Online Upgrades Return For AAdvantage Flyers
Joe Cortez February 06, 2017
American Airlines attributes online upgrade issues to system-wide glitch.
Flyers loyal to American Airlines can once again reserve upgrades online, after the carrier identified and repaired a glitch in their online booking systems. Skift reports that the airline made corrective actions over the weekend of February 5 that will allow those with American AAdvantage status to once again reserve their upgrades prior to travel.
The glitch was first pointed out on the FlyerTalk forums, where flyers noticed that they were unable to confirm upgrades within the window allowed by their status before departure. According to the AAdvantage website, the upgrade window varies from 24 hours before a flight for Gold members, to up to four days ahead of a trip for Executive Platinum flyers.
According to a spokesperson for American, the carrier had a “small technical issue” that prevented some flyers from clearing their upgrades prior to their travel. The airline confirmed that the program has been fixed, and the process is “working as it should.” The spokesperson did not go on to comment if the situation was related to their integration with US Airways.
Although the bug fix is a welcome sight for AAdvantage loyalists, the change is just one of many made during the 2017 flying season. This year, the Texas-based carrier announced several major changes to their program which would put them in line with their legacy competition, including the addition of a fourth status tier, as well as instituting an elite dollar qualifier in order to earn elite status beginning in 2018.
[Photo: Shutterstock]
Agree with you 100% AA was my airline of choice, now I have cut it to about 40% of my travel. Try and book ANY business or first class seat to Europe from the US even 7 months in advance, IMPOSSIBLE. Only through British Airways as their taxes cost as much as a regular ticket. Useless Aadvantage program.
I have gone from flying 150,000 miles minimum for the last 7 years to 0 this year. What this airline used to be is completely gone. I hope everyone enjoy the new US Scare because I am done with them.