American Airlines Partners: Can You Use Miles on Swiss Air?

One of the smartest ways to boost the value of your airline miles is understanding how to use them across a broad network. If you’re wondering about “Swiss Air American Airlines Partners,” you’re likely exploring ways to expand your travel possibilities. While Swiss International Air Lines isn’t directly partnered with American Airlines, the world of airline alliances and partnerships is vast and offers numerous opportunities to maximize your American Airlines AAdvantage® miles.

Let’s clarify the connection and then dive into the expansive network of American Airlines partners that can take you around the globe.

Untangling Airline Alliances: Why Swiss Air Isn’t an American Airlines Partner

It’s essential to start by addressing the key question: Is Swiss Air a partner of American Airlines? The short answer is no. Swiss International Air Lines is part of the Star Alliance, while American Airlines is a founding member of the Oneworld Alliance. These are the two largest global airline alliances, and while they offer incredible reach, they generally operate independently of each other.

Think of airline alliances like different teams. Oneworld (American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, etc.) is one team, and Star Alliance (Swiss Air, United Airlines, Lufthansa, etc.) is another. While they might occasionally cooperate in limited ways, they primarily function as separate networks.

However, American Airlines does have an extensive network of partner airlines, allowing you to use your AAdvantage miles to reach far more destinations than just those served by American Airlines itself. By understanding these partnerships, you can unlock significant value from your miles and explore nearly 1,000 destinations across the globe.

The Expansive World of American Airlines Partner Airlines

While you can’t directly use AAdvantage miles on Swiss Air, American Airlines has cultivated partnerships with over 20 airlines, including those within the Oneworld alliance and several independent carriers. This network dramatically expands your travel options.

If you were to limit yourself to only American Airlines operated flights, you could reach over 350 destinations in more than 60 countries. But by leveraging partner airlines, your travel horizons broaden to nearly 1,000 destinations in over 170 countries and territories. This is where the real value of AAdvantage miles shines.

Here’s a breakdown of the types of partners American Airlines has:

Oneworld Alliance Partners

These are airlines within the same global alliance as American Airlines, offering seamless connections and reciprocal benefits for elite status members. You can redeem AAdvantage miles on the following Oneworld carriers:

American Airlines
Alaska Airlines
British Airways
Cathay Pacific
Finnair
Iberia
Japan Airlines
Malaysia Airlines
Qantas
Qatar Airways
Royal Air Maroc
Royal Jordanian Airlines
SriLankan Airlines

Map of all Oneworld Alliance airlines and their hubs.

Non-Alliance Partner Airlines

Beyond the Oneworld alliance, American Airlines has partnered with individual airlines to further extend its reach. These partnerships offer even more diverse travel options:

Air Tahiti Nui
Cape Air
China Southern Airlines (booking via phone required)
Etihad Airways
Fiji Airways
GOL Airlines
Hawaiian Airlines

This diverse group of partners ensures that, even without a Swiss Air partnership, your AAdvantage miles can unlock travel to virtually any corner of the world you desire.

North America	Europe	Asia	Australia, New Zealand & South Pacific	Africa & Middle East	South America
Alaska Airlines	British Airways	Cathay Pacific	Air Tahiti Nui	Etihad Airways	GOL Airlines
American Airlines	Finnair	China Southern Airlines	Fiji Airways	Qatar Airways
Cape Air	Iberia	Japan Airlines	Qantas	Royal Air Maroc
Hawaiian Airlines	Malaysia Airlines	Royal Jordanian
Sri Lankan Airlines

Related: A Complete Guide to American Airlines Award Travel Rules

Earning American Airlines AAdvantage Miles

Before you can book flights with partner airlines, you need to accrue AAdvantage miles. Thankfully, there are numerous ways to earn them:

Flying with American Airlines and Partners: Naturally, flying with American or its partner airlines is a primary way to earn miles.
Co-branded Credit Cards: American Airlines offers several co-branded credit cards with issuers like Citi and Barclays. These cards provide miles on everyday spending and often come with sign-up bonuses.
Hotel and Car Rental Partners: Booking hotels or renting cars through the AAdvantage portal or with partner companies can earn you miles.
Shopping and Dining Programs: AAdvantage Dining and SimplyMiles offer opportunities to earn miles for dining at participating restaurants and shopping with select merchants.
Transfers from Marriott Bonvoy: While American Airlines isn’t a transfer partner of major bank programs like Chase Ultimate Rewards or Amex Membership Rewards, you can transfer Marriott Bonvoy points to AAdvantage miles.

Below is a list of programs that allow transfers to American AAdvantage:

From	To	Transfer Ratio	Min. Transfer	Average Time
Marriott Bonvoy	➔ American Airlines (AAdvantage)	3:1	3,000	Unknown
Bilt Rewards	➔ American Airlines (AAdvantage)	Transfer partnership ended June 24, 2024.	–	Unknown
Hyatt (World of Hyatt)	➔ American Airlines (AAdvantage)	1,250:500	5,000	Unknown
RBC (Avion Rewards)	➔ American Airlines (AAdvantage)	10:7 Avion cardholders only	–	Unknown

Related: Do American Airlines Miles Expire?

Understanding Award Pricing for Partner Flights

Redeeming AAdvantage miles for partner flights follows a different award chart than flights solely operated by American Airlines. While American Airlines uses dynamic pricing for its own flights, award prices for partner airlines are generally fixed based on regions.

American Airlines publishes partner award charts categorized by the region of origin. These charts determine the mileage needed for flights on Oneworld and other partner airlines. It’s important to note that, unlike American Airlines awards, partner award rates are typically fixed (with the exception of Fiji Airways).

Here’s a glimpse at the partner award chart for one-way travel originating from the contiguous 48 U.S. states or Canada:

Map of all Oneworld Alliance airlines and their hubs.

Related: Tricks for Booking Awards Using AAdvantage Miles

Exploring Key Oneworld Partner Flights

Let’s delve into some notable Oneworld partners and how you can use your AAdvantage miles with them:

British Airways

British Airways, a major European carrier, serves nearly 200 destinations from London. Redeeming AAdvantage miles for British Airways flights can be a useful way to cross the Atlantic. Awards with British Airways are priced according to the partner award chart.

However, be aware of potentially high taxes and fees, especially on transatlantic routes with British Airways, due to the UK’s air passenger duty and surcharges.

British Airways award from JFK to LHR bookable with AA miles.

Cathay Pacific

Based in Hong Kong, Cathay Pacific is renowned for its excellent service and Asian network, serving over 80 destinations. Using AAdvantage miles for Cathay Pacific can open up travel across Asia, with Hong Kong as a convenient connecting hub.

Flight award chart from Asia Region 2

Japan Airlines (JAL)

Japan Airlines is another highly-regarded Oneworld carrier, known for its exceptional quality and extensive network throughout Asia and beyond. Redeeming miles for JAL flights, especially in premium cabins, can be a fantastic value.

JAL award from ORD to TYO bookable with AA miles.

Qatar Airways

Qatar Airways is often considered a highlight for AAdvantage mile redemptions, particularly for its Qsuite business class. Serving over 175 destinations from Doha, Qatar Airways can connect you to the Middle East, Africa, and Asia in exceptional comfort.

Qatar award from BOS to MLE bookable with AA miles.

Discovering Non-Alliance Partner Flights

American Airlines’ non-alliance partners also present unique redemption opportunities:

Etihad Airways

Etihad Airways, based in Abu Dhabi, offers another gateway to the Middle East, Asia, and beyond. Known for its luxurious cabins, including the A380 “Apartment,” Etihad can be a premium redemption choice if you can find award availability.

Hawaiian Airlines

For travel within Hawaii or onward to destinations in the Pacific and Asia, Hawaiian Airlines is a valuable partner. Redeeming AAdvantage miles for Hawaiian flights can be a great way to island-hop or reach destinations like Japan and South Korea.

Hawaiian Airlines award from LAS to HNL bookable with AA miles.

GOL Airlines

GOL Airlines expands American Airlines’ reach into South America, particularly Brazil. This partnership is helpful for accessing destinations in Brazil and other parts of South America after LATAM’s departure from Oneworld.

GOL award from MIA to FOR bookable with AA miles.

Final Thoughts: Global Travel is Within Reach with AAdvantage Partners

While Swiss Air isn’t part of the American Airlines partner network, the extensive list of Oneworld and non-alliance partners provides incredibly diverse and valuable options for redeeming your AAdvantage miles. From the luxurious Qsuites of Qatar Airways to the island-hopping flights of Hawaiian Airlines, your miles can unlock a world of travel possibilities.

Most partner airline bookings can be made online through the American Airlines website, simplifying the process. For partners not available online, you can contact American Airlines Reservations. Don’t hesitate to explore the full list of partners and start planning your next adventure using the power of AAdvantage miles!