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
Dec 4, 2019, 7:08 am
#316
Join Date: Jun 2011
Programs: United Premier Platinum
Posts: 638
So a companion on a separate PNR can still get the benefit of my status for the trip?
Dec 4, 2019, 7:51 am
#317
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 12,483
It will be no problem for them to use priority check-in with you, priority security, and they can board in your group. A simple "they're with me" works 99% of the time.
For seats, you just need to call AA to get them seated in preferred and/or MCE seats next to you for no charge.
Dec 5, 2019, 11:05 pm
#318
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: San Jose, California
Programs: AA Platinum Pro
Posts: 51
I'm pretty sure being correctly handled in IRROPS is a good benefit of being on the same PNR.
Dec 6, 2019, 5:42 am
#319
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 12,483
Complete non-issue. AA is not going to force your companion to take the bus while you're rerouted in First Class just because you're on a separate PNR. It doesn't work like that at all.
Dec 6, 2019, 8:07 am
#320
Join Date: Nov 2007
Programs: Marriott Bonvoy Platinum, Hilton Honors Diamond, Delta Gold
Posts: 4,349
Just to update, I took a gamble and decided to see if my upgrade using stickers would clear. Although it looked promising a couple of days out, yesterday morning the app started offering VDB vouchers and they had stopped selling seats for the flight so I knew that 99% I wouldn't get it. And I was right. I was #5 on the upgrade list and only the first person cleared.
I was fine with my MCE seat as the entire flight took only about 2 hrs 45 mins. For longer flights I book straight into J or F but for such relatively short flights E+ suits me fine.
I was fine with my MCE seat as the entire flight took only about 2 hrs 45 mins. For longer flights I book straight into J or F but for such relatively short flights E+ suits me fine.
Dec 14, 2019, 4:43 pm
#321
Join Date: Apr 2011
Programs: Marriott Ambassador, AA ExecPlat, Amtrak Select Exec, former WN apologist
Posts: 1,428
Missing a flight with upgrade - what happens to stickers?
I am sure this has been asked before, but I could not find. I have an upcoming (domestic) flight that there is a decent chance I will be late for due to a rescheduled work meeting. I would like to request to use a sticker upgrade to F, but am worried about losing the stickers if I miss the flight and have to rebook on a later one. What happens in this scenario (assuming the upgrade clears)? Are the stickers redeposited or do I lose them permanently?
Dec 14, 2019, 10:12 pm
#323
Join Date: Nov 2007
Programs: Marriott Bonvoy Platinum, Hilton Honors Diamond, Delta Gold
Posts: 4,349
Just to update, I took a gamble and decided to see if my upgrade using stickers would clear. Although it looked promising a couple of days out, yesterday morning the app started offering VDB vouchers and they had stopped selling seats for the flight so I knew that 99% I wouldn't get it. And I was right. I was #5 on the upgrade list and only the first person cleared.
I was fine with my MCE seat as the entire flight took only about 2 hrs 45 mins. For longer flights I book straight into J or F but for such relatively short flights E+ suits me fine.
I was fine with my MCE seat as the entire flight took only about 2 hrs 45 mins. For longer flights I book straight into J or F but for such relatively short flights E+ suits me fine.
.
Dec 15, 2019, 2:32 pm
#324
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: San Jose, California
Programs: AA Platinum Pro
Posts: 51
You can't rely on the agent doing things in your favor since it's officially against policy, but you can be friendly and hope for the best.
Dec 17, 2019, 8:13 pm
#325
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Seattle
Programs: AAdvantage Plat+, FoundersCard, Amex Plat, TR Diamond, Marriott Gold, Wyndham Dia, HH Gold, Hertz 5*
Posts: 785
I am Platinum Pro and will be flying with no-status Mrs Huge in 5 days, both on revenue tix purchased together on one record: STT-MIA / MIA-SAN. Upgrades for her are already shown as requested online, and will cost 3x 500-mile stickers for STT-MIA and 5x stickers for MIA-SAN.
Mrs Huge has 20x 500-mile upgrade stickers in her account from a previous status challenge. I only have four, and I will drop to Gold next year and she will remain without status. If we both manage to get upgraded we would much prefer to spend her stickers rather than mine, and in fact I don't have enough to upgrade her on the second leg of our trip. Is there any way to make sure that her stickers are used if she can be upgraded? (Or will that happen automatically?)
Mrs Huge has 20x 500-mile upgrade stickers in her account from a previous status challenge. I only have four, and I will drop to Gold next year and she will remain without status. If we both manage to get upgraded we would much prefer to spend her stickers rather than mine, and in fact I don't have enough to upgrade her on the second leg of our trip. Is there any way to make sure that her stickers are used if she can be upgraded? (Or will that happen automatically?)
Dec 17, 2019, 9:57 pm
#326
Join Date: Jul 2001
Programs: AA EP
Posts: 2,203
Technically, since she is using ur status, the stickers are suppose to come from ur account. And since she has no status, I don’t believe she can even use hers
ymmv.
ymmv.
I am Platinum Pro and will be flying with no-status Mrs Huge in 5 days, both on revenue tix purchased together on one record: STT-MIA / MIA-SAN. Upgrades for her are already shown as requested online, and will cost 3x 500-mile stickers for STT-MIA and 5x stickers for MIA-SAN.
Mrs Huge has 20x 500-mile upgrade stickers in her account from a previous status challenge. I only have four, and I will drop to Gold next year and she will remain without status. If we both manage to get upgraded we would much prefer to spend her stickers rather than mine, and in fact I don't have enough to upgrade her on the second leg of our trip. Is there any way to make sure that her stickers are used if she can be upgraded? (Or will that happen automatically?)
Mrs Huge has 20x 500-mile upgrade stickers in her account from a previous status challenge. I only have four, and I will drop to Gold next year and she will remain without status. If we both manage to get upgraded we would much prefer to spend her stickers rather than mine, and in fact I don't have enough to upgrade her on the second leg of our trip. Is there any way to make sure that her stickers are used if she can be upgraded? (Or will that happen automatically?)
Dec 18, 2019, 12:54 pm
#327
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: MDE
Programs: AA-PLT, HH-GLD, PP
Posts: 1,511
I am Platinum Pro and will be flying with no-status Mrs Huge in 5 days, both on revenue tix purchased together on one record: STT-MIA / MIA-SAN. Upgrades for her are already shown as requested online, and will cost 3x 500-mile stickers for STT-MIA and 5x stickers for MIA-SAN.
Mrs Huge has 20x 500-mile upgrade stickers in her account from a previous status challenge. I only have four, and I will drop to Gold next year and she will remain without status. If we both manage to get upgraded we would much prefer to spend her stickers rather than mine, and in fact I don't have enough to upgrade her on the second leg of our trip. Is there any way to make sure that her stickers are used if she can be upgraded? (Or will that happen automatically?)
Mrs Huge has 20x 500-mile upgrade stickers in her account from a previous status challenge. I only have four, and I will drop to Gold next year and she will remain without status. If we both manage to get upgraded we would much prefer to spend her stickers rather than mine, and in fact I don't have enough to upgrade her on the second leg of our trip. Is there any way to make sure that her stickers are used if she can be upgraded? (Or will that happen automatically?)
Link to AA page:
https://www.aa.com/i18n/aadvantage-p...with-miles.jsp
Dec 18, 2019, 8:11 pm
#328
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Seattle
Programs: AAdvantage Plat+, FoundersCard, Amex Plat, TR Diamond, Marriott Gold, Wyndham Dia, HH Gold, Hertz 5*
Posts: 785
Thanks for your reply - does this mean there is really no way to spend hers, even if I don't have enough and she does? (For example if we get upgraded on the first leg so I spend 3 of my 4 on her upgrade but then we're eligible to be upgraded for the second leg that would cost 5)
Dec 18, 2019, 8:26 pm
#329
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Seattle
Programs: AAdvantage Plat+, FoundersCard, Amex Plat, TR Diamond, Marriott Gold, Wyndham Dia, HH Gold, Hertz 5*
Posts: 785
Instead of buying stickers, you may want to consider putting yourselves on the list for a mileage upgrade. I believe that it would be $75 plus 15K miles per person. The mileage upgrade would be confirmed before a sticker upgrade and you would be ahead of everybody else on the complimentary upgrade list. If you both do get the sticker upgrades for both legs, you would have to buy 12 stickers - $480.
Link to AA page:
https://www.aa.com/i18n/aadvantage-p...with-miles.jsp
Link to AA page:
https://www.aa.com/i18n/aadvantage-p...with-miles.jsp
We're probably too cheap to pay actual dollars for the upgrade.