FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - FAQ: What's a Systemwide Upgrade / SWU / VIP and how to use? (Master thread)
Old Jun 28, 2022, 11:02 pm
  #1539  
jona970318
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: LA/NY/CHI
Programs: AA EXP, AS 100K, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Plat
Posts: 1,876
Originally Posted by Raralith
My wife and I were looking at LAX-HND-LAX for 02/2023 using miles for MC and upgrading with SWU. Got 1 elite reward I can select for SWU expiring on 12/2022, and should get 4x more choices from EXP + 30 segments around 09/2022 so they should be available.
- Can we use miles for MC ticket and use SWU to get us to J?
- Should we book the earliest possible and call AA to apply the SWU? Or should we wait until I get EXP?
I only fly for business so normally book ~2 weeks out and never had to use a SWU before.
If you book your original coach ticket as an award, you won't be able to upgrade it (SWU or otherwise).

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think you can do an upgrade (say using miles), then later switch the instrument to be SWU without cancelling and starting over (potentially losing the availability in the process)
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