mtofell

For most people the 50K miles would have the highest value. Lounge membership is also up there. Nominating for MVP-G? I guess there could be some value there. Especially if you're on a route where upgrades are plentiful. Free wifi for the year? $8/flight would be nearly 100 flights to equal the value of the 50K RDMs so not impossible but I have to think this would be the last choice.

I'm just a lowly 75K this year but given the choice I'd go for the 50K RDMs. My friends/family are always happy to get free flights and I sometimes use them after qualifying for a year.

Arsene Wenger

At the bottom of the choice benefit email it mentioned the AA SWU would come out in April 2023.





As for using the SWU on BA, I know at least Flying for Fun used it that way. When I called in the AA EXP help desk said it was possible to use them on BA too now as there was no difference in the AS SWU and a AA SWU, but to use a SWU on BA there are a few extra rules.

As noted at least 1 AA market and operated flight needs to be on the one way trip and BA treats PE as a class of cabin so you can�t move �two� from Y to J with a SWU on a BA flight, so you�d also need to book into PE on BA to upgrade into J.

ShutUpDonnie

This is super helpful. Thank you for the clarification and for the DP from Flying for Fun

Last question: I am already booked in PE for RT LAX > LHR > OTP in May, but it's currently all on BA metal. Is it possible to book an AA positioning flight and attach it to the existing reservation on BA, or do I have to look at re-booking the entire trip to include one AA metal leg?

Also, if I do rebook, how can I search for flights with availability? I know you can do it through AA if you have them in your account, but is there a fare code I can search on EF in absence of that?

FenwayTim

Not sure about your first question on applying it to an existing reservation.... I will answer your rebook question: Search for C availability on Expert Flyer. With what your accomplishing here (or trying to), you need to know that ExpertFlyer doesn't read Swu upgrade availability accurately when you have connections so take the portion you want to see if there is availability on (long haul) and do point to point vs the whole trip leg (ie your repositioning flight)...then once you find, it book your repositioning flight along with it then call in and have the AA team apply it.. You may or may not get the SWU upgrade on the short repositioning flight but at least you have it where you want it.
Overall this is a big deal. Initially we couldn't use the Alaska version of SWU on British Airways so this is definitely a nice enhancement and will free up more available space to actually use it too.

Flying for Fun

Did you book through AA, BA, or other? If AA, are your flight numbers AA or BA? If you purchased the AA codeshare (flight number starts with AA����) but on BA metal, it is eligible to be upgraded with a SWU, space available.

BA uses the same bucket as award space; U for business. If there is business award space on the flight in question a SWU can be applied. That is an easy search.

The SWU can be applied to up to three segments. If the LHR-OTP segment also has business award space, it too will be upgraded. Since there is no PE on CE flights, it will upgrade Y to J; next class of service.

After the upgrade, the AA codeshare will switch to the BA prime flight and show fare class U. It will post to MP about a week after the flight as a BA flight with the underlying fare basis purchased; T for BA PE at 100% EQM.

The onward flight could earn less than the AA codeshare, depending on how the fare basis maps between AA & BA. For instance, if the AA codeshare is booking into M, that would earn 100% EQM but if it maps to BA fare class M, that only earns 50% EQM.

I have a PHX-LHR-BUD PE/Y itinerary coming up in March. It was an $87 add-on to a JNB-LHR-PHX PE fare I flew back in September. It is all BA metal but the PHX-LHR segment was an AA codeshare; AA flight number. I was able to apply a SWU and was upgraded to Business on both flights.

James

Flying for Fun

C space via AA awards & upgrades on EF has nothing to do with applying a SWU to a BA flight. There needs to be U space on the BA flight. A simple search for award availability on BA is all you need. Whether that be a search on BA, AS, AA, QF..


Simply purchase an AA marketed, BA operated itinerary in PE. If there is U space, a business class award seat on the BA flight, call AA to apply the SWU.

James

ShutUpDonnie

James to the rescue! Thank you.

I will likely re-book and then hope that the SWUs arrive in time and there is still U available.

dayone

A reminder that this thread is about the 100K Choice Benefit, not AA SWUs and usage of same. Some posts may get moved or deleted when I get a few minutes.

dayone, AS Moderator

dayone

I received the email confirming my 100K for 2024 and it included a link to select my Choice Benefit. I got an error message when I clicked on it using Edge and my selection wouldn't submit using Firefox. It worked using Chrome, and I now see my selection noted in my Account summary.

My memory (now) is that I had a similar problem last year. I wish I would have remembered that a few days ago.

himang

Out of curiosity, which one did you select? I'm having a little bit of a back and forth on what I should do.

dayone

Gifting MVP Gold. I have a niece who lives in LA. She is an aspiring travel geek and uses MVPG primarily to reserve PC/MCE on AS/AA. If not for her, I would choose the 50K miles. I have a lifetime Admirals Club membership so no need for AS Lounge membership, I seldom use Wi-Fi on flights and my CLEAR is reimbursed by Amex Platinum.

TalkingPoint

I personally think the 50k is the only decent option. MVPGold isn�t that useful of a status, and status is more valuable the more you travel. If you�re not traveling enough to earn it organically it�s probably not worth much and you can either get the cc or pay for baggage or seat selection etc. Wifi most people know how to get for free. Lounge access may be alright but I think Alaska board rooms are inferior to Centurion/Cap1/sapphire or PP restaurant options so I seldomly use it but there may be some airports that it�s the best option. Just realized I still have all 4 of mine left for this year�

Flying for Fun

MVPG earns a 100% RDM bonus! Even if you wouldn't organically make MVPG, the benefits on AS & AA along with the Elite bonus can be a great value for some. 25K/27.5K is enough for an AA F domestic/short-haul international award.

James

himang

Thank you for the insight. I'm currently leaning towards the 50k RDM due to the potential value it brings.

TravelingZoomer

Oneworld Sapphire is an incredibly valuable status to have, and outside Seattle MVPG have a very reasonable shot at upgrade. I was batting .700 out of SAN when I was �just� MVPG back in the day