tips on booking AA miles for Europe AND biz class or Premium Economy
Sep 20, 23, 12:10 pm
#16
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 157
The issue with miles and copay upgrades is availability. They are a good deal IF you can find availability. It is rare to be confirmed when booking, normally you are waitlisted and won’t know if successful until a day or two before the flight, or on the day itself. Therefore you run the risk of flying in coach, which is a considerable risk unless you are fairly high on the status totem pole and even then there are no guarantees.
Sep 20, 23, 12:33 pm
#17
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: STL
Programs: AA Lifetime Platinum
Posts: 492
Yes, finding C availability is tough. Note that expert flyer will show lots of C availability for connecting flights (even reward flights) and this is incorrect. To get accurate upgrade availability you must search segment by segment and also specifically search for reward availability, otherwise it will simply show C space for sale. It is very rare these days to see upgrades available for long haul flights at the time of booking.
Sep 20, 23, 12:43 pm
#18
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: DFW/PHL
Programs: US CP, UA *G; SPG Plat, Hilton Gold; Natl Exec, Hertz PC
Posts: 623
Y fares allow a miles-only upgrade.
Sep 20, 23, 1:19 pm
#19
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 157
Yes, finding C availability is tough. Note that expert flyer will show lots of C availability for connecting flights (even reward flights) and this is incorrect. To get accurate upgrade availability you must search segment by segment and also specifically search for reward availability, otherwise it will simply show C space for sale. It is very rare these days to see upgrades available for long haul flights at the time of booking.
Sep 20, 23, 1:44 pm
#20
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: BOS
Programs: AA EXP 1MM, DL DM, Bonvoy Titanium (Plat Life), HH G, Amtrak, B6, MR
Posts: 1,496
U is business award from the pre-dynamic-pricing days. I guess it still means something in terms of how they price it if U is available.
Sep 20, 23, 2:01 pm
#21
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 157
Thanks for all the info, as a new EP this is good to know. I see the chart says 15k for PE, is there a fare code to search or if there is an open seat?
Sep 20, 23, 2:27 pm
#22
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 10,805
U (and T for economy) is still important. It's the space that's made available to partners. It is also the only space that can be combined with a partner award.
Sep 20, 23, 3:07 pm
#23
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: BOS
Programs: AA EXP 1MM, DL DM, Bonvoy Titanium (Plat Life), HH G, Amtrak, B6, MR
Posts: 1,496
Sep 20, 23, 3:32 pm
#24
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: PHL, NYC
Programs: AA PLT, DL SLV, UA SLV, MR LTT, HH DIA
Posts: 9,940
15K is to upgrade from full Y coach fare or full W PremEcon fare to Business from US to Europe. Otherwise, it's still 25K+$350 to upgrade pretty much any discounted coach or PE fare.
Sep 23, 23, 7:13 am
#25
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: I 35 south bound, finally stopped
Programs: LT Plt, 4mm, *A GLD, burned out medical provider, executing our estate plan
Posts: 1,659
Would second the idea of flexibility. We did PHL to ZUR in April and that worked great. We did need to pre position on a separate ticket to PHL but we have been doing that for years. 8 hour train ride to Rome. 4 hours to Milan.
Sep 23, 23, 8:02 am
#26
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 157
Going to Europe I’ve found much cheaper flights doing multi city searching. Do “home airport to LHR” then next day LHR to “desired destination”. Just make sure the first leg is AA to avoid hefty fuel surcharges. Will most likely route you thru JFK and changing airports from LGA to JFK.
