Dec 25, 2015, 8:28 am
Last edit by: Prospero
Earning American Airlines AAvantage Miles Flying British Airways
Including known issues (e.g. upgrades) with AA / BA
Earning AAdvantage Miles on British Airways When Upgraded[/color]
Links to BAEC Forum resources:
Including known issues (e.g. upgrades) with AA / BA
Earning AAdvantage Miles flying British Airways
Travel on British Airways and its affiliate airline counts toward qualifying for AAdvantage elite status membership.
Affiliate airlines
AAdvantage Concierge Key, Executive Platinum, Platinum Pro, Platinum and Gold members traveling on British Airways also enjoy:
Additional elite status bonus miles
If you fly BA as an AA codeshare, marketed flight, you will earn as if you were flying on AA.
Link to AAdvantage chart on earning miles flying BA.
Travel on British Airways and its affiliate airline counts toward qualifying for AAdvantage elite status membership.
Affiliate airlines
- BA Cityflyer
- BA EuroFlyer
- Sun-Air of Scandinavia
AAdvantage Concierge Key, Executive Platinum, Platinum Pro, Platinum and Gold members traveling on British Airways also enjoy:
Additional elite status bonus miles
If you fly BA as an AA codeshare, marketed flight, you will earn as if you were flying on AA.
Link to AAdvantage chart on earning miles flying BA.
Upgrading to First on British Airways and U, Z (?) upgrade shared with award Fare Class Issues
Upgrading a paid Business (Club World) fare to First on British Airways puts the flight into fare class "Z" (?)a class that is ineligible for AAdvantage miles accrual (as reflected on the accrual chart) because it is also an award classification for a First Class award.
Upgrading a paid Premium Economy (World Traveller Plus) fare to Business puts it into U class (?), another award fare class that earns no AA miles.
Members have recently reported success at having their upgrades acknowledged as miles-earning, but it may prove challenging.
According to successful member BosTravel, you may have to contact ask for AAdvantage Customer Service, and explain you paid for Business, upgraded to F, or WTP to CW, and provide them with your original ticket number(s).
Upgrading a paid Business (Club World) fare to First on British Airways puts the flight into fare class "Z" (?)a class that is ineligible for AAdvantage miles accrual (as reflected on the accrual chart) because it is also an award classification for a First Class award.
Upgrading a paid Premium Economy (World Traveller Plus) fare to Business puts it into U class (?), another award fare class that earns no AA miles.
Members have recently reported success at having their upgrades acknowledged as miles-earning, but it may prove challenging.
According to successful member BosTravel, you may have to contact ask for AAdvantage Customer Service, and explain you paid for Business, upgraded to F, or WTP to CW, and provide them with your original ticket number(s).
Earning AAdvantage Miles on British Airways When Upgraded[/color]
AAdvantage Participating Airline Upgrade Awards / PAUA (using AA miles)
AAdvantage miles may be used to secure upgrade awards for partners BA and IB, including code shares, depending on fare purchased.
EQM will be generally earned based on originally purchased fare.
Link to thread discussing AA Participating Airline Upgrade Awards / PAUA
AAdvantage miles may be used to secure upgrade awards for partners BA and IB, including code shares, depending on fare purchased.
- Full Fare Economy includes published fares booked in Y or B (excluding Military or Government fares)
- Full Fare Premium Economy refers to World Traveller Plus published fares booked in W on British Airways
- Full Fare Business includes published fares booked in J, D or R on American and C, J, D or R on British Airways
EQM will be generally earned based on originally purchased fare.
Link to thread discussing AA Participating Airline Upgrade Awards / PAUA
Links to BAEC Forum resources:
Pro-Active Online Upgrades (POUG)
A. What is a Pro-active Online Upgrade?
The simple answer: it is a limited special upgrade that may be offered at a time of BA's choosing after your booking is ticketed up to and including online check-in. The offer, if it happens (and this is not guaranteed) will appear in Manage My Booking, either via BA.com or the mobile app. There is no email notification, klaxon sound or flashing beacons to alert you - so now you know why its called a Pro-active Online Upgrade
Please note, POUG rates differ from the rates offered at the airport (see, Airport Upgrade (AUP) cost tracking thread) and also the rate offered when you click on the “Upgrade my class of travel with money” link from within MMB, or the “Upgrade to the next available cabin” blue/grey banner in the app.
Link to thread on Pro-active Online Upgrades and cost tracking
A. What is a Pro-active Online Upgrade?
The simple answer: it is a limited special upgrade that may be offered at a time of BA's choosing after your booking is ticketed up to and including online check-in. The offer, if it happens (and this is not guaranteed) will appear in Manage My Booking, either via BA.com or the mobile app. There is no email notification, klaxon sound or flashing beacons to alert you - so now you know why its called a Pro-active Online Upgrade
Please note, POUG rates differ from the rates offered at the airport (see, Airport Upgrade (AUP) cost tracking thread) and also the rate offered when you click on the “Upgrade my class of travel with money” link from within MMB, or the “Upgrade to the next available cabin” blue/grey banner in the app.
Link to thread on Pro-active Online Upgrades and cost tracking
Airport Upgrades (AUP):
Airport Upgrades may be offered at the airport, or rarely in a lounge if requested.
Link to thread on Airport Upgrades and cost tracking
Airport Upgrades may be offered at the airport, or rarely in a lounge if requested.
Link to thread on Airport Upgrades and cost tracking
Upgrading using Avios (UuA)
UuAs can only be applied to tickets issued on 125 stock. In other words tickets issued by BA or BA registered travel agents with ticket numbers beginning 125. Tickets sold by Iberia and American Airlines are issued on different numbered stock and cannot be upgraded using Avios.
Link to post regarding Upgrading using Avios
UuAs can only be applied to tickets issued on 125 stock. In other words tickets issued by BA or BA registered travel agents with ticket numbers beginning 125. Tickets sold by Iberia and American Airlines are issued on different numbered stock and cannot be upgraded using Avios.
Link to post regarding Upgrading using Avios
Earning AA LPs / Award miles etc. BA / British Airways (inc. upgraded flights)
Aug 15, 2019, 8:00 am
#151
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Gatwick, UK
Programs: UA *G, BA Silver
Posts: 1,673
In general you shouldn't expect to receive more EQMs or EQDs than you would for your paid ticket class – but it used to be common for errors to occur and flights were credited according to cabin flown (and this may still be common, but there seem to be few reports around).
You may get cabin flown credits, but if you don't you can't call and ask for them.
You may get cabin flown credits, but if you don't you can't call and ask for them.
Aug 16, 2019, 2:29 pm
#152
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Posts: 655
Actually had an interesting conversation about this topic with someone from AAdvantage Customer Service: Apparently if you upgrade and it notes a change fee (I think 180 euro on BA), then you get the higher fare class. Otherwise, the Original purchased class.
Aug 22, 2019, 2:18 am
#153
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Denver, CO
Programs: AA EXP, IHG Spire Elite
Posts: 72
Miles posted within 3 days, but were for economy (the original booking code that I paid for - Iberia didn't have PE on this flight, although I flew PE on AA from DFW-MAD). No additional bonus miles for business upgrade.
Same for an upgrade I had last year on BA. Paid the $650 upgrade for a longhaul LAX-LHR that was offered at the check in desk, but mileage posted was for the original PE class (WTP on BA).
Maybe you got lucky?
Aug 23, 2019, 2:14 pm
#154
Join Date: May 2011
Location: BOS
Programs: AA PLT, Marriott LTP
Posts: 493
I booked J class BOS-BUD via LHR, (return via VIE), with British Airways, BA metal, BA flight number crediting to my AA FF#. Shortly after booking I upgraded the BOS-LHR segment to First using Avios.
I noticed today that segment is now coded as the dreaded Z class. All other segments are I or J. I need all the EQD and EQM I can get just to make my Plat level. I can't afford, status wise, to not get credit for the TA segment. I did not know any of the this Z class stuff prior to upgrading or I may not have done it. I came across it by chance looking at my booking on ba.com.
Are people in similar situations having success getting the proper EQD and EQM's credited to their AA account, I guess after having to call AA? I, Again, it's a paid J class ticket.
I noticed today that segment is now coded as the dreaded Z class. All other segments are I or J. I need all the EQD and EQM I can get just to make my Plat level. I can't afford, status wise, to not get credit for the TA segment. I did not know any of the this Z class stuff prior to upgrading or I may not have done it. I came across it by chance looking at my booking on ba.com.
Are people in similar situations having success getting the proper EQD and EQM's credited to their AA account, I guess after having to call AA? I, Again, it's a paid J class ticket.
Sep 19, 2019, 5:57 pm
#157
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Newton Centre, MA, USA
Programs: DL 2MM Gold, AA Plat Pro; Hilton Lifetime Diamond, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium (via SPG), IHG Plat
Posts: 2,192
Sep 28, 2019, 9:04 am
#158
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 36
BA flight cancelled, rebooked on AA
Purchased BA World Traveler Plus r/t ORD-LHR-TLV for family of four on BA to post to AA and earn more EQM and EQD than if we flew AA. First leg was cancelled due to ramp hitting airplane and were rebooked on AA for first leg 6.5 hours later. Miles and EQD posted at lower AA rates based on some dollar amount that I’m guessing is what AA charged BA to rebook. Is this correct or should we be credited with what we would have earned based on our original ticketing? Also, does anyone know if we have reasonable grounds for compensation for flight delay and the best way to approach? I am EXP on AA if it matters, but don’t know all the tricks of the trade. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thank you.
Sep 28, 2019, 9:24 pm
#160
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 12,466
Purchased BA World Traveler Plus r/t ORD-LHR-TLV for family of four on BA to post to AA and earn more EQM and EQD than if we flew AA. First leg was cancelled due to ramp hitting airplane and were rebooked on AA for first leg 6.5 hours later. Miles and EQD posted at lower AA rates based on some dollar amount that I’m guessing is what AA charged BA to rebook. Is this correct or should we be credited with what we would have earned based on our original ticketing? Also, does anyone know if we have reasonable grounds for compensation for flight delay and the best way to approach? I am EXP on AA if it matters, but don’t know all the tricks of the trade. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thank you.
Nov 24, 2019, 1:35 pm
#163
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Munich, Deutscheland
Programs: Try to be elite again... :)
Posts: 488
I am currently booked on BA marketed BA flight LHR - HKG O Economy fare class. Offered to upgrade with cash to Premium Economy (I think I will he booked into T) when I log into the booking. I plan to credit this BA flight to AAdvantage.
Based on what I read above, I will earn AA EQD EQM as if I fly with BA T class?
Based on what I read above, I will earn AA EQD EQM as if I fly with BA T class?
Nov 28, 2019, 11:13 am
#164
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Munich, Deutscheland
Programs: Try to be elite again... :)
Posts: 488
Strange enough, I was booked in O LHR - HKG, offered an online upgrade to Premium Economy. Paid, now when I log into booking, I am booked in P class...
Sigh, this class is not earning any AA miles... :-(
Sigh, this class is not earning any AA miles... :-(