Possible to "buy up" an international award?
Feb 20, 2005, 6:48 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Portland, OR, USA
Posts: 301
Possible to "buy up" an international award?
I had a second thought about traveling in economy!! I'd much rather be up front.
So what are my chances of scoring a first class upgrade for an international award travel (DFW-CCS)? Currently I have ticketed a coach award ticket. Unfortunately, I don't have the miles to upgrade. Does anyone have a suggestion for how to approach the checkin agent, or what sort of chances I have. I'd probably be willing to spend $500 one-way for the upgrade. I have seen in the past, United offering business class upgrades at checkin for fairly reasonable prices. Is anything like this possible on AA? You'd think that AA would be all to willing to take in some extra $$$ from a "non-rev" pax like me. @:-)
BTW....I see there are first award seats available for the dates in question (coming up real soon).
Also....I don't have elite on AA this year.
Any ideas welcome, thanks!
So what are my chances of scoring a first class upgrade for an international award travel (DFW-CCS)? Currently I have ticketed a coach award ticket. Unfortunately, I don't have the miles to upgrade. Does anyone have a suggestion for how to approach the checkin agent, or what sort of chances I have. I'd probably be willing to spend $500 one-way for the upgrade. I have seen in the past, United offering business class upgrades at checkin for fairly reasonable prices. Is anything like this possible on AA? You'd think that AA would be all to willing to take in some extra $$$ from a "non-rev" pax like me. @:-)
BTW....I see there are first award seats available for the dates in question (coming up real soon).
Also....I don't have elite on AA this year.
Any ideas welcome, thanks!
Feb 20, 2005, 6:57 pm
#2
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Siesta Key
Programs: AA EXP-1.6MM, Hilton Diamond, ManU & Chicago Bears #1 Fan
Posts: 9,697
No upgrades on award tickets.
You could alwats cancel you economy award ($100 fee) and take out the first class award.
or
Beg!
Good luck!
You could alwats cancel you economy award ($100 fee) and take out the first class award.
or
Beg!
Good luck!
Feb 20, 2005, 8:15 pm
#3
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Cambridge
Posts: 63,712
AA will let you swap your economy award for a business/first award without mileage redeposit and change fee.
Feb 21, 2005, 12:27 am
#4
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: CGN (Cologne, Germany), travel agent, hardcore Sabre user
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold, BA, DL, LH, HH Diamond, Bonvoy Platinum, AX Centurion
Posts: 445
IIRC there used to be an undocumented feature which allowed you to buy a so-called "paid upgrade" on awards. It was calculated as the difference between (in your case) full J and full Y, which is 998 US$ round-trip. Don't know if this still applies - I suggest you specifically use the wording "paid upgrade" when asking.
Feb 21, 2005, 1:11 am
#5
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: MHT/BOS <--> World
Programs: AA Plat 2.8MM
Posts: 4,629
If you don't have the miles for J you could redeposit, buy econ, then use your miles to upgrade.
Feb 21, 2005, 3:53 am
#6
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Dallas
Programs: AA PLT/5MM; AS MVP GLD 75K; DL DM; EK SLV; HHonors DIAM; Marriott GLD
Posts: 4,092
Originally Posted by jreichel
IIRC there used to be an undocumented feature which allowed you to buy a so-called "paid upgrade" on awards. It was calculated as the difference between (in your case) full J and full Y, which is 998 US$ round-trip. Don't know if this still applies - I suggest you specifically use the wording "paid upgrade" when asking.