Christmas comes early for American Airlines AAdvantage members.
American Airlines launched a million-seat award ticket promotion on Tuesday, with one-way award tickets starting at just 7,500 miles on domestic flights and 17,500 miles on international flights.
The promotion runs until November 16th, so you have about 12 days to grab these discounted bonus seats. This promotion covers travel dates between January 12 and February 28, 2026.
Related: How to earn miles in the American Airlines AAdvantage program
While this sale doesn’t include holiday travel, it could be a great way to sneak in a winter getaway. “Whether it’s a quick ski trip to hit the slopes or a beach getaway to escape the cold, customers can find these deals now,” a US spokesperson told TPG.
Note that for domestic fares, Alaska and Hawaii are not included in the cheapest redemptions.
RELATED: The Best Credit Cards to Pay Taxes on Award Tickets
How to Book an American Airlines Award Auction
To make a reservation, go to this page on the American Airlines website. I recommend entering some potential travel dates and destinations and seeing what comes up.
For example, we found that one-way intercontinental flights from New York regional airports to Northern and Southern California only cover 7,500 miles.
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Below is a trip on an American Airlines Airbus A321T jet from John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to San Francisco International Airport (SFO), a distance of just 8,500 miles.
Here’s another one: It’s a January flight to a ski resort in Colorado, covering 7,500 miles.
TPG’s Andrea Rotondo found that a January flight from Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) to Aruba’s Queen Beatrix International Airport (AUA) cost 7,500 miles and $21.20 in taxes.
We’ve also found a variety of options for traveling to Europe this winter. Check out this flight from New York’s JFK Airport to Milan Malpensa International Airport (MXP) for just 17,500 miles, plus just $5.60 in late January taxes and fees. What a deal!
These lowest fares are very plentiful in January and February. As a bonus, business class offers great deals too. When you look at business class redemptions, look what I found on the same search in Milan. 57,500 miles each way is as good as it gets. Unfortunately, these are British Airways metal awards that come with onerous taxes and fees (like over $700), but look around. Maybe you’ll be lucky enough to find some commercial grade awards from AA Metal.
bottom line
This is a great opportunity to enjoy a winter vacation with great award prices on American Airlines and American Eagle economy class fares. If you’re booking a trip between January 12 and February 28, it’s worth checking out these discounted prices.
Don’t forget that AAdvantage award bookings offer free cancellation and mileage redeposit, so even if you’re not sure about your plans, it might make sense to buy some award tickets. Think of it as an early Christmas gift to yourself.
If you need to top up your AAdvantage miles, remember that Citi Thank You Rewards are now transferable to American Airlines at a 1:1 ratio for eligible cardholders.
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