American Airlines Introduces Miles Redemption for Concerts and Events
American Airlines has announced that members of its AAdvantage loyalty program can now use frequent flyer miles to purchase tickets for concerts, live theater, and NFL games. This new feature, which launches today, allows members to redeem miles for various events through the AAdvantage Events platform.
Previously, AAdvantage members could only earn points on entertainment and events through a partnership with Ticketmaster. With this new update, members can now spend miles to purchase tickets, providing greater flexibility and value for their accumulated points. The platform includes all of Ticketmaster's offerings, allowing members to buy standard and resale tickets with miles or a combination of cash and miles.
The AAdvantage Events portal lists available events with the option to earn or spend miles on tickets. After selecting an event, members log into their AAdvantage account to choose ticket quantities and browse seat options. The final payment page offers the choice to pay entirely with miles or a mix of miles and cash. According to testing, 1,000 miles can reduce the ticket cost by approximately $9, equating to a monetary value of around one cent per mile.
Purchases made entirely with cash will continue to earn one AAdvantage mile and one Loyalty Point per dollar spent, excluding taxes and fees. However, tickets paid partially with miles will not earn any points. Once purchased, tickets are available for immediate download, and members will receive an email with a link to claim them. If the Ticketmaster account uses the same email as the AAdvantage account, upcoming events will appear on the Ticketmaster website.
American Airlines joins Delta Air Lines and Air France/KLM's Flying Blue programs in allowing members to earn miles on event tickets. However, it is currently the only airline offering the option to spend miles on these purchases, making it a unique and valuable feature for frequent flyers.
This initiative highlights American Airlines' commitment to enhancing the value of its loyalty program, providing members with more options to use their miles for memorable experiences beyond travel.