Jan 19, 2015, 12:17 pm
Last edit by: JDiver
Upgrading AA Award Tickets
AAdvantage ConciergeKey and Executive Platinum members have reported being able to upgrade award tickets using the same criteria as UDU / 500 mile even-upgrade "stickers" as of March, 2017.
Otherwise, Award tickets can not be upgraded with the usual upgrade instruments (nor do award trips earn miles) at this time. An award may be able to be "upgraded" by securing an award for a higher class of service, in which case AA will often allow the change at no additional cost. Be sure to read the FAQ and threads on MileSAAver and AAnytime wards - one can sometimes reasonably "upgrade" an Economy AAnytime award to a MileSAAver to Business or First if a seat is available.
Upgrades on Award tickets link
Executive Platinum members will be able to use their complimentary 500-mile upgrade benefits on AAdvantage® award tickets for travel on American from Main Cabin to the next class.
Executive Platinum members will be able to use their complimentary 500-mile upgrade benefits on AAdvantage® award tickets for travel on American from Main Cabin to the next class.
Those flying domestic sectors on voluntary downgrades to First and Business connections where there is no Dimestic First or Business award inventory are similarly situated. If no award seat inventory is available on the downgraded flights, only LFBU (if offered) are likely to result in a seat in J or F.
For an older thread on this topic, see also:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...solidated.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...09-2013-a.html
For information on kiosk / LFBU (load-factor based) upgrades, see:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...solidated.html
(with credit to dstan)
Any Ways / How to Upgrade Award Tickets? (master thread)
Jun 29, 2017, 10:56 pm
#196
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: SNA
Programs: AA EXP, UA 1K (until it expires then never again), *wood Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 9,239
You will need to provide some more info as its not clear if you're flight is BA or AA. BA does offer airport upgrades from Y to W and even Y->CW - there's a thread on the BA forum that has the costs for these (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/briti...17-thread.html) but its hit or miss if they are offered and also even if you they are offered for you personally (BA seems to offer AUGs but if you use it too often even if they are on offer they might not be available for you). If an AA flight on the long haul my guess is those with mileage or SWU upgrade requests on a flight to LHR will take any available upgrades but there's a change for a paid upgrade, you cannot to my understanding use instruments or miles to upgrade a miles ticket other than re-ticketing into a J award ticket.
Jun 29, 2017, 11:06 pm
#197
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Wesley Chapel, FL
Programs: American Airlines
Posts: 29,972
You will need to provide some more info as its not clear if you're flight is BA or AA. BA does offer airport upgrades from Y to W and even Y->CW - there's a thread on the BA forum that has the costs for these (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/briti...17-thread.html) but its hit or miss if they are offered and also even if you they are offered for you personally (BA seems to offer AUGs but if you use it too often even if they are on offer they might not be available for you). If an AA flight on the long haul my guess is those with mileage or SWU upgrade requests on a flight to LHR will take any available upgrades but there's a change for a paid upgrade, you cannot to my understanding use instruments or miles to upgrade a miles ticket other than re-ticketing into a J award ticket.
Outbound was domestic AA to either Dfw or mco then BA over the pond. I bet aa metal across the pond may open in the pond tomorrow morning.
Jun 29, 2017, 11:11 pm
#198
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: SFO
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 5,270
As an EXP you can select any open Y seat on the plane at the time of booking. Probably one of my more frequently used EXP benefits.
Jun 29, 2017, 11:20 pm
#199
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: SNA
Programs: AA EXP, UA 1K (until it expires then never again), *wood Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 9,239
Thanks for the info. One of the options was Y on the nonstop next Wednesday lhr-phx on BA. I was curious what seating benefits in Y an exp might have if any.
Outbound was domestic AA to either Dfw or mco then BA over the pond. I bet aa metal across the pond may open in the pond tomorrow morning.
Outbound was domestic AA to either Dfw or mco then BA over the pond. I bet aa metal across the pond may open in the pond tomorrow morning.
Jun 30, 2017, 12:07 am
#200
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: LGB
Programs: AA Platinum Pro, Marriott Platinum, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 241
From AA:
As a ConciergeKeySM or Executive Platinum member, you’ll be able to use your complimentary 500-mile upgrade benefits to upgrade yourself and 1 companion on AAdvantage® award tickets for travel within North America on American from Main Cabin to the next class.
From this it's not clear to me whether domestic legs of an international awards are eligable. There is a thread discussing the new benefit (see below), but I haven't seen positive confirmation either way.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...=award+upgrade
Last edited by Aero137; Jun 30, 2017 at 12:12 am
Jul 26, 2017, 1:31 pm
#201
Join Date: Jul 2017
Programs: AAdvantage
Posts: 3
Cannot request upgrade
A few weeks ago I booked a round trip flight. Usually I can log into either the App or to the AA site and request to be put on the upgrade list using my 500-mile vouchers. For this particular flight, I have not seen that option.
Is this because First Class cabin is already sold out? I can see that option for my other flights, but not this one.
TIA.
Is this because First Class cabin is already sold out? I can see that option for my other flights, but not this one.
TIA.
Jul 26, 2017, 1:43 pm
#204
Join Date: May 2013
Programs: AA PLT, HH Gold, Marriott Silver
Posts: 282
You can't upgrade an award flight with E500s unless you're CK or EXP (perhaps Plat Pro too? Can't remember)
Jul 26, 2017, 1:44 pm
#205
Join Date: Jan 2016
Programs: AA Platinum
Posts: 50
Upgrades on award tickets
Executive Platinum members can use complimentary 500-mile upgrade benefits on AAdvantage award tickets for travel within North America on American.
Aug 13, 2017, 3:14 pm
#207
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: TUL
Programs: AA EXP 2MM; Marriott Titanium; Hilton Diamond; Hyatt Explorist; Vistana 5* Elite; Nat'l Exec Elite
Posts: 6,177
I received the following in an email today from AA:
"We’re unable to automatically request 500-mile upgrades because you’re traveling with someone not eligible for complimentary upgrades.
You can also call to request upgrades. Contact American Reservations"
The referenced Record Locator is for an Award Ticket with outbound in First and return (first segment with First less than 500 miles) in Economy. I am only Platinum. When I click on the Request Upgrade I am sent to the flight where I am able to request an upgrade on the return segment with a First cabin.
I am traveling with my son who is not an AAdvantage member.
I assume this is an IT glitch and that the policy on award ticket upgrades has not changed to allow Platinums to request upgrades.
"We’re unable to automatically request 500-mile upgrades because you’re traveling with someone not eligible for complimentary upgrades.
Request Upgrade
You can also call to request upgrades. Contact American Reservations"
The referenced Record Locator is for an Award Ticket with outbound in First and return (first segment with First less than 500 miles) in Economy. I am only Platinum. When I click on the Request Upgrade I am sent to the flight where I am able to request an upgrade on the return segment with a First cabin.
I am traveling with my son who is not an AAdvantage member.
I assume this is an IT glitch and that the policy on award ticket upgrades has not changed to allow Platinums to request upgrades.
Aug 14, 2017, 10:28 am
#208
Join Date: May 2005
Programs: AA EXP 3mm, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 61
Does anyone know if one were a CK or EXP and would like to upgrade an award ticket, what the PALL order is? i.e. is it treated the same as a revenue main cabin ticket in the priority order? (in other words, does it make a difference if a CK buys a main cabin ticket or if it is an award ticket?)
Aug 14, 2017, 10:37 am
#209
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 12,443
Does anyone know if one were a CK or EXP and would like to upgrade an award ticket, what the PALL order is? i.e. is it treated the same as a revenue main cabin ticket in the priority order? (in other words, does it make a difference if a CK buys a main cabin ticket or if it is an award ticket?)
- Upgrades on award tickets will be prioritized after all other 500-mile upgrade requests on purchased tickets within each elite level
- Companions will have the same priority as the sponsor member