Mileage Upgrade Awards - co-payment for elites?
Aug 27, 2010, 4:07 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2000
Posts: 6,545
Mileage Upgrade Awards - co-payment for elites?
UA charges cash co-payments for mileage awards, but waives the cash co-payment for domestic mileage upgrade awards redeemed from UA elite members' accounts. Is AA the same? For both discount economy and discount business paid tickets?
Aug 27, 2010, 4:30 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: SJC/VCE
Programs: AA PLT (2.9+ MM), HH GLD, Hyatt Diamond, SPG PLT
Posts: 10,161
No, AA does not waive the mileage upgrade co-pay for elites.
Aug 28, 2010, 8:58 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2000
Posts: 6,545
Seems odd to be non-competitive on this point. Would think AA would want its elites burning miles for important domestic upgrades vs. chancing sticker upgrades.
Aug 28, 2010, 9:03 am
#4
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: New York, NY
Posts: 3,698
Well, AA allows sticker upgrades on, e.g., JFK->LAX/SFO, whereas at least last time I checked UA does not. There are a bunch of small differences in programs.
Aug 28, 2010, 9:34 am
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: STL
Programs: AA 2MM, AS MVP Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 12,966
There are many differences between the AA and UA programs. It would be a mistake to assume that anything is the same in the program you are not familiar with as it is in the program you are familiar with. The only effective thing to do is to research your questions separately on each forum. This forum has a wealth of information already posted (see the stickies and announcements). AA.com is also a good source.
Aug 28, 2010, 9:42 am
#6
Join Date: Nov 2006
Programs: AA EXP, 1 MM, AC, HH Diamond, Marriott Silver, Hertz 5*
Posts: 4,010
Aug 28, 2010, 11:26 am
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2000
Posts: 6,545
There are many differences between the AA and UA programs. It would be a mistake to assume that anything is the same in the program you are not familiar with as it is in the program you are familiar with. The only effective thing to do is to research your questions separately on each forum. This forum has a wealth of information already posted (see the stickies and announcements). AA.com is also a good source.
Aug 28, 2010, 11:40 am
#8
Join Date: Nov 2006
Programs: AA EXP, 1 MM, AC, HH Diamond, Marriott Silver, Hertz 5*
Posts: 4,010
There's a complete benefits guide for elites on AA's website. If there is no mention that co-pays are waived for elites, one could easily conclude they are not.
Aug 28, 2010, 1:03 pm
#9
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Las Vegas
Programs: DL Platinum, AA Lifetime Gold, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Platinum, Radisson Premium
Posts: 6,638
I will say that I would burn a lot more of my miles (because I earn quite a lot through credit cards, dining, flights, energy bills et al) on "risky" upgrade flights such as transcons if it weren't for that copay!
Aug 28, 2010, 1:25 pm
#10
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Programs: AA 1.5 MM Exec Plat, WN A-List, DL Silver, UA nonrev
Posts: 2,593
I navigated to AA.com > AAdvantage (left side navigation bar) > Redeem Miles > Upgrade Using Miles > then chose "View Upgrade Awards Chart"
The co-pays are clearly listed.
Now, granted, you may not be familiar with AA's site (I don't know all the ins and outs of UA.com), but if you know generally what you are searching for, it shouldn't be too difficult to find.