AA upgrade certificates

[rosesplus]

My wife has 48 AA 500mile upgrade certificates that she is unlikely to use. She also has 907K life time miles. I thought I'd read that upgrade certificates were exchangeable for miles at the rate of 2500 miles per certificate but the AA rep we spoke to said they will only exchange them on certain conditions and then only at 500 miles each. Is this correct, I was hoping she could exchange some of them for lifetime gold status? Am I able to use the upgrade certificates if I'm not travelling with her on a QF ticket or an AA ticket?

One further question for the resident experts, can I use my Qantas miles to purchase/waitlist an upgrade on an AA ticket on a QF/AA codeshare flight SYD/LAX?

Many thanks.....

 

[QF WP]

My wife has 48 AA 500mile upgrade certificates that she is unlikely to use. She also has 907K life time miles. I thought I'd read that upgrade certificates were exchangeable for miles at the rate of 2500 miles per certificate but the AA rep we spoke to said they will only exchange them on certain conditions and then only at 500 miles each. Is this correct, I was hoping she could exchange some of them for lifetime gold status?

My understanding about the upgrade e-certificates is if you were "cashing them in" they were 500 miles each, so I agree with the AA rep.

Am I able to use the upgrade certificates if I'm not travelling with her on a QF ticket or an AA ticket?

Yes, here's the question and answer directly from the AA web site (FAQ's):

Q: Can I use my upgrades for my companion to travel?
A: Elite status members may upgrade one companion along with themselves per segment. Upgrades for both passengers will be deducted from the elite member's account only.

One further question for the resident experts, can I use my Qantas miles to purchase/waitlist an upgrade on an AA ticket on a QF/AA codeshare flight SYD/LAX?

My understanding is unfortunately, no. You could use your wife's points + e-certs if it was the AA metal (not using the QF codeshare flight number) and you were flying together.

 

[NM]

Because those AA upgrade cers are only good for AA domestic flights, they have in the past permitted an exchange for miles if you can convince them that you only ever fly international flights and hence have no way to use domestic upgrades. That will be the "certain condition" that was mentioned.

As Lindsay has said, you cannot use QF points to upgrade any other airline's flight. They can only be used for upgrades on QF flight number on a flight operated by Qantas (not a codeshare).

 

[rosesplus]

NH and Lindsay thanks for your reply, I've just found the following in the "Unofficial Guide", it seems to suggest that a one time these certificates were redeemable for 2,500 miles each.

Agent 2: AAdvantage Customer Service, this is ____. How can I help you?

Me: Hi, I'd like to exchange my earned upgrades for miles, please.

Agent 2: Sure, how many would you like to exchange?

Me: My four earned upgrades, please.

Agent 2: (Brief pause, some typing sounds) All done, that's 10,000 bonus miles added to your account. Can I help you with anything else today?

Me: No, thank you very much. Have a good day, bye! (Hang up)

Me: (to myself) Gosh, that was easy.

And with that, I was suddenly 1% closer to Million-mile status.

Is this now out of date or should I just try another AA customer service rep?

 

[QF WP]

rosesplus, whilst the majority of the information for the Plat & Gold Challenges (the main reason for the website) hasn't changed, the website reads - Website last updated: 2002/07/16. Now even though it's the American date format, it's not difficult to work out that FewMiles last did a change to it on July 16, 2002. Not perfect for relying on all information - but most of the information I have read in the web site, has been tried and tested. If there were any parts that had major flaws or had changed, we'd all be talking about it and pointing them out everytime we discussed the AA Challenges.

Whilst you can try if you want, the AAdv call merry-go-around might cost more than the return (presumably, they'll tell you the same thing). Don't just take our word for it...you'll never know for yourself until you have tried for yourself.