Do confirmed upgrades exist on AA?
Apr 20, 2017 | 5:56 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: ORD
Programs: aadvantage, mileage plus, millemiglia
Posts: 117
Do confirmed upgrades exist on AA?
Sorry if this is an obvious question.
Is it ever possible to get a guaranteed upgrade (at the time of ticket purchase) with miles on AA? I know that I have done it several times on UA. Last time I tried this with AA I was told to buy an upgradable fare and put in a request to be upgraded. Without status, I assumed that it would not come though.
Is it ever possible to get a guaranteed upgrade (at the time of ticket purchase) with miles on AA? I know that I have done it several times on UA. Last time I tried this with AA I was told to buy an upgradable fare and put in a request to be upgraded. Without status, I assumed that it would not come though.
Apr 21, 2017 | 12:57 am
#2
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Gatwick, UK
Programs: UA *G, BA Silver
Posts: 1,724
Since the change to the front cabin being Business rather than First I think the availability of confirmable domestic upgrades has declined, as Fare Class A was required and it was a revenue class so was often available. Now Fare Class C is required and it is only an upgrade class and is much, much more rarely available.
Your lack of status (and EQDs later this year) will lessen your chances, but you shouldn't overestimate how few people are generally waitlisting for C, and C is often (but not always) made available before X is (the class for complementary and sticker upgrades).
Your lack of status (and EQDs later this year) will lessen your chances, but you shouldn't overestimate how few people are generally waitlisting for C, and C is often (but not always) made available before X is (the class for complementary and sticker upgrades).
Apr 21, 2017 | 2:34 am
#3
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: FNT, but DTW if I can't help it
Programs: AAdvantage Former EXP/Current PLT / Total Rewards - Diamond / Hilton HHonors - Gold
Posts: 761
Sorry if this is an obvious question.
Is it ever possible to get a guaranteed upgrade (at the time of ticket purchase) with miles on AA? I know that I have done it several times on UA. Last time I tried this with AA I was told to buy an upgradable fare and put in a request to be upgraded. Without status, I assumed that it would not come though.
Is it ever possible to get a guaranteed upgrade (at the time of ticket purchase) with miles on AA? I know that I have done it several times on UA. Last time I tried this with AA I was told to buy an upgradable fare and put in a request to be upgraded. Without status, I assumed that it would not come though.
Finding that availability is the challenge.
Apr 21, 2017 | 5:35 am
#5
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: New York, NY
Posts: 3,734
Sorry if this is an obvious question.
Is it ever possible to get a guaranteed upgrade (at the time of ticket purchase) with miles on AA? I know that I have done it several times on UA. Last time I tried this with AA I was told to buy an upgradable fare and put in a request to be upgraded. Without status, I assumed that it would not come though.
Is it ever possible to get a guaranteed upgrade (at the time of ticket purchase) with miles on AA? I know that I have done it several times on UA. Last time I tried this with AA I was told to buy an upgradable fare and put in a request to be upgraded. Without status, I assumed that it would not come though.
Having said that, it is quite challenging to find upgrade inventory on long-haul flights these days. An ExpertFlyer subscription can help, but I wouldn't be overly optimistic about trying to do this since on many of the more interesting routes, it seems like no inventory becomes available until the day of departure and, as you note, AA elites will have priority at that point.
Apr 21, 2017 | 7:31 am
#6
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: AVL (used to be BMI)
Programs: AA EXP, United, Delta, Amtrak, Hertz PC, AVIS
Posts: 767
I agree with this, prior to about 12 months ago I always was able to upgrade using the 15,000 miles and $75. In the last 12 months, I have been able to find availability less than 25% of the time I am looking. I am usually booking mid-con length flights (ORD-West Coast) booked several months in advance.
Apr 21, 2017 | 7:49 am
#8
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: FIND ME ON TWITTER FOR THE LATEST
Posts: 27,729
Agree with majority, definitely possible, but very hard-- was hard already and then got even worse with this implementation:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...12-2016-a.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...12-2016-a.html