Dallas49er

And do it now!

enviroian

Understood but is it really a good value redeeming it for only a 2.5 hour flight. I assume only a snack basket.

andersonCooper

Although MEX is usually defined as International terminal by AA (so you will have access to FL if you are in one of the hubs), MEX is eligible for 500-miles/complimentary upgrade for PP and EXP. I had two DFW-MEX earlier this year when I was still PP, upgrade cleared pretty early.

"Upgrades on American are valid on American marketed and operated flights, within and between the U.S. (including Hawaii) and between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, the Bahamas, the Caribbean, Bermuda and Central America (based on availability). Upgrades are valid from the Main Cabin to the next class of service."

dkc192

IIRC DFW-MEX is an "exception" route and as such it receives full meal service for most, if not all, flights.

enviroian

Good info thanks all. I booked it --$384 RT and 7A seats to and fro. If I get upgraded great, otherwise I'll try to use the swu's to other farther locations. I got the hilton downtown for $94/night and am pretty excited to go. It's only a weekend in January myself, but Im a big museum person and love the culture and food.

mvoight

For a 2 1/2 hour flight, when there is a possibility of a sticker upgrade? (No stickers needed for the OP who is EXP)
That would seem to be a waste of an SWU

brewdog11

+1. Can empirically confirm that DFW-MEX would be a waste of a SWU. If the equipment is a 738, you'll most likely get the comp upgrade. If the SWU is going to expire and you have no other uses, then use it. Otherwise, save it for something better. It'd be more worthwhile to use it on a more competitive domestic route (i.e. DFW-LAX) if you don't have any international flights coming up.

NoLaGent

+1000.

MEX is great for a museum lover. The Museum of Anthropology is amazing and I'm also a huge fan of the Museo Soumaya.

andersonCooper

Same here! I got it when AA had this crazy deal RT EWR - DFW - MEX at ~$130 (of course Sunday DFW-EWR there is no way to upgrade, so I sat with 5 other EXP at BH), so I decided to do a MR on special fare (not necessary indeed) on a weekend. Definitely enjoyed my time there, and food of course.
Enjoy your trip!

sombrachinesca

(1) MEX is definitely a complimentary upgrade for EXP - most flights from DFW are 738's and are easy upgrades; a few are 319's and might be less likely; even so, 2 hrs in coach isn't that horrible.
(2) Depending on time of day, MEX-DFW can be just the "snack tray" - returning from MEX last weekend was a plate of 2 slices of meat or a plate with a few pieces of cheese; definitely not worth using a SWU...
(3) Lots and lots to see and do in Mexico City - enjoy!

SteveinA2

I have 59 unused so it could be worse :-)

Dallas49er

Okay then don't!. SWU availability in January is difficult, especially if it expires in January.

flightrisk

(Looks like my post got lost in merge)

DFW-MEX is essentially a domestic flight with domestic-level service. The meals will be the same as domestic meal options, although the dessert out of MEX is plated. If you would use a SWU on DFW-EWR or DFW-LAX, then consider using your SWU here.

Keep in mind that as EXP (or flying in J), DFW-MEX does qualify for Admirals Club access (if you don't already have it), and Flagship Dining in DFW D. So you could always eat in the lounges before your flight.

enviroian

Good info, thanks all.

I have one SWU that if not redeemed by 1/31/18 will expire. I currently have that SWU pending for AA 81 lhr-dfw on 11/26 and from what I can see I'll definitely still have that SWU after that flight so I will redeem it then assuming my lhr flight doesn't clear. That is of course assuming the SWU availability is still open for the MEX flight this time next week.

wjj

My experience last week was different.

I linked a non-status relative's record to my record so that she took on my status for upgrade purposes. She had no stickers. The upgrades cleared at about T-24. When my travel companion went to OLCI, she got the message that she could not check in because she had no stickers in her account and had to buy 3. I called the EXP line and they agreed that the stickers should come out of my account but the system was looking to the non-status account instead and that it could be fixed at the airport. I HUCA and got the same answer. Both reps said that if she had stickers, they would have been pulled from her account and she would be free and clear. Got to the airport (RSW) and they said they could not fix it and that she had to buy 3 stickers for her account in order to keep the upgrade. I finally got them to call their internal help desk and after 20 minutes, the help desk folks were able to pull from my account.

The interesting thing is that every person I talked to from AA on this matter said that the stickers would be pulled from the non-elite companion account in the system and not my account. All acknowledged the T&Cs seemed to say different but all said it seemed that there was a difference when the non-elite is on the same record as the sponsoring elite versus being on a different record that was linked as was my case. So,Mrs. wjj has 25 unused stickers in her account but no longer has elite status. No way to use these or transfer them, or convert to miles like in the past. So I asked each rep that if Mrs. wjj and I flew on separate records that I linked for upgrade purposes if we cleared, would the stickers get pulled from her account. All said, apparently, yes.

Seems crazy and not consistent with the T&Cs to me, but that is what happened.