International upgrade - $350 + 25,000 miles -- can I do with award ticket?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 48
International upgrade - $350 + 25,000 miles -- can I do with award ticket?
Hi Everyone,
I have looked at the information on American Airlines about the upgrade to business class for international for $350 + 25,000 miles.
1) Are you able to do this on the AA website, or you need to call the 1-800 number?
2) I'm assuming I could purchase a coach award ticket for the return trip for the 20,000 miles and do the 25,000 + $350 for the flight over?
Any help would be great.
Many thanks!
I have looked at the information on American Airlines about the upgrade to business class for international for $350 + 25,000 miles.
1) Are you able to do this on the AA website, or you need to call the 1-800 number?
2) I'm assuming I could purchase a coach award ticket for the return trip for the 20,000 miles and do the 25,000 + $350 for the flight over?
Any help would be great.
Many thanks!
#2
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Chicago, IL
Programs: AA EXP 3MM
Posts: 496
I'm pretty sure this particular upgrade is only for paid economy tickets, rather than award tickets; however, there's no harm in you calling American to find out.
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: STL
Programs: AA 2MM, AS MVP Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 12,966
Hi Everyone,
I have looked at the information on American Airlines about the upgrade to business class for international for $350 + 25,000 miles.
1) Are you able to do this on the AA website, or you need to call the 1-800 number?
2) I'm assuming I could purchase a coach award ticket for the return trip for the 20,000 miles and do the 25,000 + $350 for the flight over?
Any help would be great.
Many thanks!
I have looked at the information on American Airlines about the upgrade to business class for international for $350 + 25,000 miles.
1) Are you able to do this on the AA website, or you need to call the 1-800 number?
2) I'm assuming I could purchase a coach award ticket for the return trip for the 20,000 miles and do the 25,000 + $350 for the flight over?
Any help would be great.
Many thanks!
1). On paid tickets, you need to call the 1-800 number to upgrade using miles + copay. The correct seat inventory must be available.
2. You could purchase a revenue ticket for your outbound and upgrade it, and get a coach ticket for the return. I would call to check whether upgrade inventory exists before buying the outbound ticket (in fact, if it does exist I would buy the ticket and the upgrade on that same phone call).
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2002
Location: NYC, USA
Programs: AA EXP 3MM, Lifetime Platinum, Marriott Titanium, HH Gold
Posts: 10,966
Note that the kiosk-offered LFBU on award tickets is for AA elites only. If the OP does not currently hold status, he/she will not be offered a LFBU at kiosk check-in.
(Now, if we're talking about a flight returning from overseas, it is possible, as you say, that the ticket counter might be offering cash-only upgrades, as sometimes happens when they have extra premium seats available. But these are separate from the ex-US LFBU program.)
#5
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: TPE, MNL
Programs: AA lifetime GOLD, but still an AA Baby compare to people here. CX nobody. BR Silver.
Posts: 984
Isn't it easier to get business award ticket?
#6
In Memoriam
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Always on vacation
Programs: aa exp - spg gold - Hyatt Diamond - HH Gold
Posts: 6,007
#7
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: los angeles, calif.
Programs: Alaska Airlines Gold MVP
Posts: 7,170
Hi Everyone,
I have looked at the information on American Airlines about the upgrade to business class for international for $350 + 25,000 miles.
1) Are you able to do this on the AA website, or you need to call the 1-800 number?
2) I'm assuming I could purchase a coach award ticket for the return trip for the 20,000 miles and do the 25,000 + $350 for the flight over?
Any help would be great.
Many thanks!
I have looked at the information on American Airlines about the upgrade to business class for international for $350 + 25,000 miles.
1) Are you able to do this on the AA website, or you need to call the 1-800 number?
2) I'm assuming I could purchase a coach award ticket for the return trip for the 20,000 miles and do the 25,000 + $350 for the flight over?
Any help would be great.
Many thanks!
#8
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: South Florida, USA
Programs: AA PPRO (OW Emerarld), BA Silver, DL PM
Posts: 491
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: NYC
Posts: 27,190
One-way paid tickets on international long-haul flights (a paid ticket being the only way to do the 25k+copay upgrade) are typically very expensive, often more expensive than a round-trip.
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2004
Location: DFW/DAL
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, AS MVPG, HH Diamond, NCL Platinum Plus, MSC Diamond
Posts: 21,422
For the OP. Whywould you want pay 20K for the award ticket, then 25K + $350 to upgrade.... which isn't possible, when a one way BC award is only 50K? That would be like paying $350 to save 5000 miles.
If you want to upgrade one way, get a one way coach award and a one way business class award
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: NYC
Posts: 27,190
You csn buy s roundtrip ticket and only upgrade on way.
For the OP. Whywould you want pay 20K for the award ticket, then 25K + $350 to upgrade.... which isn't possible, when a one way BC award is only 50K? That would be like paying $350 to save 5000 miles.
If you want to upgrade one way, get a one way coach award and a one way business class award
For the OP. Whywould you want pay 20K for the award ticket, then 25K + $350 to upgrade.... which isn't possible, when a one way BC award is only 50K? That would be like paying $350 to save 5000 miles.
If you want to upgrade one way, get a one way coach award and a one way business class award
And you math example is thus off. You are paying $350 to save 25k miles (diff btwn upgrade and biz award ticket) plus however many EQMs and RDMs you earn for the paid (and upgraded) flight segment.
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2004
Location: DFW/DAL
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, AS MVPG, HH Diamond, NCL Platinum Plus, MSC Diamond
Posts: 21,422
I don't think the OP ever intended to use miles + copay on a reward ticket - reread the original post again.
And you math example is thus off. You are paying $350 to save 25k miles (diff btwn upgrade and biz award ticket) plus however many EQMs and RDMs you earn for the paid (and upgraded) flight segment.
And you math example is thus off. You are paying $350 to save 25k miles (diff btwn upgrade and biz award ticket) plus however many EQMs and RDMs you earn for the paid (and upgraded) flight segment.
This statement isn't really clear to me.
"2) I'm assuming I could purchase a coach award ticket for the return trip for the 20,000 miles and do the 25,000 + $350 for the flight over?"
I don't know if OP was talking about buying a econ ticket one way and upgrading for 25000K + $350, then using 20K for an econ award on the way back. This wouldn't make sense as it is generally be cheaper to by a roundtrip econ ticket and use the miles plus copay to upgrade it.
I don't quite get your view that spending $350 is saving the difference between the miles for business (50K) and the 20K he mentioned (presumably off peak econ ticket). The $350 is the copay amount, NOT the one way Econ fare.
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: NYC
Posts: 27,190
Nope. I thought the OP was referring to upgrading a 20K econ ticket to a business class ticket by paying 25K MORE plus the the $350 Copay fee, for a total of 45K miles + $350.
This statement isn't really clear to me.
"2) I'm assuming I could purchase a coach award ticket for the return trip for the 20,000 miles and do the 25,000 + $350 for the flight over?"
This statement isn't really clear to me.
"2) I'm assuming I could purchase a coach award ticket for the return trip for the 20,000 miles and do the 25,000 + $350 for the flight over?"
I don't know if OP was talking about buying a econ ticket one way and upgrading for 25000K + $350, then using 20K for an econ award on the way back. This wouldn't make sense as it is generally be cheaper to by a roundtrip econ ticket and use the miles plus copay to upgrade it.
I don't quite get your view that spending $350 is saving the difference between the miles for business (50K) and the 20K he mentioned (presumably off peak econ ticket). The $350 is the copay amount, NOT the one way Econ fare.
Last edited by ijgordon; Aug 24, 2009 at 11:45 am
#14
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 593
To our friend BritishMusicFan - I think the big problem here is that you're asking a question that implies some sort of underlying plan or set of restrictions, but nobody can figure out what that plan is, so it's hard to give an answer.
if you're still following, I'd recommend re-posting the question, except this time explain what you're trying to do and why, and how many miles you have, where you're going to/from, if you're trying to get around a problem (like lack of award seats in one direction) or something, and so on.
As asked the question has been basically answered. But there's likely a rationale below that surface that would inspire much more helpful answers.
Maybe your situation is something like this:
* I'm trying to fly JFK-LHR for a week
* I have XX,000 miles in my account, not enough to do business class both way but I wanted to try business out one way.
Or:
* I'm trying to fly JFK-LHR and my travel dates are really tight, no flexibility.
* I'm got a saver award seat one direction, but on the other there's nothing, and I found a good price for a one-way ticket back, so I confirmed everything awhile ago. Now I have more miles and thought I'd use them to fly business one way, but they told me on the phone there's only upgrade inventory on the way out, not a saaver business award, so can I get that?
Or:
* I need to pay for at least one of the legs as I need the miles to requalify, but thought I'd award the other way.
Or:
* I've completed an overseas posting and have a paid one-way ticket home paid for by work, but I'd prefer to live here so I have to go home and finish up work but then plan to come back and spend a few more months here, so one way is paid coach, and the other is an award.
....or a million other scenarios.
What you appear to be considering doesn't seem logical, so maybe if you explained clearly and succinctly what you're *really* trying to do someone might give you advice on how to maximize your miles/experience/$ more efficiently.
if you're still following, I'd recommend re-posting the question, except this time explain what you're trying to do and why, and how many miles you have, where you're going to/from, if you're trying to get around a problem (like lack of award seats in one direction) or something, and so on.
As asked the question has been basically answered. But there's likely a rationale below that surface that would inspire much more helpful answers.
Maybe your situation is something like this:
* I'm trying to fly JFK-LHR for a week
* I have XX,000 miles in my account, not enough to do business class both way but I wanted to try business out one way.
Or:
* I'm trying to fly JFK-LHR and my travel dates are really tight, no flexibility.
* I'm got a saver award seat one direction, but on the other there's nothing, and I found a good price for a one-way ticket back, so I confirmed everything awhile ago. Now I have more miles and thought I'd use them to fly business one way, but they told me on the phone there's only upgrade inventory on the way out, not a saaver business award, so can I get that?
Or:
* I need to pay for at least one of the legs as I need the miles to requalify, but thought I'd award the other way.
Or:
* I've completed an overseas posting and have a paid one-way ticket home paid for by work, but I'd prefer to live here so I have to go home and finish up work but then plan to come back and spend a few more months here, so one way is paid coach, and the other is an award.
....or a million other scenarios.
What you appear to be considering doesn't seem logical, so maybe if you explained clearly and succinctly what you're *really* trying to do someone might give you advice on how to maximize your miles/experience/$ more efficiently.