AA ditches Mileage upgrade awards

[markis10]

Commencing August 12, 2025, at midnight CT, new requests using the mileage upgrade award chart will no longer be accepted.


• For existing mileage upgrade awards: Rest assured we’ll still honor your confirmed mileage upgrades. We’ll also continue working to confirm your waitlisted requests.


• Changes until August 12: You can make changes to existing requested or confirmed mileage upgrade awards until August 11, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. CT.*


• Changes on or after August 12: No changes can be made.


• New requests: Travel must be completed by the end of the year for new requests made from now until August 11, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. CT.

 

[Scarlett]

Without any other context, and I’m not an AA member, does this imply they’re going to a dynamic upgrade cost process, or ditching use of miles for upgrades altogether?

If the latter, that’s a pretty big ‘enhancement’.

 

[serfty]

If the latter, that’s a pretty big ‘enhancement’.

It is the latter ... with respect to AAdvantage miles.

I have not looked closely, but instrument/"certificate" uupgrades are not something I have seen reference to here.

I have used cash upgrades in the last year or three where it seemed reasonable, e.g. AKL-DFW Y to PE for USD170, TUL-LAX to "First" for USD70.

This is what AA are moving to.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Per onemileatatime, AA is now moving to ‘instant uogrades’.

AA currently sells upgrades for cash. You’ll now have the option to use miles instead of cash as part of this process.

Upgrade costs vary - so dynamic. The value AA gives to miles is just under 1c.

American Mileage Upgrade Changes: Instant Upgrades Replace Award Chart

American Airlines is changing how upgrades with AAdvantage miles work. Instant upgrades are replacing the mileage upgrade award chart.

onemileatatime.com

According to Lucky this will give more opportunity to upgrade using points. abut can be more expensive.

 

[moa999]

I'd think it's going to be substantially more expensive, particularly when points only value at under 1c/mile.