From Premier Greens to Premium Getaways: Find Your Ideal Landing Spot with the American Airlines AAdvantage® program

It’s fun to fantasize about life as a professional golfer, down to the pristine course conditions, roaring galleries and Sunday trophies, but the reality of the grind is the travel — waking up in a new city every week. A typical pro flies between 40,000 and 68,000 miles per year. That’s 100-plus flights every season spent navigating terminals before ever stepping onto a tee box. While the "private jet" life works for a few players, the majority rely on commercial efficiency. They know that the secret to a low scorecard is minimizing time in the air and maximizing it on the fairway.

This is why many tour pros such as Neal Shipley negotiate their schedules with American Airlines, which is made for luxury golf travelers seeking an elevated journey.

“When you’re playing in tournaments every week, a convenient travel schedule can help you stay sharp,” said Shipley. “American Airlines makes it easier for me to travel around the country in comfort, so I arrive ready to play my best.”

Whether you’re venturing to popular golf hubs like Phoenix or San Diego, or seeking out bucket list destinations, American gets you there faster with service to the likes of Monterey (Pebble Beach), Raleigh-Durham (Pinehurst) and Milwaukee (Whistling Straits) from many major cities. American also offers the most flights and seats of any airline to the airports closest to the 25 upscale TPC golf courses in the U.S. You can land, check in and still squeeze in 18 before sunset. Heading to golf’s birthplace? American flies the premium Airbus A321XLR between New York (JFK) and Edinburgh. Score a Masters patrons badge? American conveniently has nonstops to Augusta from Charlotte, Dallas-Fort Worth, New York, Miami, Chicago, Philadelphia and Phoenix.

This expansive network matters to Shipley. “American Airlines has more flights and more seats in the places golfers actually need to go. That flexibility matters when schedules shift, qualifiers pop up or you’re trying to get in a little earlier to prep.”

Joining American’s AAdvantage® program is free and perk filled. Members get immediate access to earlier boarding, free high-speed inflight Wi-Fi sponsored by AT&T, and can bring along a golf bag for a standard checked-bag fee. Once you reach AAdvantage® status, your first checked bag is free, as are upgrades, Preferred Seats and Priority lanes.

“With my Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive Mastercard®, I enjoy premium benefits including complimentary Admirals Club® membership, allowing me to stay focused and relaxed before I travel - which is hard to do when you’re living out of a suitcase." said Shipley.

As a Citi® / AAdvantage® Mastercard® cardholder, you earn AAdvantage® miles towards your next trip, and Loyalty Points towards AAdvantage® status on purchases and travel — including hotels, restaurants, rental cars, green fees, an emergency rain jacket, a sleeve of balls or a fresh glove. Imagine being able to turn your everyday spend into your next golf adventure.

As the Official Airline of the PGA of America, American also offers AAdvantage® members access into the game’s inner circle with exclusive opportunities to win trips, snag elusive tickets and secure tailored experiences that money can't typically buy.

If you are ready to turn your golf dreams into a flight plan, see how American Airlines makes the world’s best courses more accessible at aa.com.

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