Purchase upgrades on check in for award travel??
Mar 21, 2014, 10:50 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: OKC
Programs: AAdvantage EXP, Marriott Rewards Gold, Hilton Honors Diamond, TK M&S Elite
Posts: 290
Purchase upgrades on check in for award travel??
Wife and I are taking a weekender to Long Beach. I was able to get two last minute coach award tickets for 40,000 mile RT total (one seat was immediately available, second ticket I had to go through CP desk and have seat released through inventory control). On check in I was offered the opportunity to purchase an upgrade to first for $65 per seat. I went ahead and purchased but now wonder if I could have sweet talked my way into an upgrade at the gate. Is the upgrade option on Y award travel on check in common? Thoughts?
Mar 21, 2014, 3:00 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: BWI
Programs: AA Gold, HH Diamond, National Emerald Executive, TSA Disparager Gold
Posts: 15,180
If you earned your CP with BIS miles rather than buying up to it, award tickets can be upgraded with the 85k special dividend. They process as a normal upgrade would.
You probably could have asked about it and gotten it for free.
You probably could have asked about it and gotten it for free.
Mar 21, 2014, 6:45 pm
#3
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: AVL
Programs: AA EXP ; Cunard Plat
Posts: 4,211
You also mentioned "last minute coach award tickets". Since the rules require booking at least 3 days before departure for the 85k Special Dividends upgrade on award travel to kick in, I gather you booked less than 3 days before and that was why the auto upgrades did not happen.