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 11, 2021, 5:11 pm
#541
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: DCA/CLT/HKG
Programs: AA EXP (Former US CP)
Posts: 731
Traveling with a companion tomorrow on a segment that requires three stickers. I didn't have enough for them to upgrade during check-in so I purchased two via the check-in process as directed. However, the sticker count hasn't been updated since purchasing during the check-in process (despite receiving a receipt stating I purchased two stickers) and the one sticker I had in my account has disappeared (it's showing I have zero stickers in my account) making it appear that their upgrade did in fact clear and the upgrade still shows "requested".
I reached out to CS via the chat function and they stated that I had four stickers in my account (unsure where the additional sticker came from) and the upgrade just hasn't been confirmed yet.
Is this some type of glitch? I thought that stickers purchased during check-in were supposed to post automatically?
I reached out to CS via the chat function and they stated that I had four stickers in my account (unsure where the additional sticker came from) and the upgrade just hasn't been confirmed yet.
Is this some type of glitch? I thought that stickers purchased during check-in were supposed to post automatically?
Dec 19, 2021, 11:49 am
#542
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 742
For the purpose of complementary upgrades, is there a list of countries included in "North and Central America, Caribbean". I've seen reports that colombia, peru, and ecuador are included in that, but can't find a definitive answer (and I don't think anyone considers those in Central America).
Also for EXP upgrades on awards, is that only using AA miles? Or could avios be used, etc...
Thanks in advance and happy holidays.
Also for EXP upgrades on awards, is that only using AA miles? Or could avios be used, etc...
Thanks in advance and happy holidays.
Dec 19, 2021, 12:40 pm
#543
Join Date: Aug 2021
Location: SLC, PHX
Programs: DL DM, BA Gold
Posts: 64
Hi first post in the AA forum and thanks in advance!
I have an upcoming trip with two companions. I am Plat Pro and the companions are general members. We are booked into one PNR so upgrade option doesn’t show up in the app. I wonder if there is any way that I can request upgrade (just for me) other than split the PNR? Or if I split the PNR, will my companions lose their selected seats in MCE (the plane is 789 so the actual seats are premium economy)?
Thanks again and happy holidays!
I have an upcoming trip with two companions. I am Plat Pro and the companions are general members. We are booked into one PNR so upgrade option doesn’t show up in the app. I wonder if there is any way that I can request upgrade (just for me) other than split the PNR? Or if I split the PNR, will my companions lose their selected seats in MCE (the plane is 789 so the actual seats are premium economy)?
Thanks again and happy holidays!
Dec 19, 2021, 1:00 pm
#544
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 12,481
Hi first post in the AA forum and thanks in advance!
I have an upcoming trip with two companions. I am Plat Pro and the companions are general members. We are booked into one PNR so upgrade option doesn’t show up in the app. I wonder if there is any way that I can request upgrade (just for me) other than split the PNR? Or if I split the PNR, will my companions lose their selected seats in MCE (the plane is 789 so the actual seats are premium economy)?
Thanks again and happy holidays!
I have an upcoming trip with two companions. I am Plat Pro and the companions are general members. We are booked into one PNR so upgrade option doesn’t show up in the app. I wonder if there is any way that I can request upgrade (just for me) other than split the PNR? Or if I split the PNR, will my companions lose their selected seats in MCE (the plane is 789 so the actual seats are premium economy)?
Thanks again and happy holidays!
Dec 23, 2021, 6:31 pm
#547
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: NYC
Programs: AA EXP / LT PLT / 3MM, Marriott LT Gold
Posts: 35,389
Dec 23, 2021, 6:32 pm
#548
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Madison WI
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT - 2.9MM, Lifetime AC, HHonors Gold, Marriott Gold, IHG Plat Amb, Hertz Precs Crcl
Posts: 2,213
No. Of that, I'm pretty sure! But you do have to call and have the PNR's setup properly.
Dec 23, 2021, 10:47 pm
#549
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Live: IWI; Work: DCA/Everywhere; Play: LAS/SJU/MLE
Programs: AA EXP, DL PM, Hyatt Glob, Marriott Ambassador/LTP, Nat'l Exec Elite, LEYE Gold
Posts: 6,670
Hi there! Could you help me with record xxxxxx (for myself, [name1]) and record xxxxxx (for [name2])? We're both on the same flight from XXX to YYY on MM/DD/YYYY.
Can you list [name2] as [name1]'s companion for the comp/sticker upgrade on those flights, using [name1]'s status to clear? Thank you!
Can you list [name2] as [name1]'s companion for the comp/sticker upgrade on those flights, using [name1]'s status to clear? Thank you!
Dec 24, 2021, 6:34 am
#550
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: NYC
Programs: AA EXP / LT PLT / 3MM, Marriott LT Gold
Posts: 35,389
Dec 24, 2021, 8:47 am
#553
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Madison WI
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT - 2.9MM, Lifetime AC, HHonors Gold, Marriott Gold, IHG Plat Amb, Hertz Precs Crcl
Posts: 2,213
Completely agree! (When I started doing this, DM to AA/Twitter had not yet been created! But they are a fantastic group, often doing what a phone agent may say is not possible. And no waiting on hold. Just check back later that day or the next.)
Dec 24, 2021, 8:49 am
#554
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: NYC
Posts: 27,234
Not really. If the companion has status and stickers he can request his own upgrade. If he wants to use a higher-status companion’s priority, then it needs to be requested as a companion upgrade by the higher elite, using the higher elite’s own stickers.
Dec 24, 2021, 9:31 am
#555
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Live: IWI; Work: DCA/Everywhere; Play: LAS/SJU/MLE
Programs: AA EXP, DL PM, Hyatt Glob, Marriott Ambassador/LTP, Nat'l Exec Elite, LEYE Gold
Posts: 6,670
yes and yes! When wife (PPRO but usually Gold/Plat) travel with others, I'll sponsor someone and she'll sponsor someone else.