You can transfer American Airlines miles to another person, but only through their official transfer program and with restrictions

American Airlines allows you to move miles from your AAdvantage account to someone else's account, but the process has specific rules and costs. You cannot straightforward give miles away for free — the recipient's account must exist first, and you will pay a fee per mile transferred. The transfer takes about two weeks to complete, and both accounts must be in good standing with no fraud flags or recent changes.

This is different from earning miles together or pooling miles with family members. A transfer is a one-time movement of your existing miles to another person's separate AAdvantage account. It is useful if you have extra miles you will not use, or if you want to help someone reach a specific redemption goal.

Key Takeaways

  • American Airlines charges a fee to transfer miles — currently 1.5 cents per mile, with a minimum fee of $5.95 and a maximum of $250 per transfer.
  • The person receiving the miles must already have an active AAdvantage account before you can transfer to them.
  • Transfers take approximately 10 to 14 business days to show up in the recipient's account after you submit the request.
  • Both accounts must be in good standing, with no recent fraud disputes or account changes within the past 30 days.
  • You can transfer miles only once per calendar year to the same person, and you cannot transfer miles that were purchased or earned through a promotion.

What you need before you start a transfer

Before you begin, make sure the person you want to send miles to has their own AAdvantage account. If they do not have one, they can create it for free at aa.com. You will need their AAdvantage number, full name, and date of birth exactly as it appears in their account.

Check your own account to confirm you have enough miles to transfer and that your account is in good standing. American Airlines will not process a transfer if your account has been flagged for suspicious activity, if you have made changes to your account security in the past 30 days, or if you have an open dispute with the airline.

You also cannot transfer miles that were purchased, gifted to you, or earned through a promotional offer. Only miles you earned through flights, credit card spending, or partner activities are may be able to access. If you are unsure which miles are may be able to access, contact American Airlines customer service before you start.

How to request a transfer through American Airlines

Log into your AAdvantage account at aa.com and go to the "Manage Miles" section. Look for the option labeled "Transfer Miles" or "Send Miles to Another Member." You will be asked to enter the recipient's AAdvantage number, full name, and date of birth.

Enter the number of miles you want to transfer. American Airlines will show you the fee upfront — currently 1.5 cents per mile transferred, with a $5.95 minimum and $250 maximum per transfer. For example, transferring 1,000 miles costs $15, and transferring 20,000 miles costs $250 (the maximum, even though 1.5% of 20,000 would be $300).

Review the details carefully, including the recipient's name and account number. Once you confirm, American Airlines will charge your credit card on file for the transfer fee. The miles themselves do not leave your account when ready — they will be deducted after the transfer is processed, which takes 10 to 14 business days.

What happens after you submit the transfer request

American Airlines will send you a confirmation email with a reference number. Keep this number in case you need to follow up. The recipient will also receive a notification that miles are on the way to their account, though they cannot use them until the transfer is complete.

The 10 to 14 business day window starts from the date you submit the request, not from the date American Airlines processes it. Weekends and holidays do not count as business days. If the transfer does not appear after 14 business days, contact American Airlines with your reference number and the recipient's account details.

Once the miles arrive in the recipient's account, they can use them when ready to book flights, upgrade tickets, or redeem other rewards through the AAdvantage program. There are no restrictions on how they use the miles once they receive them.

Limits on how often you can transfer miles

You can transfer miles to the same person only once per calendar year. If you want to send miles to that person again, you must wait until January 1st of the following year. You can transfer to different people more than once per year, but each transfer to the same recipient counts against the annual limit.

There is no limit on the total number of miles you can transfer in a single transaction, but the fee caps at $250 per transfer. If you want to send more than about 16,700 miles to one person in a year, you would need to split it into multiple transfers to different people, or wait until the next calendar year.

Alternatives if you cannot transfer miles directly

If the person you want to help does not have an AAdvantage account yet, have them create one first. The account is free and takes about 10 minutes to set up. They will need a name, email address, date of birth, and mailing address.

If you want to help someone earn miles without transferring your own, you can refer them to the AAdvantage program. When they sign up using your referral link and meet the spending requirements on an AAdvantage credit card, you both earn bonus miles. This does not cost you anything and does not reduce your own miles balance.

Another option is to use miles together through American Airlines' family pooling feature, though this works differently than a transfer. With pooling, multiple family members can combine their miles into a shared account for redemptions, but the miles stay in the pool rather than moving to individual accounts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I transfer miles to someone who is not a family member?

Yes. American Airlines does not restrict transfers to family only. You can transfer miles to a friend, colleague, or anyone else with an active AAdvantage account. Both accounts must be in good standing, but there is no relationship requirement.

What if the transfer fails or gets rejected?

American Airlines will reject a transfer if the recipient's account information is incorrect, if either account has fraud flags, or if the recipient's account was created less than 30 days ago. You will receive an email explaining the reason. The fee will be refunded to your credit card, and you can try again once the issue is resolved.

Can I transfer miles that I bought with cash?

No. Purchased miles cannot be transferred. Only miles earned through flights, credit card spending, or partner activities are may be able to access. If you bought miles and want to use them, you must use them in your own account.

How long does the transfer fee stay on my credit card statement?

The fee is charged when ready when you submit the transfer request, even though the miles take 10 to 14 days to arrive. It will appear on your statement as a charge from American Airlines within one to three business days.

Can I cancel a transfer after I submit it?

Once you submit a transfer request, you cannot cancel it through your account. Contact American Airlines customer service when ready with your reference number if you need to stop the transfer. They may be able to cancel it if it has not yet been processed, but this is not may provide.