Originally Posted by
Stripe
Yes, an AA platinum can get upgraded on every flight if (1) they have a full fare Y ticket (Y or B fare) or (2) they buy upgrade stickers for $30 per 500 miles upgraded. DL elites contemplating a move to AA need to be clear on that. It's misleading to imply that once you complete a Plat challenge you can be upgraded on every flight. Until you make EXP, you will be upgraded for free on at most 20% of your flight miles.
If there is another trick that I'm missing, then I wish I knew about it while I was Plat at AA.
No other trick at all. Again, I stress that I believe this to be a very fair system, where those who want upgrades need to shell out something in exchange. I wouldn't even complain if EXPs had to pay for their upgrades. Such a system makes upgrades easier for those of us who believe that an upgrade has value.
There have been a couple of surveys on the AA board where even lower-level elites have expressed overwhelming support for the current system. It also benefits them because it restricts upgrades to those who really want them.