Originally Posted by
zgringo14
That is an interesting strategy. I mostly use my miles for the family summer vacation (4 people), but I have more miles than I need for that, so I was looking at some other ways to use them. I am always short on hotel points, so using them for hotels would be an attractive option, if the prices are right.
I should emphasize that this should not be tried by non-AA elites, because the mileage totals needed for hotel bookings are much higher.
Also, IME if you are also an elite with your chosen hotel's frequent stay program, you won't get credit for your stay paid with miles, but you are still eligible for space available upgrades and similar perks. So if you succeed in booking a 5-star hotel outside of your usual hotel program, you might check to see if you can get a status match from your chosen hotel's program in advance.