Act fast: Great award rates and availability for transcontinental American Airlines Flagship Business and First
With lie-flat seats, enhanced amenities and Flagship lounge access, American Airlines' Airbus A321T Flagship Business and Flagship First are some of the most sought-after domestic seats. Even though Flagship First will be retired at some point next year, American has released widespread discounted award space for the next two months, allowing you to book these seats for as little as 25,000 and 37,500 miles in business and first class, respectively. This news was first reported by View from the Wing.
You can find American's A321T on the following nonstop routes:
- John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), John Wayne Airport (SNA) and San Francisco International Airport (SFO).
- Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) to LAX.
The deal
Airline: American Airlines.
Routes: JFK-LAX/SNA/SFO and BOS-LAX.
Cost: From 25,000 AAdvantage miles plus $5.60 in taxes and fees one-way in business class and 37,500 AAdvantage miles plus $5.60 in first class.
Dates: January through March.
Pay taxes and fees with: The Platinum Card® from American Express (5 points per dollar on airfare booked directly with the airline or through Amex Travel, on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year), Chase Sapphire Reserve (3 points per dollar on travel) or Chase Sapphire Preferred Card (2 points per dollar on travel) for travel protections on the award flight.
Sample itineraries
Here's a look at the award space. To ensure that you're looking at the Flagship A321T, make sure that "Nonstop only" is selected when conducting award searches; however, AA will show Alaska Airlines nonstop flights, which don't have lie-flat seats, on the calendar view. In the screenshots that follow, there are at least two available seats.
Los Angeles/Orange County to New York
New York to Los Angeles/Orange County
San Francisco to New York
New York to San Francisco
Los Angeles to Boston
Boston to Los Angeles
Related: Your ultimate guide to American Airlines AAdvantage
Don't forget about Orange County
Overwhelmingly, we found the lowest award rates to be on American's routes between SNA and JFK. Here's an example from Jan. 18.
Related: American introduces a new business-class fare that includes first-class perks
A note about Flagship First
Our tests show Flagship First award rates start at 37,500 AAdvantage miles between SNA and JFK. However, if you're looking to travel in Flagship First on any of these routes for a lower price, consider booking with Etihad Guest. As long as you find Z-fare seats (we recommend using ExpertFlyer, which is owned by TPG's parent company Red Ventures, to check for award space), you can book a Flagship First transcontinental flight for 25,000 Etihad Guest miles and around $50 in taxes and fees.
Note that Etihad Guest doesn't allow American Airlines bookings on its website, so you'll need to call Etihad Guest at 877-690-0767 to book AA awards over the phone. Additionally, Etihad Guest requires all American Airlines award tickets to be issued within 24 hours of departure, so be careful with last-minute bookings.
You can transfer American Express Membership Rewards points, Capital One miles and Citi ThankYou Rewards points to Etihad Guest at a 1:1 ratio. In our tests, these transfers are instantaneous.
Related: Etihad Guest miles continue to fly under the radar
Bottom line
American Airlines routinely charges over $700 and $1,000 for one-way premium transcontinental A321T flights in business and first class, respectively. Consequently, by booking one of these award flights for less than 30,000 miles, you stand to get around 3 cents per mile, nearly double TPG's valuation.
For JFK travelers (if JFK is your origin, destination or connection), Flagship Business passengers can access the Greenwich Lounge, while Flagship First gets you into the posh Soho and Chelsea lounges.
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| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S. and at U.S. supermarkets. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
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Why We Chose It
Build your loyalty to Delta by applying for the carrier's mid-tier card option, the Delta SkyMiles Platinum card. The annual fee is quickly recouped by the card's travel perks, such as an application credit to Global Entry or TSA Precheck, annual companion certificate and so much more. Plus you can fast-track to elite status simply through card spend.Pros
- Earn bonus Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) and an Medallion Qualifying Dollar (MQD) waiver when you hit specific spending thresholds with your card within a calendar year
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year
- Statement credit for TSA PreCheck/Global Entry fee (up to $100)
- First checked bag free
Cons
- Doesn't make sense if you don't fly Delta
- SkyMiles aren't the most valuable airline currency
- Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. Payment of the government imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
- Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights. Plus enjoy Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding and settle into your seat sooner.
- New: Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
- Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets.
- Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
- Enjoy a per-visit rate of $50 per person for Card Members and up to two guests to enter the Delta Sky Club when traveling on a Delta flight.
- Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® after you apply through any Authorized Enrollment Provider. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
- Earn up to 20,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) with Status Boost® per year. After you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you can earn 10,000 MQMs up to two times per year, getting you closer to Medallion® Status. MQMs are used to determine Medallion® Status and are different than miles you earn toward flights.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- $250 Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
Rewards Rate
| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S. and at U.S. supermarkets. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.Earn 90,000 Bonus Miles50,000 Bonus MilesAnnual Fee
$250Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO© Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.670-850Excellent/Good
Why We Chose It
Build your loyalty to Delta by applying for the carrier's mid-tier card option, the Delta SkyMiles Platinum card. The annual fee is quickly recouped by the card's travel perks, such as an application credit to Global Entry or TSA Precheck, annual companion certificate and so much more. Plus you can fast-track to elite status simply through card spend.Pros
- Earn bonus Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) and an Medallion Qualifying Dollar (MQD) waiver when you hit specific spending thresholds with your card within a calendar year
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year
- Statement credit for TSA PreCheck/Global Entry fee (up to $100)
- First checked bag free
Cons
- Doesn't make sense if you don't fly Delta
- SkyMiles aren't the most valuable airline currency
- Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. Payment of the government imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
- Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights. Plus enjoy Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding and settle into your seat sooner.
- New: Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
- Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets.
- Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
- Enjoy a per-visit rate of $50 per person for Card Members and up to two guests to enter the Delta Sky Club when traveling on a Delta flight.
- Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® after you apply through any Authorized Enrollment Provider. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
- Earn up to 20,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) with Status Boost® per year. After you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you can earn 10,000 MQMs up to two times per year, getting you closer to Medallion® Status. MQMs are used to determine Medallion® Status and are different than miles you earn toward flights.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- $250 Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees