If you’re looking to put your stash of American Airlines miles to good use and splurge on a first-class trip to Europe, there are some good deals out of Los Angeles. Specifically, AA has redemptions for Flagship First from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to London’s Heathrow Airport (LHR) available from 110,000 AAdvantage miles each way early in 2025.
We sourced this deal using data backed by our friends at Pointhound, a free tool for finding cheap flights using your points.
TPG recently reported on American’s plans to phase out Flagship First. It’s the last of a dying breed — the final true first-class product offered by a major U.S. airline. While the carrier still hasn’t announced a definitive date for the end of Flagship First, it’s still available on AA’s Boeing 777-300ER planes going overseas. With only eight first-class suites available on these limited flights, it’s a truly special travel experience.
This latest deal offers good availability at reduced rates for travel from January through March 2025 out of LA; it’s one of only four cities where American still operates the 777-300s to Europe. In addition to the lie-flat seats and enhanced food service, you’ll get access to the Flagship First lounge and priority check-in at LAX.
Tip: Use the calendar view when searching AA’s website to see the availability for first-class redemptions. Make sure to click the “Show all classes” dropdown and click “First” to filter the options.
Deal basics
Airline: American Airlines
Routes: From Los Angeles to London
How to book: Directly with the airline
Travel dates: January-March 2025
Book by: As soon as possible
Sample flights
The best days to search for the lowest redemptions are:
- Jan. 22 and 29
- Feb. 5, 12 and 19
- March 9, 12 and 15
- Other scattered available dates
Here’s one round-trip Flagship First itinerary we found in late January from LAX to LHR for 221,500 AAdvantage miles, plus $344.51 in taxes and fees.
Here’s one February Flagship First redemption we found available for 110,000 miles each way.
As the calendar screenshot we showed earlier indicates, March has the best availability from LA to London. There are several options to book one-way flights in Flagship First that month for 110,000 AAdvantage miles, including this outbound flight from LA on March 9.
Related: A review of American Airlines’ soon-to-be-retired international Flagship First
Maximize your purchase
Don’t forget to use a credit card that earns bonus points on airfare purchases, such as:
- Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: 2 points per dollar spent on travel
- American Express® Gold Card: 3 points per dollar spent on airfare when booked directly through the airline or American Express Travel
- The Platinum Card® from American Express: 5 points per dollar spent on airfare when booked directly through the airline or American Express Travel on up to $500,000 of these purchases per calendar year
- Chase Sapphire Reserve®: 3 points per dollar spent on travel
Bottom line
The differences between flying business class and first class on an American Airlines flight aren’t massive, but the angel is in the details. The unique meal service, elevated amenities and access to the Flagship First lounge make for a memorable travel experience. If you have the miles and the Los Angeles-to-London route makes sense for you, book this quick before it’s too late.
Related reading:
