Buy AA miles up to 25% off by August 31

Being one of the travel bloggers who extol the virtues of economy class travel, the current offer to buy AA miles up to 25% off for purchases by August 31, 2014 is one I find has interesting value potential. Or perhaps I am simply too lazy to sign up for new credit cards every 90 days to earn more miles than I need.

American Airlines AAdvantage miles 10% to 25% discount through August 31, 2014.

Here are the price points at different levels. There is a one-time $35 transaction fee on top of the price levels shown below.

• 1,000 points = $29.50 + $35 = $64.50
• 6,000 points = $148.50 + $35 = $183.50
• 14,000 points = $346.50 + $35 = $381.50
• 15,000 points = $350.63 + $35 = $385.63
• 39,000 points = $911.63 + $35 = $946.63
• 40,000 points = $880.00 + $35 = $915.00
• 64,000 points = $1,408 + $35 = $1,443.00
• 65,000 points = $1,340.63 + $35 = $1,375.63
• 80,000 points = $1,650.00 + $35 = $1,685.00

American Airlines AAdvantage awards

MileSAAver Level 1 (Off-Peak) award varies by date.

• Hawaii: 17,500 miles one-way; January 12 – March 13, August 22 – December 15
• The Caribbean and Mexico: 12,500 miles one-way; September 7 – November 14
• Central America, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela: 15,000 miles one-way; January 16 – June 14, September 7 – November 14
• Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay: 20,000 miles one-way; March 1 – May 31, August 16 – November 30
• Europe: 20,000 miles one-way; October 15 – May 15;
• Japan and South Korea: 25,000 miles one-way; October 1 – April 30

I have been following American Airlines prices for Europe and the opportunity to buy 80,000 miles for $1,685 can be quite a savings on airfare. 80,000 miles are sufficient for two economy class award tickets from the USA to Europe.

Google Flights SFO San Francisco October 15-22, 2014 show most destinations in Europe are in the $1,100 to $1,350 range.

This makes $842.50 per 40,000 mile award ticket a good deal for most destinations and there is relatively good award availability for different cities I have checked for October award travel on American Airlines, US Airways and AAdvantage airline partners.

Or jump on the credit card sign-up and manufactured spend train and enjoy your shopping and first class travel at bargain prices.

This is not my advice to buy miles. I might be flat out wrong that there is value in buying miles for economy class travel savings.

*****

Ric Garrido of Monterey, California is writer and owner of Loyalty Traveler.

Loyalty Traveler shares news and views on hotels, hotel loyalty programs and vacation destinations for frequent guests. Check out current hotel loyalty program offers across all the major chains in Loyalty Traveler’s monthly hotel promotions guide.

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