(EXPIRED) American Airlines award sale: 1 million seats starting at 5k miles with great availability

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American Airlines has launched a new award sale, advertising 1,000,000 seats starting at only 5,000 AAdvantage miles. That includes transcontinental flights between Los Angeles and New York, the Caribbean, and Mexico. In addition, this year’s sale includes European routes starting at 15K one-way.

The Deal

  • Book American Airlines award flights from 5,000 miles, including:
    • US, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean starting at 5,000 miles each way
    • United Kingdom starting at 15,000 miles each way
    • Continental Europe starting at 20,000 miles each way
  • Book by May 28th
  • Travel between August 1st and September 30th.

Direct link to offer

Key Terms

  • Offer is valid for reservations made from May 15, 2025 through 11:59 PM CT May 28, 2025 for travel from August 1, 2025 – September 30, 2025.
  • Offer valid for flights in Main Cabin within the contiguous 48 U.S. states; and between the contiguous 48 U.S. states and Mexico, Caribbean and Central America destinations.
    • Excludes: San Jose, Costa Rica; Panama City, Panama; Managua, Nicaragua; Guatemala City, Guatemala; San Salvador, El Salvador, San Pedro Sula and Comayagua, Honduras.  
  • Offer valid for flights between the contiguous 48 U.S. states and London, England (LHR) from 15,000 miles
    • Other European destinations are available from 20,000 miles one way
  • American Airlines may, at any time and without notice, change, stop or end this offer.
  • This offer cannot be applied retroactively or to existing reservations.  
  • Valid only on flights marketed and operated by American Airlines and American Eagle® flights.  Not valid on codeshare flights. 

Quick Thoughts

1,000,000 seats is a lot of inventory, but I imagine that high-demand routes like transcontinental US or US-London will get snatched up pretty quicky. It’s important to be aware of the dates before searching: it’s only valid on flights from August 1st to September 30th, and awards have to be booked by May 28th.

Based on a few quick searches it looks like American is actually making a lot of inventory available as part of the sale. For example, here’s the award availability throughout August for four people from New York to Los Angeles. Almost the entire second half of the month has 5k availability:

It’s worth noting is that these are Main Cabin seats, so you’ll be able to select your seat at the time of booking, which is particularly appealing if you’ll be traveling with others.

The award sale is scheduled to end on May 28th, but it wouldn’t be surprising to see the most desirable seats selling out before then. Book ASAP if you’re interested.

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MariB

My dates aren’t covered by this award sale but I found something really interesting on AA.
We are taking a cruise out of Miami on Dec. 21 (Sunday of Christmas week) and returning to NYC area on January 4 (Sunday after New Year’s) so are dates are prime time. We would prefer to fly from LGA. Cash rates for nonstops have been outrageous, award prices similarly ridiculous. BUT, when AA announced last week that they were resuming flying LGA to Fort Lauderdale, I took a look. 33K per person for economy – not happening. However on May 4 they offered amazing web saver pricing on December 18 with the January 4 return – 15,500 miles per person! Using 2 free night IHG certificates and some points for 3 nights at the Indigo and my corporate discount for a Hertz rental for 2 days. Very happy.

With American, you need to monitor award prices like a hawk – even after you book. Luckily you can redeposit/change for free.

Joseph Giorgianni

My wife and I had planned to go to London this August (JFK-LHR) using our American Airlines miles. All of the basic Main seats are 30K plus $212.01 round trip. Whatever happened to the $5.60 for taxes and fees?

Steve

If you’re booking RT, it’s probably still $5.60 on the outbound leg and $206.41 for the return leg.

Nate

Are you telling me that the UK can impose taxes on Americans? Time to raise tariffs again!

iahphx

Always a good idea to fly TO London (only $5.60 in tax), and then fly home from the Continent to save on the UK extortionate carbon tax. You can basic visit another country “for free” this way (your tax savings will pay for your intra-Europe flight).

Joseph Giorgianni

Thanks!

iahphx

I’ve looked at several routes — and booked a couple — but I would not characterize the availability of seats as “great.” More like “OK.” They seem to have repriced their lowest “web special” award bucket as 5K seats. Like I was holding a domestic transcon award ticket for 6K (already a great deal) and it repriced at 5K. Some routes have no 5K award availability. Many only have it on connecting (versus nonstop) flights. Indeed, you’re likely to only find plausible 5K flights at off-peak times, often only a few days each month. This isn’t to say this isn’t a very good deal — nobody else is selling award tickets at these prices — but you’re probably going to need to be quite flexible in your travel plans to book this.