ARCHIVE: 2016 Sticker" / 500-mile & EXP "UDU" Complimentary Upgrade Policy / FAQ
Feb 29, 2016, 6:18 am
#151
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: DEN
Programs: Double OWE (AA EXP, QF Plat), FI Gold
Posts: 1,887
Feb 29, 2016, 9:03 am
#152
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Dallas, TX USA
Posts: 2,120
According to the official rules, that's correct. However, I know people who have used 500 mile upgrades on award tickets, but it was at the whim of a gate agent and definitely not something that you could count on. I also know people who were traveling on award tickets and were offered paid "load factor based" upgrades at kiosk check-in.
Feb 29, 2016, 9:15 am
#153
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Denver • DEN-APA
Programs: AF Platinum, EK Gold, AA EXP, UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 21,609
According to the official rules, that's correct. However, I know people who have used 500 mile upgrades on award tickets, but it was at the whim of a gate agent and definitely not something that you could count on. I also know people who were traveling on award tickets and were offered paid "load factor based" upgrades at kiosk check-in.
A few weeks ago, an AC AAngel moved my PIT-LGA Avios award ticket to an earlier flight and added me to the upgrade list, which the GA cleared.
Last edited by SFO777; Feb 29, 2016 at 9:30 am
Feb 29, 2016, 2:45 pm
#154
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AA EXP, IHG Diamond, IC Amb
Posts: 5,515
I already have 160k EQMs planned through August and was hoping to bank some more after I become EXP.
Feb 29, 2016, 3:14 pm
#155
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
No, in exchange for free upgrades, you no longer earn any. Been that way for many years. Welcome to AA.
Feb 29, 2016, 5:22 pm
#156
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AA EXP, IHG Diamond, IC Amb
Posts: 5,515
Mar 1, 2016, 8:28 am
#157
Moderator: American AAdvantage, Signatures
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: London, England
Programs: UA 1K, Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond Ambassador, National Exec, AA EXP Emeritus
Posts: 9,765
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.
$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.
I may be wrong but I think that EXPs are not automatically added to the upgrade list if there are multiple people on the PNR.
Mar 1, 2016, 9:09 am
#158
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: MSN
Programs: AA, BAEC Gold
Posts: 3,933
That is likely true. However I think that if the OP requests a coupon upgrade for someone on the same PNR then OP will automatically be added to the list.
Mar 2, 2016, 1:50 pm
#159
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2001
Location: MSY; 2-time FT Fantasy Football Champ, now in recovery.
Programs: AA lifetime GLD; UA Silver; Marriott LTTE; IHG Plat,
Posts: 14,518
With the latest revisions to aa.com, is there any way now to go back and see what my "EQMs needed to earn 500-mile upgrades" was before the reset?
Mar 2, 2016, 2:56 pm
#160
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Riberas del Pilar, Mexico
Posts: 437
As I understand it, I can't use the stickers I've had for years because I don't have status. What should I do with them? I doubt AA will buy them back.
Mar 2, 2016, 3:02 pm
#161
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
No, AA will not buy them back.
Mar 2, 2016, 3:05 pm
#162
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: MSN
Programs: AA, BAEC Gold
Posts: 3,933
Hang onto them and regain status! You might be able to use them if you travel on the same PNR with someone who has status and you get a friendly agent.
Mar 2, 2016, 3:15 pm
#163
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
No need to be on the same PNR and if known before, don't even need a friendly GA. Non-status can use 500-mile upgrades when traveling with a status pax.
Mar 2, 2016, 4:51 pm
#164
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: San Francisco, CA
Programs: United 1K; AA Platinum
Posts: 326
Anyone having problems with upgrade requests going through when booking today?
I have an itinerary that I put on hold and clicked the check boxes next to "Request Upgrade," but the subsequent landing page then shows "Upgrade Not Requested." I've tried multiple times. I don't know if this has anything to do with my elite status lapsing yesterday (which I've since bought back up to Platinum with status showing in my account), but otherwise all other status benefits (such as free MCE seats) seem to be working just fine.
Last edited by blueheronNC; Mar 2, 2016 at 4:56 pm
Mar 2, 2016, 6:58 pm
#165
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Texas
Programs: AA LT PLAT
Posts: 78
Using companion's 500 mile stickers
I am platinum with zero stickers in my account. My husband is gold with over 50 stickers in his account. When we fly on the same pnr and request an upgrade, can I use his stickers for my upgrade even if it is based on my platinum status rather than his gold status?