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American Airlines has announced that they are finally rejigging their bizarre upgrade process for elite members. Starting March 2nd, all levels of elite status will be eligible for complimentary upgrades without requiring 500-mile upgrade certificates. The changes affect all levels of elite status, as well their companions, making the upgrade process much more in-step with what’s standard across other US airlines. American will also be automating day-of upgrades instead of relying on gate agents to process them, which may mean that they will actually be prioritized correctly.
What’s Changing
American Airlines Executive Platinum and Platinum Pro members are the only ones that currently receive free upgrades on domestic flights. While they can upgrade a companion, if that companion isn’t eligible for complimentary upgrades, they require a 500-mile upgrade certificate which must be purchased.
Although all elite members can be upgraded on flights less than 500 miles, AA Golds and Platinums have to use 500-mile upgrade certs for upgrades on longer flights and the upgrades must be requested in advance.
This whole process is unusually wacky and easily the worst of the major US carriers across all elite tiers. Thankfully, American has announced that they are making much needed changes to the process.
American will no longer be tracking miles as they transition to awarding status based on Loyalty Points and will be getting rid of upgrade certificates entirely. Starting March 2:
- Gold and Platinum members will receive complimentary upgrades on domestic flights . Upgrades will be now be auto-requested with the member needing to opt-out of upgrades instead of opting-in as before.
- 500 mile upgrades will still be needed for companion upgrades in the short-term, but later this year all companions will be complimentary as well.
- Existing 500-mile upgrades will be converted to Loyalty Points at a rate of 250 points per certificate.
- Upgrades will now automatically clear 40 minutes before flight departure if seats are available. Once an upgrade clears, the passenger will be notified on the app and on the gate monitor.
Quick Thoughts
These are needed changes to AA’s upgrade system and will be welcomed by most elite members. It’s also an unexpected plus that American will be awarding Loyalty Points for unused certs. The rate isn’t great, as they used to give 2000 miles each when converting. However, American hasn’t allowed that conversion at all for some time, so anything is better than nothing. I’ve got a boatload of these collecting dust in my account, so I’m happy to see that something will come of them, especially with the loyalty games in full swing.
This could have a collateral effect of actually making upgrades tougher for Golds since there are probably at least a handful of Platinum members on most flights that wouldn’t request upgrades due to not having certificates or wanting to conserve them. Now though, all Platinums will be on the the upgrade list, potentially causing Golds to fall further down the list.
That aside, this will be an improved change for most elites, especially when travelling with companions. The change to automated processing will be a relief as well. American gate agents have been notorious for processing upgrades out-of-order or only processing them when passengers are physically at the gate. Now, it should go in the intended order, even if someone is on the plane or in another part of the airport.
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Why on earth would you be ok with the certs being redeemed for only 250 Loyalty Points? The author saying that makes it seem like they are getting something on the back end because it is so bad it unfathomable that anyone would be ok with it.
I paid $40 for a few of these, thinking I would be able to use them as a Platinum. As with anything, when a benefit gets removed, you are due what you paid for that benefit. You cannot offer something at one price point, and then turn around the next day and say you’ll get a refund because they’re useless and we randomly valued it at something 10% of it’s original value- take it or leave it.
I plan on finding the original charge and dispute it based on fraud… we’ll see how that goes 🙂
“We are implementing new changes to make your flying experience.”
Translation: RUN!
AA would not extend elite members another year like all the other majors did. The good news is, Delta Sky miles has a fast track on line mileage and status match. Delta is not big in my part of the Country but I’m making the switch because after more than 20 plus years of loyalty to AA, they are not being loyal to their business customers who pay bills. After repeated communications with AA, their responses were the same, even tough people weren’t flying because of COVID, they were not extending another year, but, I could spend $5,000 and buy the premier status extension. Ya, i don’t think so. I am terribly disappointed in AA customer service, after all these years. Just crazy
So I’m a Plat for life, and have 27 500mile
certs in my account. I’ve been flying from John Wayne to Washington DC 4-6 times a year and haven’t been able to get an upgrade for several years. Why should I stick with AA?
Time out. You say: “ Existing 500-mile upgrades will be converted to Loyalty Points at a rate of 250 points per certificate.” They sold these for $40 each. So now you paid $0.16 per mile for these. That is close to theft. You sure that is not $0.016 per mile or a 2500 point conversion? That would be fair.
In the past, companions could easily be upgraded only if they were in the same Record Locator as the primary passenger. Even when the records were linked, Sabre would not automatically upgrade the companion. Is AA fixing this process as part of the upgrade process?
“fixed” the process? by sh*tting on everyone that still has certs in their account. what a joke of a “value” they’re giving us
How are we going to upgrade a 2nd companion with us? If the 1st companion is free, and 500 mile upgrade certificates are turning into loyalty points, what do you believe is the answer? Thanks!
> Later in 2022, all AAdvantage® status members will be able to enjoy a complimentary upgrade for 1 companion traveling on the same flight within North America. When that happens, we’ll convert all available 500-mile upgrades to 250 Loyalty Points each. This addition of Loyalty Points helps you reach AAdvantage® status faster.
It seems the 500-mile upgrades will be converted to 250 LP at a later date this year?
Yes, that’s correct. As far as I know, AA hasn’t released a firm date for that change yet.
Is there a non-firm date? Soon? Mid-year? End-of-year? TIA.
They made it worse – charge 40$ for upgrade and give 250 points for it
At least they should have given 2500 miles for each one
AND
they could have kept paid upgrades before elite upgrades, much like UA does.
Mileage upgrades and Paid Upgrades with EXP, PPro, Plat, Gold;
then complimentary upgrades
I would have loved to have seen better return. I was expecting them to not give us anything, but, you’re right…what they’re doing is still stingy. There’s no AA in generous 🙂
Yep, I’m that Gold member you talked about in the second to last paragraph 🙁
Apologies. AA isn’t doing much to make life better for Golds.
I am a bit confused on the priority scheme if you use 500-mile upgrades vs not. If you are Exec Plat or Pro Plat and you do NOT use 500-mile upgrade certs does a gold status using certs get the upgrade before the Exec Plats or PPs?
You’re not alone, it’s a bizarre process.
Currently EXP and PP get on the list regardless. The difference is with regular Platinums, They have to use certs to get upgraded AND request it. Going forward, that won’t be the case, so every Plat on the plane will be on the list ahead of the Golds.
250 points for a 500-mile upgrade cert? That’s a pure insult. I have 10.
It is. I have 22 🙁
250 LP per certificate seems impossibly stingy.
Like I told someone earlier, there’s no AA in generous.
It’s better than nothing but 250 loyalty points per sticker is a bit stingy in my opinion if the points aren’t also redeemable miles. I have a bunch of these stupid things — some of which I actually paid cash for and some I used miles for thinking they would be easier to use. Like I said, better than nothing. Still, converting them to loyalty points is a one-time benefits for a single year when we already have 14 months to earn loyalty points. I’d much rather have miles that I can actually redeem, or better yet . . . both!
Completely agree, Larry. I had completely resigned myself to getting nothing (because they haven’t been converting them for awhile), so it was a pleasant surprise. But it’s really a pittance ESPECIALLY for those that were purchased.