Feb 9, 2014, 4:19 pm
Last edit by: Prospero
AAdvantage Miles Upgrade Awards and options on other carriers
Only allowed on specific British Airways (BA) and Iberia (IB)fares
AADVANTAGE PARTICIPATING AIRLINES UPGRADE AWARDS (See: Mileage upgrades on British Airways and Iberia)
AAdvantage members may use AAdvantage miles to upgrade on American Airlines, British Airways and Iberia flights*. Miles may be used to upgrade yourself or anyone you designate. And now, you can upgrade tickets booked by American Airlines (via Reservations or AA.com) as well as bookings made through a travel agency or other source.
Each one-way upgrade is valid up to three segments from an individual published full fare ticket per the chart below. Definitions of the eligible fare types are as follows:
Upgrade requests can be made when you make your initial reservation or after you have purchased your ticket, but must be made prior to checking in for your flight.
To request an upgrade award contact Reservations or visit an American Airlines Travel Center.Service charges may apply. If you have already purchased a ticket and you wish to use a mileage upgrade award, please have your reservation details available for our reservation agent.
*Includes travel on codeshare flights marketed by American Airlines, British Airways and Iberia and operated by any of the three carriers.
Link to aa.com page with award chart, language, etc. (IMPORTANT TO READ IN ITS ENTIRETY)
As Microwave points out, AA must have some involvement with the ticket:
See post 338 for useful information.
updated 4 Sep 2016 by JDiver
Signed in members with 90 days / 90 posts can edit this Wikipost; may be printed by using the
(lower right wiki corner)
Only allowed on specific British Airways (BA) and Iberia (IB)fares
AADVANTAGE PARTICIPATING AIRLINES UPGRADE AWARDS (See: Mileage upgrades on British Airways and Iberia)
AAdvantage members may use AAdvantage miles to upgrade on American Airlines, British Airways and Iberia flights*. Miles may be used to upgrade yourself or anyone you designate. And now, you can upgrade tickets booked by American Airlines (via Reservations or AA.com) as well as bookings made through a travel agency or other source.
Each one-way upgrade is valid up to three segments from an individual published full fare ticket per the chart below. Definitions of the eligible fare types are as follows:
- Full-Fare Economy with published fares booked in Y (excluding Military or Government fares) on American
- Full-Fare Economy with published fares booked in Y or B on British Airways or Iberia
- Premium Economy with published World Traveller Plus fares booked in W (unrestricted fares only) on British Airways. Doesn’t apply to Excursion fares.
- Full-Fare Club World Business with published fares booked in J, D or R on American and C, J, D or R on British Airways or Iberia
- British Airways flight must be coded BAxxx on the ticket (AA codeshare flights are not eligible for upgrades and must be converted / booked as BA prime flights)
- British Airways must operate the LONGEST SEGMENT on the itinerary to be eligible for an upgrade
Upgrade requests can be made when you make your initial reservation or after you have purchased your ticket, but must be made prior to checking in for your flight.
To request an upgrade award contact Reservations or visit an American Airlines Travel Center.Service charges may apply. If you have already purchased a ticket and you wish to use a mileage upgrade award, please have your reservation details available for our reservation agent.
*Includes travel on codeshare flights marketed by American Airlines, British Airways and Iberia and operated by any of the three carriers.
Link to aa.com page with award chart, language, etc. (IMPORTANT TO READ IN ITS ENTIRETY)
As Microwave points out, AA must have some involvement with the ticket:
American Airlines, British Airways or Iberia flights or codeshare flights marketed and operated by American Airlines, British Airways or Iberia are eligible. Reservations booked through a source other than American Airlines must include at least one flight with an American Airlines flight number in order to be eligible (includes codeshare flights operated by British Airways or Iberia but booked as an American Airlines flight number.)
updated 4 Sep 2016 by JDiver
Signed in members with 90 days / 90 posts can edit this Wikipost; may be printed by using the
(lower right wiki corner)
AA Partner Airline Upgrade Award - BA, IB, including codeshares (master thd)
Aug 16, 2016, 8:53 pm
#436
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 259
aa miles to upgrade premium economy on BA
So after holding for quite some time and some confusion I gave up. Looking to book premium economy ticket (what would be W fare on BA) on a codeshare flight. So booking an American flight operated by BA.
The chart says can upgrade to business but phone line says not possible?
Thoughts? Suggestions?
The chart says can upgrade to business but phone line says not possible?
Thoughts? Suggestions?
Aug 16, 2016, 9:30 pm
#437
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: TPA
Programs: BA Silver; Hilton Gold; IHG Diamond Ambassador; Marriott Gold
Posts: 2,811
So after holding for quite some time and some confusion I gave up. Looking to book premium economy ticket (what would be W fare on BA) on a codeshare flight. So booking an American flight operated by BA.
The chart says can upgrade to business but phone line says not possible?
Thoughts? Suggestions?
The chart says can upgrade to business but phone line says not possible?
Thoughts? Suggestions?
Aug 17, 2016, 2:54 am
#438
Moderator: American AAdvantage, Signatures
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: London, England
Programs: UA 1K, Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond Ambassador, National Exec, AA EXP Emeritus
Posts: 9,765
What reason did they give for saying that? There are a number of possibilities. Probably the most likely is you have what AA is calling W but on BA it is not W but some discount PE fare class (probably T). Or the agent may be confusing that with AA's other (really!) W class.
ETA: That first sentence above may well not be correct, so please don't bank on it.
Last edited by Microwave; Aug 18, 2016 at 12:44 am
Aug 17, 2016, 4:49 am
#439
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,619
It is not actually possible to book an upgrade on the AA codeshare - AA has to rebook onto the prime BA number before the upgrade can be processed ( as highlighted in a post by JonNYC )
Only full fare AA codeshares rebook into W class on BA ; discount AA codeshares rebook into a lower class ( such as T ) when transferred to BA
Only the W class BA is actually upgradeable - if it is not a full fare AA fare, then the agent is not incorrect in declining the upgrade
If it is a full fare ticket and there is availability for an award booking, then perhaps need to speak to another agent
Only full fare AA codeshares rebook into W class on BA ; discount AA codeshares rebook into a lower class ( such as T ) when transferred to BA
Only the W class BA is actually upgradeable - if it is not a full fare AA fare, then the agent is not incorrect in declining the upgrade
If it is a full fare ticket and there is availability for an award booking, then perhaps need to speak to another agent
Aug 17, 2016, 5:06 am
#440
Moderator: American AAdvantage, Signatures
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: London, England
Programs: UA 1K, Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond Ambassador, National Exec, AA EXP Emeritus
Posts: 9,765
It is not actually possible to book an upgrade on the AA codeshare - AA has to rebook onto the prime BA number before the upgrade can be processed ( as highlighted in a post by JonNYC )
Only full fare AA codeshares rebook into W class on BA ; discount AA codeshares rebook into a lower class ( such as T ) when transferred to BA
Only the W class BA is actually upgradeable - if it is not a full fare AA fare, then the agent is not incorrect in declining the upgrade
If it is a full fare ticket and there is availability for an award booking, then perhaps need to speak to another agent
Only full fare AA codeshares rebook into W class on BA ; discount AA codeshares rebook into a lower class ( such as T ) when transferred to BA
Only the W class BA is actually upgradeable - if it is not a full fare AA fare, then the agent is not incorrect in declining the upgrade
If it is a full fare ticket and there is availability for an award booking, then perhaps need to speak to another agent
ETA: After further checking, I spoke too soon here. It's not clear either way at this point, so I take back this statement.
Last edited by Microwave; Aug 18, 2016 at 12:45 am
Aug 17, 2016, 5:23 am
#441
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,619
American Airlines, British Airways and Iberia Airlines
Upgrades are allowed on Codeshare flights (AA*, BA* and IB*) as long as the operating carrier is AA, BA or IB:
• BA - BA* flights operated by Comair, Sun Air, Cityflier, and BA Limited. They do not need to be converted.
• IB - IB* flights operated by Air Nostrum, Iberia Express, Iberia LAE (in the LHR to MAD market).
• APA Upgrades are not offered/valid on flights operated by OpenSkies (EC) for British Airways.
The segment must be converted from a codeshare to a prime flight.
When converting to the prime flight, the booking class utilised has to be that which is the valid one for that fare on the other airline. When rebooking on another airline for a fare, it is not necessarily the same as the original
For BA WT+ fares, it is only full fare that is booked in W on the BA prime number
Aug 17, 2016, 7:23 am
#442
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: FIND ME ON TWITTER FOR THE LATEST
Posts: 27,730
However, I wouldn't choose to express it as:
It is possible, just that in the *process* of doing it, and *internally*, AA has to manipulate the flight as described (convert it). So semantics in some ways, but I don't agree with stating it in that fashion, as, personally, I think it potentially creates a bit of confusion.
The very first sentence there is:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/26356295-post341.html
The very first sentence there is:
Upgrades are allowed on Codeshare flights (AA*, BA* and IB*) as long as the operating carrier is AA, BA or IB:
Last edited by JonNYC; Aug 17, 2016 at 7:28 am
Aug 17, 2016, 7:42 am
#443
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 259
thanks to all for trying to clarify this. I was probably on hold for about a half hour and then just gave up.
I hung up and called back but then they told me a full fare premium was over $5000 (biz class was only listed as $4300). They said they couldn't see the flight I was seeing which was about $1600 what would be W class on BA.
They also told me even the $5000 fare was not available for an upgrade. I offered to share my screen so they could see but to no avail.
I hung up and called back but then they told me a full fare premium was over $5000 (biz class was only listed as $4300). They said they couldn't see the flight I was seeing which was about $1600 what would be W class on BA.
They also told me even the $5000 fare was not available for an upgrade. I offered to share my screen so they could see but to no avail.
Aug 17, 2016, 7:53 am
#444
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: TPA
Programs: BA Silver; Hilton Gold; IHG Diamond Ambassador; Marriott Gold
Posts: 2,811
The sequence on this thread from #415 to #421 led to that conclusion. The underlying BA fare code was T, which, by AA's rules, means no upgrade.
Aug 17, 2016, 8:03 am
#445
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: TPA
Programs: BA Silver; Hilton Gold; IHG Diamond Ambassador; Marriott Gold
Posts: 2,811
However, I wouldn't choose to express it as:
It is possible, just that in the *process* of doing it, and *internally*, AA has to manipulate the flight as described (convert it). So semantics in some ways, but I don't agree with stating it in that fashion, as, personally, I think it potentially creates a bit of confusion.
The very first sentence there is:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/26356295-post341.html
It is possible, just that in the *process* of doing it, and *internally*, AA has to manipulate the flight as described (convert it). So semantics in some ways, but I don't agree with stating it in that fashion, as, personally, I think it potentially creates a bit of confusion.
The very first sentence there is:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/26356295-post341.html
Use your AAdvantage miles to upgrade on American Airlines, British Airways and Iberia flights* 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:
Full-Fare Economy with published fares booked in Y or B (excluding Military or Government fares)
Premium Economy with published World Traveller Plus fares booked in W on British Airways
Full-Fare Business with published fares booked in J, D or R on American and C, J, D or R on British Airways
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:
Full-Fare Economy with published fares booked in Y or B (excluding Military or Government fares)
Premium Economy with published World Traveller Plus fares booked in W on British Airways
Full-Fare Business with published fares booked in J, D or R on American and C, J, D or R on British Airways
Aug 17, 2016, 8:05 am
#446
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: FIND ME ON TWITTER FOR THE LATEST
Posts: 27,730
But there are restrictions on that, as I've posted before:
Aug 17, 2016, 8:30 am
#447
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: TPA
Programs: BA Silver; Hilton Gold; IHG Diamond Ambassador; Marriott Gold
Posts: 2,811
The point, as far as I can tell, is that the OP needs to ensure his BA fare code is W, not T or whatever, as per what I quoted, no?
Microwave's post seems to indicate that that is a point of contention, and I still don't see why.
Microwave's post seems to indicate that that is a point of contention, and I still don't see why.
Aug 17, 2016, 8:32 am
#448
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: FIND ME ON TWITTER FOR THE LATEST
Posts: 27,730
Also No.
Aug 17, 2016, 9:00 am
#449
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: TPA
Programs: BA Silver; Hilton Gold; IHG Diamond Ambassador; Marriott Gold
Posts: 2,811
Aug 17, 2016, 9:22 am
#450
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Kyiv, Ukraine
Programs: Mucci, BA Gold, TK Elite, HHonors Lifetime Diamond
Posts: 7,691
It is not actually possible to book an upgrade on the AA codeshare - AA has to rebook onto the prime BA number before the upgrade can be processed ( as highlighted in a post by JonNYC )
Only full fare AA codeshares rebook into W class on BA ; discount AA codeshares rebook into a lower class ( such as T ) when transferred to BA
Only the W class BA is actually upgradeable - if it is not a full fare AA fare, then the agent is not incorrect in declining the upgrade
If it is a full fare ticket and there is availability for an award booking, then perhaps need to speak to another agent
Only full fare AA codeshares rebook into W class on BA ; discount AA codeshares rebook into a lower class ( such as T ) when transferred to BA
Only the W class BA is actually upgradeable - if it is not a full fare AA fare, then the agent is not incorrect in declining the upgrade
If it is a full fare ticket and there is availability for an award booking, then perhaps need to speak to another agent