Can I Use American Upgrade Certificates On Award Travel?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Any AAdvantage member can utilize AAdvantage mileage upgrades to upgrade their flight to the next cabin of service as long as the flight is marketed and operated by American Airlines.

The only restrictions are on award tickets and basic economy tickets

.

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Can 500 mile upgrades be used on international flights?


All American elite travelers are eligible for complimentary upgrades on domestic and short-haul international flights

through the 500-mile upgrade program.

Can you get upgraded on an award ticket American?


You cannot upgrade award tickets in most cases

, and most discount fare classes are not eligible for upgrading with miles either. If you’re after an AA upgrade to first class, you’re usually better off earning more AAdvantage miles and booking the award fare you want.

Can I use systemwide upgrades on British Airways?

British Airways is selling this ticket as a codeshare and

it is ineligible for upgrades

. You may have certain flights in an itinerary that are operated by another airline.

Do aa 500 mile upgrades expire?

It’s worth noting that these 500-mile certificates

will not expire

, so if you earn them and then advance to a higher tier in a subsequent year, you can still use those previously earned 500-mile upgrades towards upgrading a companion, which will be discussed later.

Can I use SWU on award tickets?

Which fare classes are eligible for an SWU? A huge advantage of SWUs is that all published fare classes are eligible.

A few exceptions include award tickets

, military and government fares, charters, companion tickets, infant tickets, employee fares and now basic economy tickets.

How many miles do you need to upgrade on American Airlines?

Elite status Type of ticket/upgrade Executive Platinum

500-mile

upgrades on award tickets

Can you pay to upgrade to first class on American Airlines?

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. Upgrades are also subject to availability.

How can I get a free upgrade to first class?

The best way to get upgraded to first class for free is to

earn elite airline status

. Complimentary upgrades are offered to frequent fliers on all the major airlines, although not necessarily on every route.

Can I upgrade American Airlines basic economy?

Can I upgrade from Basic Economy on American Airlines?

No, Basic Economy customers aren’t typically eligible for upgrades

, though you might be if you have elite status.

How do I get American EQDs?

Fortunately, you can earn more EQDs by

meeting qualifying spending requirements on select co-branded AA credit cards

. You can EQDs for spending on the following AA credit cards. AAdvantage

®

Aviator

®

Silver Mastercard

®

— Earn 3,000 EQDs after spending $50,000 in a calendar year.

How do I get gold status on American Airlines?

To requalify for Gold status, you need to

fly at least 30 qualifying segments or earn 25,000 qualifying miles or points during the calendar year

. It takes 60 qualifying segments or 50,000 qualifying miles or points during the calendar year to reach AAdvantage Platinum membership.

Can I use American Airlines miles for British Airways?


No, you cannot transfer American Airlines miles to British Airways

. You can redeem American Airlines miles for British Airways flights, though, because both airlines are part of the “ONEWORLD” alliance.

Can I use Alaska miles to upgrade on British Airways?


Yes it is

. You can fly on British Airways, credit to Alaska and upgrade that flight with Avios. In case you aren’t familiar with the concept of upgrading using points, it’s a fabulous way to pay less and fly more.

Can I use Alaska miles to upgrade on American?

Alaska Mileage Plan

elite members are eligible for upgrades on American

, either to extra legroom economy seating, or to first class.

How do I get Platinum status on American Airlines?


When you reach 2 million miles flown on American Airlines

, you’ll earn lifetime Platinum status and 4 one-way system upgrades. After that, you’ll earn an additional 4 one-way system upgrades for each additional million miles flown.

How many miles do you need to upgrade to business class?

If you want to use points, going from most economy fares booked into in M, H or W booking classes to premium will require 47,000 points each way. If you want to go all the way to business, figure upon

90,000 miles

for a one-way upgrade between the USA and Asia.

How do you become Executive Platinum?

To earn American Airlines Executive Platinum status, you need to

earn 200,000 Loyalty Points

. These Loyalty Points do not include taxes and fees — only base fares.

Can you upgrade to first class after purchase?

Post-purchase upgrades may be the same as, or sometimes more expensive than, purchasing in the shopping path as a fare. If I Purchase Basic Economy, Can I Upgrade To First Class?

Customers, regardless of elite status, who purchase Basic Economy cannot upgrade to First Class

.

Is it cheaper to upgrade to first class at the airport?


First-class upgrades are a better value on long-haul and international flights

, especially on planes and airlines that have lay-flat seats and truly luxurious amenities like on Emirates and Cathay. The other consideration is price. If the upgrade is free, it’s always worth it.

What does flagship mean on American Airlines?

A true First class experience.

Your Flagship

®

First ticket gives you access to our most exclusive, personalized amenities and services on international flights between the U.S. and Asia, Australia, Europe and South America

.*

What does 500 mile upgrade mean?

All elites receive complimentary upgrades on flights less than 500 miles. Golds and Platinums, though, must use 500 mile upgrade certificates for

upgrades on longer flights that they request to have processed during their upgrade window

.

How much is 50000 miles Worth American Airlines?

The cash value of 50,000 American Airlines miles is

$645, on average

, or the equivalent of at least one round-trip flight between New York and Los Angeles on American Airlines. AA miles are worth about 1.34 cents per mile, slightly less than average for a major airline.

How much are upgrades on American Airlines?

You can buy 500-mile upgrades at a rate of

$40 USD per upgrade

. 500-mile upgrades can be purchased: On aa.com or on the American app. At the airport during check in.

How do you get a free upgrade on a flight?
  1. Earn airline elite status. …
  2. Fly with someone who has airline elite status. …
  3. Ask an elite member for their unused upgrades. …
  4. Volunteer for an oversold flight. …
  5. Purchase upgrades with the right credit card. …
  6. Use miles to upgrade. …
  7. Pay for a last-minute upgrade.

How much is a first class upgrade?

Depending on your destination and the class you originally booked, a first class upgrade will cost either 15,000 miles or 25,000 miles. To upgrade from all classes besides business, you’ll also have to pay a dollar amount anywhere from

$75-$550

, depending on your class and destination.

Can you upgrade to first class at the gate?

When the gate agent asks for people who are willing to give up their seat,

volunteer if you can be upgraded on the next flight

. You will experience the delay, but it might be worth it if you can fly first class.

David Martineau
Author
David Martineau
David is an interior designer and home improvement expert. With a degree in architecture, David has worked on various renovation projects and has written for several home and garden publications. David's expertise in decorating, renovation, and repair will help you create your dream home.