Could I Save Miles Doing This? (Domestic EXP upgrade)
Mar 4, 2020, 7:59 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2008
Location: PHL (kinda, no airport is really close)
Programs: AA Exp, but not sure for how long. Enterprise Platinum woo-hoo!
Posts: 4,550
Could I Save Miles Doing This? (Domestic EXP upgrade)
I won’t actually do this but could I?
I’m EXP. I’m booked on AA573 tonight in F on an award ticket that cost 30k miles, redeye LAS-PHL. It shows F tickets available, 2 open F seats on the seat map, and the upgrade list is empty. Very surprising since it’s an A332 and the F seats are lie-flat. Departs in 5 hours (delayed). Y tickets are available for 25k.
i know EXPs are eligible for upgrades on award tix. I don’t know if they require upgrade stickers. Do they? If not, could I theoretically cancel the F award ticket and book a Y ticket for 5k fewer miles while being pretty sure I’d get upgraded? If I had to use stickers I probably wouldn’t trade 5 stickers for 5k miles.
I’m EXP. I’m booked on AA573 tonight in F on an award ticket that cost 30k miles, redeye LAS-PHL. It shows F tickets available, 2 open F seats on the seat map, and the upgrade list is empty. Very surprising since it’s an A332 and the F seats are lie-flat. Departs in 5 hours (delayed). Y tickets are available for 25k.
i know EXPs are eligible for upgrades on award tix. I don’t know if they require upgrade stickers. Do they? If not, could I theoretically cancel the F award ticket and book a Y ticket for 5k fewer miles while being pretty sure I’d get upgraded? If I had to use stickers I probably wouldn’t trade 5 stickers for 5k miles.
Mar 4, 2020, 8:10 pm
#2
Join Date: May 2010
Location: PHL
Programs: AA EXP, UA *S, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Titanium, Hyatt Exp, IHG Plat, National EE, Sixt Plat
Posts: 648
As EXP you do not need stickers. You'd probably not have any issue doing this as a one off, and at T-5 you should now be able to see the upgrade list to tell how much of a gamble it might be.
Just don't do something like this frequently, or AA will detect a pattern of you holding inventory you don't intend to use to manipulate the system.
Just don't do something like this frequently, or AA will detect a pattern of you holding inventory you don't intend to use to manipulate the system.
Mar 4, 2020, 8:13 pm
#3
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: DTW / SJC
Programs: AA EXP, DL DM, Marriott Titanium, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 764
Sure, you could do it - it's totally within published rules, and upgrades are complimentary on award tickets just as on revenue tickets.
You could also book LAS-PHL-ISP for 5K assuming no checked bags...I'm not condoning it but 25K is a big chunk of miles to get back
You could also book LAS-PHL-ISP for 5K assuming no checked bags...I'm not condoning it but 25K is a big chunk of miles to get back
Mar 4, 2020, 8:18 pm
#4
Join Date: Oct 2019
Posts: 4
How did you find this one?
Mar 5, 2020, 11:36 am
#7
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: USA
Programs: Chase Sapphire Reserve, WFBF
Posts: 1,573
It's within published rules to get an upgrade on an award ticket. It is 100% AGAINSTthe published rules to use an award ticket to hold space in a higher cabin with the intent of keeping it 'available' for you to get upgraded into by canceling at the last minute. Which is exactly what it will look like if the OP does this... for that reason, I would strongly advise against.
Mar 5, 2020, 12:00 pm
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: KHOU/KIAH
Programs: AA EXP | Marriott Bonvoy Titanium| Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 11,236
It's within published rules to get an upgrade on an award ticket. It is 100% AGAINSTthe published rules to use an award ticket to hold space in a higher cabin with the intent of keeping it 'available' for you to get upgraded into by canceling at the last minute. Which is exactly what it will look like if the OP does this... for that reason, I would strongly advise against.
I've had a case where a web saver popped up on the same flight for a fraction of the cost. Canceled mine and rebooked. Never had an issue.
Mar 6, 2020, 12:15 pm
#9
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: USA
Programs: Chase Sapphire Reserve, WFBF
Posts: 1,573
I would not advise making a habit of it, but there are one off circumstances where things change for the better; you weren't holding inventory for any nefarious purpose, it just so happened to work out that way.
I've had a case where a web saver popped up on the same flight for a fraction of the cost. Canceled mine and rebooked. Never had an issue.
I've had a case where a web saver popped up on the same flight for a fraction of the cost. Canceled mine and rebooked. Never had an issue.
In other words:
- Cancel and rebook a better price in the same cabin, definitely fine anytime before the flight.
- Cancel and rebook in a lower cabin ~a day or so before the flight while it's still likely that the airline can sell the space, unlikely to raise any red flag.
- Hold the ticket until T-4 when you can see the upgrade list, and then rebook only if you have a good shot at the upgrade (knowing that you've been holding F inventory that's unlikely to be resold so close to the flight), very risky IMHO.
Mar 6, 2020, 12:25 pm
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: KHOU/KIAH
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Posts: 11,236
How close to the flight did you do this, though? Close enough that you could see the upgrade list and knew you had a good shot at the upgrade? That to me is the difference in what was suggested at least by sjpmurph01 in post #2 .
In other words:
In other words:
- Cancel and rebook a better price in the same cabin, definitely fine anytime before the flight.
- Cancel and rebook in a lower cabin ~a day or so before the flight while it's still likely that the airline can sell the space, unlikely to raise any red flag.
- Hold the ticket until T-4 when you can see the upgrade list, and then rebook only if you have a good shot at the upgrade (knowing that you've been holding F inventory that's unlikely to be resold so close to the flight), very risky IMHO.
I think if I did it repeatedly, then it is risky. However once or twice where circumstances line up across hundreds of flights isn't.