Feb 28, 2022, 10:45 am
Last edit by: aztimm
Expanding complimentary upgrades
AAdvantage Gold® and AAdvantage Platinum® members now have more opportunities to upgrade from Main / Premium Economy to the next class of service. Starting with flights on March 2, 2022, we’re expanding complimentary upgrades to all purchased, published fares on American within North America.*All complimentary upgrades for existing reservations will be available by March 2.
Some reminders:
- We’ll automatically request the upgrade if everyone in your booking is eligible for a complimentary upgrade – no action needed from you.
- Your upgrade may be cleared as early as 24 hours before departure for AAdvantage Gold® and 48 hours for AAdvantage Platinum® members.
- Upgrades within North America remain complimentary for AAdvantage Executive Platinum® and AAdvantage Platinum Pro® members.
The future of companion and 500-mile upgrades
Later in 2022, all AAdvantage® status members will be able to enjoy a complimentary upgrade for 1 companion traveling on the same flight within North America. When that happens, we’ll convert all available 500-mile upgrades to 250 Loyalty Points each. This addition of Loyalty Points helps you reach AAdvantage® status faster.Simplifying your upgrade experience
You'll continue to be added to the airport upgrade list if your upgrade request hasn’t cleared before check-in. We’re beginning to roll out an enhanced upgrade experience in 2022 for status members at the airport: Upgrades will automatically clear 40 minutes before your flight departure if seats are available. This will apply to all airports within North America. Once your upgrade clears, you’ll be notified on the app or on the gate monitor.With automatic clearance, you'll have a more consistent experience and should know the status of your upgrade request sooner.
Be sure you’ve checked in early so you’re on the upgrade list. If you aren’t on the list before the automatic clearance, you’ll be prioritized after the airport upgrade list has cleared.
*You can use 500-mile upgrades to pay for travel companions who do not hold AAdvantage® status.
Complimentary Upgrades in NA for Platinum and Gold
Feb 28, 2022, 4:55 pm
#91
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: DCA/CLT/HKG
Programs: AA EXP (Former US CP)
Posts: 731
Anyone who bought them (other than via Amex airline incidental credit) within the last 6 months should immediately dispute with their credit card company. It shouldn’t be that difficult to prevail, especially for recent purchases.
if a lot of folks do it, AA will come up with more than 250 LPs
if a lot of folks do it, AA will come up with more than 250 LPs
Yes, but they could have calculated a way to tie the earning of stickers to spending...something like $1800 for 4 stickers seems equivalent.
Feb 28, 2022, 5:04 pm
#92
Join Date: Aug 2021
Location: USA
Programs: American Airlines (Executive Platinum), Hyatt (Globalist), Hilton (Diamond), IHG (Diamond)
Posts: 2,917
That would defeat the stated purpose of LP being the only thing anyone needs to care about.
Feb 28, 2022, 5:11 pm
#93
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: AA, UA, Marriott
Posts: 1,109
The last minute nature of this announcement makes an ex-IT guy like me wonder if there was something in the implementation of the new automated upgrade clearing process, see: https://thepointsguy.com/news/americ...rade-waitlist/ , that was vomiting when trying to parse the upgrade requested vs. upgrade not requested low level elites and someone said, "why do we even bother with these stickers anymore, anyway?" and the exec who was pushing the automated upgrade project had the juice to make a command decision to get his project rolled-out on time. But who knows...
Feb 28, 2022, 5:34 pm
#94
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: NYC
Programs: AA EXP / LT PLT / 3MM, Marriott LT Gold
Posts: 35,389
Could a GLD or PLT waitlist for a DOD upgrade even with insufficient stickers or did AA require enough stickers to be put on the upgrade list? If the former then the automation would fail if you a had GLD/PLT upgraded with insufficient stickers and I find this theory pretty convincing.
Feb 28, 2022, 5:36 pm
#96
Join Date: Apr 2004
Programs: AA Plat/2MM, DL Silver, UA Silver (via Marr), Marr LTT, HH Gold (via cc), Hyatt Disc
Posts: 1,039
Hope I'm thinking this through clearly. I am a LT Plat and feel like this recent change has pushed me into "free agent" territory along with the new LP scheme. I was looking to play the LP game (shopping, dining, you name it) to try to get to mid-range Plat to give myself a moderate chance at upgrades when traveling with my wife on leisure trips (in full transparency, my business travel will not likely get me high levels of LP until possibly 2023). But now, with the elimination of stickers and the free extension to a companion, I assume I should not have any expectation of upgrades as I am now behind a) EXP and PlatPro who previously may not have elected to use stickers for their companions, and, b) the manufactured LP/infrequent flying crowd who previously would not have had stickers for upgrades previously and not been "competition" for upgrades.
Net, I'll likely back down on my LP plans and just make my flight plans knowing with AA I have MCE at purchase and some free luggage. That's nominally better than what I can get on UA (Silver via Marriott Titanium) and Delta (free bags due to cc, but I can probably rationalize buying C+), but clearly less clear cut than when I used to factor in possibility of an upgrade.
Am I missing anything?
PS agree that the 250 LP per unused sticker really sucks.
Net, I'll likely back down on my LP plans and just make my flight plans knowing with AA I have MCE at purchase and some free luggage. That's nominally better than what I can get on UA (Silver via Marriott Titanium) and Delta (free bags due to cc, but I can probably rationalize buying C+), but clearly less clear cut than when I used to factor in possibility of an upgrade.
Am I missing anything?
PS agree that the 250 LP per unused sticker really sucks.
Feb 28, 2022, 5:42 pm
#97
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: NYC
Programs: AA EXP / LT PLT / 3MM, Marriott LT Gold
Posts: 35,389
Feb 28, 2022, 6:12 pm
#99
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: DCA
Programs: AA PPro, Mariott Ambassador, B6 Mosaic, SBUX Gold, Best Buy Elite
Posts: 1,838
250 LPs for the stickers could be ok assuming they don't post as bonus points. I have 34 stickers in my account which if they post as base points will be a nice boost towards status this year.
Feb 28, 2022, 6:13 pm
#100
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Reno, NV
Programs: NFY, AA EXP, Marriott TE
Posts: 517
Feb 28, 2022, 6:16 pm
#101
Join Date: Aug 2021
Location: USA
Programs: American Airlines (Executive Platinum), Hyatt (Globalist), Hilton (Diamond), IHG (Diamond)
Posts: 2,917
Feb 28, 2022, 6:22 pm
#105
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: SFO
Programs: AA,UA,AS
Posts: 319
I think you're confusing award mile conversions to LPs. American is converting each sticker to 250 LPs, no need to worry about how these are classified. In your case you'll "earn" 8,500 LPs when they convert the stickers.