Originally Posted by
pnak
I am a AAEXP. Have miles that I decided to try to use for upgrades. Am flying HNL-IAD or DCA in July, then to LGA a few days later, then LGA-HNL a few days after that. Trying to upgrade to business in lie flat seats. Now you need an itinerary with a confirmation code and you need to call, but I called with the itinerary on hold and the person at AA told me that they price upgrades per leg. I was told that the upgrade for HNL-DFW from main cabin to business would be 150,000 miles. On the return, DFW-HNL would be 165,000. This is just for the upgrade! Any help for strategies to lower this outrageous mile cost would be greatly appreciated.
Understand that mileage redemptions are dynamic and can change by the day, up or down. If you want the lie flat, you're destined for the popular HNL-DFW routing. If you end up redeeming for the trip outright with miles, keep checking redemption rates on your flights because if they drop you can call and get the mileage difference refunded.
As an EXP did you get any SWU certificates? If so then you can search routings with the inventory available to upgrade the full one way routing (versus mileage upgrades which are for one segment at at time).