Using/maximizing AA miles

[Anonymous]

We live in a small midwestern city and only have American Airlines at our local airport. We are hoping to take a trip to Europe next summer (2026) - we have 3 kids. Is there some trick for maximizing miles or accruing miles? I have about 110K miles atm, platinum status, but it seems like it will take all 110K miles just for one person to fly basic economy to a hub like London, let alone one of our preferred destinations (though we are willing to go just about anywhere). It would be just slightly better if we flew out of one of the larger airports a few hours away (think STL/Kansas City).

I see a lot of people post about how they use miles for int'l family vacations- are you traveling that much for work and just accruing hundreds of thousands of miles? I already put about 95K/year on the credit card and take a handful of domestic flights each year. Is there a certain time that is better to book? Times of year that are cheaper? Or is that just what it costs to go to Europe? Any alternative destinations that would be more miles-friendly? We love traveling around the US but have the urge to get out of our comfort zone just a bit. I went to Mexico City this fall with my older two (tweens) - that was actually cheaper and quicker for us than flying to NYC. So open to ideas like that as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We live in a small midwestern city and only have American Airlines at our local airport. We are hoping to take a trip to Europe next summer (2026) - we have 3 kids. Is there some trick for maximizing miles or accruing miles? I have about 110K miles atm, platinum status, but it seems like it will take all 110K miles just for one person to fly basic economy to a hub like London, let alone one of our preferred destinations (though we are willing to go just about anywhere). It would be just slightly better if we flew out of one of the larger airports a few hours away (think STL/Kansas City).

I see a lot of people post about how they use miles for int'l family vacations- are you traveling that much for work and just accruing hundreds of thousands of miles? I already put about 95K/year on the credit card and take a handful of domestic flights each year. Is there a certain time that is better to book? Times of year that are cheaper? Or is that just what it costs to go to Europe? Any alternative destinations that would be more miles-friendly? We love traveling around the US but have the urge to get out of our comfort zone just a bit. I went to Mexico City this fall with my older two (tweens) - that was actually cheaper and quicker for us than flying to NYC. So open to ideas like that as well.

Timing is the single biggest factor in AA mileage cost.

In summer peak season, it would cost me 100k+ miles for RT to Paris.

First week of November? 49k.

Also, if you can travel with little advance notice and be flexible on destination, costs can be much lower in the week prior to flight if they have unsold seats. I've found domestic RT's for <20k miles a few days prior to travel.

[Anonymous]

get your husband to get a card too to get the intro 60k miles or whatever they are offering.

[Anonymous]

What PP said -- summer peak is going to take a lot of miles. If you can travel later in August you can book leg over peak miles and way back off peak. We just did that but my kids go back to school after Labor Day.

I accrue a lot of points on my work Amex (300k a year) and then transfer them into Avios points when there is a bonus period. I get emails from partner airlines I use that Amex is running a deal and do a transfer. Those usually happen in the fall and I have gotten 1000 Amex = 2000 Avios randomly.

Also we charge all our kid's tuitions (private high school and college) to our personal Amex for the points which then get transferred into Avios.

[Anonymous]

I'm a big points person, and am looking for a Europe trip this summer, so have some recent research.

AA points isn't going to take you far for Europe. Go to Google Flights and look for flights you like. Note the airlines and google which credit card programs transfer to those programs. Ex: 'How to earn Flying Blue rewards'

For Europe I'd be getting a Chase Sapphire, because you can transfer them to Virgin (London), Flying Blue (Paris), Aeroplan (Canada, but has partners to Europe)--all tend to have more seats available to redeem for miles. And for reasonable amount of points.

I'm seeing 27k points one way economy from JFK to Paris this summer on AA. So if you are in mid-west, may have to route to a bigger city.

If you are planning for summer 2026, def have points in hand and a plan to book the flights by summer/fall 2025-ish. More seats will be available as schedules open, and generally can get the best deals then.

[Anonymous]

You and your husband need to each open both the personal and the business card for the signup bonuses. If you have had your card more than 48 months you are eligible to close it and get the bonus again.