New American co-pay for upgrades

New American co-pay for upgrades

Buried in my latest Aadvantage e-newsletter was a link for "AAdvantage
Upgrade Award Changes" which I figured wouldn't be a good thing. And
I was right:

* w w w .aa . com /content/urls/awardChanges.jhtml?anchorLocation=DirectURL&title=awardchanges

$150 co-pay to claim upgrade awards in the continental US
$300 co-pay for international upgrades

(not clear if these are one-way or roundtrip copays).

Crap. The only thing I really use my miles for is upgrades. This
pretty much kills any value left in all my miles. And just in time.
I just got Platinum status for the first time this year.

Re: New American co-pay for upgrades

In article <1173135322.418847.258530@s48g2000cws.googlegroups . com >,
xyzzy.dude@gmail . com wrote:

> * w w w .aa . com /content/urls/awardChanges.jhtml?anchorLocation=DirectURL&tit
> le=awardchanges
>
> $150 co-pay to claim upgrade awards in the continental US
> $300 co-pay for international upgrades
>
Please note that that's not what the page says. the $150 is for travel
"between the Continental U.S. / Canada / Mexico / the Caribbean and
Hawaii." Not upgradinging within the US.

They were already charging $250 for international upgrades anyway. If I
can fly from SJC to LHR for under $400 +the upgrade fee I'll happily pay
it. I only ever use them on deeply discounted fares anyway.

Tamzen

Re: New American co-pay for upgrades

Tamzen Cannoy wrote:

> They were already charging $250 for international upgrades anyway. If I
> can fly from SJC to LHR for under $400 +the upgrade fee I'll happily pay
> it. I only ever use them on deeply discounted fares anyway.

You can't. It would be the airfare + $300 copay each way + 25000 aa
miles each way

Re: New American co-pay for upgrades


<xyzzy.dude@gmail . com > wrote in message
news:1173135322.418847.258530@s48g2000cws.googlegroups . com ...
> Buried in my latest Aadvantage e-newsletter was a link for "AAdvantage
> Upgrade Award Changes" which I figured wouldn't be a good thing. And
> I was right:
>
> * w w w .aa . com /content/urls/awardChanges.jhtml?anchorLocation=DirectURL&title=awardchanges
>
> $150 co-pay to claim upgrade awards in the continental US
> $300 co-pay for international upgrades
>
> (not clear if these are one-way or roundtrip copays).
>
> Crap. The only thing I really use my miles for is upgrades. This
> pretty much kills any value left in all my miles. And just in time.
> I just got Platinum status for the first time this year.
>

A few things come to mind:

1. If you're Platinum status, you should be receiving electronic upgrades.
Does the co-pay apply to the electronic upgrades as well?
2. You can also just apply your miles to Alaska Airlines. Their program is
better anyway.

Re: New American co-pay for upgrades

Blake S wrote:
> <xyzzy.dude@gmail . com > wrote in message
> news:1173135322.418847.258530@s48g2000cws.googlegroups . com ...
>
>>Buried in my latest Aadvantage e-newsletter was a link for "AAdvantage
>>Upgrade Award Changes" which I figured wouldn't be a good thing. And
>>I was right:
>>
>> * w w w .aa . com /content/urls/awardChanges.jhtml?anchorLocation=DirectURL&title=awardchanges
>>
>>$150 co-pay to claim upgrade awards in the continental US
>>$300 co-pay for international upgrades
>>
>>(not clear if these are one-way or roundtrip copays).
>>
>>Crap. The only thing I really use my miles for is upgrades. This
>>pretty much kills any value left in all my miles. And just in time.
>>I just got Platinum status for the first time this year.
>>
>
>
> A few things come to mind:
>
> 1. If you're Platinum status, you should be receiving electronic upgrades.
> Does the co-pay apply to the electronic upgrades as well?

Co-pay does not apply to electronic upgrades.
Even if PLT, you only get 4 500 mile upgrades per 10000 miles flown.
Exec-Platinums get unlimited domestic upgrades, if available

> 2. You can also just apply your miles to Alaska Airlines. Their program is
> better anyway.

Really? If he flies AA more than Alaska, he isn't going to get upgraded
on AA with is AS status. Additionally, as a PLT, he gets lounge access
on international trips. He would NOT get that as an AS elite.
It doesn't sound like you are very familiar with either program.

Re: New American co-pay for upgrades


"Mike Hunt" <postmaster@localhost> wrote in message
news:kLSdnV8VL81uMHDYnZ2dnUVZ_o6gnZ2d@comcast . com ...
> Blake S wrote:
>> <xyzzy.dude@gmail . com > wrote in message
>> news:1173135322.418847.258530@s48g2000cws.googlegroups . com ...
>>
>>>Buried in my latest Aadvantage e-newsletter was a link for "AAdvantage
>>>Upgrade Award Changes" which I figured wouldn't be a good thing. And
>>>I was right:
>>>
>>> * w w w .aa . com /content/urls/awardChanges.jhtml?anchorLocation=DirectURL&title=awardchanges
>>>
>>>$150 co-pay to claim upgrade awards in the continental US
>>>$300 co-pay for international upgrades
>>>
>>>(not clear if these are one-way or roundtrip copays).
>>>
>>>Crap. The only thing I really use my miles for is upgrades. This
>>>pretty much kills any value left in all my miles. And just in time.
>>>I just got Platinum status for the first time this year.
>>>
>>
>>
>> A few things come to mind:
>>
>> 1. If you're Platinum status, you should be receiving electronic
>> upgrades. Does the co-pay apply to the electronic upgrades as well?
>
> Co-pay does not apply to electronic upgrades.
> Even if PLT, you only get 4 500 mile upgrades per 10000 miles flown.
> Exec-Platinums get unlimited domestic upgrades, if available
>
>> 2. You can also just apply your miles to Alaska Airlines. Their program
>> is better anyway.
>
> Really? If he flies AA more than Alaska, he isn't going to get upgraded on
> AA with is AS status. Additionally, as a PLT, he gets lounge access on
> international trips. He would NOT get that as an AS elite.
> It doesn't sound like you are very familiar with either program.
>

I belong to both programs. Here are the reasons why I prefer the Alaska
program:

1. Alaska offers the 50/50 (half-priced ticket for 15,000 miles). American
doesn't offer this program.
2. To redeem miles, Alaska offers 20,000/40,000 miles for saver/peak.
American miles are redeemed at 25,000/50,000 miles. You can still redeem
Alaska miles at the American rate for the American flights. There are also
several code-shares between the 2 airlines.
3. In my experience, it has been much easier to get saver fares on the
Alaska program.

Re: New American co-pay for upgrades

Blake S wrote:

> I belong to both programs. Here are the reasons why I prefer the Alaska
> program:
>
> 1. Alaska offers the 50/50 (half-priced ticket for 15,000 miles). American
> doesn't offer this program.
> 2. To redeem miles, Alaska offers 20,000/40,000 miles for saver/peak.
> American miles are redeemed at 25,000/50,000 miles. You can still redeem
> Alaska miles at the American rate for the American flights. There are also
> several code-shares between the 2 airlines.
> 3. In my experience, it has been much easier to get saver fares on the
> Alaska program.
>

1. Half price off what price. American sometimes offers 15K for trips of
750 miles or less.

2. I can go to Europe for 40000 miles off peak.
American goes to more destinations

3. I haven't tried on AS. I haven't had a problem getting fare discounts
on AA

4. How can I use AS miles to upgrade to Business or First class to
Europe or South America?