75K/100K AA (SWU-Like) International Upgrades on a Very Limited Number of AA Routes
May 12, 2022, 7:52 pm
#271
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 10,904
I've actually never cancelled a flight on AA so I'm not sure of the flow. On AS it's one of the options (email ticket numbers). I thought that this was the default on AA (they email you the ticket number; if you want a refund you need to request it separately on prefunds) but like I said I've never done it.
May 12, 2022, 8:01 pm
#272
Join Date: Nov 2016
Programs: Nectar Card
Posts: 1,092
I've actually never cancelled a flight on AA so I'm not sure of the flow. On AS it's one of the options (email ticket numbers). I thought that this was the default on AA (they email you the ticket number; if you want a refund you need to request it separately on prefunds) but like I said I've never done it.
May 12, 2022, 11:59 pm
#273
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: PDX
Programs: AS 75K, BW Plat, Marriott Gold, IHG Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 10,724
Are these expected to be full SWUs?
The are tricks to extend them. There are more details in the AA forum but basically once you are upgraded on any one segment the SWU is pulled and can no longer expire. The flights can be cancelled and the ticket can be applied to the purchase of a new ticket, with the certificate still attached.
Also, as long as one segment has cleared, the other segments will continue to be waitlisted and can clear after the SWU would have expired.
However, if all segments are waitlisted at the expiration date, the SWU will expire worthless. So you need one segment to clear before the expiration date.
Also if you cancel flights with cleared SWU segments, do not take a refund or a credit. The ticket must be left intact to preserve the upgrade. I believe that this is a similar to the trick used when cancelling AS flights with a companion cert (and possibly a GGU? Not sure about that one)
The are tricks to extend them. There are more details in the AA forum but basically once you are upgraded on any one segment the SWU is pulled and can no longer expire. The flights can be cancelled and the ticket can be applied to the purchase of a new ticket, with the certificate still attached.
Also, as long as one segment has cleared, the other segments will continue to be waitlisted and can clear after the SWU would have expired.
However, if all segments are waitlisted at the expiration date, the SWU will expire worthless. So you need one segment to clear before the expiration date.
Also if you cancel flights with cleared SWU segments, do not take a refund or a credit. The ticket must be left intact to preserve the upgrade. I believe that this is a similar to the trick used when cancelling AS flights with a companion cert (and possibly a GGU? Not sure about that one)
May 13, 2022, 7:28 am
#274
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: Alaska 100K - MM, defender of shoes on the carpeted bulkhead 4ever, AA LT PLT, Hyatt Glob, HH Dia
Posts: 7,446
I was an EXP for 10 plus years, but I can't remember if we were allowed to ticket past the day the eVIP/SWUs/paper certs of yore expired and that expiration date was at the end of Feb. I certainly hope we will be offered this opportunity given that we won't be getting the upgrades until June-ish.
IIRC, the SEA to London service doesn't start until the middle of Fall, that doesn't give much time to plan and book.
IIRC, the SEA to London service doesn't start until the middle of Fall, that doesn't give much time to plan and book.
May 13, 2022, 10:09 am
#275
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Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 10,904
I was an EXP for 10 plus years, but I can't remember if we were allowed to ticket past the day the eVIP/SWUs/paper certs of yore expired and that expiration date was at the end of Feb. I certainly hope we will be offered this opportunity given that we won't be getting the upgrades until June-ish.
IIRC, the SEA to London service doesn't start until the middle of Fall, that doesn't give much time to plan and book.
IIRC, the SEA to London service doesn't start until the middle of Fall, that doesn't give much time to plan and book.
If these are not full SWUs I would still expect them to follow the same rules, but, maybe not.
May 26, 2022, 3:29 pm
#276
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Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SEA, but up and down the coast a lot
Programs: Oceanic Airlines Gold Elite
Posts: 20,389
You won’t be using anything on SEA-BLR anytime soon…
May 26, 2022, 10:21 pm
#277
Join Date: Jan 2021
Programs: Alaska Airlines MVP Gold, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 101
You won’t be using anything on SEA-BLR anytime soon…
https://twitter.com/xjonnyc/status/1529928961542832306
https://twitter.com/xjonnyc/status/1529928961542832306
"LAX-AKL to move to DFW, begins 10/29 this year. The rationale is for more / better connections"
May 26, 2022, 11:25 pm
#278
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: SFO
Programs: AS 75K (OW), SK Silver (*A), UR, MR
Posts: 3,345
May 26, 2022, 11:39 pm
#279
Join Date: Jan 2021
Programs: Alaska Airlines MVP Gold, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 101
May 27, 2022, 12:55 am
#280
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 10,904
I just used my last 2 SWUs on LAX-HND in March. Finding space on literally any other longhaul is tough. There are a lot of SWUs out there from the multiple extensions and upgrade-C space is really hard to find right now. I was lucky enough to find space on DFW-ICN for my first 2 (these are full, AA-issued ones but they will share the same upgrade space) and I'm going in August, which is not exactly peak time, and even that was difficult. I wanted to plan a trip to EZE but there was nothing available.
If you have a destination in mind you can try searching "awards and upgrades" on EF to see what's available. It makes finding saver award space seem like a cakewalk by comparison.
Jun 6, 2022, 2:32 pm
#281
Moderator: Alaska Mileage Plan
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 12,316
Since the 2022 AA upgrades have new terms, please continue the discussion in this thread.
100K/75K AA Upgrade Certificates (2022) - FlyerTalk Forums
100K/75K AA Upgrade Certificates (2022) - FlyerTalk Forums