ARCHIVE: 2016 Sticker" / 500-mile & EXP "UDU" Complimentary Upgrade Policy / FAQ
Feb 25, 2016, 6:10 pm
#136
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: NYC
Posts: 108
Is everyone else (PLT + GLD) going to buy a bunch of stickers ahead of the 30% increase?
I'm surprised I have not seen a lot of chatter (read, complaining) regarding the increase in cost of stickers. I have used 14 so far this year, and if I'm lucky I could use another 20ish this year.
I don't really want to sit on a bunch of stickers, but with lower earning rate and increase in price it seems prudent to stock up. Am I the only one?
Someone please talk me out of buying 30 stickers now at the lower rate and save $300 over the next year.
I'm surprised I have not seen a lot of chatter (read, complaining) regarding the increase in cost of stickers. I have used 14 so far this year, and if I'm lucky I could use another 20ish this year.
I don't really want to sit on a bunch of stickers, but with lower earning rate and increase in price it seems prudent to stock up. Am I the only one?
Someone please talk me out of buying 30 stickers now at the lower rate and save $300 over the next year.
Feb 25, 2016, 8:34 pm
#137
Join Date: Sep 2015
Programs: AA SMiles
Posts: 60
Is everyone else (PLT + GLD) going to buy a bunch of stickers ahead of the 30% increase?
I'm surprised I have not seen a lot of chatter (read, complaining) regarding the increase in cost of stickers. I have used 14 so far this year, and if I'm lucky I could use another 20ish this year.
I don't really want to sit on a bunch of stickers, but with lower earning rate and increase in price it seems prudent to stock up. Am I the only one?
Someone please talk me out of buying 30 stickers now at the lower rate and save $300 over the next year.
I'm surprised I have not seen a lot of chatter (read, complaining) regarding the increase in cost of stickers. I have used 14 so far this year, and if I'm lucky I could use another 20ish this year.
I don't really want to sit on a bunch of stickers, but with lower earning rate and increase in price it seems prudent to stock up. Am I the only one?
Someone please talk me out of buying 30 stickers now at the lower rate and save $300 over the next year.
$30 for what? A business class domestica with no IFE, old seats, a $10 boring food, and couple of drinks? No way! For me, that's not business.
Id rather spend (at airport before boarding or in the restaurant before airport) a real GREAT meal for $40 or $50, and forget about eating a $10 meal in the plane. (A $10 small no variable meal which costs $30 per 500-miles?!?!?!!).
How in da world would i pay for such a robbery? A robbery that can cost even $120 for a pretty short flight (3 stickers for a 1,500 miles flights).
I do the math, and it makes no sense for me.
My only stickers are by way of actual flying. If i dont earn them flying, I dont buy them.
Feb 25, 2016, 11:40 pm
#138
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: BNA
Programs: AA CK, SPG Plat, IHG Plat
Posts: 273
I've been EXP since October; my 500-mile upgrades had capped at 32 and haven't moved from there (there were even two trips where I upgraded a companion but the 500-milers were never removed from my account). I just noticed that 4 more posted a week ago. Does anyone know why I wouldn't gotten those? Everything I know says that you don't earn anymore once you hit EXP, as has been reflected since I haven't gotten any in the four months I've been EXP.
Feb 25, 2016, 11:50 pm
#139
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: NYC
Posts: 108
Personally, buying stickers (even though at $30 each) is nonsense.
$30 for what? A business class domestica with no IFE, old seats, a $10 boring food, and couple of drinks? No way! For me, that's not business.
Id rather spend (at airport before boarding or in the restaurant before airport) a real GREAT meal for $40 or $50, and forget about eating a $10 meal in the plane. (A $10 small no variable meal which costs $30 per 500-miles?!?!?!!).
How in da world would i pay for such a robbery? A robbery that can cost even $120 for a pretty short flight (3 stickers for a 1,500 miles flights).
I do the math, and it makes no sense for me.
My only stickers are by way of actual flying. If i dont earn them flying, I dont buy them.
$30 for what? A business class domestica with no IFE, old seats, a $10 boring food, and couple of drinks? No way! For me, that's not business.
Id rather spend (at airport before boarding or in the restaurant before airport) a real GREAT meal for $40 or $50, and forget about eating a $10 meal in the plane. (A $10 small no variable meal which costs $30 per 500-miles?!?!?!!).
How in da world would i pay for such a robbery? A robbery that can cost even $120 for a pretty short flight (3 stickers for a 1,500 miles flights).
I do the math, and it makes no sense for me.
My only stickers are by way of actual flying. If i dont earn them flying, I dont buy them.
Personally, the jfk-lax flight is one that makes sense to use stickers. The price difference between discount Y and J is much greater than the cost of 5 stickers.
It's not about the meal or even the PDB, the hard product + the extra soft product is worth the stickers to me.
I can't possibly be the only one that thinks so. And to some people even upgrading short domestic flights makes sense in their mind. I wonder if those that do use stickers are stocking up. I wish I could earn them fast enough but I don't.
Feb 26, 2016, 6:58 am
#140
Join Date: Sep 2015
Programs: AA SMiles
Posts: 60
I think that's a perfectly reasonable personal policy but one size doesn't fit all.
Personally, the jfk-lax flight is one that makes sense to use stickers. The price difference between discount Y and J is much greater than the cost of 5 stickers.
It's not about the meal or even the PDB, the hard product + the extra soft product is worth the stickers to me.
I can't possibly be the only one that thinks so. And to some people even upgrading short domestic flights makes sense in their mind. I wonder if those that do use stickers are stocking up. I wish I could earn them fast enough but I don't.
Personally, the jfk-lax flight is one that makes sense to use stickers. The price difference between discount Y and J is much greater than the cost of 5 stickers.
It's not about the meal or even the PDB, the hard product + the extra soft product is worth the stickers to me.
I can't possibly be the only one that thinks so. And to some people even upgrading short domestic flights makes sense in their mind. I wonder if those that do use stickers are stocking up. I wish I could earn them fast enough but I don't.
My rationale is that for $90, I only get a $15 value ($10 meal at MAX, and I personally value the prehistoric domestic business class aka 737, 757, 321, 320,,,,,. for $5...you know,,,old, a joke reclining, no IFE, no nothing, just leaving the plane first.
Feb 26, 2016, 1:26 pm
#141
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: NYC
Posts: 108
A good chunk of my flights are like that, which also consumes a lot of stickers.
If I use 20 stickers per trip (2 pax) it means $200 per trip... If I were lucky to get upgraded
If I use 20 stickers per trip (2 pax) it means $200 per trip... If I were lucky to get upgraded
Feb 26, 2016, 1:28 pm
#142
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
Of course, a JFK-LAX or a transcon flight justifies the purchase of stickers. Thats a different story. But, a short flight, in my opinion, doesnt justify to spend $90 for 3 stickers.
My rationale is that for $90, I only get a $15 value ($10 meal at MAX, and I personally value the prehistoric domestic business class aka 737, 757, 321, 320,,,,,. for $5...you know,,,old, a joke reclining, no IFE, no nothing, just leaving the plane first.
My rationale is that for $90, I only get a $15 value ($10 meal at MAX, and I personally value the prehistoric domestic business class aka 737, 757, 321, 320,,,,,. for $5...you know,,,old, a joke reclining, no IFE, no nothing, just leaving the plane first.
Feb 26, 2016, 2:23 pm
#143
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: OGG
Programs: AA Plat, A List Pref, Marriott Ambassador
Posts: 356
I'm a Platinum AAdvantage member and every single time I request an upgrade from my bank of 500-mile certs for my companion (same itinerary, different Record Locator) the request doesn't stick, they are getting an error message at check-in, and their name does not appear on the waiting list at the gate. I will call and always be told they are on the list, but they never are when I go to the gate.
Efforts to call to get this fixed have been fruitless, the telephone agents can't see the issue, and either can't or won't transfer me to someone who can see the issue. A request to have this apparent problem with the upgrade programming for companions written up and given to the web programming team have been met with "it is not possible", no one can contact them, no we can transfer this information to someone who can get it to them, etc. answers.
Efforts to call to get this fixed have been fruitless, the telephone agents can't see the issue, and either can't or won't transfer me to someone who can see the issue. A request to have this apparent problem with the upgrade programming for companions written up and given to the web programming team have been met with "it is not possible", no one can contact them, no we can transfer this information to someone who can get it to them, etc. answers.
The next week I stopped by the club and asked what they had done so I could reference it if need to in the future. She said it is an ADC...whatever that means. But if I ever have it happen again I'm gonna throw those 3 letters out like I know what I'm talking about : )
Feb 27, 2016, 5:37 am
#144
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: DCA/IAD
Programs: AA EXP; 1W Emerald; HHonors Diamond; Marriott Gold; UA dirt
Posts: 7,819
I'm on the fence on buying stickers. I've got 30 in the bank now and crossed the threshold for 4 more yesterday.
I have yet to have a flight in the past 6 months where I had the ability to use a sticker. I've upgraded several short haul flights (comp "sticker", e.g., CLT-IAD), but every "long" haul flight has been a miss for me - including two DFW-DCA and DCA-DFW flights where I was #1 on the list.
I have yet to have a flight in the past 6 months where I had the ability to use a sticker. I've upgraded several short haul flights (comp "sticker", e.g., CLT-IAD), but every "long" haul flight has been a miss for me - including two DFW-DCA and DCA-DFW flights where I was #1 on the list.
Feb 27, 2016, 2:52 pm
#145
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AA EXP, IHG Diamond, IC Amb
Posts: 5,515
New to AA (from DL) and will be crossing 100k EQMs in 2 weeks.
1. Do the 500-mile upgrade stickers expire?
2. If I am EXP and traveling on the same PNR with a non-status pax can I use stickers to UG the non-status pax? Or, do I have to UG both of us?
3. Can I use 500-mile stickers to UG anyone on any PNR? Or do I have to be traveling? I read that SWUs can be applied to anyone's AA flights.
1. Do the 500-mile upgrade stickers expire?
2. If I am EXP and traveling on the same PNR with a non-status pax can I use stickers to UG the non-status pax? Or, do I have to UG both of us?
3. Can I use 500-mile stickers to UG anyone on any PNR? Or do I have to be traveling? I read that SWUs can be applied to anyone's AA flights.
Feb 27, 2016, 2:57 pm
#146
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AA EXP, IHG Diamond, IC Amb
Posts: 5,515
I've been EXP since October; my 500-mile upgrades had capped at 32 and haven't moved from there (there were even two trips where I upgraded a companion but the 500-milers were never removed from my account). I just noticed that 4 more posted a week ago. Does anyone know why I wouldn't gotten those? Everything I know says that you don't earn anymore once you hit EXP, as has been reflected since I haven't gotten any in the four months I've been EXP.
After my MR ago JNB next week I should have 40. Right now I have 24
Feb 27, 2016, 3:12 pm
#147
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: MSN
Programs: AA, BAEC Gold
Posts: 3,933
New to AA (from DL) and will be crossing 100k EQMs in 2 weeks.
1. Do the 500-mile upgrade stickers expire?
2. If I am EXP and traveling on the same PNR with a non-status pax can I use stickers to UG the non-status pax? Or, do I have to UG both of us?
3. Can I use 500-mile stickers to UG anyone on any PNR? Or do I have to be traveling? I read that SWUs can be applied to anyone's AA flights.
1. Do the 500-mile upgrade stickers expire?
2. If I am EXP and traveling on the same PNR with a non-status pax can I use stickers to UG the non-status pax? Or, do I have to UG both of us?
3. Can I use 500-mile stickers to UG anyone on any PNR? Or do I have to be traveling? I read that SWUs can be applied to anyone's AA flights.
2: Yes and you will automatically be on the upgrade list. I don't know whether you could decline an upgrade in favour of another pax if there was only one seat and they were next on the list but that might be possible.
3: Yes, but you must be on the same flight and you have to call in. I believe you can apply an SWU to anyone.
Feb 27, 2016, 11:51 pm
#148
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: BNA
Programs: AA CK, SPG Plat, IHG Plat
Posts: 273
32 is the number I had when I hit EXP, so I wouldn't be able to earn any beyond that. I didn't mean that as 32 being an AA cap...just related to the point when I would stop earning them because of status.
Feb 29, 2016, 6:08 am
#149
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: DEN
Programs: Double OWE (AA EXP, QF Plat), FI Gold
Posts: 1,887
1: No.
2: Yes and you will automatically be on the upgrade list. I don't know whether you could decline an upgrade in favour of another pax if there was only one seat and they were next on the list but that might be possible.
3: Yes, but you must be on the same flight and you have to call in. I believe you can apply an SWU to anyone.
2: Yes and you will automatically be on the upgrade list. I don't know whether you could decline an upgrade in favour of another pax if there was only one seat and they were next on the list but that might be possible.
3: Yes, but you must be on the same flight and you have to call in. I believe you can apply an SWU to anyone.
Feb 29, 2016, 6:13 am
#150
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: South Florida
Programs: AA LTG (EXP), Hilton Silver (Dia), Marriott LTP (PP), SPG LTG (P) > MPG LTPP
Posts: 11,329
I should know this, but it's been so long since I traveled 1) on an award ticket myself and 2) with someone else that I only have vague recollections of info I've seen here: can 500-mile and SWUs be used on award tickets linked to my reservation? Or will I need to forego all upgrades since my fiance is on an award?