Upgrade from Main Cabin to J
Apr 20, 2022, 5:40 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 206
Upgrade from Main Cabin to J
Hello!
I have a flight booked on AA one layover domestically then on to LHR. Returning is the same.
I called in to request an upgrade using points and miles. It was waitlisted.
however, I went into the app a few hours later and on the return, for the domestic connection - i was able to select a first class seat for no charge. I’m not sure if that means they cleared one portion (not the good one. :-) and are gonna charge me 25K and $350 for that 1hour flight or what. Any tips on what to do? It’s certainly not worth it for the short haul portion….
I have a flight booked on AA one layover domestically then on to LHR. Returning is the same.
I called in to request an upgrade using points and miles. It was waitlisted.
however, I went into the app a few hours later and on the return, for the domestic connection - i was able to select a first class seat for no charge. I’m not sure if that means they cleared one portion (not the good one. :-) and are gonna charge me 25K and $350 for that 1hour flight or what. Any tips on what to do? It’s certainly not worth it for the short haul portion….
Apr 20, 2022, 6:50 pm
#2
Join Date: May 2008
Location: PHL (kinda, no airport is really close)
Programs: AA Exp, but not sure for how long. Enterprise Platinum woo-hoo!
Posts: 4,550
Yes, you probably cleared the domestic portion and yes, they are going to charge you 25K miles and $350 for that one-hour upgrade if the overseas part doesn't clear.
I don't know if there's a way to request only the long-haul portion of the trip, nor if there's a way to unrequest. The best method, if you can do it, is to see if there is availability on the over-the-water segment for systemwide upgrades, which come from the same inventory as cash-plus-miles, and only request the upgrade if there is. But you have to have SWU's in your account to see availability.
I don't know if there's a way to request only the long-haul portion of the trip, nor if there's a way to unrequest. The best method, if you can do it, is to see if there is availability on the over-the-water segment for systemwide upgrades, which come from the same inventory as cash-plus-miles, and only request the upgrade if there is. But you have to have SWU's in your account to see availability.
Apr 20, 2022, 7:14 pm
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: NYC
Programs: AA EXP / LT PLT / 3MM, Marriott LT Gold
Posts: 35,389
Yes, you probably cleared the domestic portion and yes, they are going to charge you 25K miles and $350 for that one-hour upgrade if the overseas part doesn't clear.
I don't know if there's a way to request only the long-haul portion of the trip, nor if there's a way to unrequest.
I don't know if there's a way to request only the long-haul portion of the trip, nor if there's a way to unrequest.
The best method, if you can do it, is to see if there is availability on the over-the-water segment for systemwide upgrades, which come from the same inventory as cash-plus-miles, and only request the upgrade if there is. But you have to have SWU's in your account to see availability.
Apr 20, 2022, 7:16 pm
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: KHOU/KIAH
Programs: AA EXP | Marriott Bonvoy Titanium| Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 11,247
You can call and have them refund it. Only waitlist the longhaul segment, not the domestic one. Once the longhaul clears, call and see if you can clear the domestic one (C inventory is usually much more plentiful domestically, so unless the longhaul clears the day of, you should be able to get the domestic one upgraded too)
Apr 20, 2022, 7:48 pm
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 206
So helpful
Wow! This board is so amazingly helpful. I can’t believe they would consider charging 25K+$350 for the short domestic portion. I didn’t request that abs I can’t imagine why that would be the default. But will for sure get that refunded!
Apr 21, 2022, 8:59 am
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: PHL, NYC
Programs: AA PLT, DL SLV, UA SLV, MR LTT, HH DIA
Posts: 10,067
If you really want the domestic leg to remain F, even if the transatlantic one never clears, you might be able to later request a refund of the difference to 15000 points + $75, which is what a domestic mileage upgrade costs. Not sure if anyone's successfully done this before. You could conceivably get the upgrade at the gate before boarding to LHR, too, in which case you would have already flown the first leg.
If you want to make it easier, just cancel the domestic upgrade and waitlist only for the LHR flight.
If you want to make it easier, just cancel the domestic upgrade and waitlist only for the LHR flight.
Apr 21, 2022, 9:30 am
#7
Join Date: Oct 2018
Programs: American Life Time 2 Million Mile Platinum
Posts: 368
Pooky:
I have Expert Flyer, If you give me your date, city of departure to LHR I can look at what flights have J upgrades listed.
Not guarantee mind you, but give an Idea of what you odds are.
All the best.
I have Expert Flyer, If you give me your date, city of departure to LHR I can look at what flights have J upgrades listed.
Not guarantee mind you, but give an Idea of what you odds are.
All the best.
Apr 21, 2022, 11:05 am
#8
Join Date: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,701
It’s been like this for 10-15 years. Most people will not request the domestic leg and request it only when the over the water segment clears
Apr 21, 2022, 12:20 pm
#9
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: PHL / NYC / PSA-BLQ
Programs: AA PPRO, Marriott/Hilton Gold, AMX-Plat, Global Entry
Posts: 3,109
AA will charge whatever a customer will willingly pay. Just look at the different fare buckets for the same seat (albeit they sometimes come with different conditions, etc).
Apr 21, 2022, 1:06 pm
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 10,904
If the upgrade that you get, if purchased on its own, would be cheaper than the one that you tried for, do they not refund the difference?
Apr 21, 2022, 1:11 pm
#11
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: NYC
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 1,372
Honestly, the agent who put in the upgrade request just didn't prioritize/sequence the request correctly. They absolutely can, and usually do, structure it so that they only deduct the miles and co-pay or SWU if the longer of the two segments clears. So yes, get it refunded, call in, and ask them to prioritize the long-haul segment when waitlisting the upgrade.
Apr 21, 2022, 2:59 pm
#12
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: DFW
Programs: AA EP 3MM, UA Silver, Bonvoy LT TIT, Hyatt Explorist, HH Silver, Caesars PLT
Posts: 7,259
Honestly, the agent who put in the upgrade request just didn't prioritize/sequence the request correctly. They absolutely can, and usually do, structure it so that they only deduct the miles and co-pay or SWU if the longer of the two segments clears. So yes, get it refunded, call in, and ask them to prioritize the long-haul segment when waitlisting the upgrade.
Apr 21, 2022, 8:08 pm
#13
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: PHL / NYC / PSA-BLQ
Programs: AA PPRO, Marriott/Hilton Gold, AMX-Plat, Global Entry
Posts: 3,109
Apr 21, 2022, 8:43 pm
#14
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Austin, TX - AUS
Programs: AA Platinum, Hilton, Hyatt, IHG, Marriott
Posts: 1,625
Honestly, the agent who put in the upgrade request just didn't prioritize/sequence the request correctly. They absolutely can, and usually do, structure it so that they only deduct the miles and co-pay or SWU if the longer of the two segments clears. So yes, get it refunded, call in, and ask them to prioritize the long-haul segment when waitlisting the upgrade.
Apr 21, 2022, 11:18 pm
#15
Join Date: Jan 2015
Programs: Alaska Gold 75K, AA EXP, United 1K
Posts: 472
Personally I’d probably keep the upgraded segment and wait to see if the long haul upgrade clears. If it doesn’t then call later to downgrade the domestic segment and get the refund. If it does then you have successfully cleared both segments. If you call to downgrade now there’s no guarantee that seat will be available later even if your long haul segment does eventually clear.