I have based my comments about operational upgrades from past discussions with airline employees working out of Gatwick. Operational upgrades generated by the computer system obviously do not take into account how you are dressed. Upgrades inititated by a person tend to look at your appearance. Operational upgrades do not occur that often with American. If you count on getting the upgrade, you will be disapointed most of the time.

Concerning Plat and Gold...

1. Will it be too crazy to have a 25K mileage run for this? Normally how much will this run cost?

2. Concerning Buz line checking (one world), don't Gold already have that benefit?

3. For Plat travelling on coach, will he get access to lounge (admiral club?) for domestic travel? (Since I already have Prority Pass, international lounge access is not a great bonus except I can use AC (nearer the gate) !

Thanks and happy elite !

HK-UMICH,

as a Plat. you can use domestic lounges only on the day you travel internationally, e.g. if you fly ORD-LHR, you can use the lounge at ORD the day you depart even if flying coach.

Platinum is mo bettah. The 100% bonus is most excellent. It moves you that much more rapidly toward 1 Million Miles and Lifetime Gold.

Any elite status is good because you bypass the long lines at checkin and have the dedicated telephone lines.

I live in FLL, but fly a lot out of MIA to avoid a connection. I am not a big AA fan (to say the least!), and I avoid them, only flying them when absolutely most.

This issue is a big one for me. All my longhaul oneworld alliance flights goes on my BA account, and thus I enjoy the benefits of oneworld emerald status. But for my domestic flights, I put the flights on my AAdvantage account, to get Gold status. So when I must fly AA, I have a chance at an upgrade (about 40%).

This year I've been flying AA more than I'd like, and Platinum status is visable, with a few mileage runs, and flights that would otherwise go on my preferred airlines.

That said, I hold status on pretty much every US airline, and British Airways. The only reason I'd want AA Platinum is easier upgrades.

So, how easier is it to upgrade as Platinum vs. Gold?

globalstar

You'll have priority before all Golds (but after Executive Platinums). I'd say based upon my experience it was 70-80 percent upgrade availability, unless you're always flying the MIA/LAX transcon, which is more difficult.

Remember, you'll also receive the 100 percent Platinum bonus vs. the 25 percent Gold bonus, if this is important to you.

Living in Phx, I fly HP almost all of the time. Hence, I am only a lurker here in the AA with just one or two AA flights per year.

Still, I just have to add my two cents to agree with Tango on the appearance issue. I am platinum on America West and find it mucho easier to get the comped upgrades when dressed decently (slacks and polo) as opposed to sweats and a T-shirt.

One Sunday AM while flying to LA for an exceptionally informal meeting, an FA even mildly chastised me for wearing sweats (he did so in a pleasant manner). I asked him if dressing decently made a difference on the "on the spot" upgrades and he said "most definitely". Different airline, of course. But, still....I agree with Tango on this issue.