AA Fare Code "Q" Upgrade with Miles
Jan 25, 2015, 12:11 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: MSP
Posts: 43
AA Fare Code "Q" Upgrade with Miles
Hi FT,
I found some great deals on MSP-HKG on AA this spring with fares aroud $977 RT.
After looking at details, I noticed this is booked in fare class "Q" which I understand is a Discount Economy Fare.
Looking at the AA Upgrade with Miles Chart it says that I can upgrade "Most Discount Economy" fare for 25k miles plus $350 co-pay.
With AA saying "most" discount economy fares, does "Q" count for the upgrade?
Thanks!
I found some great deals on MSP-HKG on AA this spring with fares aroud $977 RT.
After looking at details, I noticed this is booked in fare class "Q" which I understand is a Discount Economy Fare.
Looking at the AA Upgrade with Miles Chart it says that I can upgrade "Most Discount Economy" fare for 25k miles plus $350 co-pay.
With AA saying "most" discount economy fares, does "Q" count for the upgrade?
Thanks!
Jan 25, 2015, 12:56 am
#2
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: BOS, LAX
Programs: AA Gold, HH Diamond
Posts: 804
Fare class Q is totally fine for the miles + copay upgrade. Fare class O to South America used to or may still have some limitations with respect to earning miles and/or something else. Q, on the other hand, never had any issues.
Jan 25, 2015, 7:02 am
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: SJC/VCE
Programs: AA PLT (2.9+ MM), HH GLD, Hyatt Diamond, SPG PLT
Posts: 10,161
Hi FT,
I found some great deals on MSP-HKG on AA this spring with fares aroud $977 RT.
After looking at details, I noticed this is booked in fare class "Q" which I understand is a Discount Economy Fare.
Looking at the AA Upgrade with Miles Chart it says that I can upgrade "Most Discount Economy" fare for 25k miles plus $350 co-pay.
With AA saying "most" discount economy fares, does "Q" count for the upgrade?
Thanks!
I found some great deals on MSP-HKG on AA this spring with fares aroud $977 RT.
After looking at details, I noticed this is booked in fare class "Q" which I understand is a Discount Economy Fare.
Looking at the AA Upgrade with Miles Chart it says that I can upgrade "Most Discount Economy" fare for 25k miles plus $350 co-pay.
With AA saying "most" discount economy fares, does "Q" count for the upgrade?
Thanks!
Jan 25, 2015, 9:23 am
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: MSP
Posts: 43
Thank you for all of the answers!
I have 3 more questions about this before I go and book the flights!
1) If I book in economy, using the 25k miles + $350, is it going to bump me up to Business Class?... or Main Cabin Extra?
2) If I route MSP-DFW-HKG, does the upgrade apply to the MSP-DFW route as well?
3) My wife is Platinum w/ AA so we would be using her account to book for two tickets (her and myself), she has about 150k in miles to use. Can she use her miles for me as well to upgrade or do I need to have the miles in my account to upgrade myself?
Thanks!
I have 3 more questions about this before I go and book the flights!
1) If I book in economy, using the 25k miles + $350, is it going to bump me up to Business Class?... or Main Cabin Extra?
2) If I route MSP-DFW-HKG, does the upgrade apply to the MSP-DFW route as well?
3) My wife is Platinum w/ AA so we would be using her account to book for two tickets (her and myself), she has about 150k in miles to use. Can she use her miles for me as well to upgrade or do I need to have the miles in my account to upgrade myself?
Thanks!
Jan 25, 2015, 9:42 am
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 12,462
1) If I book in economy, using the 25k miles + $350, is it going to bump me up to Business Class?... or Main Cabin Extra?
2) If I route MSP-DFW-HKG, does the upgrade apply to the MSP-DFW route as well?
3) My wife is Platinum w/ AA so we would be using her account to book for two tickets (her and myself), she has about 150k in miles to use. Can she use her miles for me as well to upgrade or do I need to have the miles in my account to upgrade myself?
2) If I route MSP-DFW-HKG, does the upgrade apply to the MSP-DFW route as well?
3) My wife is Platinum w/ AA so we would be using her account to book for two tickets (her and myself), she has about 150k in miles to use. Can she use her miles for me as well to upgrade or do I need to have the miles in my account to upgrade myself?
Just keep in mind that the DFW-HKG flight is the toughest upgrade in the AA system, even for top tier EXPs. So if it clears, it will probably won't happen until a day before the flight right up to at the gate. Good luck!
Jan 25, 2015, 9:44 am
#7
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
Thank you for all of the answers!
I have 3 more questions about this before I go and book the flights!
1) If I book in economy, using the 25k miles + $350, is it going to bump me up to Business Class?... or Main Cabin Extra?
Main Cabin Extra is not a class of service; it's still an Economy cabin / service. The upgrade will be to the next class of service, Business internationally or on three class domestic services, or domestic two class First.
2) If I route MSP-DFW-HKG, does the upgrade apply to the MSP-DFW route as well?
Upgrades serve for up to three flight sectors; upgrade inventory must be available. You could positively book at purchase if there's upgrade inventory available at that moment. Many here use ExpertFlyer, which offers a trial access period, to ferret those out.
3) My wife is Platinum w/ AA so we would be using her account to book for two tickets (her and myself), she has about 150k in miles to use. Can she use her miles for me as well to upgrade or do I need to have the miles in my account to upgrade myself?
Your wife's miles will do, and if she books the tickets, as her traveling companion, you would gain her Platinum status for upgrade purposes. That advantages could be offset by the system's not issuing upgrades unless the inventory is available for both upgrades.
Thanks!
I have 3 more questions about this before I go and book the flights!
1) If I book in economy, using the 25k miles + $350, is it going to bump me up to Business Class?... or Main Cabin Extra?
Main Cabin Extra is not a class of service; it's still an Economy cabin / service. The upgrade will be to the next class of service, Business internationally or on three class domestic services, or domestic two class First.
2) If I route MSP-DFW-HKG, does the upgrade apply to the MSP-DFW route as well?
Upgrades serve for up to three flight sectors; upgrade inventory must be available. You could positively book at purchase if there's upgrade inventory available at that moment. Many here use ExpertFlyer, which offers a trial access period, to ferret those out.
3) My wife is Platinum w/ AA so we would be using her account to book for two tickets (her and myself), she has about 150k in miles to use. Can she use her miles for me as well to upgrade or do I need to have the miles in my account to upgrade myself?
Your wife's miles will do, and if she books the tickets, as her traveling companion, you would gain her Platinum status for upgrade purposes. That advantages could be offset by the system's not issuing upgrades unless the inventory is available for both upgrades.
Thanks!
Jan 25, 2015, 11:21 am
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: MSP
Posts: 43
I just signed up for ExpertFlyer and search for a random segment which was LAX-NRT on AA and noticed that 7 seats were available for Business Class Upgrade with fare code "C".
If I happened to book that flight and use Miles+Co-pay, would it be an automatic upgrade with confirmed seats or would I be put on a list?
If I happened to book that flight and use Miles+Co-pay, would it be an automatic upgrade with confirmed seats or would I be put on a list?
Jan 25, 2015, 11:26 am
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 12,462
I just signed up for ExpertFlyer and search for a random segment which was LAX-NRT on AA and noticed that 7 seats were available for Business Class Upgrade with fare code "C".
If I happened to book that flight and use Miles+Co-pay, would it be an automatic upgrade with confirmed seats or would I be put on a list?
If I happened to book that flight and use Miles+Co-pay, would it be an automatic upgrade with confirmed seats or would I be put on a list?
Jan 25, 2015, 12:28 pm
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: SJC/VCE
Programs: AA PLT (2.9+ MM), HH GLD, Hyatt Diamond, SPG PLT
Posts: 10,161
I see that as well - for the LAX-NRT flight tomorrow so if you wanted to go tomrorow, indeed you could book and get the upgrade w/miles & copay. I doubt you'll find that for DFW-HKG in the Spring.
Jan 25, 2015, 10:33 pm
#11
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: New Orleans (MSY)
Programs: AA EXP, IHG PLT, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Explorist, Amtrak, WN
Posts: 2,617
You should be all good to upgrade a Q fare, and if it clears you should get all segments MSP-DFW-HKG. However, actually getting the upgrade is a whole different story...
Have you checked out the DFW-HKG AA 137/138 Upgrade thread? Tons of good information and knowledgeable people on that thread who could help you out further.
Have you checked out the DFW-HKG AA 137/138 Upgrade thread? Tons of good information and knowledgeable people on that thread who could help you out further.
Jan 25, 2015, 11:58 pm
#14
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: 대한민국 (South Korea) - ex-PVG (上海)
Programs: UA MM / LT Gold (LT UC), DL SM, AA PLT (AC), OZ, KE; GE and Korean SES (like GE); Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,995
No. All the miles and points are based on the original fare purchased.