Booking Code X
 

Could anyone assist me on what this booking code X is? In looking at other threads I see its a code for business class upgrade. What cabin would I be assigned into then? And what would the chances be of getting upgraded to a business class?

Thanks,


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If I go on my phone, looking at the exact same flight. This shows up as Class: Premium Economy. Would I still have the chance of getting upgraded into business class for the flight? Or would I be set in Prem Econ?

Thanks!

X is PE saaver award inventory, so I'd expect you to be in PE.

It used to be the code for 500-mile upgrades from economy to first, and probably it still is, but that's not visible anywhere. In the context of your itinerary, it is the code for premium economy awards, so that's where you'll most likely be sitting.

R is now the code for economy to next class 500-mile upgrades.

This is marketed as a Milesaaver J award? With 1 Y segment and the long one in PE.

wow

Every single one of these redemptions are the same... Mix between SFO->LAX Y/J LAX->MIA always U MIA-SCL - 90% Y, 10% PE.... Is this typical with American? This is my first ever point booking. I was initially excited to see award availability, till I actually saw it & realize it's only business for the mid segment.
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...0365b4e6fc.png

Unfortunately yes, very common on certain routes. You can try searching ExpertFlyer if you want to look for U availability (you can search a week at a time, it's not terribly onerous). Unfortunately you probably won't find much if any saver availability in business on AA metal to SCL. You might find availability on LAN (use ba.com to search for that).

Sadly, as javabytes and platbrownguy said, this is more common than it should be. This is an extremely deceptive practice. United (for all its flaws) does a much better job of highlighting mixed cabin trips.

This is a case where the most significant flight should play in. MIA-LAX-HKG with the Longhaul segment in Y should not be classified as a J award.

Deceptive indeed! Now if I may ask everyone's opinion on this. If you needed to be in SCL on a Monday, with the availability to leave Thursday-Sunday before. Would you anticipate this award to change in the next few months, allowing J instead of PE on the MIA -> SCL flight? If you believe it is at least possible, how many months out would you just cut your losses & guarantee yourself on the flight?

I'm stuck between just booking an economy reward round-trip, taking a 14 hour routing from SFO->DFW->SCL. Instead of this 19 hour, one way mixed cabin reward. My main question is, would a bulkhead PE seatbe a significant enough upgrade compared to a round trip economy reward?

I understand I would get to experience a flat-bed on the LAX-MIA route. But I feel like I'd rather fly Y from SFO-DFW, shortening my total trip by 5 hours, than fly SFO->LAX Y, LAX->MIA J..

I get that everyone has different preferences, that's why I'm asking! I haven't experienced a lie-flat before, & haven't flown PE on american. Any opinions are greatly appreciated!

If it were me and my choices were to fly Y or to pay 57.5k for a PE award, I'd spend the 57.5k on the PE. It's functionally the same as a domestic first-class seat, which isn't great for long haul but beats the socks off regular Y or MCE. AA's PE is among the best out there and everyone I've recommended it to has been impressed. Then, set ExpertFlyer alerts (it's worth the $$) and if one goes off, upgrade to J (no cost for that).

As for odds of J (U) becoming available, it's probably pretty close to zero until you're within a few weeks of departure. For example, there's true saver availability on AA in business on April 8 and 9.

Also, getting LAX-MIA in J on the 77W is a nice consolation prize for being suckered into paying J miles for PE on MIA-SCL.

Thank you plat!
So if I understand correctly. If true Saaver opens up for the MIA-> SCL leg, I can upgrade with no cost? I'd assume all I would need to do is call in to the reservations department? Would it require any sweet talking or is it a pretty straight forward request that is granted with little to no question?

How would you market such an award, and how much would you charge for it? The general standard in the industry -- there might be some exceptions -- is that the highest cabin you fly determines the award price.

Unless there is a married-segment issue, passengers are also free to combine two separate awards if that results in a cheaper total cost.

I wouldn't. It isn't like this is a last minute edge case where the ONLY cabin available on LAX-MIA is J.

This should be a PE award. In my experience, AA is the only one that actively markets fares like this on a regular basis.

Yes -- because you'll already have LAX-MIA in J, your reservation will have a "voluntary downgrade" to PE on MIA-SCL. There is no charge to upgrade that segment to J when U availability appears. You can also change dates and connection cities at no cost so long as you originate and terminate in the same cities.

Calling in to do the change is indeed very straightforward.

The only difficulty I might warn you about is married segment availability. There needs to be "U" availability for MIA-SCL (or wherever/XXX-SCL) not just on its own (i.e. not just when booking a one-segment itinerary) but as part of a complete itinerary. But don't worry about that unless and until it creeps up.

That makes complete sense. I really really appreciate the walk-through!