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AAdvantage Upgrade Changes For 2004
American Airlines Is Pleased To Offer New AAdvantage Upgrade Benefits
AAdvantage Executive Platinum members receive unlimited, complimentary upgrades
Purchased upgrade prices reduced
American Airlines is announcing exciting new changes to the AAdvantageŽ program. AAdvantage Executive Platinum members will receive unlimited, complimentary upgrades1 when traveling on any purchased published fare. In addition, AAdvantage members will be able to purchase 500-mile upgrades at a lower price. "Our customers love upgrades, and these changes are designed to maximize their opportunities to enjoy the benefits of elite status membership," said Dennis Cary, President - AAdvantage Marketing Programs.
Effective 3/18/04, AAdvantage Executive Platinum members may request a complimentary upgrade, where available, on all purchased published fares for travel within and between the U.S., Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, the Bahamas, Bermuda, and Central America. This new policy gives American's highest elite-level members the opportunity to enjoy a higher class of service when flying on eligible flights at no additional cost.
AAdvantage Executive Platinum members may request an upgrade for any eligible segment on American Airlines when they make a reservation. American will process the upgrade request 100 hours prior to departure, if upgrade seating is available.
In addition, Elite Status members and one companion will continue to receive complimentary upgrades on eligible American Airlines flights, when both are traveling on fares booked in Y or B.2 If the companion is not traveling on a Y or B fare, the member may request an upgrade for the companion using 500-mile (5M) electronic upgrades. American will also process the companion upgrade request 100 hours prior to departure, subject to availability.
Also effective 3/18/04, American is lowering the price of 500-mile (5M) electronic upgrades to $25/30 from $40/50 (see chart below).
Members who purchase upgrades through AA.com or our AAdvantage Dial-In system can obtain the discounted price of $25 USD per upgrade.Members purchasing upgrades at the airport or via reservations will pay $30 USD per upgrade.
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Upgrades New Pricing Previous Pricing
Per 500-mile unit
Upgrades Purchased via AA.com or AAdvantage Dial-In $25 $40
Upgrades Purchased at Airports or through AA Reservations $30 $50
Upgrades Purchased Using Miles 35,000 miles for 8 upgrades 50,000 miles for 8 upgrades
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For elite status members purchasing upgrades with miles, we've also lowered the cost from 50,000 miles for eight 500-mile upgrade units, to 35,000 miles for eight 500-mile upgrade units. These changes will allow all AAdvantage members3 to enjoy the benefits of upgraded travel for less.
We asked our elite members what they value most, and these changes reflect their stated preferences for a more rewarding upgrade program", said Cary.
As a reminder, American already provides all AAdvantage elite status members with complimentary upgrades when traveling on fares beginning with Y or B*. Those upgrades are confirmed within the windows noted below, provided upgrade seating is available.
Elite Level Advance Confirmation Window
AAdvantage Executive Platinum 100 hours prior to departure
AAdvantage Platinum 72 hours prior to departure
AAdvantage Gold 24 hours prior to departure
1 To receive complimentary upgrades, members must be traveling to and from qualifying cities on purchased, published fares (excluding military/government fares). Complimentary upgrades are subject to seating limitations and are only available on Americans Airlines marketed & operated flights within and between the 50 United States, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, the Bahamas and Bermuda, and between the U.S. and Central America.
2 Excludes military/government fares
3 Non-elite AAdvantage members must travel on Y/B fares to be eligible for upgrades to the next class of service using 500-mile electronic upgrades.
Please note: Effective 3/18/04, AAdvantage Executive Platinum members will no longer receive 4 x 500-mile electronic upgrades per 10,000 base qualifying miles earned. This benefit is being replaced by the complimentary 500-mile electronic upgrade benefit on all purchased published fares.
The American Airlines AAdvantage Program, which began in 1981, is the original and largest travel awards program today. Members currently can earn miles with more than 1,500 participating companies. In addition, each year for the past decade, the AAdvantage program has led the industry in award redemptions. In 2003, members used approximately 122 billion miles to claim more than 4 million awards to over 850 AAdvantage program award destinations worldwide. For more information and a listing of AAdvantage program participating companies, visit
www.aa.com/aadvantage.
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