I'm wondering if American Airlines has been abandoned by all other carriers that used to buddy-up with others. American used to be under US Airs umbrella but now just American Eagle. Does anyone know if they have been picked up by any other airline as a partner?

Huh? American has never been under USAir's "umbrella" nor v.v. It did buddy up with Midway until it decided to turn around and try to drive Midway under. And it has some European code-share partners, although the whole business of FF miles has tightened up -- just because there's a code-share doesn't mean you can redeem your miles with that partner.<BR><BR>Simple answer: go to www.aa.com and check out their partners.

AA - sorry to disagree. While they were never merged and always 2 distinct companies, as recently as 2 years ago you could use FF miles from either airline on the other and even combine them - we did for 4 free tickets East to West Coast using mostly USAir miles and AA miles to make up difference to fly AA. I know that program ended sometime about 1.5 years ago. To Cissy, just checked our AA FF statements and it does not appear that you can use their miles on other airlines.

Gail, thanks for clarifying. Apologies if that's what Cissy was after. You are correct, of course. <BR><BR>You can _earn_ FF miles for use on AA by flying any of the oneworld partners (including British, Iberia, Qantas, AerLingus, Lan Chila, and Cathay Pacific). You can use FF for ticketing on these airlines but upgrading is iffy.<BR>

...and, ps for Cissy, you can only use FF for passage on those carriers on routes not in the US and not served by American (e.g., you can't fly from the US to Europe on British Air).

UA and USAir had a great program. They were the only airlines that allowed you to pool mileage. No more.<BR><BR>Got to AA's website, they have lots of partners.<BR><BR>Fly AA if you can. They have a significant extra leg room in coach.

Thanks for the replies. AA, yes, what Gail described is what we've done in the past. We used to transfer our miles from American Express Membership Rewards program into US Air and they, in turn, would issue us AA tix to the Caribbean because they partnered, but no more. This has put a cramp in our ability to get to the Caribbean from the East Coast using our American Express FF miles. I think I'll look into Delta to Puerto Rico and then from there. Anyone else having this problem??? Again, thanks.

I thought you could still transfer miles from American Express Rewards into whatever airline. But, I will admit, who actually knows. My husband flies a gazillion miles/year on several airlines and has free upgrade certificates (based on those gazillion miles) that he can't even use because now they must be booked 24-48 hrs before flight instead of when flight is booked. Eventually the airlines have to shake themselves out, but I fear then we will have only 1 major airline with no competition. (We flew American Eagle NYC to Boston after returning from Egypt and it was the smallest plane I have ever been on!)

Gail: American Express Membership Rewards doesn't honor all airlines. The list is on their website or in their mailings. They do add a few now and then, but since US Air dropped AA as a partner, AX hasn't picked them up. Sure wish they would!

American and partners: <BR><BR>American Airlines - American Eagle<BR>(oneworld carrier) Worldwide service. <BR><BR><BR> <BR> American Airlines - Special Awards<BR>(oneworld carrier) These award specials allow you to travel on AA for fewer miles! <BR><BR><BR> <BR> oneworld<BR>Worldwide service on oneworld carriers. <BR><BR><BR> <BR> Aer Lingus<BR>(oneworld carrier) Service between Ireland, Europe, and North America. <BR><BR><BR> <BR> British Airways<BR>(oneworld carrier) Worldwide service. <BR><BR><BR> <BR> Cathay Pacific<BR>(oneworld carrier) Worldwide service from Hong Kong as well as extensive coverage throughout Asia. <BR><BR><BR> <BR> Finnair<BR>(oneworld carrier) Service between the U.S., Finland, England, Sweden and throughout Europe and Asia. <BR><BR><BR> <BR> Iberia<BR>(oneworld carrier) Service between the U.S. and Europe, the Canary Islands, the Balearic Islands, Africa, and Israel. <BR><BR><BR> <BR> LanChile<BR>(oneworld carrier) Service between Chile and the U.S., South America, Europe, and the South Pacific. <BR><BR><BR> <BR> Qantas Airways<BR>(oneworld carrier) Worldwide service from Australia to the U.S., Europe, Africa, Asia and South Pacific. <BR><BR><BR> <BR> Air Pacific<BR>Service between the South Pacific, Japan, and North America. <BR><BR><BR> <BR> Air Tahiti Nui<BR>Service between North America and Tahiti or New Zealand or between Japan and Tahiti. <BR><BR><BR> <BR> Alaska Airlines<BR>Service between Alaska, Canada, the U.S. West coast and cities in Mexico. <BR><BR><BR> <BR> Asiana Airlines<BR>Service between Hawaii, Japan, Korea, and the rest of the Asia-Pacific region. <BR><BR><BR> <BR> EL AL<BR>Service between Tel Aviv, North America (award travel only), Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East. <BR><BR><BR> <BR> Grupo TACA<BR>Service between Central America and the U.S., Mexico, South America and the Caribbean. <BR><BR><BR> <BR> Hawaiian Airlines<BR>Service between the U.S. mainland and Hawaii and within the Hawaiian Islands. <BR><BR><BR> <BR> Japan Airlines<BR>Service between North America and Japan and the Asia-Pacific region. <BR><BR><BR> <BR> LOT Polish Airlines<BR>Worldwide Service. <BR><BR><BR> <BR> SN Brussels Airlines (formerly Sabena)<BR>Service wholly within Europe.<BR><BR><BR> <BR> SWISS<BR>Worldwide service.<BR><BR><BR> <BR> Southern Winds<BR>Service wholly within Argentina.<BR><BR><BR> <BR> TAM<BR>Worldwide service <BR><BR><BR> <BR> Turkish Airlines<BR>Service between the U.S. and Europe, within Europe and beyond. <BR><BR><BR> <BR>

Dick: Thanks for the info. My problem is trying to reach the Caribbean by using FF miles from American Express Membership Rewards program, without having to make 4 or 5 stops, i.e. St. Barth's or Anguilla. American offers the most flights, and the shortest routes but I've reached a dead end.