AA Upgrade
 

Hello,

I am looking at cash fares and plan to upgrade with cash and miles.

(1) If I book, DFW to MAD on Iberia but through AA, can I use AA miles and cash for upgrade if available?

(2) If I book Mumbai to DFW via LHR through BA (not AA as AA is charging lot more for same itinerary), 1st flight MUM to LHR (BA) and 2nd leg, LHR to DFW (AA) - can I upgrade both the segments using AA miles and cash, if available?

(3) When I look at itinerary, LIS to DFW on experflyer on June 7, 2025, I see
LIS to LHR AA (BA) 7063 C7 and LHR to DFW AA79 U0 C7 but when I check individual flight LHR to DFW AA79 it shows U0 and C0. I have fe more examples when I see C available as complete itinerary but not available when I check individual leg. How doses one explain that?

Same thing, Mumbai to LHR to DFW, shows C available for MUM to LHR and LHR to MUM but when I check individual leg, LHR to DFW it shows C0?

1. No
2. No. You can potentially upgrade 1 segment (TATL) if there is at least a single AA marketed segment. For example, if you are on BA 138 connecting to BA 1504 (operated by AA), you cannot. If you are on BA 138 connecting to AA 51, you can.
3. EF does not work for connecting flights. The C on each segment is correct. If it is C0 on LHR-DFW, then that is what it is.

Also, C space on BA operated flights is meaningless. Exclude codeshares for accuracy.

Thanks for the reply:

1. For DFW to MAD (non stop) on Iberia when booked through AA I see C7 on EF when choosing AA for business upgrade, non stop. hence I got confused.
AA (IB) 8631 DFW MAD Aircraft 333 C7 on May 21, 2025
But AA 36 non stop DFW MAD U0 C0 on May 21, 2025

2. Sorry, I didn't understand BA 1504 (operated by AA) so it is AA then like AA51?

Upgrade C space only applies to AA operated flights. Any C results you get from EF on IB, BA etc. is not valid.

I would check CLT-MAD (not sure what dates it is operating). CLT-MAD, DFW-FRA, CLT-MUC, JFK-BCN are some of the easier upgrades.

Yes, however, there must be an AA marketed segment on the itinerary to use a SWU to upgrade. AA cannot upgrade an entirely BA marketed and BA operated ticket. You need a ticket sold by AA or 1 AA flight number on there.

Additionally, I do not think you can upgrade non US-LHR or LHR-EU flights.

Thank You

Any way to upgrade Iberia booked through AA? And if yes, how to check upgrade inventory?

Another question, LHR to DFW in may 2025, on EF I see
AA51 U0 C0
AA21 U0 C0
AA79 U0 C0
AA81 U0 C0

but AA (BA) 6950 always shows C7 for any date that I put (whether it's January or March or May). If I book through AA, I can upgrade using AA miles, but how do I confirm upgrade availability on AA (BA) 6950?

I think when I check on EF for upgrade space for non AA flights, whether it’s IB or BA choosing AA as airlines, its gives wrong information.

so how do I find available upgrade space on IB and BA non stop flights when booked through AA?

that ‘AA” flight is BA metal so C7 means nothing. You need to check “exclude cideshare” for accurate results. You will always see C0.

The only way that you can upgrade a BA or IB flights with AA miles is if you purchase full fare economy or premium economy. Your fare basis needs to be Y, B, or W. This is typically VERY expensive, you can usually just buy discount business for cheaper.

The way to see upgrade space on BA or IB is to do an award search at aa.com. If the DFW-LHR flight on BA is available for 57.5k AA miles, for example, then you should be able to upgrade.

As mentioned you cannot use EF to look for AA upgrade space on BA or IB. EF is not providing wrong information, lots of airlines use the C fare bucket, that doesn't mean you can upgrade with AA miles.

Thank You.

other than AA, which airlines available upgrades can be found using EF?

I understand BA and IB can not.