Originally Posted by
vintyma
Hi folks,
I'm flying DCA-LAX-SYD October 9, returning to DCA October 25, and I'd like your help on using AA points for the LAX-SYD segment. I don't fly much so I'm not savvy about using points. I bought my ticket in February, and recently a friend suggested I have enough points that I don't need to travel in cattle car for the long flight from LAX-SYD.
I have 243,723 AA miles and 2,560 loyalty points.
To upgrade to premium economy on the LAX-SYD segment AA says I need 281.3k miles, but that's more than what a friend says AA requires for a straight LAX-SYD flight if I use imiles, rather than upgrade. So what's the best strategy at this point? I paid $1448.41 when I booked my ticket in February.
I'm currently booked DCA-LAX Flt AA1617, on October 9, then LAX-SYD on Flt 73 the same day, and returning SYD-LAX October 25 on AA Flt 72, and then connecting to LAX-DCA on Flt. 2828.
I'd love to be able to use points for once. Thanks for your help.
Unfortunately due to some very recent changes to AA's program the only way to upgrade any AA flight with miles now is to pay whatever upgrade offer price you see when you pull up your reservation online. So if AA wants 281k miles to upgrade that segment, there's no way around it.
And unfortunately (again) with AA's new upgrade program the pricing is fixed at 1 cent/mile, long story short 90% of these upgrade offers are now terrible deals to use miles on; The thought of spending 281k miles to upgrade from economy to premium economy makes me shudder, that's absolutely atrocious.
But as PHL noted upgrade prices can and will change from day to day, keep checking back.