One of the biggest perks of having elite status with an airline is being eligible for complimentary, space available first class upgrades. Admittedly these won’t always clear, but if you’re realistic and strategic, it’s possible to get lots of value out of this perk. In this post I wanted to take a look at American Airlines’ system for complimentary upgrades, to reflect the current reality.
In this post:
American Airlines elite upgrade basics
All American AAdvantage elite members are eligible for unlimited, complimentary, auto-requested upgrades to first class on domestic flights, as well as to business class on select short haul international flights. Elite members aren’t just eligible to upgrade themselves, but are also eligible to upgrade a companion traveling with them.
The major catch, of course, is that a large number of elite members are generally competing for a fairly limited number of first class seats. The devil is very much in the detail when it comes to these benefits, so let’s cover everything you need to know.
Which routes are eligible for complimentary upgrades?
American AAdvantage elite members are eligible for upgrades on American marketed and operated flights in select regions. This includes:
- All flights within the United States, including to & from Hawaii
- Flights between the United States and Canada, Mexico, the Bahamas, the Caribbean, Bermuda, and Central America (Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama)
Upgrades are valid from economy or premium economy to the next class of service, which will generally be marketed as first or business class. For flights with both first and business class (like premium transcontinental routes), complimentary upgrades aren’t offered from business to first class.
Upgrades are valid on both revenue and award tickets for all elite members, so you don’t need to book a ticket with cash to be eligible for an upgrade. Note that award tickets issued by partner airlines aren’t eligible for upgrades, so the reservation has to be ticketed by American.
How are complimentary upgrades prioritized?
How are American Airlines complimentary first class upgrades prioritized?
- They’re first prioritized based on your elite status; Concierge Key members clear first, then Executive Platinum members, then Platinum Pro members, then Platinum members, then Gold members
- They’re then prioritized by your rolling 12-month total of Loyalty Points
In other words, if two Executive Platinum members are requesting complimentary upgrades on a flight, the one with the higher Loyalty Points total would clear first.
It is worth noting the upgrade hierarchy beyond complimentary upgrades. Within each elite tier, upgrades “supported” with systemwide upgrades or mileage upgrades clear before complimentary upgrades. Whether you’re on a revenue ticket or an award ticket doesn’t factor into your upgrade priority.
When do complimentary upgrades clear?
American Airlines complimentary upgrades can start clearing at the following windows, based on your elite status:
- Concierge Key members can start to clear up to 120 hours before departure
- Executive Platinum members can start to clear up to 100 hours before departure
- Platinum Pro members can start to clear up to 72 hours before departure
- Platinum members can start to clear up to 48 hours before departure
- Gold members can start to clear up to 24 hours before departure
It’s worth understanding that just because upgrades can clear that far in advance doesn’t mean they actually will. Quite to the contrary, more often than not they won’t, even if the cabin is mostly empty. Upgrades can clear all the way up to 40 minutes before departure, and in some cases even after that, as onboard upgrades happen if there are no shows.
So consider it a blessing if your upgrade clears at the window, though certainly don’t expect it.
How do complimentary companion upgrades work?
All AAdvantage elite members are eligible for complimentary companion upgrades:
- Companion upgrades can clear the same time as the upgrades for the elite member
- If you’re booked on the same reservation then the companion upgrade can easily be requested, while if you’re on separate reservations, you’ll have to call American to link the two tickets
- The companion has the same upgrade priority as the elite member (they should be prioritized immediately behind them), regardless of whether it’s in advance or at the airport
How can you see the upgrade waitlist?
While American Airlines has a clearly defined upgrade hierarchy, the airline doesn’t generally make the upgrade priority list available in advance. In other words, there’s no way to know for sure how far down an upgrade list you’ll be well in advance of your flight. The best you can do is guess based on the number of seats assigned in Main Cabin Extra, since those are often seats filled with elite members.
However, the American app does show the upgrade list within 8-12 hours of departure, and there you can see your upgrade priority. Just keep in mind that the list only shows people who have already checked in for a flight, so the list will grow as the departure time approaches.
How do Alaska Airlines elite upgrades work?
Alaska Airlines and American Airlines have a partnership, offering reciprocal upgrades between the two airlines. How do upgrades work on American Airlines for eligible Alaska Mileage Plan members?
- Alaska Mileage Plan MVP Gold 100K, MVP Gold 75K, MVP Gold, and MVP members are eligible for complimentary upgrades on American, on all the same flights as AAdvantage members
- These upgrades are also valid for one companion booked on the same reservation
- Upgrades can be confirmed up to 72 hours before departure for MVP Gold 100K and MVP Gold 75K members (and are prioritized behind AAdvantage Platinum Pro members), up to 48 hours before departure for MVP Gold members (and are prioritized behind AAdvantage Platinum members), and up to 24 hours before departure for MVP members (and are prioritized behind AAdvantage Gold members)
- Flights must be marketed by Alaska or American to be eligible, and basic economy fares are excluded from this
- The upgrade process is automatic, and you can call American Airlines reservations if you want to opt out of this
How often do American Airlines upgrades clear?
While American Airlines’ unlimited upgrade policy sounds great, how often should you expect upgrades to actually clear? Big picture, the percentage of premium seats filled by complimentary upgrades at US airlines has decreased sharply over the years.
For example, the latest number we’ve heard from an executive suggests that American is selling about 80% of its first class seats. On top of that, American has gotten much more aggressive with selling upgrades for cash. Consumers know that upgrades are tougher, so the airline basically wants elite members to pay to confirm an upgrade.
There’s no easy answer as to how often upgrades will clear, but here are a few considerations:
- If you’re not an Executive Platinum or Platinum Pro member, don’t expect that you’ll see too many upgrades
- There are lots of factors impacting upgrade odds, like the routes you’re flying, the days of the week you’re traveling, etc.; for example, someone flying to Washington DC on a Thursday or Friday will have much better odds than someone flying to Washington DC on a Sunday or Monday
Back in the day, I found that as an Executive Platinum member I cleared upgrades a vast majority of the time. That’s not the case anymore. I’d say at this point my upgrade percentage is closer to 50%, and I’m generally traveling over pretty off-peak periods.
Now, don’t get me wrong, even Gold members will sometimes clear upgrades, but it’s definitely the exception rather than the norm.
Bottom line
American Airlines offers complimentary upgrades to all AAdvantage elite members, as well as their companions, on both revenue and award tickets. On paper, American has one of the most generous complimentary elite upgrade policies. The catch, of course, is that not all upgrades will clear. The more people that are eligible for upgrades, the higher the percentage of people who will be denied upgrades.
The above should give you a basic understanding of how upgrades are prioritized, though.
If you’ve an AAdvantage elite member, what has your experience been with complimentary upgrades clearing?
As an EXP based out of SNA my upgrade % last year was 0%. I spent over $50k and had concierge key taken away. Looking at going to delta or Alaska (as an aside my upgrades on Alaska as an American exp were 75%). To add insult to injury 90% of the time they don’t do a beverage service from sna -phx. Southwest does it every time
@scott What’s your rolling LP?
I'm EXP with about 400K rolling LP total. I've been at 100% excluding DFW-DCA for the last year or so. I run about 75% on DFW-DCA (and DCA-DFW). This week I was upgraded going to DFW the night before but didn't clear on the return. The flights from DFW to my final (this week ELP) usually clear right at 100 hours.
As an aside, I'm also DL Diamond and actually was upgraded 96 hours...
I'm EXP with about 400K rolling LP total. I've been at 100% excluding DFW-DCA for the last year or so. I run about 75% on DFW-DCA (and DCA-DFW). This week I was upgraded going to DFW the night before but didn't clear on the return. The flights from DFW to my final (this week ELP) usually clear right at 100 hours.
As an aside, I'm also DL Diamond and actually was upgraded 96 hours out for my flight from DCA to ATL last night. I nearly fell out of my chair. But...I have a theory. I had been just buying first outright on that route (usually with miles). However, starting at the beginning of the year, the fare for F on that route more than doubled - I can't find a one way flight in F under $500. That put me off outright buying first for a less than 2 hour flight and I suspect it did the same for others. So, it will be interesting to see if DL is doing some sensitivity analysis to maximize rev on that route and adjusts the fares again.
I disagree with your statement that when flying premium transcon, AA won’t upgrade you from business to first. I’ve received that exact upgrade. Is your statement listed on AA’s website somewhere? If not, where are you finding this prohibition, because I can tell you from personal experience it’s not accurate.
I think he meant that you can't upgrade from economy to first on the Premium Routes. That's definitely been enforced.
Your comment is true for other airlines not just AA. There are many elite members competiting for it so the chance of being accepted is much more diffiuclt than before.
Ben,
I'd recommend you update this article.
Per the AA website, after elite status the next deciding factor is paid tickets over award tickets:
"As soon as your upgrade window opens, we'll attempt to confirm in this order:
AAdvantage® status level (ConciergeKey® members are first, followed by AAdvantage Executive Platinum®, AAdvantage Platinum Pro®, AAdvantage Platinum® and then AAdvantage Gold® members)
Upgrades on purchased tickets first, followed by upgrades on award tickets
...
Ben,
I'd recommend you update this article.
Per the AA website, after elite status the next deciding factor is paid tickets over award tickets:
"As soon as your upgrade window opens, we'll attempt to confirm in this order:
AAdvantage® status level (ConciergeKey® members are first, followed by AAdvantage Executive Platinum®, AAdvantage Platinum Pro®, AAdvantage Platinum® and then AAdvantage Gold® members)
Upgrades on purchased tickets first, followed by upgrades on award tickets
12-month rolling Loyalty Points
If the upgrade type and 12-month rolling Loyalty Points value are the same we’ll look at the booking code then date/time of the request to determine prioritization."
Am I crazy in remembering back in the US Airways days, maybe even early days post AA/US merger, that upgrades weren't limited to one companion? Like, your family of five could get upgraded if there was space...?
In 2023, and as a lowly Gold Status member, I was upgraded over 50% of my flight legs, much to my own surprise. I doubt that will happen again.
Iam platinum and had upgrades for my wife and I from Detroit to Jamaica last October. However we have had four flights since then with no upgrades. Be interesting to see how 2024 goes
It’s all about the routing and the timing of your flights. I’ve been executive platinum for the past four years and I clear about 90% of the time. But I have a method. I’m quite flexible on when I can fly. I will book several tickets for the same day and see which one clears for early upgrade. Then I cancel the other flights.
I realize others don’t have the flexibility I have and this won’t work for them
The bottom line is upgrades to the next class of service will be slim and none in 2024. AA will be selling all upgradeable seats and complimentary upgrades will be a distant memory.
Ben, you write about how Alaska Airlines status works on American - but not the reverse. How about a little section about how American status works on Alaska?
Ben, a note on partner-issued award tickets. I frequently book BA Avios award tickets on AA and leave the Executive Club FF# field blank. I then add my AA FF# to the reservation on AA.com. I have AA Gold status. Not only has this consistently given me complimentary MCE seating access at 24 hours and a free checked bag, but I do appear on the upgrade list.
I finally had a datapoint over the holidays....
Ben, a note on partner-issued award tickets. I frequently book BA Avios award tickets on AA and leave the Executive Club FF# field blank. I then add my AA FF# to the reservation on AA.com. I have AA Gold status. Not only has this consistently given me complimentary MCE seating access at 24 hours and a free checked bag, but I do appear on the upgrade list.
I finally had a datapoint over the holidays. Flying on a BA Avios issued ticket on an AA flight from FLL-CLT with my AAdvantage number on the reservation both my wife and I had an upgrade to F clear at 24 hours.
Not sure if AA doesn’t intend to enforce or doesn’t have the software complexity to enforce but it certainly is possible to get upgraded on BA ticket numbers.
Same. I'm usually on the upgrade list when traveling on a BA Award Ticket with my AA number attached. In November 2023, one of them actually cleared. Seems like a bug more than a consistent policy.
I'm an EP based in Austin, and have been lucky to have been upgraded on 78% of my flights in 2023. Hitting 66% so far this year. I have noticed a glitch in the matrix, though. I usually travel with between 3-15 co-workers, and sometimes one with either lower status or fewer Loyalty Points gets the upgrade before I do. This happened in my favor in OCT, when I got the upgrade ahead of a...
I'm an EP based in Austin, and have been lucky to have been upgraded on 78% of my flights in 2023. Hitting 66% so far this year. I have noticed a glitch in the matrix, though. I usually travel with between 3-15 co-workers, and sometimes one with either lower status or fewer Loyalty Points gets the upgrade before I do. This happened in my favor in OCT, when I got the upgrade ahead of a colleague. We were both EP, but he had approx. 100K more LP's than I did! I called AA to ask why this happened, and they told me to write to Customer Service and ask them... I did, and got the most rote, generic non-answer back. They basically said they'd look into it.
Unless it's United Polaris, AA Flagship, Delta One seating, which is the true business class seating, the so called "domestic first class" is just the glorified premium economy seating. On the one hand, it's great to score a complementary upgrade to premium economy/domestic first, but it doesn't really make such a great difference if what it takes is to spend your way to a higher elite tier.
Maybe need to add in about status' that get automatic upgrades at time of booking e.g., from economy to MCE?
American like DL and UA is slowly moving towards paid upgrades. Complimentary upgrades as an EXP are become harder and harder. Last Friday as an EXP I was number 14 on a DFW/MIA flight out of a list of almost 120. The good news is that starting in March the cash paid for upgrades will count towards LPs. I generally take the offers if they're reasonable (sometimes they're not), I'm not in a PE seat...
American like DL and UA is slowly moving towards paid upgrades. Complimentary upgrades as an EXP are become harder and harder. Last Friday as an EXP I was number 14 on a DFW/MIA flight out of a list of almost 120. The good news is that starting in March the cash paid for upgrades will count towards LPs. I generally take the offers if they're reasonable (sometimes they're not), I'm not in a PE seat on a domestic widebody or row 11 on a 321ceo. Otherwise, I like choosing my own seat and not the hassle of standing at the gate hoping there's going to be a no check in, no show or misconnect-assuming I'm even at the top of the list.
120, wow! As a Platinum (lifetime) I don't expect to be upgraded ever again. Out of the 11 upgradeable segments I took on AA last year, upgraded not once, usually too far down the list. I have a roundtrip MIA-LAX in a month, with MIA to LAX on a 777-200 and premium economy is already full and first class is half full so already abandoned all hope. At least I'm in premium economy.