I think just about anyone would rather fly in first or business class than in economy. Fortunately there are many ways you can upgrade. No, dressing up won’t score you an upgrade, but there are several other legitimate strategies for scoring a seat in the pointy end of the plane.
Continue reading: How To Upgrade American Flights With AAdvantage Miles
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
IIRC you wrote about system wide upgrades redeemed through Loyalty Points a while back and you mentioned that the fare bucket may show available but that doesn't mean that in practice AA will actually offer upgrade space. Is that the case for mileage upgrades?
Super Helpful! Could you do a overview of United as well? I waitlisted a miles upgrade from IAD-DUB to Premium Economy. From what I am interpreting here on American a gold member requesting a complementary upgrade is above a general member requesting a mileage upgrade? I have no status on United (Well, I'm Star Alliance Gold but I don't think that factors in) so is it the same there where it's elites first and upgrade type second? I feel like I remember hearing on United ALL mileage/Plus Points upgrades are prioritized above complimentary ones.
So when you say that you can see confirmable upgrade space on Expert Flyer, what exactly does that look like? My understanding is that if you look at “upgrades” on Expert Flyer for American, it still does not mean they will clear immediately. Can you clarify this?
Let's say an Executive Platinum member uses their miles to waitlist a mileage upgrade for another person. When they are on the upgrade list on the day of departure, will they inherit the status priority/LP total of the EP who waitlisted the upgrade (meaning they are higher on the upgrade list with other EP Mileage upgraders), or is it entirely dependent on the status of the person flying?
I know with United, using Loyalty Points lets you inherit their status. I got an upgrade from EWR to SFO in July using a GS friend's points (and I was #5/60 on the list too, while I have no status with UA!)
"Now, personally my strategy for long haul travel is to outright redeem miles for an award ticket whenever possible."
I agree with this on partners, but on AA metal for long-haul trans-pacific/trans-atlantic, that story doesn't make sense anymore. Flying LAX -> TYO on AA? That will be eleventy billion points.
The upgrade award is the last sensible fixed-rate amount left on AA metal. Just a shame it's so hard to get clarity on whether and when an upgrade will occur...
You can't currently use points to upgrade to premium economy since they're the same cabin.
You can use points to upgrade from premium economy to business, but since it's the same price as upgrading from economy you're wasting points.
I tried making use of this on a trip to Germany last year. Even with status, my upgrade didn't clear until I had already boarded my flight. Since half the benefit of flying business is priority check-in, lounge access, etc I declined the upgrade. Not worth it for a flight that's only going to be seven hours. On the way back I requested an upgrade as well, which never cleared even though there were open seats in J.
I tried again on a trip to UK this year, reservations told me I couldn't even apply for a mileage upgrade. Again there were multiple empty seats on both flights.
I've decided if I want to fly business class, I'm going to just buy that ticket with points outright.
It's also worth noting that once you request an upgrade with miles, you can no longer see the cash upgrade price. Since these sometimes go as low as $200 you might wind up spending way more on the mileage upgrade.
For a long haul flight to Europe, does it make sense to purchase the Executive Platinum Status for a day offer for the date of the flight? I'm Platinum and it's 20,000 miles for Executive Platinum for a day.
You have to make the purchase a week out and my flight is in five weeks.
I have enough miles to buy the status for a day and cover the 25,000 each for my wife and I to upgrade with miles. I just hate to waste that 20,000 miles if it won't do anything.
"For a long haul flight to Europe, does it make sense to purchase the Executive Platinum Status for a day offer for the date of the flight? I'm Platinum and it's 20,000 miles for Executive Platinum for a day. You have to make the purchase a week out and my flight is in five weeks. I have enough miles to buy the status for a day and cover the 25,000 each for my wife and I to upgrade with miles. I just hate to waste that 20,000 miles if it won't do anything."
Curious, why? Just to get to be higher on the upgrade list?
Before you can determine if a first class seat available for upgrade with miles, you have to purchase a main cabin seat, Then contact support (I always use chat) give the agent your confirmation number then the agent can check if an upgrade seat is available. I have confirmed this method support a couple just to be certain the agent I was working with had the correct answer.
Of Executive level flyers have better ways to get upgraded