I was looking for a flight between Miami (MIA) and Austin (AUS) and found a nonstop option on American Airlines that fit perfectly with my schedule. The cash price was $106, which is pretty cheap — but flights like that can also be a great place to find discounted award tickets.
American AAdvantage
American priced the same nonstop flight at 7,000 miles + $5.60 in taxes for a one-way Main Cabin ticket. That’s a strong price for a flight of this distance and a nice reminder that not every award is overpriced.
Note: American doesn’t allow Basic Economy to be booked with miles. All AA award tickets are Main Cabin or higher.
Alaska Mileage Plan (Atmos Rewards)
Under Alaska’s new Atmos Rewards, the same flight costs 7,500 miles + $18.10 in taxes and fees. That total includes the $5.60 U.S. security fee plus Alaska’s $12.50 partner award booking fee (charged on awards not operated by Alaska or Hawaiian).
The mileage is close to AA’s price, but the partner fee makes this redemption a bit worse for a short domestic hop.
British Airways Avios
Booking the same AA nonstop through British Airways Club now prices at 16,000 Avios + $5.60 one way. That’s a big jump from the old sweet spot when short-haul U.S. AA flights were bargains with Avios; after BA’s award chart changes for flights within the U.S., these redemptions are no longer a deal compared with AAdvantage or Alaska.
Qantas Frequent Flyer
Through Qantas Frequent Flyer, the same AA flight now costs 13,900 Qantas Points + $6 one way as an Economy Classic Reward. As of August 5, 2025, Qantas increased Classic Reward prices by 20%, which pushed this route out of the “good value” range for most travelers.
Taxes remain low, but the higher points price makes Qantas one of the least competitive options versus AAdvantage (7,000 miles) or Alaska (7,500 miles + fee).
Final Thoughts
Here’s how the pricing shook out for the same MIA–AUS seat on American:
- American AAdvantage: 7,000 miles + $5.60
- Alaska Atmos Rewards: 7,500 miles + $18.10 (includes $12.50 partner fee)
- Qantas Frequent Flyer: 13,900 Qantas Points + $6
- British Airways Avios: 16,000 Avios + $5.60
Price isn’t the only factor. Cancellation and redeposit rules vary by program. For example, American will refund both your miles and the full taxes/fees if you cancel an award. British Airways charges a cancellation fee—for domestic U.S. awards, that typically means you’ll forfeit the $5.60 taxes when you cancel.
Using points for a roughly $100ish ticket isn’t always the instinctive move, but it can be a smart way to save cash, burn an expiring balance, or keep an account active. Checking multiple partner programs before you book can turn an ordinary short flight into a surprisingly good redemption—or help you avoid a terrible one.
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