Summary
- AAdvantage members can use miles to book Airbus A380 flights on partner airlines with flexible rates and terms.
- A380 operators British Airways, Qantas, Qatar Airways, and Etihad Airways are among the partner airlines for AAdvantage.
- Fixed pricing, online booking, and good change/cancelation terms make AAdvantage a great option for A380 flights.
The Airbus A380 is a great aircraft and one that many travelers want to try out. Only a few airlines operate it, however, and American Airlines is not one of these (nor are any other US-based airlines).
This does not mean that members of the AAdvantage loyalty program cannot use their miles to fly on the A380, however. AAdvantage miles can used on partner airlines to book A380 flights – including on British Airways, Qantas, Qatar Airways, and Etihad Airways. The terms and rates with AAdvantage are very good.
Flying the A380 with British Airways
Members of the AAdvantage
program can use miles to book award tickets on any oneworld alliance member airline (plus some additional partners). This includes UK-based 
British Airways
. This is the best option from the US, based on the number of US cities served.
Photo: Rene Dominguez | Shutterstock
All flights on Advantage partner airlines are priced using fixed-priced rates based on the origin and destination zone. Note the following for partner bookings (this applies here for British Airways and with all other partners):
- All awards are priced by origin and destination region.
- AAdvantage uses fixed prices for all partner flights.
- Several connecting flights can be used on one ticket (but no stopovers over 24 hours) for the same mileage rate.
- The change and cancelation terms are very good – free cancelations are permitted before departure.
- Awards can be fully booked online on the AAdvantage website. This makes booking very flexible.
- You pay standard taxes and charges but no additional supplements or fuel surcharges.
British Airways currently operates the A380 between London Heathrow and six US cities. These are all operated daily:
- Boston Logan (BOS)
- Dallas Fort Worth (DFW)
- Washington Dulles (IAD)
- Miami (MIA)
- Los Angeles (LAX)
- San Francisco (SFO)
The base rate for these flights will be the same – and each flight is either available or not (there is no ability to pay more as you get with dynamic pricing systems). They will price using the US to Europe band at the rates shown below (for a one-way flight). A connection in the US and/or Europe can be added for no additional miles.
|
Route |
Economy miles |
Premium economy miles |
Business class miles |
First class miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Heathrow to any US mainland destination |
30,000 22,500 on off-peak dates |
40,000 |
57,500 |
85,000 |
Image: American Airlines
Flying the A380 with Qantas
Qantas
is another oneworld operator of the A380, and it can also be booked through the AAdvantage program.
Qantas currently operates is A380 aircraft between Los Angeles and Melbourne (QF 93 and 94), and Los Angeles and Sydney (QF 11 and 12). As with other carriers, connections on with Qantas to other Australian or New Zealand destinations can be added.
Photo: Vincenzo Pace | Simple Flying
Again, these are subject to award seat availability (and are notoriously difficult to book in premium cabins). They would price using the chart as follows:
|
Route |
Economy miles |
Premium economy miles |
Business class miles |
First class miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Australia to any US mainland destination |
40,000 |
65,000 |
80,000 |
110,000 |
Flying the A380 with Qatar Airways
Qatar Airways
is a major operator of the A380, and its flights can also be booked as a oneworld partner. The airline does not fly its A380s to the US at all presently, but has several other routes that can be booked for AAdvantage members who travel elsewhere. These currently include:
- Doha to London Heathrow (multiple flights daily)
- Doha to Paris
- Doha to Perth and Sydney
- Doha to Bangkok
AAdvantage publishes tables for all routes, based on starting and ending regions. These flights would be priced based on a Middle East starting region, as follows:
|
Route |
Economy miles |
Premium economy miles |
Business class miles |
First class miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Doha to any European destination |
20,000 |
32,500 |
42,500 |
62,500 |
|
Doha to Bangkok |
25,000 |
35,000 |
40,000 |
50,000 |
|
Doha to any Australian destination |
42,500 |
57,500 |
80,000 |
100,000 |
Flying the A380 with Etihad Airways
AAdvantage offers a huge range of redemption options with oneworld airlines, and also adds 
Etihad Airways
as a non-alliance partner. Flights can be booked in the same way and at the same rates as for oneworld airlines. They can even be combined with other airlines on the same booking. One difference with Etihad Airways is that award seats are generally only available within 30 days of departure.
Photo: Vincenzo Pace | Simple Flying
Etihad operates its A380 aircraft on two routes. Etihad has confirmed that a third A380 route from Abu Dhabi to Paris CDG will be started in November 2024.
- Abu Dhabi to London Heathrow
- Abu Dhabu to New York
Flying the Etihad A380 in premium cabins is an amazing experience. The airline has done things differently and made use of the space of the aircraft to offer a great bar area, luxurious private first class suites, and the exclusive Residence apartment. Sadly, AAdvantage miles cannot be used for the Residence – using Etihad Guest Miles is the only way to book the Residence on the A380.
The rates for the Etihad A380 flights are as follows:
|
Route |
Economy miles |
Premium economy miles |
Business class miles |
First class miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Abu Dhabi to London (or any European destination) |
20,000 |
n/a |
42,500 |
62,500 |
|
Abu Dhabi to New York (or US destinations) |
40,000 |
n/a |
70,000 |
115,000 |
Photo: American Airlines