this is where some real fun can be had! If you have a bunch of miles in either program, you can use those miles to book flights on the opposite airline. Because this has just happened, there are some nice redemption options available.
First Class on AA Transcontinental Flight
HT: The Weekly Flyer
American Airlines is the only US airline that offers transcontinental flights with three classes of service – first, business, and economy (which is actually a mix of nicer economy and regular economy). Their new Airbus 321 has full lie-flat seats in the first class cabin and costs 65,000 AA miles if booked on AA. Because US Airways is not setup for three class domestic awards, this prices out for business class which is 50,000 US Air miles if booked on US Airways – check the flight details to make sure you are being booked into Z class. Note: US Airways does not allow one-way award bookings so you will need to redeem for a round-trip ticket.
Check for class Z to book AA first class on US Airways website
50,000 US Air miles round-trip to book AA Transcon First Class
Book US Airway One-way Awards with AA Miles
US Airways does not allow one-way award bookings. Now, you can book tickets on US Airway flights as one-way awards by using AA miles!
Can book one-way US Air flights as an award ticket using AA miles
Book US Airway tickets at AA promo prices
American Airlines offers 40,000 off-peak coach award tickets to Europe from October 15 – May 15. With this transition, you are now able to ticket US Airway flights as part of these off-peak options. What would have cost you 60,000 US Airway miles (5,000 fewer if you hold the US Airways credit card) now cost only 40,000 AA miles!
Look at all the US flight numbers that are bookable at 20% fewer miles when booked on AA rather than on US!
Greater availability
Both programs have their limits with award availability on their own airlines. With this new booking ability, you can now mix and match AA and US Air flights for awards to get greater availability. Check the award availability on the outgoing flights on US Airways website:
Only one low level award flight available on US Airways
These are just some of the many available options on AA for flights including US Airways
What else?
These are just some of the options that I have found with some quick checks. Undoubtedly, there will be more! If you have been having trouble booking award tickets because of availability, check again today to see if this new ability has opened up the availability for you. I know this will help some people who have been looking for flights lately! The best part is that there are no award redemption increases yet!
I tried to book AA flights with my USDm but I am confused to how to proceed.
Log in AA with USDm mileage number?
Open an AA account and take it from there?
I have no AA miles but plenty of USDm that I would like to book F class on AA or OW partner.
Thank you.
Right now, you cannot book OW partner flights with your US miles. That will come after the first quarter. What you do right now to book AA flights is to login into your US account and just search for award tickets. On the left side of the flight numbers in the results, you will see flights that designate the flight as AA operated. That’s it! You actually do not need to do anything with the AA site to book the AA award flights – they are already loaded into US’s award system.