AA Reduced Mileage Awards (current Citi AA cardholders)

Just a reminder for those of you with Citi AA credit cards who are about to book award travel, check out the Reduced Mileage Award page linked below to see if your destination is included. I believe the destinations rotate quarterly.

Link

I just booked one of these for the first time last week (RIC to PNS), so I can offer my experience. I placed the award reservation on hold on AA.com then called in a few days later to change the hold and book the tickets. The agent didn't seem to know what I was talking about at first, but eventually got the code to work. Had to pay an extra $20 per ticket (waived for EXP) for the 7,500 savings, but that's totally worth it to me.

Anyone else used the Reduced Mileage Awards before?

 

I've used them, but not in the last couple of years. Always worth checking the page before booking, though.

 

wish they'd add Europe & Asia to the options list

 

Thanks for the reminder. I always forget about those awards!

 

I believe that AA Exec Plat are exempt from the $20/ticket phone fee. I hope to use it for expensive places that are on the list.

 

I heard that you can put any award on hold and then call and try to use the same code and some agents will do it for you. True?

 

Agreed! I can typically find a ticket to purchase for a domestic ticket that's a good enough price. I save my miles for international redemptions to Asia/Europe, so I'd love to see those added.

 

Especially in premium cabins.

 

It happens pretty rare, but 25k can be a good deal for a last minute domestic (or to Canada) ticket.

 

Is there any other way?

 

I want to say that there used to be International awards at the reduced price and they phased them out a few years ago.

 

I heard that some agents are still willing to apply the discount to ANY itinerary.

 

I've used them many times (including the good old days when Europe and the Caribbean were included).

 

I've used these recently. I place reservation on hold on-line, then call in to decrease mileage. I wasn't charged for the booking since it started on-line.

 

The discount definitely takes the sting out of using the miles

 

I can confirm that as an Exec Plat I was not charged the $20/ticket phone fee (but I was as a Plat).

Can someone confirm that you can use these awards also for flights in which you are not a passenger? I need to fly my wife's family in for her upcoming surgery. Thanks!

 

Nice...anyone else have this experience? I wasn't so lucky when I booked mine.

 

When I was a Plat, I redeemed a few of these. My experience was always that by asking nicely, I could get the $20 fee waived (usually say something like "but I can't book these online! can't you waive the fee?").

AA might be stingier these days, but it doesn't hurt to ask.

 

I've also found that saying that you're not sure yet, and asking the agent (nicely of course ) to leave it on hold, can world as well. Then just go back to your online account and book it!