Maximizing Chase Points for American Airlines Flights: A Guide

Booking flights with American Airlines using Chase Ultimate Rewards points can be a bit of a puzzle, especially since American Airlines AAdvantage miles are notoriously difficult to earn directly. However, savvy travelers can still leverage their Chase points to fly with American Airlines by utilizing partner airlines within the Oneworld alliance. This guide will walk you through the most effective ways to book American Airlines flights using your Chase Ultimate Rewards points.

American Airlines is a proud member of the Oneworld alliance, which includes several airlines that are direct transfer partners of Chase Ultimate Rewards. By transferring your Chase points to one of these partner airlines, you can book flights on American Airlines. The transfer ratio is typically 1:1, making it straightforward to convert your points for travel.

For example, consider a flight from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) to Queen Beatrix International Airport (AUA) in Aruba. You can book this flight through British Airways for 30,000 Avios plus approximately $16 in taxes and fees. Alternatively, if you’re looking at a direct flight from Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) to Frankfurt Airport (FRA), you can book it through Qatar Airways for 25,750 Avios and about $240 in taxes and fees.

To maximize your options, you can utilize five airline loyalty programs that allow you to book American flights with your Chase points: Aer Lingus AerClub, British Airways Executive Club, and Iberia Plus. While Finnair Plus and Qatar Airways Privilege Club are not direct Chase transfer partners, you can transfer Avios between these five programs at a 1:1 ratio, giving you flexibility in finding the best award rates.

It’s important to note that each airline may offer different award rates and availability, so always check multiple partner sites before booking. For instance, the Charlotte-to-Frankfurt flight is available on both Qatar Airways and British Airways for the same Avios cost, but the taxes and fees differ slightly. The Atlanta-to-Aruba route, however, may not show up on all partner sites. Therefore, it’s wise to compare options across different airlines to ensure you’re getting the best deal.

Before transferring your points, be sure to check The Points Guy’s list of current transfer bonuses. Chase occasionally runs promotions that provide bonus points or miles when you transfer, allowing you to stretch your points further when booking American flights.

While transferring Chase points to partners can lead to significant savings, it’s crucial to evaluate whether this method maximizes your points’ value. According to TPG’s valuations, Chase Ultimate Rewards points are worth around 2.05 cents each. When redeeming points, aim for a similar value by comparing the cash price of the American flight to the award price.

If you prefer a more straightforward approach, you can also book American Airlines flights directly through the Chase Travel℠ portal. This allows you to redeem your points for travel instead of cash. However, American Airlines is currently not among the select airlines eligible for Chase’s Points Boost, which means you won’t maximize your points’ value when booking these flights.

Chase Sapphire Reserve® and Chase Sapphire Reserve for Business℠ cardholders who applied before June 23, 2025, can redeem their points at a flat rate of 1.5 cents each on American flights for points earned prior to October 26, 2025. Similarly, Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card holders can redeem their points for 1.25 cents each during the same period. After June 23, new applicants for these cards will only receive 1 cent per point when redeeming for American flights.

Using our earlier example, if you find a flight from Charlotte to Frankfurt costing $494 on Chase Travel, this would require 39,520 points if redeemed at 1.25 cents each. In this case, it would be more advantageous to transfer 26,000 points to British Airways, then to Qatar Airways, and book the flight for 25,750 Avios, saving you nearly 14,000 points.

However, there are instances where booking through Chase Travel might be the better option, especially if award rates are high or availability is limited on partner airlines. While transferring points generally yields more value, redeeming points through the portal at 1.25 or 1.5 cents per point is still a decent return.

In the future, if Chase adds American Airlines to its Points Boost-eligible airlines, cardholders could redeem their points for even higher values — up to 2 cents each for Chase Sapphire Reserve and Sapphire Reserve for Business holders, and up to 1.75 cents for Sapphire Preferred and Ink Business Preferred holders.

For those looking to earn more Chase points, the Chase Sapphire Reserve and Sapphire Reserve for Business are excellent options. Currently, new applicants for the Chase Sapphire Reserve can earn 100,000 bonus points and a $500 Chase Travel credit after spending $5,000 within the first three months. The Sapphire Reserve for Business offers a similar deal, with 200,000 bonus points available after spending $30,000 in the first six months.

To put this into perspective, 100,000 points could almost cover two round-trip flights from Charlotte to Frankfurt on American Airlines if you transfer your points through British Airways Avios to Qatar Airways Avios.

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Overall, while you can’t transfer Chase points directly to AAdvantage, there are numerous strategies to book American Airlines flights with your Chase points. With a bit of planning and research, you can make the most of your rewards and enjoy your travels.