American Airlines Seat Upgrade Cost

Travel Tips

Business/First class upgrade on American Airlines

American Airlines is a major airline in America. It is headquartered in Texas. The airline offers various classes to passengers to choose from like Economy class, premium economy, First class and Business class. Passengers can upgrade their seat to business or first class and experience its comfort and luxury. There are different types of upgrades that the airline offers. If you want about American Airlines Upgrades, its cost and steps then this bog will provide you the information.

Types of upgrade

1. Complimentary Upgrade

The loyalty program of the airline offers upgrades to its members. The AAdvantage elite members get complimentary upgrades on flights that are less than 500 miles in length.

The upgrade is different for members depending on their elite status:

ConciergeKey

This is the top most status. Executive Platinum plus members get priority over all other elite members.

Executive Platinum

Executive Platinum members get 4 Systemwide Upgrade Certificates and also 2 SWUs for 50,000 miles flown up to 200,000 total EQMs annually. The members get complimentary upgrades on flights within the U.S. (including Hawaii), between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, the Bahamas, Bermuda, the Caribbean, and Central America.

Platinum Pro

Platinum Pro members get complimentary upgrades on flights within the U.S. (including Hawaii), and between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, the Bahamas, Bermuda, the Caribbean, and Central America.

Platinum & Gold

Platinum and Gold members get upgrades on flights of less than 500 miles. These are called 500-miles upgrade. They can also purchase additional 500-mile upgrades. The members can earn 4 500-mile upgrades for every 12,500 EQMs flown annually.

2. Systemwide Upgrades

Systemwide upgrades are earned annually by Executive Platinum Elite members. These upgrades can be used worldwide on any American flights. People can upgrade up to 3 flights from economy to business class or business class to first class.

3. Upgrade with miles

Passengers can also use their AAdvantage frequent flier miles to upgrade seats. Upgrades can be done up to 3 segments for the outbound or return journey. Discounted economy class tickets are also eligible for this upgrade. However the upgrade cannot be done on Basic Economy fares and award tickets. The number of miles required to upgrade depends on the route and the fare class of the ticket and can be known during booking or in advance at the airline’s website. Passengers can also upgrade on partner airlines with the earned miles. But the miles required to upgrade will be different.

3. Companion upgrade

A companion traveling with an elite member can also get the same status priority as the elite member. The elite member can request an upgrade for them and their companions. Companions do not need to be an AAdvantage program member. Companion upgrades can be done on both paid tickets and award tickets

American Airlines Seat Upgrade Cost

Passengers can upgrade using the ways mentioned above and either receive a complimentary upgrade or pay the American airline's seat upgrade cost through miles. AAdvantage elite member can also purchase 500-mile upgrade for $40. Non-elite members can also purchase the higher class seat if available, by paying the fare difference and upgrade fee.

How to Upgrade American Airlines Business/First Class Seat

If you want to know How to Upgrade to Business/First Class on American Airlines then the steps are given below.

Online Upgrade

Visit American Airlines website.
Go to ‘My Trips’ option.
Enter your first and last name and booking reference.
Now click ‘Find reservation’
Your itinerary details will appear.
If upgrade would be possible then the option of upgrade will appear. Select it.
Select the class you wish to upgrade to.
Then select the way you wish to upgrade.
The fare and upgrade fee will appear.
Enter your payment details and pay the amount.
You will get a new ticket.

Upgrade on call

Passengers can contact the reservation center or the customer service center of the airline and request the executive to upgrade seat. Passengers can select the class they want to upgrade to and make payment for it.

Upgrade at Airport

Passengers can also upgrade at the airport at check-in counters. But this will be subject to availability.

If passengers want to know more about American Airlines Upgrades or need any help then they can contact the customer service center and get the assistance of skilled executives.

How Much Does It Cost To Upgrade To Business Class American Airlines?

American Airlines is one of the most prestigious and preferred airlines in the world. It has the best in class inflight entertainment system to offer its passengers and mouth-watering gourmet meals and refreshments.

Cost To Upgrade

However, suppose you are wondering How much does it cost to upgrade to business class American Airlines. In that case, American Airlines charges fifteen thousand AAdvantage miles plus seventy-five dollars to upgrade from economy to first-class or business class within the common boundary of U.S., Alaska and Canada. If you have booked a pretty expensive full-fare, you only need to pay five thousand miles, and there is no cash co-pay.

Therefore, American Airlines business class upgrade cost is quite feasible irrespective of the industry standards. The mileage and cash pay cost for this option depend on the region you are flying between, the kind of fare you have booked, and the cabin type service you booked. Mileage upgrades apply to each leg of travel and up to a maximum of three flight segments.

How Do I Upgrade To Business Class On American Airlines?

Now, if you are thinking about upgrading to business class on American Airlines, kindly follow the write-up below.

To apply for an AAdvantage mileage upgrade, you are required to find upgrade availability. Unfortunately, finding availability can be quite cumbersome.

The mileage upgrades use the same upgrade fare availability as systemwide upgrades. To see systemwide upgrade availability on American Airlines’ website, you are required to have an available systemwide upgrade which you probably do not have if you are applying for a mileage upgrade.

That means you likely need to use a service that is paid, like ExpertFlyer to find upgrade availability.

To search for it, head to ExpertFlyer’s award & upgrade availability search page.

American Airlines releases its upgrade availability on a leg-by-leg basis. So, you would want to enter the departing and arriving airport for your flight that is the longest.

Enter your travel date.

Select American Airlines from the list and click the box next to Business Upgrade, inclusive of two cabin domestic.

You can enter a departure time and click the box to exclude codeshares to restrict the search results. Then, click search at the bottom of the page to see your search results.

Therefore, if you were contemplating How to upgrade to business class on American Airlines, then you have the procedure mentioned above. While searching, make sure to start by searching for your longest flight.

Whether You Can Upgrade To Business Class On American Airlines?

Yes, you can upgrade to business class on American Airlines. As you may expect, upgrades are prioritized by the status, like whether it is elite or not.

American Airlines invitation-only ConciergeKey members come first, followed by Executive Platinum, Platinum Pro, Platinum, and finally Gold elites. If there is more than one elite member who has applied for an upgrade, American Airlines utilizes a few tiebreakers

Therefore, if you have are wondering Can I Upgrade to business class on American Airlines; definitely, you can. However, if you have any doubts about it, you can contact an expert at American Airlines live chat.