Can you use US Dividend or AA miles to purchase flights for others?

[fent6]

Hello,

Hopefully a simple question but couldnt find the answer on Google.

Am I able to use my US Dividend or AA miles to purchase for others? (e.g. parents?)

Thanks,

Paul

 

[lovetravellingoz]

https://www.aa.com/i18n/AAdvantage/redeemMiles/makingAwardReservations.jsp

And, when you're ready, book your travel.

• Each award is valid for one way travel unless otherwise specified.
• You can create the award itinerary that best meets your needs by combining multiple award types for each direction of travel.
• You may use your miles for yourself or for anyone you designate* at the time of ticketing.
• The itinerary you choose determines the number of miles you need to use.**

*At no time may AAdvantage mileage credit or award tickets be purchased, sold or bartered. Any such mileage or tickets are void if transferred for cash or other consideration. Violators (including any passenger who uses a purchased or bartered award ticket) may be liable for damages and litigation costs, including American Airlines attorney's fees incurred in enforcing this rule. View complete Terms and Conditions.

 

[QF029]

There have been issues previously with booking flights for others using Dividend Miles. In the extreme they can cancel your account and forfeit your points however I suspect you would need to be a repeat offender for this to occur. It's to safeguard against those selling points flights to 3rd parties.

 

[serfty]

There have been issues previously with booking flights for others using Dividend Miles. In the extreme they can cancel your account and forfeit your points however I suspect you would need to be a repeat offender for this to occur. It's to safeguard against those selling points flights to 3rd parties.

Such action is due to a perception that the member is selling or bartering awards - they suspend the account first and ask questions later.

As indicated, it is rare but can happen with innocent gifting.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

There have been issues previously with booking flights for others using Dividend Miles. In the extreme they can cancel your account and forfeit your points however I suspect you would need to be a repeat offender for this to occur. It's to safeguard against those selling points flights to 3rd parties.

Unfortunately it's not necessarily a case of being a repeat offender. There is evidence of accounts being suspended (and closed) after a single redemption in a name not readily associated with an account.

As Serfty mentions, redeeming a ticket for someone else is likely to flag the potential for a barter or exchange - who simply 'gives' a couple of grand to a friend for nothing in return?

If the name of the redemption is the same as the account holder there shouldn't be problems (for example, claiming for parents with the same surname).

 

[RooFlyer]

I wasn't aware that you could do this, so thanks to OP and responders as I might just do it now.

It was AA wording that has been given up-thread, and cautions against US Dividend Miles so I'm not sure if the problem exists with the AA scheme. But given the wording of the AA scheme quoted above (ie "anyone you designate") you'd think that it shouldn't ever happen with a once off gift redemption?

As for 'giving a couple of grand to a friend for nothing in return' ... not sure if that was meant facetiously but best friends with a major anniversary coming up, would certainly be in the running for a J return flight to somewhere.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I wasn't aware that you could do this, so thanks to OP and responders as I might just do it now.

It was AA wording that has been given up-thread, and cautions against US Dividend Miles so I'm not sure if the problem exists with the AA scheme. But given the wording of the AA scheme quoted above (ie "anyone you designate") you'd think that it shouldn't ever happen with a once off gift redemption?

As for 'giving a couple of grand to a friend for nothing in return' ... not sure if that was meant facetiously but best friends with a major anniversary coming up, would certainly be in the running for a J return flight to somewhere.

sure you may have a valid reason for giving away miles - as you mention, for a wedding present for example.

but equally USDM has a valid reason for investigating. Except they close the account first, and you can't contact them.

US Airways has similar provisions to buy a ticket for anyone you wish, same as AA. And both schemes prohibit the sale or barter (etc) of points.

Perhaps this is a good reminder for anyone who hasn't done so to read the US Airways membership guide. It's very short, and contains a lot of useful information (including, for example, that you can buy a ticket for someone else).

the guide is here: US Airways | Dividend Miles membership guide

 

[burmans]

Unfortunately it's not necessarily a case of being a repeat offender. There is evidence of accounts being suspended (and closed) after a single redemption in a name not readily associated with an account.

As Serfty mentions, redeeming a ticket for someone else is likely to flag the potential for a barter or exchange - who simply 'gives' a couple of grand to a friend for nothing in return?

If the name of the redemption is the same as the account holder there shouldn't be problems (for example, claiming for parents with the same surname).

We've been here before! I've made redemptions for my wife (not the same name), sister (not the same name or even country) and my wife has also made redemptions for my sister (different names, different country). There was a list of potential reasons posted on one of the U.S. blogs and yes this was one factor, but in fact there were a lot of factors and I suspect more than one needs to apply (multiple accounts same IP address but a different mail address would seem to be a bigger red flag, as would making redemption for someone else on a very new account after you have just bought points).

You can record redemption nominees for USDM (not sure if called this) and it would seem a lower risk approach to do this well in advance, less likely to be regarded as an abnormal transaction if you have made the effort to tell them in advance of the relationship.