Jul 24, 2023, 3:53 am
Last edit by: ExpatExp
From AA's "Systemwide upgrades" page as of 24 July 2023 (edited to remove references to mileage upgrades, which are not the topic of this thread):
From AA's "AAdvantage® FAQs" page as of 24 July 2023 (edited to remove references to mileage upgrades, which are not the topic of this thread):
Enjoy a confirmed upgrade from most Business fares to First, from Premium Economy to Business, or from Economy to Premium Economy when flying transatlantic on British Airways.
Systemwide upgrades can be used for one-way travel for up to 3 flight segments on British Airways marketed and operated flights or British Airways operated flights marketed by American. At least one American marketed flight must be in the itinerary to be eligible.
.
*Systemwide upgrades are subject to upgrade seating availability.
Systemwide upgrades can be used for one-way travel for up to 3 flight segments on British Airways marketed and operated flights or British Airways operated flights marketed by American. At least one American marketed flight must be in the itinerary to be eligible.
.
- Log in to aa.com and make sure you have systemwide upgrades available in your AAdvantage® account.
- Call your AAdvantage® status service desk to confirm your upgrade. If available, the required number of upgrades will be deducted from your balance.*
- If an upgrade isn’t available at the time of booking, you can check back with us. There is no option to waitlist for an upgrade on British Airways flights.
*Systemwide upgrades are subject to upgrade seating availability.
Upgrades on British Airways and Iberia
.
.
- Can I upgrade on British Airways and Iberia flights? Yes, systemwide upgrades can be used for one-way travel for up to three segments on British Airways marketed and operated flights or British Airways operated flights marketed by American.
- Can I upgrade from a discount Main Cabin fare? Systemwide upgrades on British Airways are valid on all purchased, published fares.
- Why is my upgrade on British Airways not valid from Economy to Business? Systemwide and mileage upgrades are valid for a one cabin upgrade. On British Airways flights that offer Premium Economy, upgrades from Economy will be to Premium Economy. On flights where British Airways doesn’t offer Premium Economy, the upgrade will be to Business.
SWU upgrades on BA are live
Sep 13, 2022, 4:09 pm
#47
Join Date: Aug 2010
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 1,659
This is a very welcome change as I only use SWU for myself if going from J to F and options on AA are very few, being able to do it on BA makes them a bit more valuable to me, might even consider purchasing PE if I can confirm upgrade at booking.
Sep 13, 2022, 4:21 pm
#48
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: KHOU/KIAH
Programs: AA EXP | Marriott Bonvoy Titanium| Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 11,250
Likely a HUACA situation or some sort of technical glitch. Will post an update if I hear differently.
Sep 13, 2022, 6:11 pm
#49
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Tokyo
Programs: Bonvoy LT Titanium ANA Diamond
Posts: 763
Sep 13, 2022, 7:25 pm
#50
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: DCA
Programs: UA LT 1K, AA EXP, Bonvoy LT Titan, Avis PC, Hilton Gold
Posts: 9,658
Not in the USA. US airlines let you put stuff under the seat in front for the exit row as long as it is push forward and doesn't stick out.
Last edited by cova; Sep 13, 2022 at 7:32 pm
Sep 14, 2022, 4:07 am
#51
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: IAD/DCA
Programs: AA PP, Hilton/MR Gold
Posts: 743
Would be interested if anyone has seen anything further about needing AA metal components on the PNR in order to be eligible? I know that was in the original reports, but the web site text seems much more expansive:
Systemwide upgrades can be used for one-way travel for up to 3 segments on American marketed and operated flights, British Airways marketed and operated flights, or British Airways operated flights marketed by American
I'm assuming it needs to be on 001 stock, but I'm wondering if I can book a round trip exclusively on BA metal USA-LHR-EU and upgrade both ways with 2 SWUs total.
Systemwide upgrades can be used for one-way travel for up to 3 segments on American marketed and operated flights, British Airways marketed and operated flights, or British Airways operated flights marketed by American
I'm assuming it needs to be on 001 stock, but I'm wondering if I can book a round trip exclusively on BA metal USA-LHR-EU and upgrade both ways with 2 SWUs total.
Sep 15, 2022, 8:02 am
#52
Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: Vienna, Austria
Posts: 709
Earlier this year I booked a LAX-LHR-VIE flight in Y and used a SWU to upgrade to J. Of course the BA flight from LHR-VIE was economy. But today I called AA and after a bit they confirmed my SWU was good for the BA segment too since they’re for up to 3 segments, def a much nicer perk 
When Iberia does this I’ll be even happier, since I tend to take business trips with them to SA
When Iberia does this I’ll be even happier, since I tend to take business trips with them to SA
Sep 15, 2022, 10:30 am
#53
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Live: IWI; Work: DCA/Everywhere; Play: LAS/SJU/MLE
Programs: AA EXP, DL PM, Hyatt Glob, Marriott Ambassador/LTP, Nat'l Exec Elite, LEYE Gold
Posts: 6,670
"When flying transatlantic" does not mean "only" on the transatlantic legs. It just means you must be flying transatlantic. The terms do not exclude upgrades to CE on intra-Europe legs attached to a TATL. The terms do not expressly include them either, although they implicitly include them by referencing the three-segment limit.
Sep 15, 2022, 12:01 pm
#54
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: DEN
Programs: Hilton Diamond Hyatt Globalist Marriott Gold AA EXP
Posts: 1,016
Flip side is that the 57.5k offers (or 85k in F) are easier to come by and often the only awards that are sensible short of shelling out 180k each way on AA. For that delta, I can find award space on Qatar, which would save thousands of dollars. (The sweet spot TATL awards are the 78k web specials in F if you can find them.)
Sep 15, 2022, 1:03 pm
#56
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: KHOU/KIAH
Programs: AA EXP | Marriott Bonvoy Titanium| Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 11,250
I don't believe so. It appears that it covers US-Europe (AA domestic, Y to J, AA TATL Y/W to J, BA TATL Y to W or W to J, BA Europe Y to J and J-F on all where applicable)
Sep 15, 2022, 2:46 pm
#57
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: DFW
Programs: OWE AA EXP;*A TK Gold; Marriott LTT; Hyatt Globalist; IHG Plat; National VIP
Posts: 3,097
Would be interested if anyone has seen anything further about needing AA metal components on the PNR in order to be eligible? I know that was in the original reports, but the web site text seems much more expansive:
Systemwide upgrades can be used for one-way travel for up to 3 segments on American marketed and operated flights, British Airways marketed and operated flights, or British Airways operated flights marketed by American
I'm assuming it needs to be on 001 stock, but I'm wondering if I can book a round trip exclusively on BA metal USA-LHR-EU and upgrade both ways with 2 SWUs total.
Systemwide upgrades can be used for one-way travel for up to 3 segments on American marketed and operated flights, British Airways marketed and operated flights, or British Airways operated flights marketed by American
I'm assuming it needs to be on 001 stock, but I'm wondering if I can book a round trip exclusively on BA metal USA-LHR-EU and upgrade both ways with 2 SWUs total.
Sep 15, 2022, 3:03 pm
#58
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,600
Can we quit with the bad logic?
"When flying transatlantic" does not mean "only" on the transatlantic legs. It just means you must be flying transatlantic. The terms do not exclude upgrades to CE on intra-Europe legs attached to a TATL. The terms do not expressly include them either, although they implicitly include them by referencing the three-segment limit.
"When flying transatlantic" does not mean "only" on the transatlantic legs. It just means you must be flying transatlantic. The terms do not exclude upgrades to CE on intra-Europe legs attached to a TATL. The terms do not expressly include them either, although they implicitly include them by referencing the three-segment limit.
Upgrades are valid only on scheduled flights marketed and operated by American Airlines or American Eagle offering a First or Business Class cabin for travel, or on British Airways marketed and operated transatlantic flights
That is explicitly stating that it is only valid on BA Transatlantic flights. A 3 sector limit would allow for AA connections
Sep 15, 2022, 3:24 pm
#59
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Live: IWI; Work: DCA/Everywhere; Play: LAS/SJU/MLE
Programs: AA EXP, DL PM, Hyatt Glob, Marriott Ambassador/LTP, Nat'l Exec Elite, LEYE Gold
Posts: 6,670
The T&C states
Upgrades are valid only on scheduled flights marketed and operated by American Airlines or American Eagle offering a First or Business Class cabin for travel, or on British Airways marketed and operated transatlantic flights
That is explicitly stating that it is only valid on BA Transatlantic flights. A 3 sector limit would allow for AA connections
Upgrades are valid only on scheduled flights marketed and operated by American Airlines or American Eagle offering a First or Business Class cabin for travel, or on British Airways marketed and operated transatlantic flights
That is explicitly stating that it is only valid on BA Transatlantic flights. A 3 sector limit would allow for AA connections
Sep 15, 2022, 3:47 pm
#60
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,600
That language is at odds with the last paragraph of the picture posted in post #1 of this thread. AA often posts incorrect T&Cs and imprecise language, which is unfortunate but to be expected. In cases like this, experience rather than black-letter rules will control and YMMV, at least to some extent.
The general blurb is not saying anything that is contrary to the T&Cs - there is nothing in there that suggests that economy to business upgrades on BA are permitted