Here's the deal (verifiable by searching for the stories of those who have used purchased miles, etc.):
American Airlines has a very active AAdvantage Audits office; they scour their databases, eBay, Craig's List and even fora like FlyerTalk, for those in violation of AAdvantage Terms and Conditions <
link>. In part:
Originally Posted by AAdvantage Terms and Conditions
At no time may AAdvantage mileage credit or award tickets be purchased, sold or bartered (including but not limited to transferring, gifting, or promising mileage credit or award tickets in exchange for support of a certain business, product, or charity and/or participation in an auction, sweepstakes, raffle, or contest). Any such mileage or tickets are void if transferred for cash or other consideration.
Violators (including any passenger who uses a purchased or bartered award ticket) may be liable for damages and litigation costs, including American Airlines attorneys fees incurred in enforcing this rule.
Use of award tickets that have been acquired by purchase or for any other consideration may result in the tickets being confiscated or the passenger being denied boarding. If a trip has been started, any continued travel will be at the passenger's expense on a full-fare basis. The passenger and member may also be liable to American Airlines for the cost of a full fare ticket for any segments flown on a sold or bartered ticket.
Buying or selling miles, and especially so if they are agency-bought and used to sell tickets, are in strict violation of those terms and conditions, AA will go after the sellers, the agents and the buyers.
So, what can possibly happen? At least, just as it says in T&Cs, you show up to board your flight and are asked to wait a bit and then you are greeted by a smiling face or two that tell you your ticket is worthless; the only way you will fly that day is to purchase a full walk-up fare. If you are an AAdvantage account holder, you may find your account frozen, and could lose status and miles.
The bumping up a thread by a new member (welcome to FlyerTalk, by the way,) does not make it any less risky - and such posts endorsing fraudulent activities will cause threads to be locked or be deleted.
As we are discussing issues here that are contrary to FlyerTalk's Rules and Guidelines, this thread will now rest in peace.
Originally Posted by FlyerTalk TOS
Furthering Illegal Activity - link to this guideline
Posts that further illegal activity (i.e., buying and selling of awards, direct fraud upon any program) will be removed without notice and posting members' FlyerTalk accounts subjected to revocation.
JDiver, Senior Moderator / Moderator American AAdvantage Forum