Summary
- Earn and redeem AAdvantage miles on exotic airlines like Fiji Airways and Finnair.
- Air Tahiti Nui and Cape Air routes require AAdvantage members to book flights with AA flight numbers.
- Hawaiian Airlines allows for AAdvantage bonus miles on select routes based on cabin class and fare type.
American Airlines, the world’s largest airline by fleet size and second-largest by revenue, runs one of the most comprehensive frequent flyer programs. The American Airlines AAdvantage program offers miles to be earned and redeemed on a range of partner airlines that operate scheduled flights to all inhabited continents.
This article explores some exotic airlines that can be booked using AAdvantage miles. Moreover, miles can also be earned on those flights.
1
Fiji Airways
It will become a full member of oneworld in 2025
- Tabua Club Plus / American Airlines AAdvantage
- 15 countries/territories
- 26 destinations
- 21 aircraft
- Airbus A330 and A350
- Boeing 737
Fiji Airways is currently an oneworld Connect member and will become a full member of Oneworld Alliance next year. The airline will also join the American Airlines Advantage program in 2025. Members can earn and redeem miles when traveling on oneworld member airlines, including American Airlines.
Photo: Philip Pilosian | Shutterstock
The flag carrier of Fiji flies to 15 countries and territories and serves 26 destinations worldwide. Members can fly to some of the largest oneworld hubs, including Hong Kong, Los Angeles, Tokyo, and Sydney, and soon to Dallas. According to Fiji Airways,
“As a member of Fiji Airways Tabua Club Plus you will receive priority check-in, priority boarding and lounge access (with 1 guest) on eligible flights when travelling on oneworld connect partners British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Qantas, and soon American Airlines.”
2
Air Tahiti Nui
AAdvantage® members can use miles to book award travel on Air Tahiti Nui
- Book with miles
- Earn miles (on flights with AA flight number)
- Earn loyalty points (on flights with AA flight number)
American Airlines’ AAdvantage program comes in handy when booking flights on Air Tahihi Nui, a French Polynesian airline. Members can earn AAdvantage miles and loyalty points on flights marketed by American Airlines with an AA flight number.
Photo: Philip Pilosian | Shutterstock
American Airlines restricts members from earning miles or loyalty points on Air Tahiti Nui marketed flights (booked as a TN flight number). According to American Airlines,
“Air Tahiti Nui connects the rest of the world to the Islands of Tahiti by offering daily flights between Tahiti and Auckland, Los Angeles, Paris, Seattle, and Tokyo. When you fly on Air Tahiti Nui, you can earn and redeem AAdvantage® miles.”
3
Cape Air
One of the largest independent regional airlines in the US
-
Between St. Louis (STL)
- Kirksville, MO (IRK)
- Marion, IL (MWA)
- Owensboro, KY (OWB)
- Quincy, IL (UIN)
-
Between Chicago (ORD)
- Manistee, MI (MBL)
- Quincy, IL (UIN)
-
Between Nashville (BNA)
- Marion, IL (MWA)
- Owensboro, KY (OWB)
American Airlines AAdvantage members can use their miles to book award travel on select routes with Cape Air. Cape Air operates public air charter services using a variety of light aircraft, including Britten Norman Islander, Cessna 402, and Tecnam P2012 Traveller.
In 2013, the legacy carrier announced the codeshare partnership with Cape Air for the Caribbean, primarily serving Anguilla, Nevis, Tortola, Vieques, and Mayaguez. Similar to the rules for Air Tahiti Nui, miles and loyalty points can be earned only on flights marketed by American Airlines with an AA flight number.
Cape Air-marketed flights (9K) cannot earn AAdvantage miles or loyalty points.
4
Hawaiin Airlines
Earn Advantage® bonus miles on Hawaiian Airlines flights as well as on codeshare flights with American Airlines
- Buy an eligible published fare ticket in an eligible booking code
- Fly an eligible route
The leading airline within Hawaiian islands and between Hawaii and Asia-Pacific offers flight bookings on select routes using American Airlines AAdvantage miles. The number of miles passengers can earn on a flight depends on the flight distance and the class of travel.
Photo: Hawaiian Airlines
| Cabin | Purchased fares booked in | Base miles | Cabin bonus |
|---|---|---|---|
| First | F, C | 100% | 50% |
| Business | J, P | 100% | 50% |
| Economy | Y, W, X, Q | 100% | – |
| Economy | V, B, S, N, M | 75% | – |
| Economy | I, H, G | 50% | – |
| Economy | K, L | 25% | – |
| Economy | O, Z | 0 | – |
While bonus miles can be earned on Hawaiian Airlines marketed and operated flights, certain exceptions exist. AAdvantage miles cannot be earned on flights operated by Hawaiian Airlines between the continental US and Hawaii. Moreover, loyalty points cannot be earned ok flights marketed by Hawaiian Airlines (as an HA flight number).
Notably, Hawaiian also has a partnership with Delta and United, which makes it unique as people can earn miles on intra-island flights from all three major US carriers.
5
Finnair
Earn and redeem AAdvantage miles and enjoy the benefits of AAdvantage status
The flag carrier of Finland operates scheduled flights to 150 destinations in 50 countries. Flying with Finnair means easily redeeming AAdvantage miles for flight booking while also enjoying the benefits of the AAdvantage status.
Photo: Photofex_AUT | Shutterstock
Passengers can earn Advantage® miles on Finnair marketed and operated flights, Finnair codeshare flights operated by Flybe, and other oneworld® carriers.
- Buy an eligible published fare ticket in an eligible booking code
- Fly an eligible route
According to American Airlines,
“When you earn eligible AAdvantage® miles for travel on Finnair, you’ll also earn Loyalty Points that count toward qualifying for AAdvantage® status.”