5 reasons why I think the mileage value in the United States is higher than that of United and Delta mileage
All airlines have different points and mileage.
Although United Mileageplus Miles and Delta Skymiles make easier incomes thanks to transferable credit card plans, I have always found that American Airlines AADVANTAGH MILE offers greater value when redeeming them, especially for premium international travel.
From lower savings reward rates to impressive partner airlines, Aadvantage Miles can unlock more ideal opportunities with less mileage.
That’s why I personally value them more than my major American counterparts.
Related: American Airlines adds 2 brand new destinations to 7 route expansion
TPG’s data support valuation consent
In TPG’s July 2025 valuation, the attention of these three plans is as follows:
- American Airlines AADVANTAGH: 1.55 cents
- Joint action: 1.3 cents
- Delta Snowman: 1.15 cents
These are not speculations in the air. These three valuations were performed using our data-enabled calculation method, which analyses more than 23,000 popular personal data points for domestic and international itineraries, as shown below:
- Domestic economy: 20%
- Domestic Enterprises/First Class: 10%
- Hawaii: 10%
- Short-term Hall International Economy: 25%
- Transatlantic economy: 15%
- Long-distance Business Class: 20%
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We use three months of data to roll data to minimize abnormal pricing during demand periods such as major holidays.
In short, when looking at thousands of flights to redeem these three currencies, Aadvantage Miles is worth more than Priscendo and is much larger than Skymiles.
Related: How (and why) calculate reward value
Miles in the United States are hard to make money from credit cards
Traditionally, Aadvantage Miles is harder to earn through credit card point transfer than Skymiles or MileagePlus Miles, because Aadvantage does not have the primary flexible transfer point and mileage credit card partners.
So, I’m happy to see the recent news that Citi Thanks for your rewards program has added Aadvantage to its latest 1:1 transfer partner, which is three reward cards in its lineup: New. Citigroup Elite Card (See rates and fees), Citi Layer Premier® Card (See rates and fees) and Citi prestige® cards.
Skymiles is a transfer partner for American Express membership rewards, and MileagePlus works with Bilt Rewards and Chase Ultimate Rewards.
It is worth noting that the Bonvoy Marriott Point can be transferred to all three airline programs, although the transfer rate is poor.
Psychologically, I think American Airlines miles are more valuable because they are historically harder to make money for me. I’m generally more cautious about how to redeem them than with United Airlines or Delta Airlines miles, as I didn’t have transferable points options until recently.
I’m so glad to start transferring my Citi Point to Aadvantage. It immediately makes your thank you rewards program more valuable to me.
Information about Citi’s reputation has been independently collected by Goint Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
With Aadvantage, the lowest savings exchange rate is cheaper
Flight redemptions operated by American Airlines start only from 5,000 AADVANTAGE miles on shorts like Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (ORD), while Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) starts at a lower starting point than Delta Skymiles, but similar to the cheapest United Mileageplus redemption, so it’s not an advantage to Slam Dunk.
But on longer flights, especially in premium cabins, you can find prices at the lowest savings level, and the Aadvantage plan does shine.
I traveled across the Atlantic often, so I always wanted to spend the least miles. Here are the three plans to supply routes to and from Europe:
- economy: Aadvantage offers uninterrupted flights from 19,000 miles, while at 20,000 miles, through mileage and Skymiles.
- Advanced Economy: Aadvantage offers uninterrupted flights from 39,000 miles, over 50,000 miles, through Mileageplus, and over 52,000 miles of Skymiles.
- Business Class: Aadvantage offers uninterrupted flights from 65,000 miles, 80,000 miles through Mileageplus and 145,000 miles through Skymiles.
- First class: Aadvantage offers uninterrupted flights from 75,000 miles, while United and Delta no longer operate international first class. (American airlines will also phase out the product.)
Where you can find the availability you save, you need fewer U.S. miles than Delta or Manchester United, so I value them more.
Related: Between London and New York, is American Airlines’ advanced economy worth it?
Oneworld is a premium aviation alliance
Each of the Big Three American Airlines is a member of the Big Three Global Airlines Alliance:
Although OneWorld is the smallest of the three leagues, I always think it is the highest advantage of member airlines. Qatar Airways, Japan Airlines, Finnair, Cathay Pacific, Oman Airways and Qantas are all members, and they are airlines with impressive products, especially in premium cabins on long-haul flights.
I thank Star Alliance for its most members and a huge global route network, especially the entire Atlantic Ocean. However, many members do not run long-haul flights or have the right long-haul products, so in my opinion, their desire for redemption of miles is not too eager to fly.
Skyteam has a handful of nice airlines like Air France, KLM and Korean Air, but I jokingly call the Aerial Alliance “the best thing left,” which means to me, it’s mostly made up of airlines that can’t join Oneworld or Star Alliance.
In short, if I could only choose one alliance to make money and exchange miles for the rest of my life, it would be a world.
Related: Search the best websites for OneWorld rewards
Partner redemption is still a great value
One of my favorite things about the Aadvantage program is its Partner Awards chart. As other plans turn to dynamic pricing of flights operated by partners and cancel published reward sheets, I’m frankly speaking, Aadvantage has retained that number, and rates are still so low.
I also appreciate that it is region-based, not distance-based, and can really maximize travel by choosing longer trips, such as the East Coast to the West and Central Australia.
When you consider a wide range of premium airlines, you can redeem Aadvantage Miles for Atihad Airways, as well as its fabulous Airbus A380 First Class apartment, you will realize that, for example, you can offer incredible sweet spots from the United States that you can fly:
Related: Huge Suites and Amazing Amenities: Reviews of Japan Airlines’ New A350 First Class
How to Earn Aadvantage Miles
You can use a US Airlines co-credit card or choose a Citi tier card and get a generous welcome offer:
- Citi® /aadvantage® PlatinumSelect® World Elite Mastercard®: spent $3,500 in the first four months of account opening for a limited time, earning 80,000 American Airlines Aadvantage bonus miles after purchases of $3,500.
- citi® /aadvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® (See interest rates and fees): Earn 70,000 miles after spending $7,000 in the first three months of opening an account.
- citi® / aadvantage Business™ World Elite Mastercard® (See interest rates and fees): Spend $4,000 in the first four months of opening an account and earned a bonus miles of 65,000 miles.
- Citigroup Elite Card: Spend $4,000 in the first three months of opening an account, earning 80,000 bonus Thank you for your reward points.
- Citi strata Prime Minister’s Card: Earn 60,000 bonuses in the first three months of opening an account Thank you for your reward points.
Information for Citi/Aadvantage Platinum Select has been collected independently by Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Bottom line
Despite the difficulty of making money in history, Aadvantage Miles has always outperformed UN and Delta mileage, and the most important thing for me: reward pricing, ideal partner airlines and premium redemption.
Whether you are flying financially across the country or in a Lie-flat seat on a top Oneworld airline, your mileage will grow further, which is why they list the collection and redemption in my ideal airline mileage list.
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