American Airlines Adds Ability To Redeem Miles for Flagship First Dining

Updated: October 18, 2024, 2:00pm CDT

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What Is Flagship First Dining?
Redeeming Miles for Flagship First Dining
Eligibility
Final Thoughts

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American Airlines has introduced the ability for select AAdvantage elite members to redeem AAdvantage miles for Flagship First Dining, the ultra-premium dining experience at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) and Miami International Airport (MIA). Members will be able to use miles to purchase day passes to this lounge within a lounge and enjoy a restaurant-style experience, complete with multiple courses and drinks.

Not everyone is seeing this feature yet, however, and it will remain limited to those with elite status. Here’s what you should know.

What Is Flagship First Dining?

Flagship First Dining is a restaurant within the Flagship Lounge at Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) and Miami (MIA). You’d first normally need to have access to the Flagship Lounge, and then you enter Flagship First Dining where your eligibility is checked and you’re seated.

Normally, to enter Flagship First Dining, you’d need to be in First Class on a 3-class aircraft (either a Boeing 777-300ER or A321T, though the latter isn’t as practical out of Dallas or Miami since that plane only flies out of Boston, New York-JFK, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Orange County). If you’re ticketed in First Class on an eligible routing and plane, you’d have access to Flagship First Dining.

While Flagship Lounges have a buffet with self-serve beverages, the Flagship First Dining area is truly like a restaurant, with a staffed bar, wait service, menus, and plated dishes. You can order as much or as little as you like, and the options include typical fare you’d find in an American-style restaurant, like steaks, fish, burgers, pasta, and more.

American Airlines Flagship First Dining JFK steak, eggs, frites — American Airlines Flagship First Dining steak, eggs, and frites. Image Credit: Stephen Au

Redeeming Miles for Flagship First Dining

American Airlines is rolling out the ability to redeem AAdvantage miles for access. Platinum Pro and Executive Platinum members can now redeem miles for Flagship Dining passes at these rates:

At the Platinum Pro level, you can redeem for 2 passes at 24,000 AAdvantage miles per pass.
At the Executive Platinum level, you can redeem for an additional 2 passes at 20,000 AAdvantage miles per pass.

AAdvantage miles for flagship first dining — Image Credit: American Airlines

To redeem miles for a pass, log in to your AAdvantage account and go to the “Rewards Hub.” If you’re eligible, you’ll see the option to redeem miles under the “Enhance With Miles” section.

Once you redeem miles, you’ll see the expiration date of your passes in that same section.

Eligibility

Here at UpgradedPoints, 3 of our staffers who are either Platinum Pro or Executive Platinum did not have the ability to redeem miles for Flagship First Dining, myself included.

I have not yet renewed for either Platinum Pro or Executive Platinum for next year (but I will), so it may be that the ability to redeem doesn’t appear until you cross that threshold. For now, the option is not in my account.

It also appears that you will not have this ability if you participated in a status match or a World of Hyatt Fast Track promotion, though this seems to be in accordance with the terms and conditions.

Hot Tip:

If you don’t see the option to redeem miles for a pass now, wait a few days and check again, as you may see the option later. We believe it’s rolling out across accounts slowly.

Final Thoughts

While it’s exciting to be able to use miles towards Flagship First Dining, the opportunity likely represents poor value for your miles. That’s because you can redeem those same miles on expensive flights. If you have miles to spare and are looking for an upgraded airport experience, redeeming them for Flagship First Dining is the way to go since it represents the best in-airport experience in both Dallas and Miami.