AAdvantage miles for upgrades on partner airlines
Dec 26, 2012, 5:40 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: NYC
Programs: AAdvantage PLT
Posts: 65
AAdvantage miles for upgrades on partner airlines
If you buy a coach ticket on another oneworld airline, can you use AAdvantage miles to upgrade? Does it matter if you bought the ticket via AA or directly from the other carrier?
Dec 26, 2012, 5:43 pm
#2
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: OH
Programs: AA Lifetime Plat, Marriot Lifetime Gold
Posts: 9,559
Generally no, you can't use AA miles to upgrade on partners
Dec 26, 2012, 5:44 pm
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2004
Location: DFW/DAL
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NONSENSE..............
Of course you can.... on AA, BA, and IB
https://www.aa.com/i18n/utility/jba-...servations.jsp
Of course you can.... on AA, BA, and IB
https://www.aa.com/i18n/utility/jba-...servations.jsp
Last edited by mvoight; Dec 26, 2012 at 6:21 pm
Dec 26, 2012, 5:47 pm
#4
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,869
You can upgrade on IB and BA only, as long as in an appropriate booking class
In these cases the ticket must be issued by AA
See http://www.aa.com/i18n/utility/jba-u...servations.jsp
In these cases the ticket must be issued by AA
See http://www.aa.com/i18n/utility/jba-u...servations.jsp
Dec 26, 2012, 6:23 pm
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2004
Location: DFW/DAL
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You can upgrade on IB and BA only, as long as in an appropriate booking class
In these cases the ticket must be issued by AA
See http://www.aa.com/i18n/utility/jba-u...servations.jsp
In these cases the ticket must be issued by AA
See http://www.aa.com/i18n/utility/jba-u...servations.jsp
Q. Can I use miles to upgrade reservations booked through my travel agency or corporate travel desk?
A. Yes, you can use your AAdvantage miles to upgrade British Airways and Iberia flights as well as American Airlines codeshare flights operated by British Airways and Iberia which have been booked through a travel agency, corporate travel desk or any other source.
Dec 26, 2012, 6:28 pm
#6
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,869
Huh? The FAQ at that link says
Q. Can I use miles to upgrade reservations booked through my travel agency or corporate travel desk?
A. Yes, you can use your AAdvantage miles to upgrade British Airways and Iberia flights as well as American Airlines codeshare flights operated by British Airways and Iberia which have been booked through a travel agency, corporate travel desk or any other source.
Q. Can I use miles to upgrade reservations booked through my travel agency or corporate travel desk?
A. Yes, you can use your AAdvantage miles to upgrade British Airways and Iberia flights as well as American Airlines codeshare flights operated by British Airways and Iberia which have been booked through a travel agency, corporate travel desk or any other source.
The travel agency has to issue it , iirc, on 001 stock hence the rest of the same statement since AA does not allow ticketing on AA stock where there is no AA componant
Originally Posted by aa.com
In order to be eligible, your reservation must include at least one flight booked as an AA flight number.
I was being lazy in saying it had to be issued by AA when I should have said issued on an AA ticket
Last edited by Dave Noble; Dec 26, 2012 at 6:39 pm
Dec 26, 2012, 8:05 pm
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: NYC
Programs: AAdvantage PLT
Posts: 65
Ah thanks, I hadn't seen that. But you have to book in Y or B to be eligible, which usually costs waay more than the lowest coach fare, right?
Dec 26, 2012, 8:32 pm
#9
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Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: NYC
Programs: AAdvantage PLT
Posts: 65
And if you're a PLT traveling in Y or B on an AA-operated flight outside North America, is it still 25K+$350 to upgrade, or can you get it for miles alone?
Dec 26, 2012, 8:35 pm
#10
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Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,869
See http://www.aa.com/i18n/disclaimers/o...rade-chart.jsp
e.g. North America to Europe on a discounted fare costs 25k + $350 to upgrade whilst to upgrade from a B fare is purely 15k points
In some cases it can be better value to buy a B fare with 30k to upgrade r/t vs 50k plus $700
e.g for LHR-LAX r/t departing in February, the minimum r/t fare (excluding taxes and charges ) is $297 whilst the lowest B r/t fare is $971
It is cheaper to buy the B fare than the lowest fare plus the $700 co-pay and saves 20,000 miles. Also, if needing to make changes , it is a lot easier to find B class than O class.
Last edited by Dave Noble; Dec 26, 2012 at 8:41 pm
Dec 26, 2012, 8:52 pm
#11
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Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: NYC
Programs: AAdvantage PLT
Posts: 65
Wow, that's a great trick. Good to know. Thanks!