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)
Jun 3, 2019, 4:23 pm
#676
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Gatwick, UK
Programs: UA *G, BA Silver
Posts: 1,673
I sold up/upfared from coach to premium economy on an international flight (US to Europe). At the time, the agent who processed the sell-up told me that to upgrade to business from PE would only be 15,000 miles rather than 25,000, and there would be no copay. This is also what the website reflects. I got on the upgrade list, was not charged a copay, and was eventually upgraded on both legs of the outbound (a few minutes after boarding for Rome my BP changed from PE to Biz). However, after the outbound flights last week, I was charged 40,000 miles, then refunded 15,000, for a net charge of 25,000 miles. On both the outbound and return, the domestic leg is in Y, the international (PE) in W. It seems like this should have been a 15,000 mile charge, not 25,000.
I would very much like to complain about this but don't want to spend a lot of vacation time arguing with AA unless I have do. Do I have a legitimate beef or did I misread something?
I would very much like to complain about this but don't want to spend a lot of vacation time arguing with AA unless I have do. Do I have a legitimate beef or did I misread something?
I would wait until you return from vacation to sort it out - there's no great rush - unless you need the miles for your return upgrade.
Jun 7, 2019, 2:12 pm
#677
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: ABQ
Programs: AA Plat Pro, HH Dia
Posts: 268
Jun 7, 2019, 10:29 pm
#678
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Gatwick, UK
Programs: UA *G, BA Silver
Posts: 1,673
See, that's what I thought. However, I did finally check in with AA on this, and the word from the Platinum desk is that there are two types of W PE fares: fully refundable and non-refundable. Non-refundable fares are "discount" fares and require the 25K miles and copay. This might be a lingering consequence of upfaring from what was probably a discount economy fare. There was no upgrade copay, so maybe I'll chalk this one up as a win.
There are indeed different varieties of W fare - some refundable and some not - but the upgrade table does not distinguish between these, it simply distinguishes Discount PE in P and Full-fare PE in W.
I think that whatever they tell you on the phone you should ask them to request a check from the upgrade audit team - these are the folks who can return SWUs when the wrong one is used, and they can go back in time 18-24 months. I've never heard of this being done for Miles Upgrade, but the same principle should apply.
Jun 11, 2019, 1:19 pm
#680
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: LAX
Programs: AA EXP, SPG Gold
Posts: 181
I've sometimes had it take over a week for the miles to be deducted and the CC charge to go through.
Jun 11, 2019, 4:54 pm
#681
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: LAX
Programs: DL, AS, Marriott, Hyatt, National
Posts: 862
I am waitlisted for a miles + copay upgrade, and C space has opened up, but the AA CSR refused to process the upgrade off the waitlist even though there are seats available. In the past, I never had an issue getting the upgrade pushed through over the phone with inventory available. Did I just get a bad agent?
Jun 11, 2019, 5:21 pm
#682
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 12,443
I am waitlisted for a miles + copay upgrade, and C space has opened up, but the AA CSR refused to process the upgrade off the waitlist even though there are seats available. In the past, I never had an issue getting the upgrade pushed through over the phone with inventory available. Did I just get a bad agent?
Jun 11, 2019, 6:51 pm
#683
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: AUS
Programs: BAEC Gold, AA PPro, Hyatt Globalist, Amex Plat
Posts: 7,029
I am waitlisted for a miles + copay upgrade, and C space has opened up, but the AA CSR refused to process the upgrade off the waitlist even though there are seats available. In the past, I never had an issue getting the upgrade pushed through over the phone with inventory available. Did I just get a bad agent?
Regards
Jun 12, 2019, 2:33 am
#684
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: ABQ
Programs: AA Plat Pro, HH Dia
Posts: 268
I don't believe them at all - I upgrade W fares all the time and have never encountered any request for more than 15000 miles.
There are indeed different varieties of W fare - some refundable and some not - but the upgrade table does not distinguish between these, it simply distinguishes Discount PE in P and Full-fare PE in W.
I think that whatever they tell you on the phone you should ask them to request a check from the upgrade audit team - these are the folks who can return SWUs when the wrong one is used, and they can go back in time 18-24 months. I've never heard of this being done for Miles Upgrade, but the same principle should apply.
There are indeed different varieties of W fare - some refundable and some not - but the upgrade table does not distinguish between these, it simply distinguishes Discount PE in P and Full-fare PE in W.
I think that whatever they tell you on the phone you should ask them to request a check from the upgrade audit team - these are the folks who can return SWUs when the wrong one is used, and they can go back in time 18-24 months. I've never heard of this being done for Miles Upgrade, but the same principle should apply.
Edited to add:
The supervisor at the US-based AAdvantage Customer Service was able to fix this. There should be no copay on upgrades to C from W, and only 15k miles each way, not 25k. It took some research on their end, but the final resolution is that the 25k transaction is being reversed, my account will be unlocked, and no copay is required. I did have to repeat "That's not what the published award chart states" a few times before being transferred to the supervisor. My travel plans were not affected; the upgrade for the return had already cleared and I'd checked in online this morning. It sounds like the W fare was (incorrectly?) flagged as 'discount' because the original economy fare was discount.
Last edited by ABQ Jon; Jun 12, 2019 at 9:13 am
Jun 17, 2019, 4:50 pm
#685
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Chicago
Programs: AA Plat Pro, HH Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 124
Has anyone been successful in a domestic same day flight change within 24 hours after this upgrade clears in advance? Or do you have to go through the full clearance process again if trying to take an earlier flight?
Jun 18, 2019, 3:42 pm
#686
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 289
I was put on the waitlist for an upcoming flight (in 2 weeks) but I see inventory in C. Can I call American and asked them to go ahead and process the upgrade?
I am doing a DFW-LAX-HKG leg. Will I also be able to use the 25,000 miles to upgrade the entire trip or will I need to use stickers for the DFW-LAX leg?
I am doing a DFW-LAX-HKG leg. Will I also be able to use the 25,000 miles to upgrade the entire trip or will I need to use stickers for the DFW-LAX leg?
Jun 18, 2019, 3:55 pm
#687
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: DFW
Posts: 675
I was put on the waitlist for an upcoming flight (in 2 weeks) but I see inventory in C. Can I call American and asked them to go ahead and process the upgrade?
I am doing a DFW-LAX-HKG leg. Will I also be able to use the 25,000 miles to upgrade the entire trip or will I need to use stickers for the DFW-LAX leg?
I am doing a DFW-LAX-HKG leg. Will I also be able to use the 25,000 miles to upgrade the entire trip or will I need to use stickers for the DFW-LAX leg?
Jun 18, 2019, 7:04 pm
#688
Join Date: May 2011
Location: DFW
Programs: AA EXP, LT Gold
Posts: 3,146
I was put on the waitlist for an upcoming flight (in 2 weeks) but I see inventory in C. Can I call American and asked them to go ahead and process the upgrade?
I am doing a DFW-LAX-HKG leg. Will I also be able to use the 25,000 miles to upgrade the entire trip or will I need to use stickers for the DFW-LAX leg?
I am doing a DFW-LAX-HKG leg. Will I also be able to use the 25,000 miles to upgrade the entire trip or will I need to use stickers for the DFW-LAX leg?
It's unusual for AA to open C space 2 weeks early on that flight in peak season, so double check your search on this.
Jun 19, 2019, 12:22 am
#689
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 637
I'm fairly new to this, but I am trying to upgrade a paid AA flight MIA - GIG.
I signed up for EF and have searched probably 15 random dates (close in, far away, in season, out of season, etc.) and have only seen C = 0. I have been searching with +/- 3 days so I have probably viewed nearly 100 days of this flight with no c space whatsoever.
Is this normal? Is there a pattern where one can predict availability, or is it a lost cause?
FWIW I booked:
MIA-GIG economy
COR-MIA business
$1,100
While it seems like a great price, I am having second thoughts because 1.) the j flight is a daytime flight 2.) I might want to upgrade the MIA-GIG leg to PE as it was only +$300 and 3.) I thought maybe I could swing an upgrade from economy to business on the MIA-GIG but now I am thinking that perhaps not.
Thanks for any input. I still have 23 hours to cancel
I signed up for EF and have searched probably 15 random dates (close in, far away, in season, out of season, etc.) and have only seen C = 0. I have been searching with +/- 3 days so I have probably viewed nearly 100 days of this flight with no c space whatsoever.
Is this normal? Is there a pattern where one can predict availability, or is it a lost cause?
FWIW I booked:
MIA-GIG economy
COR-MIA business
$1,100
While it seems like a great price, I am having second thoughts because 1.) the j flight is a daytime flight 2.) I might want to upgrade the MIA-GIG leg to PE as it was only +$300 and 3.) I thought maybe I could swing an upgrade from economy to business on the MIA-GIG but now I am thinking that perhaps not.
Thanks for any input. I still have 23 hours to cancel
Jun 19, 2019, 2:43 am
#690
Join Date: Jan 2012
Programs: AY+ Plat, Marriott Plat, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 2,846
I'm fairly new to this, but I am trying to upgrade a paid AA flight MIA - GIG.
I signed up for EF and have searched probably 15 random dates (close in, far away, in season, out of season, etc.) and have only seen C = 0. I have been searching with +/- 3 days so I have probably viewed nearly 100 days of this flight with no c space whatsoever.
Is this normal? Is there a pattern where one can predict availability, or is it a lost cause?
FWIW I booked:
MIA-GIG economy
COR-MIA business
$1,100
While it seems like a great price, I am having second thoughts because 1.) the j flight is a daytime flight 2.) I might want to upgrade the MIA-GIG leg to PE as it was only +$300 and 3.) I thought maybe I could swing an upgrade from economy to business on the MIA-GIG but now I am thinking that perhaps not.
Thanks for any input. I still have 23 hours to cancel
I signed up for EF and have searched probably 15 random dates (close in, far away, in season, out of season, etc.) and have only seen C = 0. I have been searching with +/- 3 days so I have probably viewed nearly 100 days of this flight with no c space whatsoever.
Is this normal? Is there a pattern where one can predict availability, or is it a lost cause?
FWIW I booked:
MIA-GIG economy
COR-MIA business
$1,100
While it seems like a great price, I am having second thoughts because 1.) the j flight is a daytime flight 2.) I might want to upgrade the MIA-GIG leg to PE as it was only +$300 and 3.) I thought maybe I could swing an upgrade from economy to business on the MIA-GIG but now I am thinking that perhaps not.
Thanks for any input. I still have 23 hours to cancel
You can always upfare a ticket later by paying the difference in cost at that time; the change fee should be waived for upfares to a higher cabin of service.