Nov 25, 2016, 10:22 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 4, 2017, 1:55 pm
#286
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
When I go into my account and into a current booked itinerary the only thing I see is the option to change ticket. If I put in First Class it brings up all other flights and the additional fare including a change fee. But not the flights I have currently booked (they have First Class available).
When I just go into reservations I can buy a First Class ticket on the flights i'm on for $501. Does AA allow you to Buy Up to First without the $200 change fee? I assume I'll have to call to do it.
When I just go into reservations I can buy a First Class ticket on the flights i'm on for $501. Does AA allow you to Buy Up to First without the $200 change fee? I assume I'll have to call to do it.
Dec 4, 2017, 7:14 pm
#287
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 204
When I called the agent offered to waive the fee but after I agreed to $319 upcharge to change it to First (he said Business; it's a domestic route) he had to put me on hold to get someone to OK the waiver of the change fee. He originally didn't seem to know what I meant by "buy up to First Class from Coach"; he thought I wanted to use miles..I had bought a First Class ticket for my wife on the same flights over the weekend and I didn't expect my requested upgrade with 500-milers was going to clear; the current F fare was about $75 less than what I had paid to buy her F ticket.. And now after my F reservation was ticketed it has jumped $150 for F on those flights.
Dec 4, 2017, 9:24 pm
#288
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: NYC
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 1,372
Glad it worked out...the above is why you should just say "Upfare." It's an actual term/re-ticketing process that means something to them with respect to SABRE.
Jan 11, 2018, 6:31 pm
#289
Join Date: Jan 2003
Programs: American Airlines Platinum, National Executive
Posts: 3,790
If you want to "upfare" and pay for an upgrade on only one segment of a 2-segment trip, is the minimum upfare charge equal to the fare difference between first class and coach on both segments of the trip?
I have a 2-segment trip coming up soon.
On the first segment, it's a coach ticket, and I am in coach. The price for that segment (if booked one-way) is about $150, but first class is about $230.
On the second segment, it's a coach ticket, and I've already been upgraded (due to being elite or whatever). The price for both segments together is about $250, but first class on both segments together is $450.
So I need to upfare/upgrade only the first segment.
I called AA to upfare/upgrade, but was going to be charged the fare difference for both segments, even though I only needed to upgrade/upfare one of them.
Is this the correct outcome? Seems like AA would sell fewer upfares/upgrades that way, although the number of lost sales might be smaller than the hassle of the IT changes needed to process upfares for 1 segment only on a 2+ segment trip.
I have a 2-segment trip coming up soon.
On the first segment, it's a coach ticket, and I am in coach. The price for that segment (if booked one-way) is about $150, but first class is about $230.
On the second segment, it's a coach ticket, and I've already been upgraded (due to being elite or whatever). The price for both segments together is about $250, but first class on both segments together is $450.
So I need to upfare/upgrade only the first segment.
I called AA to upfare/upgrade, but was going to be charged the fare difference for both segments, even though I only needed to upgrade/upfare one of them.
Is this the correct outcome? Seems like AA would sell fewer upfares/upgrades that way, although the number of lost sales might be smaller than the hassle of the IT changes needed to process upfares for 1 segment only on a 2+ segment trip.
Last edited by ibrandsguest; Jan 12, 2018 at 12:58 pm
Feb 15, 2018, 12:06 pm
#290
Join Date: Feb 2018
Posts: 1
I called today to upfare from basic economy to premium economy. The agent told me I had to pay the change fee. I asked if there was a way to waive the change fee since it was the same flight and she said no.
I did not use the word "upfare" so maybe that was the issue. My flight is not for a few days so I will keep trying.
Update: Called back and a different agent was able to get us in Premium Economy for only the difference in fare (and no change fee). I used "upfare" this time and it seems to have worked.
I did not use the word "upfare" so maybe that was the issue. My flight is not for a few days so I will keep trying.
Update: Called back and a different agent was able to get us in Premium Economy for only the difference in fare (and no change fee). I used "upfare" this time and it seems to have worked.
Last edited by PM2020; Feb 15, 2018 at 12:35 pm Reason: Update
Feb 15, 2018, 8:42 pm
#291
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: DCA/IAD/WAS
Programs: MAR AMB, WOH Explorist, AA EXP, UA 2P
Posts: 2,136
I called today to upfare from basic economy to premium economy. The agent told me I had to pay the change fee. I asked if there was a way to waive the change fee since it was the same flight and she said no.
I did not use the word "upfare" so maybe that was the issue. My flight is not for a few days so I will keep trying.
Update: Called back and a different agent was able to get us in Premium Economy for only the difference in fare (and no change fee). I used "upfare" this time and it seems to have worked.
I did not use the word "upfare" so maybe that was the issue. My flight is not for a few days so I will keep trying.
Update: Called back and a different agent was able to get us in Premium Economy for only the difference in fare (and no change fee). I used "upfare" this time and it seems to have worked.
Feb 16, 2018, 6:40 am
#293
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: DCA/IAD/WAS
Programs: MAR AMB, WOH Explorist, AA EXP, UA 2P
Posts: 2,136
Feb 25, 2018, 9:32 am
#294
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Austin, TX
Programs: Free agent AAdvantage LT GLD
Posts: 221
Purchased a ticket via my company's Concur portal and called AA to request an upfare but was told that only my company could make this change. I specifically mentioned upfare since she originally thought I was requesting an upgrade. Any tips or should I HUCA?
Feb 25, 2018, 11:11 am
#295
Join Date: May 2013
Programs: AA PLT, HH Gold, Marriott Silver
Posts: 282
Their number is 1-800-433-1790
Funny enough, it was cheaper to buy into first than to buy the 500-mile upgrades for the flights in question.
Feb 25, 2018, 6:16 pm
#296
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Austin, TX
Programs: Free agent AAdvantage LT GLD
Posts: 221
It took over 10 minutes but they were able to do it after charging the difference in fare and $50 fee for handling an external reservation. I booked two one-way flts and wonder if I would have only had to pay the $50 fee once if it had been round trip. Thank you so much gradboozer! You've made my life as LT GLD better much better on work trips.
I actually just did this not too long ago. Call "meeting services" (at least that's what the phone agent said it was called) and ask them. They should be able to make the change for you.
Their number is 1-800-433-1790
Funny enough, it was cheaper to buy into first than to buy the 500-mile upgrades for the flights in question.
Their number is 1-800-433-1790
Funny enough, it was cheaper to buy into first than to buy the 500-mile upgrades for the flights in question.
Feb 25, 2018, 10:52 pm
#297
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: OC, CA
Programs: AA EXP, 2MM, HH Diamond
Posts: 831
It took over 10 minutes but they were able to do it after charging the difference in fare and $50 fee for handling an external reservation. I booked two one-way flts and wonder if I would have only had to pay the $50 fee once if it had been round trip. Thank you so much gradboozer! You've made my life as LT GLD better much better on work trips.
Feb 26, 2018, 8:30 am
#298
Join Date: May 2013
Programs: AA PLT, HH Gold, Marriott Silver
Posts: 282
It took over 10 minutes but they were able to do it after charging the difference in fare and $50 fee for handling an external reservation. I booked two one-way flts and wonder if I would have only had to pay the $50 fee once if it had been round trip. Thank you so much gradboozer! You've made my life as LT GLD better much better on work trips.
Any time I call the travel agency linked to our Concur setup they want to charge a fee but not the other way around.
Apr 26, 2018, 5:20 pm
#299
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: SEATTLE, WA USA
Programs: UAL, AA, AS, CX
Posts: 1,973
CHANGE FEE when Buying UP in Fare Class
Does this sound right? Used our corporate booking agency with company policy coach seat. Immediately called AA to use cash to then pay the fare difference to upgrade to first class ($199) to which agent then says there is a CHANGE FEE of $200 on top of that???????????? Really I said even though I'm paying into a higher fare class? She said unless I was concierge key or Exec Platinum there was a change fee. For sure Delta hasn't done this to me ever, nor has Alaska!
Apr 26, 2018, 5:40 pm
#300
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: DCA, EGE, IAD
Programs: MR LTT, BA Gold, AA LTP, UA Silver
Posts: 6,077
As long as it is the same flight then there is no changed fee to upfare. HUACA. If you want to upfare to F and also change flights then they will charge you the change fee.
