Isn't the date change precluded by these terms? If so up faring then waiting a day to change travel dates seems like a big loophole.

No need to wait a day. It was all done on the same phone call.

Do purchases for MCE also count towards the new ticket, or are those purely non-refundable? (Alternatively, could I upfare into a higher economy tier and keep the MCE seats?)

I doubt that the MCE purchase would count, unless you'd initially obtained MCE by purchasing a "choice" fare which included it (not sure whether any do or not). I don't, however, see any reason why your MCE seat wouldn't hold if you upfared into a higher economy inventory, particularly if you did it over the phone and explained the situation.

However your profile says you are PLT, can I assume you're asking this as a hypothetical, since you should get MCE for no additional cost?

I'm an Admirer, not yet Plat ;)
I'm thinking of doing the challenge rather soon, so I'd like to do so at as small a cost as possible, and if that involves upfaring fares that my employer pays for, I'm down for that :)

MCE is fully refundable if you do not use it. For example, if you UG to Business or First you can file for a refund on the amount you paid for the MCE seat. Just file for a refund on AA's refunds site with your ticket number.

I'm considering purchasing a fare with the outbound in J and inbound in Y with a waitlisted SWU (the reason for the J purchase outbound is to upgrade to F). If about 2 weeks prior to travel it's not looking good on the return, I'll ask for an upfare to J. Would this qualify for a fee waiver under the above rule?

Another related question: if in the above itinerary, I use a heavily discounted I-fare for the outbound portion in J which has expired by the time I need to do the upfare for the return segment (which will be after the outbound is flown), will AA use the expired discounted I-fare as the fare basis for the upfare, or will it be repriced at current prices? Usually when changing the return segment after flying the outbound, the historical fare is used, even when expiring - just want to know if the same rule applies for upfaring.

how can I buy V class on AA.com?
 

I am on a challenge and I need fly V or above to meet EQP requirement. But on AA.com I can't find V class ticket. How should I do?

Find the flight you want and put it hold, then call AA and ask the agent to upfare it to "V"

Correct. I do this all the time. CS is always available to do this. One caution: be sure to put it on hold rather than ticketing; did this in error once and had to pay a change fee + the upfare cost.

Interesting question... most AA agents are clueless as well. I've see two rules- one where you get slammed if you change it prior to departure and you need to reprice ALL segments....of course there is no I for the outbound, and maybe only D for all of it, and that LAX-LHR-LAX goes from $3600 to $6800. :(

But looking at a sample I4NAJB, even if you change before flying the first segment, you will pay a change fee associated with the return leg and then only the new fare for that leg..the first segment is priced using historical fares.

Dont be surprised to spend an hour telling the agent she needs to ask the rate people again...and you really need to have copies of the rules for the fares. IMO

GL

A.

How to avoid G, Q, N, O, S on AA.com
 

Does anyone know how to avoid the dreaded deep discount booking codes in coach on AA.com? Even all those "Choice Plus" and "Choice Essential" options still appear to book in the same booking code as "Choice"

In other words, is there any other way to book a coach fare without the deep discount code? :confused::confused:

Put the fare on hold and call AA.com to upfare. You'll still be able to purchase the ticket online.

But if you want to find the lowest fare yourself, another option is to use the ITA matrix to search out itineraries:
http://matrix.itasoftware.com/

Let's say you are looking for SFO-JFK and back and want to avoid G, Q, N, O, S. Here is what you enter:

SFO :: aa+ /f bc=Y|bc=B|bc=H|bc=K|bc=M|bc=L|bc=W|bc=V|bc=F|bc=A| bc=P|bc=J|bc=D|bc=I
JFK :: aa+ /f bc=Y|bc=B|bc=H|bc=K|bc=M|bc=L|bc=W|bc=V|bc=F|bc=A| bc=P|bc=J|bc=D|bc=I

Go to AA.com and match the flight times. After you put the itinerary old hold call AA up to upfare.

Clunky? Yes, but it gets the job done.

why do you want the higher fare? 1 eqp/ base mi perhaps?

as mentioned above, put it on hold &call to up fare.

i've only done it when family was doing a challenge....