Key Takeaways
- American Airlines allows you to transfer AAdvantage miles to another person, including family members, but it usually comes with a transfer fee.
- The best free alternative is booking an award flight for your family member using your own miles.
- Hotel programs like Marriott Bonvoy can also move points into AAdvantage miles for free, though conversion ratios vary.
- Direct transfers are convenient but often poor value compared to booking tickets on behalf of someone else.
If you’re sitting on a pile of American Airlines AAdvantage miles and want to share them with a family member, you might wonder if you can simply transfer the miles between accounts. The short answer is yes, you can, but it’s not free.
American Airlines charges a fee to move miles between accounts, which can make it uneconomical for most travelers. However, there are smarter ways to share your miles with family members without paying those fees.
Want to see how other travelers gift flights and share miles efficiently? Join the Talk Travel United Airlines Forums to learn proven strategies from frequent flyers.
Can You Transfer Miles to a Family Member?
Yes, you can transfer American Airlines miles to a family member or friend through the AAdvantage “Share Miles” program. The process is simple , you log in, select the “Share Miles” option, and enter the recipient’s AAdvantage account number.
However, the cost is significant: about $15 per 1,000 miles transferred, plus a $35 processing fee. That means transferring 20,000 miles could cost roughly $335, which is often more than the value of the miles themselves.
If you’re trying to help a family member travel, this option works for convenience but not for value.
The Best Free Alternative: Book the Award for Them
Instead of transferring miles, you can book an award flight directly in your family member’s name using your miles. This method is completely free and allowed under AAdvantage rules.
How to do it:
- Log in to your American Airlines account.
- Search for an award flight using the “Redeem miles” option.
- When you reach the passenger details page, enter your family member’s name instead of your own.
- Complete the booking, and the ticket will appear under their name.
This approach avoids transfer fees and lets you control your miles while gifting travel. It’s also faster and safer, since you’re not waiting for transfers or dealing with partner delays.
Using Hotel Points to Indirectly Share Miles
Another way to “transfer” miles without paying American Airlines directly is through hotel loyalty programs that convert points to AAdvantage miles.
Marriott Bonvoy is the most flexible option, offering a 3:1 transfer ratio to American Airlines. For every 60,000 Marriott points you transfer, you receive a 5,000-mile bonus (equaling 25,000 AAdvantage miles total).
If your family member also has a Marriott account, you can combine Bonvoy points between accounts for free and then move them to AAdvantage, effectively creating a shared travel fund.
Why Paying for Transfers Rarely Makes Sense
Paying transfer fees to American Airlines is almost never the best value. The cost per mile can easily exceed 1.5–2 cents, while the average redemption value of an AAdvantage mile hovers closer to 1.3–1.5 cents.
Instead of paying hundreds in fees to move miles, use those funds to buy a discounted cash ticket or save the miles for your own future travel. If your goal is simply to help a family member fly, booking the award for them achieves the same outcome with no added cost.
Pro Tip: Combine Marriott Points Before Transferring
If both you and your family member are Marriott Bonvoy members, you can pool points for free (up to 100,000 per year) before converting them into AAdvantage miles. This allows you to maximize flexibility, since the transfer to AA only happens once, and you save time consolidating balances first.
For other ways to optimize miles, see our full What Credit Cards Transfer to American Airlines.
Step-by-Step: Book a Flight for a Family Member
Here’s exactly how to book a flight for a family member using your AAdvantage miles:
- Go to aa.com and log into your account.
- Click “Redeem miles” when searching for flights.
- Choose your desired route and date, then select an award flight.
- Enter your family member’s name, birth date, and travel details on the passenger information page.
- Complete checkout and forward them the confirmation email.
They’ll be able to check in and board just like any other passenger, and you’ll never pay a transfer fee.
Things to Keep in Mind
- Transfers between AAdvantage accounts do not count as mileage activity for extending account expiration.
- Once miles are transferred, they cannot be reversed or refunded.
- Award tickets booked for others are fully legitimate, but you cannot change the traveler’s name after booking.
Conclusion
You can transfer American Airlines miles to a family member, but it comes with steep fees that make it a poor value for most travelers. The better solution is to book an award ticket directly in their name, or use hotel points as an indirect but fee-free way to share value.
Think of it this way: transferring miles costs money, but redeeming miles for someone else is always free. That’s how savvy travelers help their loved ones fly without paying unnecessary fees.
Want to learn how others share miles across programs efficiently? Join the Talk Travel United Airlines Forums to see real examples and tips.
FAQs
1. Can I transfer my American Airlines miles to a family member?
Yes, you can, but American Airlines charges around $15 per 1,000 miles plus a $35 processing fee. It’s allowed but rarely worth the cost.
2. Is there a way to transfer miles for free?
Yes. The best way is to use your miles to book an award ticket directly in your family member’s name, which is completely free and supported by American Airlines.
3. Can I share AAdvantage miles by pooling them with family members?
No, AAdvantage doesn’t have a family pooling option like JetBlue or British Airways. However, you can book flights for anyone using your own miles.
4. Can hotel points be converted to American Airlines miles?
Yes. Programs like Marriott Bonvoy let you transfer points to AAdvantage at a 3:1 ratio, often with bonuses for larger transfers.
5. Do transferred miles expire?
Transferred miles retain their original expiration dates. Make sure both accounts stay active through qualifying activity to keep miles valid.
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