As thousands of residents in Southern California face the challenges posed by unprecedented wildfires, the American Airlines AAdvantage program is urging frequent flyers to step in and assist by offering bonus AAdvantage miles for donations to the American Red Cross for a limited period.
Here’s everything you need to know about this new initiative.
Receive 10x AAdvantage miles for Red Cross contributions
Between now and January 22, you can earn 10 AAdvantage miles for every dollar you donate to the Red Cross when your contribution is $25 or more. You can direct your donation towards California wildfires, general disaster relief, the Red Cross’ broader initiatives, or programs within your local community.
With Flying Frugal’s January 2025 evaluations estimating AAdvantage miles at 1.65 cents each, this translates to an appealing 16.5% return, all while supporting a worthy cause.
AAdvantage miles are notoriously hard to accumulate, especially since the program ended its partnership with Bilt last year, making it impossible to transfer miles from other credit card programs.
Top credit cards for charitable giving
Remember, in addition to earning 10 AAdvantage miles per dollar, you can also collect valuable rewards from the credit card used for your donation. We suggest using one of the best cards suited for charitable contributions, including:
Daily Newsletter
Stay updated with the Flying Frugal Daily newsletter
Join over 700,000 readers for breaking news, in-depth guides, and exclusive offers curated by Flying Frugal’s experts.
If you’d like to use points and miles for your donation, your points can stretch further when using Chase’s Pay Yourself Back feature. Currently, you can receive a value of 1.25 or 1.5 cents per point for contributions to select charities, including the American Red Cross, through many Chase cards until March 31.
Final thoughts
If you’re feeling powerless as you watch the devastation caused by the California wildfires, donating is a straightforward way to contribute — especially when you can maximize your rewards. This is an excellent chance to earn additional AAdvantage miles, which can be redeemed for off-peak flights to Europe, premium business-class seats, and more.
Act quickly, though. This offer is available until January 22 — and the sooner you donate, the sooner your support can make a difference.
Editorial note: The views expressed here belong solely to the author and do not reflect those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline, or hotel chain. This message has not been reviewed or endorsed by any such entities.
