GUWonder

Doesn't AA provide "domestic" upgrades to AA elites on AA-coded-and-operated flights on BA-ticket stock? Then there is no reason to expect that BA-issued award tickets for AA flights should be excluded from this from the start of a published policy for such benefit.

jay_dubya

That's what I was thinking. Pretty sure I read of someone successfully getting an upgrade on an avios ticket - not that that means anything

869

Wouldn't surprise me at all if AA's IT systems couldn't differentiate

adambrock

It starts Saturday, May 20th

https://www.aa.com/i18n/aadvantage-program/aadvantage-program-updates.jsp?anchorLocation=DirectURL&title=program updates

the page also discusses changes to the order of processing upgrades, which is probably for another thread.

badkneeski

Couple stories about it I already saw via Twitter.

http://viewfromthewing.boardingarea....mestic-awards/

https://thepointsguy.com/2017/05/hug...-upgrade-list/

platbrownguy

That may have been me; and if not, it has happened to me, just once, before (although many instances of getting the upgrade on AA).

I really do appreciate this benefit. It makes it significantly more valuable for me to use my miles instead of buying a last-minute ticket -- especially when a Citi reduced mileage award is available.

JDiver

These may become more widespread when the new upgrade priority system (status followed by rolling EQD spend over last 365 days) takes effect May 20. (Separate thread discussing this.)

LMB01

Just got my email from AA on the topic with the start date of May 20th.

cfo314

"You can also upgrade 1 companion traveling on the same flight. This benefit applies if just 1 or both of you are traveling on an award ticket."

I assume we have to call to book this and can't mix paid and award travel online?

Time traveller

Am I reading this correctly? An EXP on an award ticket will be upgraded ahead of a PLT on a revenue ticket? This seems contrary to how UA upgrade works, where if you are a 1K on an award ticket, your upgrade priority is after every elite that is traveling on a revenue ticket.

rasheed

This is correct, EXP award upgrades are ahead of Plat Pro, Plat and Gold revenue ticket upgrades.

If someone has already mentioned this, my apology, but one reason this appears to have been done from my view is to allow AA to continue to not offer little/any domestic saver inventory in premium classes. I believe AA economy saver is still relatively available, so EXPs are getting the equivalent of saver premium inventory again. Yes I understand this is not the same (especially with just one companion and the requirement to use not for free e500s for companion), but I think the tradeoff of mileage savings is not too bad. Bad for everyone else obviously, but I don't see AA going back unless something severe happens to demand. Perhaps a domestic/Europe laptop ban might cause a result in these award inventory cutbacks, but it isn't like the other carriers can offer a better laptop option.

Rasheed

andresmdn

Here's the main thread on the new changes to upgrade priority. Including award ticket upgrades.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...-2017-a-6.html

FlyerBeek

I've gotten many EXP upgrades on BA Avios bookings since late-2015. Just need to know how to request. I see no reason to believe the technical capability to do this will change with implementation of the new AA award upgrade policy, but who knows.

-FlyerBeek

Microwave

Thread title has been updated to reflect actual start date of the stated benefit.

~Moderator

dlflyer2

How and when to request the CK or Exp upgrade on an award ticket?

Currently on an award ticket for May 21, but there is no request or requested upgrade indicator in the reservation record.