In early 2024, American announced some positive changes to the AAdvantage program, to be rolled out throughout the year. Among these were plans for it to be possible to redeem systemwide upgrades online, rather than having to call up the airline.
Continue reading: Live: Use American Systemwide Upgrades Online
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
@Lucky I’m about to hit 175k LPs….thoughts on taking the SWUs? Is there a good resource to look into people’s current luck?
AA needed weeks of research to decipher that people would prefer to use their SWU online rather than phone in to do so?!?!
Staggering.....just staggering.
If memory serves me right, Northwest Airlines (RIP, NWA!) pioneered instant online redemption of SWUs for their WorldPerks Platinum members as early as circa-2005, on their website - same as for mileage-based upgrades. It’s wild that AA is rolling out the equivalent of this SWU online redemption convenience as a new AAdvantage feature nearly 20 years later. But, better late than never.
Now it'll be even easier for you to apply your SWU then watch it NOT clear because AA sold that upgrade for fifty bucks. Only difference is the upgrade lists will now be even longer
lol it will probably be a link to a web browser rendered in the app that requires you to log in again...
Applied a SWU for a domestic MIA/SAN flight the day after Christmas and of course waitlist. What's frustrating that negates getting any upgrade offers. So based on what I see I may well be sitting in coach.
@ Sel, D. -- Experiences are all over the place, and it depends on how flexible someone is, both with when they travel and when they book. Generally I just don't expect much confirmable upgrade space in advance, and I'd rather take the miles, which are a sure bet.
Then again, I suppose systemwide upgrades can always be used for domestic flights, and at least there's sometimes decent availability there.
@ Maxell Azaria -- Lol! In fairness, I think they were probably getting feedback on the process and lack of glitches, rather than on whether people wanted to apply them online rather than calling.
Does this work only for the EVIP/SWU holder or can the EVIP/SWU holder apply it to someone else online? I'd bet you still have to call in to apply to someone else's PNR?
None of you understand what this feature is really about. It was actually about reducing telephone agent man-hours. Expense reduction. You will still not have your SWU clear.
This might have real value if American actually offered a reasonable amount of upgrade space for use by the best customers. I've been sitting on six upgrades for the better part of a year and despite lots of searching still haven't found any availability on any of my numerous revenue flights.
After swearing that I would not, I'm thinking seriously about taking 2 SWUs with my 175k reward.
My original goal was to use the 4 I had for flights to/from Asia, but that is a firm "no go."
Hawaii? Yeah....right!
I once saw them for flights from LAX-LHR (AA metal), so maybe I can use one there one day?
I have used 3 of my 4, all for domestic flights. I used 2 on flights between LAS and AUS, saving me about $250-$300 off of just buying Biz. The 3rd was a very good "return" as I used it last week from LAS-PHL -- difference in fare was well over $1000, so I felt like I got value out of it.
I'm going to wait until March to do anything (they are good for 12 mos after being awarded). Hopefully, I'll have another UK trip, which should push me to the 250k reward level.
I should add that I'm sitting on over 1 million Advantage miles, so the 25,000 bonus miles option (I have an Aviator Silver card) has far less appeal to me.
@Lucky can you do anything online with BA flights? Or still need to call in for those? Although now that BA is dropping the DFW flight not sure they’ll be much use there anyway- gone are my A380 first dreams 🙁