roadtriper

Looks like the old HP FF # is finally going to get retired :-( RT

PhoenixCMC

I am interested in using 500-mi upgrades or SWUs for upgrading to Hawaii. I'm currently US Chairman and wanted to use my CP certs for a trip to Hawaii this summer but the US rule is that you can't use them until a week before the flight, by which time all the business class seats may be gone.

So here's my question:

• Once the FF merger occurs (apparently quite soon), will I be able to lock in future upgrades on Hawaii flights with 500 mile upgrades and/or SWUs?
• If both, what is the trade-off between using one or the other on Hawaii itineraries?

I apologize for being a newbie here (I have a small understanding of SWUs and practically no understanding about 500-mile certs), but what I want to know is if there are any special treatment for Hawaii itineraries (not so much general info about the two options, which I can read about elsewhere).

anabolism

Hawaii is not special as far as segment (500-mile) or SWU upgrades. It is special for miles+copay upgrades (higher price).

As a CP, you'll become EXP after the merger, and hence entitled to complimentary segment upgrades. Segment upgrades are only valid on flights considered domestic, and can be requested as soon as you have a reservation on hold, but won't be confirmed before the upgrade window opens at 100 hours out. The upgrade window is the earliest a segment upgrade will be confirmed, it might not happen until later, or even at the gate, if at all.

In contrast, SWUs and miles+copay both book into specific upgrade inventory (A on a two-class flight within the U.S., C on a two-class flight outside the U.S.) which might be available and hence confirmable at time of booking. So, the advantage of using SWUs or miles+copay is that if upgrade inventory is available, you can immediately confirm the upgrade. The advantage of segment upgrades is that they are free. The earlier you request a segment upgrade, the higher your priority.

You can check for upgrade inventory using expertflyer.com. Since Hawaii is in the U.S., the upgrade inventory is first class, or A.

Since SWUs can be used system-wide, many people prefer to use them only for long-haul international flights, and use miles+copay or take a risk on segment upgrades for domestic flights.

Djokison

This is incorrect. US GLD, PLT and CP all get free MCE, just like AA PLTs and EXPs do. Similarly, AA elite members can choose certain seats (like exit rows and extra legroom seats) for free on US as well. Choice seats (which are random seats in the forward cabin that are just like any other seat) can not be chosen for free by anyone, regardless of which airline's FFP you're on.

JonNYC

With regard to asking about 037 stock tickets, etc., it's the frequent flyer programs, on/by the 28th not the single PSS happening at this juncture.

RealHJ

I know. But with one FFP, I would imagine that new award res can be only then done via AA on 001 ticket stock with AA rules. Not that AA FFs now get access to the much better US routing rules (stopovers) and lower costs and can use the AA miles to book US 037 tickets as awards. That is, AA miles can be only redeemed for 001 tickets, not for 037 anymore, I would think, 99.9% likely. And as no more US miles, no more 037 award tickets.

I would find it highly unlikely that after the 28th new award res can be done using the US award rules or on 037 tickets. The question is what happens to US issued awards in case they need to be reticketed: reticketed still as 037 (I would guess, makes most sense) or reticketed onto 001s (probably not until both res systems are merged, I would think, by when fewer 037 awards should be left outstanding and thus the problem be smaller).

jemmazee

I take this to mean that sometime over the next few days, as a US CP, I will become a AA Exec Plat.

Any thoughts on the following scenario?:
I have an award trip booked through AA using AA miles from BOS to REC at the beginning of May.
Last night I found a good deal on a paid AA flight and put that flight on hold - the price, the BIS miles, and the opportunity to use my incoming SWUs is tempting me to cancel the award itinerary and use the paid itinerary instead.
I'm assuming the following:
If I buy the paid itinerary tonight, once I am a AA EXP (which will happen before the beginning of May), I can then cancel the award trip for no cancellation fees.
If I am traveling on a paid itinerary, I can then try to apply the SWUs once they are put in my account (assuming sometime over the next week or so).
Am I missing anything? Is there any way for me to check to see if SWU upgrades would be available on my flights before I am EXP?
Thanks in advance for any help!

JDiver

That seems to be a reasonable way to look at it, unless there's something completely unexpected in the works. Frankly, I dont expect that, given your trip is over a month away.

You can use ExpertFlyer (or call) to see if you can book the SWU now, or wait list. Waitlist priority is 1) status, 2) date / time of request. EF offers a trial.

MauiWmn

I am waiting to book a first award from OGG to DFW which becomes available on March 28th. Will American award travel be up and running during this transition period? Will award seats be loaded as usual? I foresee many potential problems.

I must have bad luck, last year I was set to book an award flight on the same day they changed the program and increased miles for first anytime flights. What are the odds, I'd hit both dates of major changes to American program for my award bookings?

jdvoigt

Currently on US, if you get 150 segments in a year, you get a complimentary Club Membership. I have looked but not found any info saying this benefit will continue post-merger, so I assume that it is going away? I have hit 150 segments several times over the past 8-10 years, so it would be nice to still have this benefit.

JDiver

That is not a benefit of American Airlines; elite status gets you a discount on Admirals Club membership.

Carl

That is (was) a nice benefit! I wonder if Citi simply has a lockdown on being the only one that can offer anything free related to Admirals Club. US gave day passes for being Preferred, having a US credit card, having delayed flights, etc. There were also periodic bonuses offered for joining and discounted day pass rates when booked with a flight. Seems like AA has this presented as much more of a premium product for which one must always pay.

Phoenixtinct

Well, I think Citi has something similar. I used to have the Citi Platinum Select card years ago but downgraded it to the Bronze version that comes with no annual fee. Just recently I received an e-mail offer that if I were to spend $1,000 in 3 months, I would get 2 Admirals Club One-Day Passes. Of course, I would have to upgrade to the Platinum Select product again and pay an annual fee of $95, so I didn't do it. And I did check on Citi's website for current offerings of the card and couldn't find any with day passes being awarded, however, it seems that in certain cases (for eligible existing cardholders probably) it is a perk that they offer and unlike the Barclay's card, they give you 2 as opposed to 1 Day Pass.

Carl

Thanks for the feedback. I wonder if the Citi-provided passes allow two guests. With US, some worked that way and others didn't. I believe I still have one pass on my account (expiring at the end of this year) that's just for one person, but the one I used before that (after which point I joined the Club) permitted two guests. It's interesting seeing the melding of the different corporate cultures.

coswellnc

I went to the Club to renew my membership this month and was told that you can now use miles to "pay" for your membership. As a CP I was quoted 45,000 miles to renew. This is new for us US members as that was never an option for us.