A class available, but ba.com says upgrade not available
Aug 10, 2015, 8:49 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2004
Programs: UA 1K 2MM, BA Gold, SQ TPP
Posts: 1,487
A class available, but ba.com says upgrade not available
To be more specific
I used oneworld.com RTW booking tool to check that A class was available and an AA metal flight and I used ba.com to see if "buy and upgrade" was possible.
The two don't seem consistent ...
(This is a business to first upgrade by the way).
I used oneworld.com RTW booking tool to check that A class was available and an AA metal flight and I used ba.com to see if "buy and upgrade" was possible.
The two don't seem consistent ...
(This is a business to first upgrade by the way).
Aug 10, 2015, 8:55 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Juneau, Alaska.
Programs: AS 75K;BA Silver;AA G;HH Dia;HY Glob
Posts: 15,815
I'm unclear as to exactly what you are saying. Are you trying to upgrade using AA miles or BA avios?
Aug 10, 2015, 9:29 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2004
Programs: UA 1K 2MM, BA Gold, SQ TPP
Posts: 1,487
But the only two places I know where I can check for upgrade availability on AA are oneworld.com (make a F RTW booking which will search for A), and ba.com's "buy and upgrade" search.
Are there better ways?
Aug 10, 2015, 11:24 pm
#4
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: California
Programs: AA EXP...couple hotels and cars too
Posts: 4,548
Aug 11, 2015, 2:15 am
#5
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Kyiv, Ukraine
Programs: Mucci, BA Gold, TK Elite, HHonors Lifetime Diamond
Posts: 7,691
You can't search AA upgrade availability on ba.com. ba.com will only sure pure redemptions. Since AA uses revenue booking classes for J to F upgrades all you need to do is to look for 'A' class on sites like Expertflyer.
Aug 11, 2015, 1:35 pm
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: home = LAX
Posts: 25,933
Isn't aa.com supposed to be showing SWU availability these days? That's the same in this case as "A" avialability if you're already in Business (though I guess it could get mixed up with "C" availability if you're currently in Coach).
Aug 11, 2015, 6:12 pm
#7
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: ORD
Posts: 986
1. Only shows it to EXPs
2. Only shows if any upgrades are open (Y>J or J>F), so you can't tell which one is available.
Unless the fix some of the limitations, I think expertflyer is going to stay the best option for a while.
Aug 12, 2015, 7:09 pm
#8
Join Date: May 2009
Location: SEA
Programs: AA EXP (2.5MM), Hilton Gold, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 4,859
2 - When it has a link for SWU Avaialable, you click that link and can then select and see if the available upgrades are Y->J or J->F.
Aug 13, 2015, 6:55 am
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2004
Programs: UA 1K 2MM, BA Gold, SQ TPP
Posts: 1,487
Anyway, to update: I called AA in the UK, was told no upgrade available, but when I called AA in the US, they upgraded me immediately.
So at least it seems like looking for A-class availability on oneworld.com by making a dummy search for a RTW F itinerary works (for those of us without expertflyer).
Although I don't know why AA in the UK said no upgrade available on both segments (one of the segments even shows up as upgradeable on ba.com)