Jul 28, 2015, 12:06 pm
Last edit by: Prospero
Mileage and copayment upgrades on American Airlines
As of May 20, 2017 upgrade prioritization is:
Enjoy a higher cabin of service Link.
Use your AAdvantage miles to upgrade on flights marketed and operated by American Airlines or American Eagle for yourself or anyone you designate.
Upgrades are valid to the next cabin of service* and are valid for a single one-way trip with a maximum of three segments. Upgrades are subject to capacity controls. Excluding award tickets, the following eligible fare types can be upgraded:
*E.g. Economy to Business, Business to three class First. At this time Premium Economy is treated as Economy for upgrade purposes.
See the chart here for cost in miles and dollars.
NOTE: The most expensive fare classes, full fare Economy Y, full fare Premium Economy W, and full fare Business J, may be upgraded without copay and at a lower cost in miles. See here.
Taxes and carrier-imposed fees:
Co-payment is non-refundable and inclusive of U.S. excise tax where applicable.
Mileage upgrade award tickets are subject to applicable taxes and security fees and may incur additional taxes as a result of upgrading to a higher class cabin (includes higher U.K. Air Passenger Duty If Flight originates in the UK or is a connecting flight with a connection time of 24:00 or more)..)
NOTE:
Miles and copay upgrades are to the next available cabin of service, are based on inventory being available, usable on AA marketed and operated flights (not codeshares operated by other airlines, not on other airlines' prime flights - BA and IB allow miles upgrades with AA miles but are very different and therefore not treated here).
See AA Participating Airline Upgrade Award - BA, IB, including codeshares (master thd), and note “one class of service” means Y to PE, PE to J, J to F where available on BA.
If the required inventory exists, they can be booked positively (i.e. upgraded immediately); if not, the request is wait listed. Wait list clearance is by status (EXP highest, no status lowest), and within status priority is by rolling 12 month EQD spend. Elites can have one traveling companion on the same PNR "borrow" their status for upgrade wait list purposes, until the request goes to the airport list, where you may want to assure your travel companion continues to hold your “borrowed” status for upgrade purposes.
Copays are waived for CK on all flights.
Frequently Asked Questions / FAQ:
Q. It says the upgrade fees are nonrefundable. Do I lose my miles and money if I'm not upgraded?
If your upgrade request does not go through, miles and copay are in fact refunded.
Q. If I am waitlisted, in what priority order are upgrades processed?
Upgrades are processed first by AAdvantage status tier, secondarily by type of upgrade, thirdly by the previous rolling 12 month EQD spend.
Q. Which has higher priority if all other preceding factors are the same? An upgraded with miles + copay, or an upgraded with SWU?
They have equal priority. A few reports state copay + upgrade have been given priority at some overseas stations.
Q. How soon will I know if my upgrade came through?
It can happen anytime inventory opens, from the time you book until the time you board. (Your request, including date and time of request, should carry over automatically to the airport list.)
Q. How soon will I know if my upgrade came through?
It can happen anytime inventory opens, from the time you book until the time you board. (Your request, including date and time of request, should carry over automatically to the airport list.)
Q. What happens to my booked seat whilst I'm waitlisted? If my upgrade doesn't come through, do I lose my reserved seat?
You normally retain your booked seat until (if) your upgrade comes through.
Q. How many flights can I upgrade with a single miles plus copay upgrade?
You may (assuming available inventory) upgrade up to three segments on the same ticketed itinerary (e.g. LHR-ORD-MIA-EZE, as long as they are on the same PNR).
Q. Can I look at AAnytime or MileSAAver award space to determine upgrade availability?
No. MileSAAver availability may be a good indication upgrade space may become available, but SAAver and upgrade inventories are separate.
Q. What fare inventory do I need to upgrade?
You need available "C" inventory to upgrade to two class domestic First and three class Business, "A" to three class First. These are not shown on aa.com, but some services (e.g. ExpertFlyer) do show them. The only way to reliably search for upgrade space on Expertflyer or other services is segment by segment. The reason for this is that by rule if C is available on the stand alone segment then the upgrade is allowed.
Q. I'm Executive Platinum. If I purchase an upgrade for someone without status, will they "borrow" my status for upgrade purposes?
They will if they are flying as your single traveling companion on the same flights. Otherwise, their status will determine their position on the upgrade wait list. This "borrowed" status was previously lost once the flight has gone to airport control; it doesn’t now, but it pays to check and see if it has been mismanaged by software - it can be restored when it has passed to airport control.
Q. Which miles earning and fare conditions will apply to my upgraded flights?
You will earn miles (award miles -- RDM -- and EQM) and EQ Dollars credit as determined by your originally purchased fare, and the applicable fare rules will also be determined by your originally purchased fare.
Older posts can be read in ARCHIVE: FAQ: Miles + Copay Upgrade / Upgrades (consolidated)
As of May 20, 2017 upgrade prioritization is:
- Elite status
- Concierge Key
- Executive Platinum
- Platinum Pro
- Platinum
- Gold
- Platinum
- Platinum Pro
- Executive Platinum
- Upgrade type
- Miles and copay award upgrades and systemwide upgrades (SWU)
- 500 mile upgrades on purchased tickets (including EXP complimentary UDU)
- 500 mile upgrades on upgrade eligible awards (including EXP complimentary UDU)
- 500 mile upgrades on purchased tickets (including EXP complimentary UDU)
- Elite qualifying dollars* in the past 12 months
- Booking class (in order, J, D, I, W, P, Y, H, K, M, L, V, G, S, N, Q, O, T)
- Time of request
- Booking class (in order, J, D, I, W, P, Y, H, K, M, L, V, G, S, N, Q, O, T)
- Miles and copay award upgrades and systemwide upgrades (SWU)
- Concierge Key
Enjoy a higher cabin of service Link.
Use your AAdvantage miles to upgrade on flights marketed and operated by American Airlines or American Eagle for yourself or anyone you designate.
Upgrades are valid to the next cabin of service* and are valid for a single one-way trip with a maximum of three segments. Upgrades are subject to capacity controls. Excluding award tickets, the following eligible fare types can be upgraded:
- Discount Economy with published fares booked in H,K,M,L,W,V,G,Q,N,O,S and
- Military or Government fares booked in Y
- Full-Fare Economy with published fares booked in Y
- Discount Premium Economy with published fares booked in P
- Full-Fare Premium Economy with published fares booked in W
- Discount Business with published fares booked in I
- Full-Fare Business with published fares booked in J, D or R
- Basic Economy fares booked in B are not upgradable
- Full-Fare Business with published fares booked in J, D or R
- Discount Business with published fares booked in I
- Full-Fare Premium Economy with published fares booked in W
- Discount Premium Economy with published fares booked in P
- Full-Fare Economy with published fares booked in Y
- Military or Government fares booked in Y
*E.g. Economy to Business, Business to three class First. At this time Premium Economy is treated as Economy for upgrade purposes.
See the chart here for cost in miles and dollars.
NOTE: The most expensive fare classes, full fare Economy Y, full fare Premium Economy W, and full fare Business J, may be upgraded without copay and at a lower cost in miles. See here.
Taxes and carrier-imposed fees:
Co-payment is non-refundable and inclusive of U.S. excise tax where applicable.
Mileage upgrade award tickets are subject to applicable taxes and security fees and may incur additional taxes as a result of upgrading to a higher class cabin (includes higher U.K. Air Passenger Duty If Flight originates in the UK or is a connecting flight with a connection time of 24:00 or more)..)
- Upgrading from Economy Class to Business Class or First Class may result in additional premium cabin taxes and carrier-imposed fees, including but not limited to flights originating in Great Britain and France.
- If the ticket is priced in USD, the additional taxes and carrier-imposed fees will be converted to USD at the time of ticketing.
- Please contact American Airlines Reservations to obtain applicable taxes and carrier-imposed fees for specific itineraries.
- If the ticket is priced in USD, the additional taxes and carrier-imposed fees will be converted to USD at the time of ticketing.
NOTE:
Miles and copay upgrades are to the next available cabin of service, are based on inventory being available, usable on AA marketed and operated flights (not codeshares operated by other airlines, not on other airlines' prime flights - BA and IB allow miles upgrades with AA miles but are very different and therefore not treated here).
See AA Participating Airline Upgrade Award - BA, IB, including codeshares (master thd), and note “one class of service” means Y to PE, PE to J, J to F where available on BA.
If the required inventory exists, they can be booked positively (i.e. upgraded immediately); if not, the request is wait listed. Wait list clearance is by status (EXP highest, no status lowest), and within status priority is by rolling 12 month EQD spend. Elites can have one traveling companion on the same PNR "borrow" their status for upgrade wait list purposes, until the request goes to the airport list, where you may want to assure your travel companion continues to hold your “borrowed” status for upgrade purposes.
Copays are waived for CK on all flights.
Frequently Asked Questions / FAQ:
Q. It says the upgrade fees are nonrefundable. Do I lose my miles and money if I'm not upgraded?
If your upgrade request does not go through, miles and copay are in fact refunded.
Q. If I am waitlisted, in what priority order are upgrades processed?
Upgrades are processed first by AAdvantage status tier, secondarily by type of upgrade, thirdly by the previous rolling 12 month EQD spend.
Q. Which has higher priority if all other preceding factors are the same? An upgraded with miles + copay, or an upgraded with SWU?
They have equal priority. A few reports state copay + upgrade have been given priority at some overseas stations.
Q. How soon will I know if my upgrade came through?
It can happen anytime inventory opens, from the time you book until the time you board. (Your request, including date and time of request, should carry over automatically to the airport list.)
Q. How soon will I know if my upgrade came through?
It can happen anytime inventory opens, from the time you book until the time you board. (Your request, including date and time of request, should carry over automatically to the airport list.)
Q. What happens to my booked seat whilst I'm waitlisted? If my upgrade doesn't come through, do I lose my reserved seat?
You normally retain your booked seat until (if) your upgrade comes through.
Q. How many flights can I upgrade with a single miles plus copay upgrade?
You may (assuming available inventory) upgrade up to three segments on the same ticketed itinerary (e.g. LHR-ORD-MIA-EZE, as long as they are on the same PNR).
Q. Can I look at AAnytime or MileSAAver award space to determine upgrade availability?
No. MileSAAver availability may be a good indication upgrade space may become available, but SAAver and upgrade inventories are separate.
Q. What fare inventory do I need to upgrade?
You need available "C" inventory to upgrade to two class domestic First and three class Business, "A" to three class First. These are not shown on aa.com, but some services (e.g. ExpertFlyer) do show them. The only way to reliably search for upgrade space on Expertflyer or other services is segment by segment. The reason for this is that by rule if C is available on the stand alone segment then the upgrade is allowed.
Q. I'm Executive Platinum. If I purchase an upgrade for someone without status, will they "borrow" my status for upgrade purposes?
They will if they are flying as your single traveling companion on the same flights. Otherwise, their status will determine their position on the upgrade wait list. This "borrowed" status was previously lost once the flight has gone to airport control; it doesn’t now, but it pays to check and see if it has been mismanaged by software - it can be restored when it has passed to airport control.
Q. Which miles earning and fare conditions will apply to my upgraded flights?
You will earn miles (award miles -- RDM -- and EQM) and EQ Dollars credit as determined by your originally purchased fare, and the applicable fare rules will also be determined by your originally purchased fare.
Older posts can be read in ARCHIVE: FAQ: Miles + Copay Upgrade / Upgrades (consolidated)
FAQ: Miles + Copay Upgrade / Upgrades (master thread)
May 31, 2018, 1:32 pm
#467
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: PHX & AGP
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Gold
Posts: 11,453
Is the distinction between discount and full-fare made using the fare basis, or the inventory into which the fare tickets? In other words, if I find an -UP fare that books all segments into Y and W, would I be charged the discounted 'full-fare' mileage rate or the heftier 'discount' rate?
May 31, 2018, 2:07 pm
#468
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 12,465
Is the distinction between discount and full-fare made using the fare basis, or the inventory into which the fare tickets? In other words, if I find an -UP fare that books all segments into Y and W, would I be charged the discounted 'full-fare' mileage rate or the heftier 'discount' rate?
Eh, no, for upgrades from coach to business, full fare econ or premium econ (Y or W fare basis) requires less miles and no-copay.
May 31, 2018, 2:25 pm
#469
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: USA SE Asia
Programs: AA Gold, United Nobody (Emirates Etihad Thai Air Hong Kong Air Scoot Nobody) HHonors Diamond
Posts: 30
This leads to my follow up.. GIven the difference in upgrade costs between discount economy and premium economy AND that a miles + Copay upgrade is good for ONE level of service, does AA consider an upgrade request from discount economy to be an upgrade to Premium Economy or to Business. I have never been upgraded fly 2-3 Transpacs a year usually DFW-NRT (after Etihad quit their DFW-AUH nonstop) BKK is always my final destination. Never moved from a discount economy ticket to J (before the PE sections were established) The only way I get into J is booking the award ticket outright Now flying DFW-HKG in P and was just curious if high status in discount economy would be upgraded to J before a low status in Premium Economy to J. Sorry I wasn't more clear in my original question (although I will probably get the same answer) Thanks in advance
May 31, 2018, 2:48 pm
#470
Join Date: Aug 2017
Programs: AA PLT, IHG Spire
Posts: 551
Right now it is a discount econ to Buisness, only prioritized by elite status. So a high status discount Y to J will trump a low status full premium economy W to J.
If C inventory is available though, miles and copay will confirm instantly.
If C inventory is available though, miles and copay will confirm instantly.
May 31, 2018, 7:48 pm
#471
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: DFW
Programs: OWE AA EXP;*A TK Gold; Marriott LTT; Hyatt Globalist; IHG Plat; National VIP
Posts: 3,097
SWU and miles copay mixing questions
Went ahead and requested miles and copay for both outbound and return. If one clears, can I then swap miles and copay to SWU for the other one at that point? Has anyone experienced this?
Thanks
May 31, 2018, 7:59 pm
#472
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: PHX & AGP
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Gold
Posts: 11,453
I just did a CO-Pay and mileage upgrade to J on our flights to DUB next march, we are booked in PE now J, it was $350 + 50K miles (for 2) this is what we paid when we came back from PEK last Nov on a DIRT cheap Y fare.
May 31, 2018, 8:34 pm
#473
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 12,465
If you actually purchase a full fare with basis code Y or W, then an upgrade on AA will cost fewer miles and no co-pay, which is what the poster was asking about above.
Otherwise, all economy and premium economy fares other than Y and W basis require the same miles and co-pay amount.
May 31, 2018, 11:08 pm
#474
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Gatwick, UK
Programs: UA *G, BA Silver
Posts: 1,673
Premium Economy is either sold as P (with H for segments without PE) or as W (with Y for segments without PE). Only the latter gets the reduced miles and no copay option. Upgrades from P cost the same as upgrades from Q, N or V. The good thing is W fares on AA are often quite reasonable (unlike on BA).
Jun 14, 2018, 7:02 am
#475
Join Date: Nov 2017
Programs: AAdvantage
Posts: 26
I have a question.
I put in for a miles + copay upgrade to J on a flight from DFW to FCO. Fare code S outbound and V return. I just noticed that I did get the upgrade on the return from FCO to DFW, but noting on the outbound with 9 seats available in J.
My question is...
If I don't get the upgrade to J, will I automatically get moved to MCE if there are seats available?
I put in for a miles + copay upgrade to J on a flight from DFW to FCO. Fare code S outbound and V return. I just noticed that I did get the upgrade on the return from FCO to DFW, but noting on the outbound with 9 seats available in J.
My question is...
If I don't get the upgrade to J, will I automatically get moved to MCE if there are seats available?
Jun 14, 2018, 7:04 am
#476
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 12,465
I have a question.
I put in for a miles + copay upgrade to J on a flight from DFW to FCO. Fare code S outbound and V return. I just noticed that I did get the upgrade on the return from FCO to DFW, but noting on the outbound with 9 seats available in J.
My question is...
If I don't get the upgrade to J, will I automatically get moved to MCE if there are seats available?
I put in for a miles + copay upgrade to J on a flight from DFW to FCO. Fare code S outbound and V return. I just noticed that I did get the upgrade on the return from FCO to DFW, but noting on the outbound with 9 seats available in J.
My question is...
If I don't get the upgrade to J, will I automatically get moved to MCE if there are seats available?
Jun 22, 2018, 1:12 am
#478
Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 1
Upgrade from P no copay
Here's some interesting data points. Back in October I booked RT LAX>NRT in premium economy (P fare). On the return flight, a few days out 2 upgrades in the C bucket opened up. I called up to upgrade, and was told it was only 15,000 miles per person w/o copay - not the 25k + $350 as listed in AA's chart for P fares. I assumed it was a misinformed agent and thanked my good fortune as I booked the upgrade for only miles.
Jump to today and I just did the same thing, upgrading a leg from BCN to JFK that was booked in P class to J with only 15k per person and no co pay! Anybody else have this happen? If agents are treating all premium economy as no co pay it makes sense to just pay the extra ~$200 differnce for low fare PE and save $150 and 10k miles per person
Jump to today and I just did the same thing, upgrading a leg from BCN to JFK that was booked in P class to J with only 15k per person and no co pay! Anybody else have this happen? If agents are treating all premium economy as no co pay it makes sense to just pay the extra ~$200 differnce for low fare PE and save $150 and 10k miles per person
Jun 22, 2018, 6:19 am
#479
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: PA
Programs: AA-EXP, Marriott(T)
Posts: 208
Sorry if this has been covered, didn't find it in the search.
Flying PHL to FRA on July 2, booked in Y.
Right now there are 6 open in J and 15 in PE.
What are the options to upgrade to PE? Is that the regular miles + copay or are there other options, since I'm thinking the upgrade to J won't go through. Are upgrades to PE offered for $$ at OLCI? I'm thinking that it's not worth it, but looking for advice on this one route.
Thanks, V
Flying PHL to FRA on July 2, booked in Y.
Right now there are 6 open in J and 15 in PE.
What are the options to upgrade to PE? Is that the regular miles + copay or are there other options, since I'm thinking the upgrade to J won't go through. Are upgrades to PE offered for $$ at OLCI? I'm thinking that it's not worth it, but looking for advice on this one route.
Thanks, V
Jun 22, 2018, 6:41 am
#480
Join Date: Aug 2017
Programs: AA PLT, IHG Spire
Posts: 551
Right now there is no official upgrade path to PE. Short of upfaring your ticket to the higher cabin, there isn't anything you can do to upgrade to PE.
I'm not sure about any LFBUs that could be offered at check in.
I'm not sure about any LFBUs that could be offered at check in.