Miles generally cost 2.95 cents each, although American regularly offers sales that work out to a better value. However, even with any discounts, purchasing miles should be a last resort (e.g., only do this to top up your account for an award redemption or to keep miles from expiring).

In 2026, the cost to purchase American Airlines AAdvantage miles typically ranges between 2.25 cents and 3.76 cents per mile, depending on the quantity you buy and current promotional offers. The base price is usually $35 per 1,000 miles, plus a 7.5% federal excise tax and a processing fee. American Airlines often runs tiered discounts; for instance, buying a small amount like 2,000 miles might cost about $75, whereas purchasing a bulk amount of 150,000 miles could drop the rate significantly if a 40% or 50% discount is active. You can purchase up to 150,000 or 200,000 miles per calendar year. While convenient for topping off an account for a specific award flight, buying miles is generally considered poor value since the redemption value of a mile is often lower than the purchase price. It is most effective when you are just a few thousand miles short of a high-value international business class seat where the "cash price" would be substantially higher than the cost of the miles.