Originally Posted by lulu44
I thought I'd better start using my accumulated AAdvantage miles and I asked for a round trip ticket DFW-Narita-DFW. To upgrade from coach to business, it was $1106.75 for the coach class ticket, plus 50,000 AA miles PLUS $500 for using the award. I didn't know the airlines charged for claiming an award. Anyhow, I skipped the coach class ticket and I ended up using 90,000 AA miles in exchange for the business class ticket. But that $500 just doesn't seem right.
Welcome to the world of 25000 miles plus $250US each way for upgrading award tickets. It has been discussed in many threads in this forum. The only way you get out of it is to become an Executive Platinum member or redeem the miles for the upgraded fare bucket as you have done.
--DD73