Originally Posted by Centurion

So could someone clarify or verify the other poster who state you do not get your elite benefits if I buy a non air-pass ticket or on a award ticket?

Originally Posted by FleyeSkyHigh

I should have been more specific. I was only talking about Airpass tickets. For other rev or miles tickets normal elite benefits are unchanged. Just for clarification though, AA is no longer allowing EP or CK members to use SWU upgrades for Airpass tickets. It use to be you could book a Y=UP to J Airpass reservation and then use your SWU to from from Business (D) to F (Flagship First) on routes that offered first class. SWUs are arguably the most valuable EP and CK benefit. The new contract also is vague on whether economy Airpass tickets are even eligible for 500 miles upgrades for themselves and companion travelrss. I have told by AA they they should not be allowed but in practice so far they are working on NextGen tickets allow the Airpass holder to upgrade but not the companion. Sticker/500 miles upgrades are another elite benefit that most likely will not apply to Airpass issued tickets once the dust settles. Business Extra upgrades which once worked (albeit barely) with Airpass tickets are also now prohibited.

Originally Posted by BlooJoo

Is this confirmed and official? A YUP/D cannot be upgraded to three-class F? Is this stated anywhere? Sucks because I do that a lot. Edit to add: I do not have a new contract; I've just been forced onto NexGen portal. I always called the CK desk to upgrade my YUP/D's with a SWU or miles. Would CK even know they're not upgradeable?

Originally Posted by metallo

Take a look at my post above (#726) where I described what happened when I spoke with the CK desk about my J to F SWU never re-ticketing. That’s how I found out it’s no longer allowed on Airpass tickets.

When I called in to apply the SWU, the CK agent did it (apparently not being aware of the new rule). The ticket was never re-issued, so I contacted them again (did it via email and got the policy in writing from the CK “manager on duty” that SWUs are no longer allowed for Airpass).

Basically, if you want three class F, you have to buy the full fare F, or you could buy full fare J and get the F instant upgrade for the same price that books into A. You can’t book instant upgrade J and use a SWU for F anymore, though.

Originally Posted by FleyeSkyHigh

Yes, this is confirmed. It has nothing to do with agent/representative knowledge or willingness to help. In fact, read up thread a few days. CK/EP agents (which are the same agents that handle Airpass calls) apparently have mistakenly applied SWU/Mileage upgrade instruments to new NextGen tickets and despite the reservation showing the first class cabin the ticket will never re-issue and the upgrade never actually occurs because a new ticket number cannot be generated. These new NextGen Airpass tickets are automatically flagged as non-reissue-able and non-changeable by the ticketing system. To use a SWU or mileage upgrade (ie to book into A class) a reissue is required. No re-issue means no new ticket with the upgraded cabin which means no boarding pass in the ground control system which means no flying in the first class cabin. The original issued ticket in business class will prevail. It really sucks.

This is not spelled out anywhere in the new or old contracts but the internal AA M&Ps said that legacy Airpass reservations were upgradable up to issuance (which usually occurred a day prior to travel) either by miles, SWU or BizExtra (BE upgrades actually happen after issuance via a backend sabre loop process which has also now be fully automated/locked down by AA) but the AA M&Ps for the NextGen tickets say upgrades and/or changes/reissues are not allowed (which really defeats the original intention of Airpass which was suppose to be selling flexibility at a premium). The reason 500 miles/sticker upgrades (for non Y-UP economy to business upgrades) are still working (at least for the cardholder) is because those types of upgrades are handled quite differently and do not require a re-issued ticket (they are handled by the ground operations or 'day of travel' systems which actually kick in at around T-120ish prior to departure).

Any AA program (whether it be Airpass, Business Extra or AAdvantage) is based on mutual trust between the company and the customer to do the right thing. Sadly I think AA has severely breached that trust with the changes it's forced upon its once valuable Airpass customers.