AA systemwide upgrades

[aus_flyer]

A question for the AA Execs out there - do you use all your systemwide upgrades?

8 seems to be quite generous, but they only have a fairly short life.

If you don't use them, can they be converted to points like the 500-mile upgrades?

 

[simongr]

Use em or lose em

I have so far used 3 of my 8. Not sure re the short life expectancy - I have earned 8 this year effective July when I made EXP. They last until Feb 2009 I think which is not bad. I use them to J -> F mostly on the NRT-NYC-LHR route.

If Grand BEHEMOTH happens I will most likely use all mine next year - not sure about the 2008 eVIPs

 

[aus_flyer]

I use them to J -> F mostly on the NRT-NYC-LHR route.

Are they generally quite easy to use?

 

[NM]

Are they generally quite easy to use?

Generally not too bad. Just need to be a little flexible with routing or dates if you want immediate confirmation.

Oh and do note that the ticket must be issued by AA in order to use them. So if its initially issued with another carrier (such as QF) then you need to get AA to re-issue the ticket. For some fares that may not be possible and for others there may be a fee to have it re-issued. it needs to be issued by AA since they actually change the fare booking class on the ticket to reflect the upgrade and they can only do that if its an AA ticket (starting with 001 ticket number).

 

[Dave Noble]

Are they generally quite easy to use?

For business -> 1st class upgrades they are generally easy to use since they book into A class

For Economy-business , not so easy since they book into C class

Dave

 

[aus_flyer]

For business -> 1st class upgrades they are generally easy to use since they book into A class

For Economy-business , not so easy since they book into C class

Dave

Aah excellent - knowing this makes it easier, with a little help from experflyer!

 

[adrian]

I have used 2 out of my 8 this year. Was going to use another 2 next week on a LHR to JFK flight, but have just changed to a BA flight to YVR instead. I doubt I will get another chance to use this year.

Next year my partner & myself will have 16 between us to use, and I doubt we will use many, but maybe a few.

The ones I have used haven't (J to F) haven't been difficult, as I made sure the flight had A availability when I booked, and the ticket was issued by AA.

I treat them as a nice explat bonus - good to use if you can, but not a big loss if you don't. In fact I wish that I had more friends in USA that I could give them to....

 

[alect]

I have used most for J-F and some Y-J. In either case all have cleared except on one occasion for my wife and kid in Jan this year in LHR because it was the day of the BA strike and lots of BA pax were re-accommodated on AA to LAX and J was full.

Those which I haven't used I have always traded on CC on FT at varying rates.

They are also good for those trying to requal by doing MRs to make the MRs more comfortable - though that's difficult out of Australia.

 

[mainly tailfirst]

I have used most for J-F and some Y-J. In either case all have cleared except on one occasion for my wife and kid in Jan this year in LHR because it was the day of the BA strike and lots of BA pax were re-accommodated on AA to LAX and J was full.

Those which I haven't used I have always traded on CC on FT at varying rates.

They are also good for those trying to requal by doing MRs to make the MRs more comfortable - though that's difficult out of Australia.

Can they be used to upgrade FF tickets? I'd suspect not, but well, I don't know, hence the question

mt

 

[Keith009]

Can they be used to upgrade FF tickets? I'd suspect not, but well, I don't know, hence the question

mt

Award tickets are not eligible:

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Upgrades are only valid on individual published-fare tickets. Upgrades are not applicable to AAdvantage travel awards; any free ticket; tickets booked in I or O Class; fares booked in Q between North America and Asia, Europe, India or South America; military or other government fares; opaque fares; infant tickets (including INF50 fares) or purchased extra seats.