You need to have elite status to use your 500-mile upgrades. Free checked bag and preferred boarding for you and up to 8 traveling companions. For booking American Airlines first class, they can use miles for ticket reservations and upgrade economy class to first class on American Airlines. How can I use my AA miles to upgrade on British Airways? Can they be used on award tickets or only paid fares? I’m seeking clarification – I thought Barclaycard cut the EQD earning potential commencing 2019 with Red and Blue card holders no longer earn any EQD’s regardless of spend, and Silver card members only getting $3,000 EQDs when they spend $50,000? Here are a couple of ideas. Use miles to purchase business or first class award tickets. Christine, who lives in Northern Michigan, travels about 300,000 miles a year despite her remote location. Elite members may also use miles to purchase 500-miles upgrades at the rate of 8 upgrades for 40,000 AAdvantage miles. (Photo: Digital Vision./Digital Vision/Getty Images ), American Airlines: Upgrade With Miles on Partner Airlines, The Points Guy: Tricks to Avoid Being Skipped on an American Airlines Upgrade List, American Airlines: AAdvantage Elite Status, American Airlines: Flagship First – International, How to Upgrade to Business Class on Lufthansa, How to Use Alaska Airline Miles to Pay for Part or All of a Trip, How to Upgrade to First Class on American Airlines International, Privacy Notice/Your California Privacy Rights. Thanks for reading and for the kind words. Passengers can upgrade their seat to business or first class and experience its comfort and luxury. However, the credit card information that we publish has been written by experts who know these products inside out, and what we recommend is what we would (or already) use ourselves. Upgrade chart/rules: https://www.aa.com/i18n/aadvantage-program/miles/redeem/award-travel/upgrade-with-miles-on-partner-airlines.jsp Article on upgrading with British Airways: https://upgradedpoints.com/how-to-upgrade-on-british-airways. Unfortunately, I was waitlisted. Are you a member of American Airlines AAdvantage frequent flyer program? You can … Buy an upgrade at ticket purchase, check-in or at the gate. For upgrades from business class to first class, there needs to be “A” availability. We purchased tickets through our tour operator and would like to use our miles to upgrade. American Airlines is a major airline in America. It could clear as early as today or as late as after you have boarded the airplane, which happened to me once. You’ll realize additional savings with a 25% rebate on food and beverage purchases on board your flight. I have a question. Also, here’s a nice article on Platinum Pro that includes information about upgrades. https://upgradedpoints.com/american-airlines-platinum-pro-status-value-upgrades/. For American Airlines flights, if your upgrade hasn't been confirmed as of check-in, we will automatically add you to the airport upgrade standby list, using your original request date and time stamp. So what can I do with the 20+ 500 mile upgrades that are in my account? Then, you should book your reservations with American Airlines. © 2021 Upgraded Points™, LLC. To use 500-mile upgrade certificates, you can select an upgrade when making a reservation or at any time before departure on aa.com or call and speak with an American Airlines representative. Even discount economy tickets are eligible for mileage upgrade awards if space is available. Will I be waiting until 24 hours before the flight? All travelers who have AAdvantage frequent flier miles can use miles to upgrade their flights when upgrade space is available. Many folks upgrade to first-class seats via elite status (and may get lucky, based on rank and/or points or potluck). There can be special offers to upgrade prior to departure, however. I don’t want them to simply expire. Can I transfer to my wife? Mileage upgrades are valid for up to 3 segments on a one-way journey, outbound or return. Disclaimer: Upgraded Points, LLC and its website, UpgradedPoints.com, provides information on credit cards, reward programs, travel information and ancillary information concerning travel and credit cards. I am not picky on the flight company, but we flew to Kauai once in coach, and it was horrible! Flying in premium class can be accomplished quite easily by purchasing a business or first class award tickets with miles or with paid flights offered at discount prices. As you mentioned, you could also just purchase economy and select main cabin extra seating. In order for this to occur, please be sure you have the appropriate number of miles in your account at least 48 … Any advice is greatly appreciated. My son is a platinum pro, and my daughter is a platinum. For 25,000 miles, you can upgrade to first class on a flight to Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Australia, New Zealand and the remaining South American countries. 2. The trick is finding available upgrade space, but it is possible. Are AAnytime flights considered “award flights” or only SAAver flights? Time/date of upgrade request (tie-breaker). Use miles to purchase business or first class award tickets. Even without elite status, if upgrade space is available when you book your ticket, the upgrade may clear immediately. Fellow first class passengers may not appreciate the noise or distraction. The easiest time to get an upgrade isn't when you're checking in or waiting in the lounge; it's actually when you're on board, in your seat. While Citi doesn’t offer AAdvantage credit cards, Barclays cards offer a faster path to elite status. If you have ConciergeKey/Executive Platinum status with American Airlines, you’ll be able to see the availability of using Systemwide Upgrades or Mileage Upgrade Awards when you search for a flight. It all depends on what airline you’re flying. You may only use 500 mile upgrades on eligible purchased tickets. Don’t rely on upgrading. If you purchased your ticket with miles then you would need to change your award ticket to premium economy. So, the best strategy is to book your son and either your wife or you on the same reservation. R/PZ: Upgrades from economy to business class or first class on domestic flights. American has 26 different fare codescovering its revenue tickets, award tickets and upgrade inven… If you’re not a top elite member of the American Airlines AAdvantage frequent flier program, your chances may seem less than optimal. With Platinum Pro, you can upgrade 1 companion. For a list of American Airlines AAdvantage credit cards and the perks and rewards available with each card, access our complete guide. You should start packing your bags because your husband’s SWUs (System-wide Upgrades) can be shared with anyone he chooses. If you'd like to add a comment to this article and share your valuable feedback and opinions, please click here to leave your comment. PN: Upgrades from full fare Y, B or M fare class tickets to first or business class, plus all Global Services upgrades. Thanks! Good article! In particular, the upgrade to First (A class) is subject to capacity in the First cabin on your chosen flight. AAdvantage elite members receive complimentary upgrades on flights less than 500 miles in length. Whoever needs the upgrade the most should be booked with your son’s Platinum Pro status. Hi Spenser and thanks for the kind words. Pre-departure gate upgrades for purchase may be discounted and a good value. Are you one of those travelers who wish to travel luxuriously by paying affordable charges for the services? Two American Airlines upgrade options are available on international flights. Many of the credit card offers that appear on this site are from credit card companies from which we receive financial compensation. These SWUs can be used on any American Airlines flight worldwide and a ticket issued in any fare class, including Basic Economy. 1. If you’ve been stockpiling American Airlines frequent flyer miles, an international flight is the perfect opportunity to put them to work for a first-class upgrade. This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers that are on the market. The website has changed recently and I can’t find a way to confirm I am on a waiting list. Use elite or airline credit cards. Upgrade Priority: Who Gets the Upgrade First? That means you can have booked anywhere, including directly with the airline. A definitive process for allocating upgrades is a positive and rewards AAdvantage Elite members whose loyalty is strongest with American Airlines. Hope this helps! I have to call, I guess. Then buy 2 Premium Economy (or economy) tickets and upgrade those with miles for your teenagers. While you do not need to submit a request to Alaska (they can only give you Alaska Airline miles), you might want to follow up and submit another request to American Airlines. Having the right credit card in your wallet can make earning one of these elite statuses easier. Simply want to CLICK to confirm I haven’t been taken off the upgrade list. There is no single price option for upgrading to first class on an American Airlines flight, as the price in cash or miles is based on the route you are flying and the fare class of the ticket you wish to upgrade. If you purchased a discount business class fare, you can upgrade your flight to some (but not all) of the aforementioned countries at the same mileage cost as a full-fare business class ticket – but you'll also have to pay an extra fee, which can range from $175 to $550. Buy an upgrade at ticket purchase, check-in or at the gate. Two $99 companion tickets after spending $30,000 on the card annually, Not available for new applications, must upgrade from the Barclays Red Aviator credit card. We are flying to Paris and home from Lyon in May. 3. This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. Hi Vicki. They purchased a package. If you have a specific route you’d like to fly, you can set up alerts on several web sites to notify you when the fare on that route changes. For more information on 500 mile upgrades: https://www.aa.com/i18n/aadvantage-program/aadvantage-terms-and-conditions.jsp#terms500mile. [1] X Research sourceStep 2, Become a frequent flier. All the upgrade benefits of Executive Platinum plus upgrade priority over all other elite members. Upgrade with miles. Set up fare alerts for business class fares. Achieving Platinum Pro earns complimentary upgrades on flights within the U.S. (including Hawaii), and between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, the Bahamas, Bermuda, the Caribbean, and Central America Platinum Pros will be eligible to earn SWUs in 2021. Hot Tip: An elite member who sponsors a companion for an upgrade does not necessarily have to use their own Systemwide/500-mile upgrades for the companion. For example, a flight of 2,400 miles would require 5 500-mile upgrade certificates. Thanks! Upgraded Points, LLC uses reasonable efforts to maintain accurate information on the site — and prior to applying for any credit card offers found on UpgradedPoints.com, all visitors should review other features of such credit cards including but not limited to interest rates, annual fees and transaction fees, and should determine the suitability of such credit cards considering their own individual financial position. Visit AA.com for complete descriptions of fare classes and zone definitions for these types of mileage upgrades. Passengers may not appreciate the noise or distraction definitions for these types of upgrades! 2,400 miles would require 5 500-mile upgrade certificates been taken off the upgrade may clear immediately appreciate... Upgrades: https: //www.aa.com/i18n/aadvantage-program/miles/redeem/award-travel/upgrade-with-miles-on-partner-airlines.jsp Article on upgrading with British Airways Research sourceStep,... 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