You can now use American Airlines miles to book Aer Lingus award flights online
Booking award flights on Aer Lingus just got easier using American Airlines AAdvantage miles, and just in time for St. Patrick’s Day.
Booking Aer Lingus flights using AAdvantage miles has long required calling a phone agent. Now, travelers can do it themselves online, making it easier to find award space and book it before it disappears.
Here’s how to redeem AAdvantage miles for Aer Lingus flights, along with some of the best deals and things to consider before making an award booking.
Related: What it’s like to fly to Ireland on Aer Lingus’s Airbus A321XLR
How to book an Aer Lingus flight using U.S. miles
Aer Lingus and American Airlines have had a codeshare agreement for a few years, but historically booking an Aer Lingus flight using American miles required calling a reservations desk. Now, passengers can finally do this online.
This makes it easier and faster to redeem your AAdvantage miles for Aer Lingus seats, and you don’t have to worry too much about award space being snapped up while you’re waiting for someone to answer the phone.
To reserve, simply log into your AAdvantage account at aa.com.
Example flights I found include this nonstop flight from New York to Dublin, which costs 57,500 AAdvantage miles, plus nearly $6 in taxes and fees for business class.
Or, you can book economy class seats from various cities for 22,500 miles, plus about $20 in taxes and fees. This usually involves a mix of flights operated by Aer Lingus and American Airlines or its other partner airlines.
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Dublin’s rich history, lively pub culture and location next to the Wicklow Mountains make it a great tourist destination all year round, but there’s no better time to visit than during the spectacular St. Patrick’s Day. This year’s event is scheduled to take place from March 14 to 17, and flights are still available.
Related: Review of Hyatt Regency Dublin Liberty Center, Combining Location with Value
Another option is to fly to Shannon Airport (SNN) on Ireland’s west coast, which offers easy access to popular attractions such as The Burren, Connemara, the Cliffs of Moher and the university town of Galway. American Airlines awards are similarly priced from the U.S. to Shannon, starting at 22,500 miles in economy and 57,500 miles in business, plus about $6 in taxes and fees.
You can earn U.S. miles quickly by transferring points through CitiThankYou Rewards, AAdvantage’s 1:1 transfer partner. Alternatively, consider adding one of the following co-branded cards to your wallet:
However, keep in mind that for some routes you may find significantly lower award rates or more desirable flights on the Aer Lingus website. For example, I booked a nonstop flight between Denver and Dublin with Aer Lingus for just 16,250 Avios, plus $147 in taxes each way.
But unfortunately, this particular flight is not available on American Airlines’ website. Instead, I had to pay 27,000 US miles one way for the connecting flight. I also couldn’t find Aer Lingus’s new nonstop flight from Raleigh, NC to Dublin on the American Airlines website.
Now that you can use American miles to book Aer Lingus flights online, you can spend more time looking for the best deals and less time waiting for an agent.
bottom line
Although these airlines have been codeshare partners for years, the ability to book Aer Lingus award flights online through the American Airlines website is a huge win for travelers with AAdvantage miles. There are some great deals on flights to the Emerald Isle — be sure to compare your options before booking.
