Upgrade from O?
 

Hi at all

I just booked a very cheap trip from AMS to HNL.

AMS – LHR (booking class S) Flight with AA (operated by BA)
LHR – LAX (booking class O) Flight with AA (operated by BA)
LAX – HNL (booking class O) AA Flight
HNL – LAX (booking class O) AA Flight
LAX – LHR (booking class O) AA Flight
LHR – AMS (booking class S) Flight with AA (operated by BA)

Do you think that there is any possibility/chance that I could upgrade LHR-LAX and LAX-LHR?

Many thanks

Booking class doesn't affect your chances. However, if you don't have elite status, LAX-LHR and back will be a very difficult upgrade.

Hi, thanks. I do have Oneworld Saphire status (AB). Does that increase my chances? Can I try making a cash upgrade?

You may be able to do a cash upgrade for LHR-LAX with BA. Ask at the lounge (your status grants you access). Note that on BA your upgrade will be valid from Y to Y+.

On AA, your best bet would be a miles + copay upgrade.

Great, thanks a lot for the quick reply!

sorry, what means that my BA upgrade will be valid from Y to Y+?

BA has a premium economy cabin (WT+) and since one is only allowed to upgrade one cabin, that's where any upgrade would be to. It's not possible to upgrade a BA-operated flight with AA miles unless booked in some ridiculously expensive inventories.

If you want to try and upgrade to J on BA, you could always see how much it would cost to change your ticket now to have the BA-operated segment be in WT+ and then request a mileage upgrade if booking into W inventory (very expensive probably) or cash upgrade at the airport if booking into a discount inventory (T I believe). I don't know that all inventories are available on AA-marketed flights.

No restrictions on what inventories may be upgraded for miles+co-pay on AA-operated flights when upgrading with AA miles. But I'd put the request in ASAP.

Upgrades are valid for one class of service.

On AA, Main Cabin or Main Cabin Extra to Business internationally or three class aircraft / First domestically. Main Cabin Extra is not a separate class of service, merely Main Cabin with extra seat pitch.

BA and some other airlines offer four classes of service on some aircraft. Generally, Economy, Economy Plus, Business and First. On BA, an upgrade from economy / World Traveller is to economy plus / World Traveller Plus (or from World Traveller Plus to business / Club World).

On BA flights, I have been offered cash upgrades from Y to Y+ as well as Y to J (on the same flights) in the LHR lounges and at check-in in other countries.

I was going to say, but couldn't be sure and didn't want to offer disinformation, that the rules on only allowing a single cabin upgrade are probably a bit more relaxed at the airport when selling upgrades for cash. However, I believe it's only a single cabin when BA offers its upgrades for sale online in advance of the flight.

It should be a one class upgrade that's sold or offered by Avios miles on BA. However, from time to time, BA does opup one class to elites from all OW programs so they may "sample" the higher priced product (in hopes they'll buy it next time)...and not just if WT or WT+ is overbooked. I don't count on it, but it's happened to me twice this year (out of four long haul BA WT segments). Never got CW to F though when flying on a biz fare.

OP mentioned he's an AB/OWSapphire, but does he have AA miles with which to upgrade the AA flight(s)?