International Upgrades (Paid and reward travel)
Mar 27, 2017, 12:31 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: DFW
Programs: AA EXP, Marriott Amb
Posts: 32
International Upgrades (Paid and reward travel)
Hello Fellow Travelers,
I'm ExecPlat, but almost all my travel is domestic so I have a few questions on international stuff.
I am planning a trip from DFW to LHR this summer with my wife and daughter, they will be paid Y tickets and I will be award Y (T I think?). I would like us all on the same PNR if possible.
Since we only have 4 SWU's nowadays I'll be giving them to my wife and daughter, my main question is - where does this leave me? If there are open seats in J, will they send them out empty or give a complimentary upgrade like they do domestically? I know that there are changes coming out with upgrades to award tickets, how will that effect me? Anything else I should know?
I'm ExecPlat, but almost all my travel is domestic so I have a few questions on international stuff.
I am planning a trip from DFW to LHR this summer with my wife and daughter, they will be paid Y tickets and I will be award Y (T I think?). I would like us all on the same PNR if possible.
Since we only have 4 SWU's nowadays I'll be giving them to my wife and daughter, my main question is - where does this leave me? If there are open seats in J, will they send them out empty or give a complimentary upgrade like they do domestically? I know that there are changes coming out with upgrades to award tickets, how will that effect me? Anything else I should know?
Mar 27, 2017, 12:48 pm
#2
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: South Park, Metropolis
Programs: AA LT PLT 3MM, Hilton/Marriott/SPG/Club Carlson GLD, IHG PLT
Posts: 4,608
First things, you can not have 2 paid tickets and one award on same PNR. It will be 2 PNRS, the paid tickets on its own PNR, and the award ticket on another. You can call the EXP line and ask to put notes on the PNR to "link" them in case of irrops but it will still be 2 PNR #'s.
As for the upgrades, if they are upgraded, you will still be on Y. The odds of a free international upgrade on an award ticket is depends mostly on the load factor in Y and you wont know until flight date. This is not a high one, and most likely you wont be the only EXP flying in Y, odds are there are others that will be flying on paid tickets as well.
As for upgrades for award tickets, nothing has been mentioned yet for the start date. Not much to say except speculate.
As for the upgrades, if they are upgraded, you will still be on Y. The odds of a free international upgrade on an award ticket is depends mostly on the load factor in Y and you wont know until flight date. This is not a high one, and most likely you wont be the only EXP flying in Y, odds are there are others that will be flying on paid tickets as well.
As for upgrades for award tickets, nothing has been mentioned yet for the start date. Not much to say except speculate.
Mar 27, 2017, 1:09 pm
#3
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: BOS
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 479
Even if they've implemented upgrades on award tickets for EXP by the time you fly, it will only be on routes eligible for auto-upgrades, which DFW-LHR is not. So you wouldn't qualify.
Last edited by Kumulani; Mar 27, 2017 at 2:06 pm
Mar 27, 2017, 1:35 pm
#5
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Live: IWI; Work: DCA/Everywhere; Play: LAS/SJU/MLE
Programs: AA EXP, DL PM, Hyatt Glob, Marriott Ambassador/LTP, Nat'l Exec Elite, LEYE Gold
Posts: 6,670
You would only be on the upgrade list at all if you had an upgrade instrument, such as an SWU, a BXP3, or miles+copay.
Mar 27, 2017, 1:36 pm
#6
Join Date: Aug 2012
Programs: AA PLT, SPG Gold
Posts: 2,405
What's a golden ticket? A free upgrade (op-up)? No, I would not count on that any more than you'd "count on" winning the lottery.
Mar 27, 2017, 1:39 pm
#7
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Chicago, IL
Programs: AA PPro, 1MM
Posts: 505
You could rebook your award ticket into J if there is J award space available and then apply your SWUs to your wife and daughter. The tricky thing is that since you're on separate PNRs, they won't inherit your status and will be low on the list. DFW-LHR (especially the 77W flights) are hard to upgrade.
Mar 27, 2017, 1:41 pm
#8
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,584
for 25k miles +$350 each way, you can waitlist for an upgrade
Otherwise, if you want to travel in business class, then unless very lucky and the flight is oversold and the airline chooses to give you an involuntary upgrade, then you will need to purchase a business class ticket
With an award ticket, no miles+cash upgrade is possible
Mar 27, 2017, 2:32 pm
#10
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: South Park, Metropolis
Programs: AA LT PLT 3MM, Hilton/Marriott/SPG/Club Carlson GLD, IHG PLT
Posts: 4,608
Mar 27, 2017, 2:43 pm
#11
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,584
Mar 27, 2017, 2:59 pm
#12
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Chicago, IL
Programs: AA PPro, 1MM
Posts: 505
Personally, I find BA WT+ to be a decent deal much of the times for -LHR travel.
Mar 27, 2017, 4:25 pm
#13
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: BOS
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 479
Mar 27, 2017, 5:13 pm
#14
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: CA
Posts: 304
American has been unique in how they prioritize upgrades. Upgrades clear first by status, and then by the time added to the waitlist. In other words, if you’re an Executive Platinum member who books your ticket way in advance, you’re almost guaranteed to clear. However, the downside is that if you’re a last minute planner, you’ll often be paying the highest fare and also have the worst odds at upgrades.
As of “later in 2017,” American will be prioritizing upgrades based on a 12-month rolling elite qualifying dollar total, sorted by elite status. In other words, an Executive Platinum member who has spent $20,000 on American in the past year but booked a week out will be prioritized ahead of an Executive Platinum member who has spent $10,000 in the past year but booked 11 months out.
As of “later in 2017,” American will be prioritizing upgrades based on a 12-month rolling elite qualifying dollar total, sorted by elite status. In other words, an Executive Platinum member who has spent $20,000 on American in the past year but booked a week out will be prioritized ahead of an Executive Platinum member who has spent $10,000 in the past year but booked 11 months out.
Mar 27, 2017, 9:20 pm
#15
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
Isn't AA changing up prioritization. http://onemileatatime.boardingarea.c...ogram-changes/