Best use of spare / extra System Wide Upgrades SWU (consolidated)
Sep 23, 2016, 9:54 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 13
Best use of spare / extra System Wide Upgrades SWU (consolidated)
Hi I have 8 system wide upgrade from AA expiring in February. Would love to use them for thanksgiving and Christmas/ new year travel. Based out of RDU. Where should I go?!
Since flights cannot be booked with miles, prefer cheap cash flights but to places that are farther out (so the upgrade would be worthwhile) for a longer trip.
Thanks!
Since flights cannot be booked with miles, prefer cheap cash flights but to places that are farther out (so the upgrade would be worthwhile) for a longer trip.
Thanks!
Sep 23, 2016, 11:06 pm
#2
Join Date: May 2009
Location: SEA
Programs: AA EXP (2.5MM), Hilton Gold, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 4,859
What options have you found from your looking in to it? Have you looked at EF for what flights have C space and then cross referenced with AA.com or google flights to see pricing? You're likely going to have to do a bit of legwork.
Also realize that C space may be very hard to find pre-expiration so you may have to find a flight that you think has good odds of the upgrade and go with that.
I'd recommend looking at flights to PVG & PEK on the 787s. I think you'll have more difficulty finding C on Europe flights. Or maybe look to South America.
Heard that the LAX-SYD clears pretty easy but only within 2 days of flights. You'd have a risk of not clearing there.
Also realize that C space may be very hard to find pre-expiration so you may have to find a flight that you think has good odds of the upgrade and go with that.
I'd recommend looking at flights to PVG & PEK on the 787s. I think you'll have more difficulty finding C on Europe flights. Or maybe look to South America.
Heard that the LAX-SYD clears pretty easy but only within 2 days of flights. You'd have a risk of not clearing there.
Sep 24, 2016, 1:14 pm
#3
Join Date: Nov 2010
Programs: AA EXP (owe), BA Silver (ows), AB Silver (owr), WN A+/CP, IHG Spire AMB, Avis First
Posts: 1,414
Hi I have 8 system wide upgrade from AA expiring in February. Would love to use them for thanksgiving and Christmas/ new year travel. Based out of RDU. Where should I go?!
Since flights cannot be booked with miles, prefer cheap cash flights but to places that are farther out (so the upgrade would be worthwhile) for a longer trip.
Thanks!
Since flights cannot be booked with miles, prefer cheap cash flights but to places that are farther out (so the upgrade would be worthwhile) for a longer trip.
Thanks!
Otherwise, if you want to do Europe, outside of LHR you might have a decent chance of an SWU clearing. Something like DFW/JFK-CDG/BCN/MAD/MXP/LIS etc.
Asia is also really not that bad, see LAX-HKG or even DFW-HKG if you leave during the week, sometimes C availability can be had. PVG/PEK can often have a lot of C availability too.
SYD/AKL was pretty easy last I flew, but it seems like it might be a bit harder now.
Nov 1, 2016, 7:12 pm
#5
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: SFO
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 5,270
Use them for domestic flights, give them away to friends/family/coworkers/random folks at the gate, or let them expire. Not much else is allowed by the AAdvantage T&C.
Nov 1, 2016, 7:21 pm
#8
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: TPA
Programs: BA Silver; Hilton Gold; IHG Diamond Ambassador; Marriott Gold
Posts: 2,811
As noted, they do have to be gifted rather than sold or bartered.
Nov 1, 2016, 7:33 pm
#9
Join Date: Jun 2013
Programs: AA EXP, Hyatt
Posts: 140
Take a flight to Hong Kong with AA 192/193. You get to sit on the best airplane in the AA fleet and also use a fantastic first class lounge. It's an easy SWU upgrade so far but double check on your specific dates.
I'm somewhat in the same position as you. It's hard to find friends who want to travel far internationally but ask around enough, and you'll find one or two.
Otherwise, plenty of people on this board would gladly take one.
I'm somewhat in the same position as you. It's hard to find friends who want to travel far internationally but ask around enough, and you'll find one or two.
Otherwise, plenty of people on this board would gladly take one.
Nov 1, 2016, 7:33 pm
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 13
Nov 1, 2016, 7:36 pm
#11
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Oakland
Programs: AA Explat, UA former 1K + PremExec, DL
Posts: 1,151
Take a flight to Hong Kong with AA 192/193. You get to sit on the best airplane in the AA fleet and also use a fantastic first class lounge. It's an easy SWU upgrade so far but double check on your specific dates.
I'm somewhat in the same position as you. It's hard to find friends who want to travel far internationally but ask around enough, and you'll find one or two.
Otherwise, plenty of people on this board would gladly take one.
I'm somewhat in the same position as you. It's hard to find friends who want to travel far internationally but ask around enough, and you'll find one or two.
Otherwise, plenty of people on this board would gladly take one.
To clarify- you'd just book the flights in economy and request SWU after- waitlisting required.
Nov 2, 2016, 6:01 am
#12
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Roswell, GA
Programs: AA EXP 2.8m,Lifetime PLT, Hilton Diamond, IHG PlLT, SPG Gold
Posts: 3,191
If you have time over the holidays, trying flying out Christmas day, take the wife/girlfriend/kids overseas, I have found in the past that flying Christmas day, SWU for me cleared quite easily, but than again, that was 2 years ago. I also would check hotel rates for where you can go.
Nov 2, 2016, 12:39 pm
#14
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: LA/NY/CHI
Programs: AA EXP, AS 100K, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Plat
Posts: 1,876
Personally, I would suggest against SYD/AKL, since op would be traveling during the peak season, and may be tougher to clear than many of the other routes. Certainly check for your specific flights/dates before you book!