Jan 2, 2013, 4:01 am
Last edit by: Prospero
Glossary:
500 mile upgrades: earned by Gold and Platinum Elites, can be used to upgrade segments in 500 mile increments of North and Central America, Caribbean flights from Economy to the next class of service.. Read below.
e500: Occasional nickname used for 500 mile upgrades.
Electronic or 500 mile upgrades: non-expiring electronic instruments used for near Americas and Caribbean elite upgrades; please read below.
MTEU: Miles Toward Electronic Upgrades. The MTEU earning year zeroes February 28.
Stickers: Holdover name from when 500 mile upgrades were actual stickers applied to tickets when upgraded.
UDU: Unlimited Domestic Upgrades granted EXP and PRO members in lieu of earning or using 500 mile upgrades. (Consequently, they do not earn “stickers”.)
Related thread: End of Feb insufficient miles for 4 500 mile upgrade stickers (2017). (Requesting "stickers" for incremental MTEU threshold accomplishment.)
NOTE: CHANGES in effect as of 1 January 2017:
Upgrade priority:
Platinum Pro status holders join Executive Platinum members with complimentary "Unlimited Domestic Upgrades / UDU.
Companions:
ONE passenger traveling with you can “borrow” your status for upgrade purposes. They do not have to be on the same PNR. When this is done, you’ll not be upgraded unless sufficient upgrade seats become available to upgrade two (or more) people. This link often is broken when the flight control goes to the airport, and it can be reestablished there (e.g. at the gate). A good clue that the link has broken is if you’re #1 or 2 and your companion is significantly below that on the upgrade list, such as #11. Finally, because of IT flaws, the 500 mile upgrades for your traveling companion will by necessity come from your account, even if your companion has their own “stickers”. This has not been true for some time, if your companion has status, the system will try to pull the stickers from the companion's account. If there are not enough stickers, you will have to check-in at the airport to have stickers pulled from your account
For questions about whether to split or consolidate PNRs for itineraries involving multiple parties, please see this thread:
Companion upgrade issues including "link" / split PNR for status etc. (master thread)
Link to aa.com 500 mile upgrades (AKA "stickers") page.
Link to aa.com to "Upgrade your experience".
500 mile upgrades: earned by Gold and Platinum Elites, can be used to upgrade segments in 500 mile increments of North and Central America, Caribbean flights from Economy to the next class of service.. Read below.
e500: Occasional nickname used for 500 mile upgrades.
Electronic or 500 mile upgrades: non-expiring electronic instruments used for near Americas and Caribbean elite upgrades; please read below.
MTEU: Miles Toward Electronic Upgrades. The MTEU earning year zeroes February 28.
Stickers: Holdover name from when 500 mile upgrades were actual stickers applied to tickets when upgraded.
UDU: Unlimited Domestic Upgrades granted EXP and PRO members in lieu of earning or using 500 mile upgrades. (Consequently, they do not earn “stickers”.)
Related thread: End of Feb insufficient miles for 4 500 mile upgrade stickers (2017). (Requesting "stickers" for incremental MTEU threshold accomplishment.)
NOTE: CHANGES in effect as of 1 January 2017:
Upgrade priority:
- Elite tier
- Systemwide and Mileage award upgrades
- Business Extra and certain Agency upgrade certificates
- 500-mile / courtesy DODU / UDU upgrades on purchased tickets
- 500-mile upgrades on PRO, EXP award tickets
- Last 12 month rolling EAD spend
- Fare code
- Date if purchase
Platinum Pro status holders join Executive Platinum members with complimentary "Unlimited Domestic Upgrades / UDU.
- Usable to upgrade from Economy to next class of service (Not Business to First)
- Flights 500 miles or less: Unlimited, auto-requested complimentary upgrades*
- Flights over 500 miles: Complimentary "domestic" (North & Central America, Caribbean) upgrades
- Upgrade one companion traveling with you on the same flight with 500-mile upgrades*
Companions:
ONE passenger traveling with you can “borrow” your status for upgrade purposes. They do not have to be on the same PNR. When this is done, you’ll not be upgraded unless sufficient upgrade seats become available to upgrade two (or more) people. This link often is broken when the flight control goes to the airport, and it can be reestablished there (e.g. at the gate). A good clue that the link has broken is if you’re #1 or 2 and your companion is significantly below that on the upgrade list, such as #11. Finally, because of IT flaws, the 500 mile upgrades for your traveling companion will by necessity come from your account, even if your companion has their own “stickers”. This has not been true for some time, if your companion has status, the system will try to pull the stickers from the companion's account. If there are not enough stickers, you will have to check-in at the airport to have stickers pulled from your account
For questions about whether to split or consolidate PNRs for itineraries involving multiple parties, please see this thread:
Companion upgrade issues including "link" / split PNR for status etc. (master thread)
Link to aa.com 500 mile upgrades (AKA "stickers") page.
Link to aa.com to "Upgrade your experience".
AA "Sticker" / 500-mile & EXP "UDU" Complimentary Upgrade Policy / FAQ
Mar 28, 2019, 9:23 am
#211
Join Date: Jan 2012
Programs: AY+ Plat, Marriott Plat, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 2,846
Upgrade request question
I'm a lowly GOLD, so it isn't as if my upgrades actually clear, but I still try
. Typically after I purchase the ticket via our corporate travel agent, I'll log into AA.com and view my trip, scroll down to the "upgrade your trip" section and check the box.
I just booked a trip for my family (me + 2) for June. The booking was on AA.com directly over the weekend and it is fully ticketed, but there is no "upgrade your trip" section available for this particular record. Any ideas what would cause that? I initially feared that I bought a basic economy ticket, but I think those are fare class B. Our tickets booked into G on the outbound and V on the return. I was able to select seats as normal. Are those fare classes not available to upgrade? Or is there something else going on?
Worst case, I'll check with AA, but figured I asked here
thanks
tom
I'm a lowly GOLD, so it isn't as if my upgrades actually clear, but I still try
. Typically after I purchase the ticket via our corporate travel agent, I'll log into AA.com and view my trip, scroll down to the "upgrade your trip" section and check the box.I just booked a trip for my family (me + 2) for June. The booking was on AA.com directly over the weekend and it is fully ticketed, but there is no "upgrade your trip" section available for this particular record. Any ideas what would cause that? I initially feared that I bought a basic economy ticket, but I think those are fare class B. Our tickets booked into G on the outbound and V on the return. I was able to select seats as normal. Are those fare classes not available to upgrade? Or is there something else going on?
Worst case, I'll check with AA, but figured I asked here
thanks
tom
Mar 28, 2019, 9:49 am
#212
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: DFW (Highland Village)
Programs: AA Lifetime GLD, SPG Lifetime GLD
Posts: 384
Thanks, I'll admit I didn't know that in 15+ years of flying with AA.
Mar 29, 2019, 3:53 pm
#214
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: NYC/PHX
Programs: IATA, Sabre, AvgeekAgent
Posts: 1,958
https://www.aa.com/i18n/aadvantage-p...sandconditions
Several of my clients have successfully used them recently on consolidator fares, however.
Apr 27, 2019, 12:02 pm
#215
Join Date: Apr 2008
Programs: AA EXPLT, Marriott Titanium (LT PLT), HHonors Gold, AMEX PLT, UA Silver, National EXC
Posts: 1,059
Anyone notice weird number fluctuation? The "app" shows only 9 available now. It was 14 the other day. Upgrades for trip tomorrow have not cleared yet - but would have required 5 - do they pull them in a hold now a days or something?
Edited to add this also showed on . com - and nothing showing that any were debited, either... weird.
Edited to add this also showed on . com - and nothing showing that any were debited, either... weird.
Apr 27, 2019, 12:29 pm
#216
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: BGI | MIA
Programs: AA Platinum Pro | Hyatt Globalist | HH Diamond | SPG Gold
Posts: 316
Anyone notice weird number fluctuation? The "app" shows only 9 available now. It was 14 the other day. Upgrades for trip tomorrow have not cleared yet - but would have required 5 - do they pull them in a hold now a days or something?
Edited to add this also showed on . com - and nothing showing that any were debited, either... weird.
Edited to add this also showed on . com - and nothing showing that any were debited, either... weird.
Apr 27, 2019, 1:58 pm
#217
Join Date: Apr 2008
Programs: AA EXPLT, Marriott Titanium (LT PLT), HHonors Gold, AMEX PLT, UA Silver, National EXC
Posts: 1,059
Maybe thats it? The flights are completely zero'd out... and I doubt I'll get upgraded... but going to monitor and see what happens over the next few days.
Apr 27, 2019, 4:34 pm
#218
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: The FT AA forum, until it no longer wants me.
Programs: CK or bust
Posts: 1,913
Anyone notice weird number fluctuation? The "app" shows only 9 available now. It was 14 the other day. Upgrades for trip tomorrow have not cleared yet - but would have required 5 - do they pull them in a hold now a days or something?
Edited to add this also showed on . com - and nothing showing that any were debited, either... weird.
Edited to add this also showed on . com - and nothing showing that any were debited, either... weird.
Apr 27, 2019, 9:31 pm
#219
Join Date: Apr 2008
Programs: AA EXPLT, Marriott Titanium (LT PLT), HHonors Gold, AMEX PLT, UA Silver, National EXC
Posts: 1,059
Correct - you need the number or greater of 500 mile or sticker upgrades that correspond to the number required for waitlisting segments using 500 mile or sticker upgrades. The total will drop at the time of request and update sometime after the flight closes at which time you’ll see the count return to “normal” but they don’t actually get withdrawn from an activity perspective unless they actually clear.
May 5, 2019, 1:20 pm
#220
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2006
Programs: AAdvantage PP
Posts: 13,913
I flew MIA/PHL yesterday morning. Y was oversold by 10 so I was rolled forward to F. I was not asked about having stickers deducted and would have turned down the upgrade for an early AM flight as I was already seated comfortably in 12F. In the past I've never had stickers taken in an operational upgrade. When I contacted AA today by phone I was told I would need to send an email to customer service, which I did. What are the chances I am refunded the 3 stickers, at least without a fight.
May 5, 2019, 1:50 pm
#221
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 12,483
I flew MIA/PHL yesterday morning. Y was oversold by 10 so I was rolled forward to F. I was not asked about having stickers deducted and would have turned down the upgrade for an early AM flight as I was already seated comfortably in 12F. In the past I've never had stickers taken in an operational upgrade. When I contacted AA today by phone I was told I would need to send an email to customer service, which I did. What are the chances I am refunded the 3 stickers, at least without a fight.
I've had stickers pulled before for companions for op-ups, and AAdvantage Customer Service has always reinstated them without any fight.
Jul 8, 2019, 11:55 am
#222
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Phoenix AZ
Programs: AA Executive Platinum, Marriott Titanium, National Executive, Delta Silver, United Silver
Posts: 57
What's the point of 500 mile upgrades?
They never accomplish anything. They just pile up. Is there some secret switch to be able to make use of them?
Jul 8, 2019, 12:00 pm
#224
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Programs: AAdvantage Exec Platinum, Hertz #1 Club Gold Five Star, IHG Platinum, Marriott Gold, HHonors Silver
Posts: 2,039
Jul 8, 2019, 12:02 pm
#225
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: MHK
Programs: AA Exec Plat - some level of status in IHG, Marriot & HIlton
Posts: 1,516
I am just gold and am able to use mine. In fact a couple weeks ago, I was at 0 and wished I had 2 for a flight from SDF-DFW on a Thursday. There was nobody on the upgrade list. Fortunately, that flight was what put me at the mark to earn 4 more, so I have them the next time. I would bet that chances are good I am able to use those 4 before I earn 4 more.