Originally Posted by funtotravel
Thanks again.
With respect to eVIP and 500 mile stickers, I have a couple stickers (I can see that on aa.com), but not enough to upgrade someone for that flight. I was talking about when you become EXP, AA gives you the 8 automatic upgrades when you book the reservation to use in that year. Is that called eVIP? I could use those - correct buy purchaing 2 coach tickets and then upgrading assuming availability?
I'm not missing anything am I?
Sort of -- you are missing the real value of those eVIP upgrades. As they can be used systemwide, even international, on up to 3 segments for each certificate (example - Buenos Aires-Miami-Chicago-Delhi), most people view it as a complete waste to use on a North American itinerary that you can upgrade for free (as EXP), with banked stickers (for companion) or with purchased stickers (for companion). Normally an upgrade to Business Class on a long-haul international flight costs 25,000 miles PLUS $250 EACH WAY (and 40K miles to India). So you're getting a LOT more worth out of the certificate than on something like JFK-SJU which would only cost $100 each way I think to purchase stickers.
What's that you say? You have no plans to travel internationally? WELL MAKE THEM!
I've done a couple of trips that I probably wouldn't have otherwise just so I could use the VIPs and go in comfort (I generally refuse to fly coach on long flights
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