Upgrading a transatlantic basic economy
Jul 4, 23, 6:07 pm
#2
Moderator: Travel Safety/Security, Travel Tools, California, Los Angeles; FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Take a look at the master Basic Economy thread:
Jul 5, 23, 10:35 am
#3
Join Date: Dec 2000
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https://www.aa.com/i18n/travel-info/...ic-economy.jsp
Jul 6, 23, 12:33 pm
#4
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Jul 6, 23, 12:55 pm
#5
Join Date: Aug 2015
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As a BE ticket is eligible for a complimentary upgrade (for elites), you should see offers to buy up for $$$ if they are doling them out. Just be mindful of the published restrictions:
https://www.aa.com/i18n/travel-info/...ic-economy.jsp
https://www.aa.com/i18n/travel-info/...ic-economy.jsp
Jul 6, 23, 1:07 pm
#6
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Munich, Germany
Posts: 50
I have bought up to Premium Economy on a transatlantic Basic Economy ticket when offered through the app.
It wasn't cheap (around $300 per person), but it ended up being quite a lot cheaper than if I had bought PE at the time of booking.
It wasn't cheap (around $300 per person), but it ended up being quite a lot cheaper than if I had bought PE at the time of booking.
Jul 6, 23, 2:51 pm
#7
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Jul 7, 23, 5:59 am
#8
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Yes, those are really steep - I have seen offers for J and PE to be the same price... or more often just $50 more for J over PE
Jul 7, 23, 6:01 am
#9
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Jul 7, 23, 7:47 am
#11
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Jul 7, 23, 9:06 am
#12
Join Date: Aug 2011
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It is (pretty much) true for EXP. Whenever there is PE space available for upgrades (IE, they would sell upgrades) EXPs are entitled to get them for free.
1, There is no automated process to put EXPs on an upgrade list. So you have to ask. It is NOT necessarily a gate thing either. You can ask at check-in, and if there are upgrades available for sale - you will get one for free. Sometimes, if you haven't already upgraded a segment - you might get a prompt at OLCI, sometimes later.
Categorically - when there was space and I asked - I got a free upgrade.
2, Because it is a manual process, if there is no immediate space available for sale, things can go off track at the gate. The agent is supposed to upgrade if you asked, but may "forget" and "accidentally" clear employees into PE etc
People say they sometimes get free PE if an SWU failed - true - but has nothing to do with SWU - having the SWU replaces the "asking" part only. You can even ask at check-in, get your free PE upgrade and a SWU to J applied at the gate. There has to be space, and you have to ask.
I rather frequently buy MUC-CLT-FLL-CLT-MUC and pretty much always buy outbound in Y and return in J (discounted fare classes of course) - Not once when there was space in PE did I not get the upgrade (when asked) at check-in. Sometimes I get a free offer when checking in at the app.
1, There is no automated process to put EXPs on an upgrade list. So you have to ask. It is NOT necessarily a gate thing either. You can ask at check-in, and if there are upgrades available for sale - you will get one for free. Sometimes, if you haven't already upgraded a segment - you might get a prompt at OLCI, sometimes later.
Categorically - when there was space and I asked - I got a free upgrade.
2, Because it is a manual process, if there is no immediate space available for sale, things can go off track at the gate. The agent is supposed to upgrade if you asked, but may "forget" and "accidentally" clear employees into PE etc
People say they sometimes get free PE if an SWU failed - true - but has nothing to do with SWU - having the SWU replaces the "asking" part only. You can even ask at check-in, get your free PE upgrade and a SWU to J applied at the gate. There has to be space, and you have to ask.
I rather frequently buy MUC-CLT-FLL-CLT-MUC and pretty much always buy outbound in Y and return in J (discounted fare classes of course) - Not once when there was space in PE did I not get the upgrade (when asked) at check-in. Sometimes I get a free offer when checking in at the app.
Jul 7, 23, 9:46 am
#13
Join Date: Dec 2006
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Posts: 5,401
It is (pretty much) true for EXP. Whenever there is PE space available for upgrades (IE, they would sell upgrades) EXPs are entitled to get them for free.
1, There is no automated process to put EXPs on an upgrade list. So you have to ask. It is NOT necessarily a gate thing either. You can ask at check-in, and if there are upgrades available for sale - you will get one for free. Sometimes, if you haven't already upgraded a segment - you might get a prompt at OLCI, sometimes later.
Categorically - when there was space and I asked - I got a free upgrade.
2, Because it is a manual process, if there is no immediate space available for sale, things can go off track at the gate. The agent is supposed to upgrade if you asked, but may "forget" and "accidentally" clear employees into PE etc
People say they sometimes get free PE if an SWU failed - true - but has nothing to do with SWU - having the SWU replaces the "asking" part only. You can even ask at check-in, get your free PE upgrade and a SWU to J applied at the gate. There has to be space, and you have to ask.
I rather frequently buy MUC-CLT-FLL-CLT-MUC and pretty much always buy outbound in Y and return in J (discounted fare classes of course) - Not once when there was space in PE did I not get the upgrade (when asked) at check-in. Sometimes I get a free offer when checking in at the app.
1, There is no automated process to put EXPs on an upgrade list. So you have to ask. It is NOT necessarily a gate thing either. You can ask at check-in, and if there are upgrades available for sale - you will get one for free. Sometimes, if you haven't already upgraded a segment - you might get a prompt at OLCI, sometimes later.
Categorically - when there was space and I asked - I got a free upgrade.
2, Because it is a manual process, if there is no immediate space available for sale, things can go off track at the gate. The agent is supposed to upgrade if you asked, but may "forget" and "accidentally" clear employees into PE etc
People say they sometimes get free PE if an SWU failed - true - but has nothing to do with SWU - having the SWU replaces the "asking" part only. You can even ask at check-in, get your free PE upgrade and a SWU to J applied at the gate. There has to be space, and you have to ask.
I rather frequently buy MUC-CLT-FLL-CLT-MUC and pretty much always buy outbound in Y and return in J (discounted fare classes of course) - Not once when there was space in PE did I not get the upgrade (when asked) at check-in. Sometimes I get a free offer when checking in at the app.
I'd say I have a pretty solid chance on one direction but the other is more concerning so will definitely look into PE at check in if they don't clear yet.
Jul 8, 23, 12:54 am
#14
Join Date: Aug 2011
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Wow, this is really good to know, I had no idea this existed. I've got a set of flights in November where I decided to roll the dice and actually try to use my SWUs on that are rotting away. I didn't buy BE, but assuming this applies to any economy ticket.
I'd say I have a pretty solid chance on one direction but the other is more concerning so will definitely look into PE at check in if they don't clear yet.
I'd say I have a pretty solid chance on one direction but the other is more concerning so will definitely look into PE at check in if they don't clear yet.
Sep 4, 23, 6:41 pm
#15
Join Date: Jun 2020
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