Nov 25, 16, 11:22 pm
Last edit by: Prospero
Buying Higher Class of Service Than Ticketed
"Effective December 19, 2012, AA will waive the ticket change charge if customer purchases into a higher cabin (business or first), regardless of booking inventory, on the same routing/same day*. For example, no changes to origin/destination except the change to cabin/flight time is allowed with no ticket change charge. Customer would be responsible for paying the difference in fares. The non-refundable portion of the ticket remains non-refundable and would be handled internally by Refunds when necessary."
- AA Revenue Tickets, Ticket Change
Unlike an upgrade, earnings in EQM etc. should be for the new fare.
*This includes co-terminals as allowed in the detailed fare rules or elsewhere.
"Effective December 19, 2012, AA will waive the ticket change charge if customer purchases into a higher cabin (business or first), regardless of booking inventory, on the same routing/same day*. For example, no changes to origin/destination except the change to cabin/flight time is allowed with no ticket change charge. Customer would be responsible for paying the difference in fares. The non-refundable portion of the ticket remains non-refundable and would be handled internally by Refunds when necessary."
- AA Revenue Tickets, Ticket Change
Unlike an upgrade, earnings in EQM etc. should be for the new fare.
*This includes co-terminals as allowed in the detailed fare rules or elsewhere.
Upgrading AA Fare Code or Class of Service - Upfare / Upfaring (master thd)
Dec 18, 11, 11:17 am
#46
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: SJC
Programs: AA EXP, BA Silver, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton diamond, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 33,386
Cheers.
Dec 18, 11, 2:14 pm
#47
Join Date: Sep 2011
Programs: AA SPG Amex
Posts: 4,644
I would ask at least. Recently I changed a non-refundable economy fare to a business fare. This situation may be a little different since it was international (US-NRT) and because I was changing class of travel, but I was told I would not be waived the ($250) change fee to go to a non-refundable business fare, but that it was policy to waive the fee when changing to a refundable fare (FWIW, I paid the $6000 inc fee upfare for non-refundable rather than the $8000 for a refundable fare).
If the policy does indeed extend to domestic same travel class, the kicker will be that the portion of the fare that was the original ticket will remain non-refundable ($150 fee plus voucher) in the case of cancellation. However, AFAIK, you will be able to change the flights/dates of travel without a fee once you upfare. This information has come from FT and you might be able to search for more information, or others with hands-on experience could chip in.
Edit: a little late (slow typing) given the post above, but I think the second paragraph may still be relevant
If the policy does indeed extend to domestic same travel class, the kicker will be that the portion of the fare that was the original ticket will remain non-refundable ($150 fee plus voucher) in the case of cancellation. However, AFAIK, you will be able to change the flights/dates of travel without a fee once you upfare. This information has come from FT and you might be able to search for more information, or others with hands-on experience could chip in.
Edit: a little late (slow typing) given the post above, but I think the second paragraph may still be relevant
I booked LAX-ORD-LGA with a few days in ORD. This was not in any way, shape of form an LAX-NYC fare w/stopover since it simply stuck two o/w together in one PNR and I then used 15k + co-pay to get F. I now need to move the date of ORD-LGA. Do you think there's any logic by which AA would let me up-fare ORD-LGA to a refundable fare (about $40) and then change the date w/o the change fee? I'm guessing the fact that it's in the same PNR as the LAX-ORD (which will remain non-refundable) and that the two are further tied together via the mileage upgrade prevent me from doing this but figured it was worth asking.
By the way, out of curiosity, in your NRT example, could you have up-fared to the refundable business class ticket, then down-fared to the non-refundable once the ticket was reissued?
Dec 19, 11, 5:54 pm
#48
Join Date: Sep 2011
Programs: AA SPG Amex
Posts: 4,644
So I have a situation where I can't imagine being able to apply your second paragraph to but here goes, I'm interested in opinions:
I booked LAX-ORD-LGA with a few days in ORD. This was not in any way, shape of form an LAX-NYC fare w/stopover since it simply stuck two o/w together in one PNR and I then used 15k + co-pay to get F. I now need to move the date of ORD-LGA. Do you think there's any logic by which AA would let me up-fare ORD-LGA to a refundable fare (about $40) and then change the date w/o the change fee? I'm guessing the fact that it's in the same PNR as the LAX-ORD (which will remain non-refundable) and that the two are further tied together via the mileage upgrade prevent me from doing this but figured it was worth asking.
By the way, out of curiosity, in your NRT example, could you have up-fared to the refundable business class ticket, then down-fared to the non-refundable once the ticket was reissued?
I booked LAX-ORD-LGA with a few days in ORD. This was not in any way, shape of form an LAX-NYC fare w/stopover since it simply stuck two o/w together in one PNR and I then used 15k + co-pay to get F. I now need to move the date of ORD-LGA. Do you think there's any logic by which AA would let me up-fare ORD-LGA to a refundable fare (about $40) and then change the date w/o the change fee? I'm guessing the fact that it's in the same PNR as the LAX-ORD (which will remain non-refundable) and that the two are further tied together via the mileage upgrade prevent me from doing this but figured it was worth asking.
By the way, out of curiosity, in your NRT example, could you have up-fared to the refundable business class ticket, then down-fared to the non-refundable once the ticket was reissued?
Jan 31, 12, 7:29 pm
#49
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 1
Feb 15, 12, 10:44 pm
#50
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 7
Upfaring advice
I have placed a flight on hold. GCM-MIA-LHR round trip. I am wanting to do the platinum or gold challenge. This flight if I book it under the current codes which I believe are O and S will qualify for 0.5 points, will take me pretty close to gold. I read about up faring my ticket whilst it is on hold so I could pay to qualify for 1 or 1.5 points instead which would take me closer to Platinum status. Could someone shed some light as how I go about up faring and whether I am talking any sense.
Thanks,
Jishi
Thanks,
Jishi
Feb 16, 12, 8:56 am
#53
Senior Moderator and Moderator: American AAdvantage & TravelBuzz
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: BOS
Programs: AA EXP, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 10,353
Welcome to FlyerTalk and the AA forum, jishijet! 
Glad you've found our little corner of the interwebs and happy to see that you've already embarked on your Challenge! ^
You've gotten good advice from the posters above, but also wanted to point you to our Forum FAQ, in case you haven't seen it. (It's among the first few "sticky" threads at the top of the thread list.)
We actually have an entry specifically dedicated to your question, so if you wanted more details about the process and related threads, please see this post:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...l#post13001677
Best of luck!
Glad you've found our little corner of the interwebs and happy to see that you've already embarked on your Challenge! ^You've gotten good advice from the posters above, but also wanted to point you to our Forum FAQ, in case you haven't seen it. (It's among the first few "sticky" threads at the top of the thread list.)
We actually have an entry specifically dedicated to your question, so if you wanted more details about the process and related threads, please see this post:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...l#post13001677
Best of luck!
Feb 16, 12, 9:45 am
#54
In Memoriam
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: dallas texas usa
Programs: aa plt 4.9MM LTAC
Posts: 14,828
I have placed a flight on hold. GCM-MIA-LHR round trip. I am wanting to do the platinum or gold challenge. This flight if I book it under the current codes which I believe are O and S will qualify for 0.5 points, will take me pretty close to gold. I read about up faring my ticket whilst it is on hold so I could pay to qualify for 1 or 1.5 points instead which would take me closer to Platinum status. Could someone shed some light as how I go about up faring and whether I am talking any sense.
Thanks,
Jishi
Thanks,
Jishi
Feb 16, 12, 9:53 am
#55
In Memoriam
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: dallas texas usa
Programs: aa plt 4.9MM LTAC
Posts: 14,828
going via ord out does it.....look at the mi on aa.com via sked search....
edit to add....mi i used...
gcm-mia 454
mia-ord 1197
ord-lhr 3953
lhr-mia 4425 10029 total
mia-gcm then gets 500
edit to add....mi i used...
gcm-mia 454
mia-ord 1197
ord-lhr 3953
lhr-mia 4425 10029 total
mia-gcm then gets 500
Last edited by clacko; Feb 16, 12 at 10:04 am
Feb 17, 12, 5:40 pm
#57
Moderator: New York City and FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2007
Programs: AA PLT, Natl EC
Posts: 10,846
I have placed a flight on hold. GCM-MIA-LHR round trip. I am wanting to do the platinum or gold challenge. This flight if I book it under the current codes which I believe are O and S will qualify for 0.5 points, will take me pretty close to gold. I read about up faring my ticket whilst it is on hold so I could pay to qualify for 1 or 1.5 points instead which would take me closer to Platinum status. Could someone shed some light as how I go about up faring and whether I am talking any sense.
Thanks,
Jishi
Thanks,
Jishi
And now, to make things easier for other members, your thread has been merged into the existing thread on this topic, which is available from this FAQ entry:FAQ: How do I book a specific fare class for a Challenge?
Enjoy!
/Moderator
Feb 17, 12, 5:49 pm
#58
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: DFW
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 1,589
^! Stick around and some of these gurus may let you in on some more great tips. If you can remember to ignore the occasional flame thrower then you should enjoy it here
Feb 17, 12, 5:54 pm
#59
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Matre-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,949
