Originally Posted by
Flythe96flag
Originally Posted by
NA-Flyer
Has anyone been successful in getting an AUP offer on a BA flight number but operated by AA metal from LHR to LAX from Business to First?
This all depends on what AA's policy on AUPs is. If they don't offer them on AA-coded flights, they most certainly won't be offered on BA-coded flights either.
AA has two different paid airport upgrade programs.
On all flights (domestic and international) that depart from the U.S., AA has Load-Factor Based Upgrades (LFBU). AA determines algorithmically if there are "excess" business and/or first seats, meaning seats that AA does not anticipate selling, taking into account all expected upgrades. On "domestic" flights (within North America, including the Caribbean but excluding Mexico City) this includes elites who have requested "segment" upgrades, and on all flights it includes waitlisted upgrades using miles or system-wide upgrade (SWU) certificates. AA offers these "excess" first and/or business seats for sale during online checkin and at airport kiosks. These are not available from an agent (neither check-in agent nor gate agent); they are only offered via computerized systems. If you check-in with an agent you can still go to a kiosk and see if it offers you a LFBU.
On flights that depart from overseas, AA offers "counter" upgrades when they anticipate either a very empty business and/or first cabin or a need to do operational upgrades due to oversales. Counter upgrades are only available from an agent (at check-in, at an Admiral's Club, or at the gate). They are typically announced by a sign on the counter.