So, if you've requested a 500-mile upgrade, your on-line AA flight info reflects that, as does the app. What if you're waitlisted for a miles+copay upgrade? I supposedly am but don't see that reflected in either place. Should I be concerned, or does that just not get displayed for some unfortunate reason?

Miles+copay upgrade, segments, waitlisting
 

I have a three-segment domestic flight for 2 pax, booked in discount Y, and wanting to upgrade with miles+copay. My understanding is that I need A availability. Current situation per ExpertFlyer is:

Segment 1: A7
Segment 2: A1
Segment 3: A4

Can I go ahead and process miles+copay upgrade (for both passengers) and confirm segment 1 and 3 for both of us, segment 2 for one of us, and waitlist segment 2 for the other? If yes, can I then call back in later if more A availability opens up on segment 2 and get the upgrade processed?

Yes. Aa will split the PNR if both of u are on one PNR

Copay upgrade cleared, sat in economy, & refunded 3 months later: a Phyrric victory
 

I looked on Flyertalk for other stories in which a flyer had a confirmed miles/copay upgrade, and then ultimately sat in economy and had trouble getting the copay refunded. Couldn't find one, so sharing my experience:

Nov: I'd applied and cleared a miles/copay upgrade for EWR-DFW-LAX flights in Dec. (Opted for this routing instead of my usual FK-LAX in order to try AA's 787, which was scheduled to operate the DFW-LAX segment)

Mid Dec (day of flight): 1st segment is delayed such that if I took it, I'd get stranded overnight in DFW. So I'm rerouted EWR-PHX-LAX -- in economy, due to full first class cabins.

Late December: Seeing my miles/copay hadn't been refunded automatically, I called the EXP line and requested a refund. The 15k miles are refunded, but told that to get the $75 I need to request a refund online with accounting. I do that. One month later, the request is denied without explanation.

Jan - mid March: I call the EXP line 2 more times and sent AA customer service 11 emails requesting the refund. One response was to send the flight details, which I did. Two more responses were to send the same flight details I'd already supplied. Several other responses seemed to completely misunderstand my request and just apologized for the delay. Several were never responded to.

A few days ago: Received the $75 refund, over 3 months after the flight. Truly a Phyrric victory.

Does anyone know how mileage upgrades work when transiting through North America? Flying LHR-JFK-BOS-LAX-SYD. I am assuming I would have to use two upgrades plus copays?

It doesn't show online. If you requested. You should be fine.

1 TATL upgrade award + 1 TPAC upgrade award. If either of them clear, you can have the domestic legs bundled with them. Or, just do a domestic upgrade and enjoy the transcontinental in F. If you had an evip, you could do up to 3 of the segments and skip the short hopper.

That type of upgrade is good for 3 segments, so definitely LHR-JFK-BOS-LAX. I'm not sure though whether you can choose which segments, for example, could you skip JFK-BOS and use the upgrade on LAX-SYD?

You would need to use 2 upgrade awards ( plus co-payments if applicable )

1 Upgrade for UK to USA and another upgrade for USA to Australia

More importantly, ... in 2016 is it that these upgrades have to be requested by phone??? How hard can it be to build this functionality into the website?

Obviously just hard enough that they haven't done it yet.

You'd be surprised...

Upgrade with Points
 

Good Morning,

I was planning a trip to Hawaii from JFK. My plan was to call AA, book discount economy seats, then use 15,000 points + $175 to upgrade to business/first class.

My questions are:

Am I correct that I will be allowed to do this?

Will I have to pay a phone booking fee as the upgrade requires a call?

Will I earn EQM's and Miles based on the discount economy booking, business/first, or do I lose them all?

Thanks

Firstly, it is a 'space available' upgrade so you may not be able to do it at the time you book, or indeed at any point at all, but you can wait-list if it is not available and if you get lucky it happens, if not you travel in coach (but do not pay the miles or the co-pay).

If you are upgraded you will earn based on the original class of travel, not the upgraded class.

Yes, you are allowed to call and make a request. You probably will be charge if you book your seats over the phone. A better option is to book through AA.com and then call for an upgrade. You will earn EQMs based on the discount economy booking.