Comments on: Forget Free Upgrades: How To Snag First Class For As Little As $40 On American Airlines

By: Maureen McLellan

Maureen McLellan — Sun, 04 Aug 2024 04:45:13 +0000

Well as a TikTok influencer, I just dress nice, wear a suit and tie, and the gate agents upgrade me to first class every time

This has been going on for years and I like it when I get a good offer. I’ve even had success getting the lower-priced ones to trigger certain credit card benefits.

I don’t believe this. How lovely to be an influencer, but nicely dresses people don’t get upgraded anymore. It’s about points and status.

By: DFWSteve

DFWSteve — Thu, 01 Aug 2024 12:20:47 +0000

I’m a 3 MM (almost 4 MM) EXP and I finally threw in the towel. I just buy based F on price and schedule. Being in Dallas I usually end up on AA but if there is enough difference in price I will make a connection on DL or UA. For international it is paid business class and strictly on price, even if it involves a connection. I have no loyalty whatsoever to AA anymore. AA might as well abandon the whole Aadvantage program. I’ll spend $20K on airfare this year and the AA program has absolutely no effect on my decision calculus.

By: glenn t

glenn t — Wed, 31 Jul 2024 23:42:33 +0000

@DaninMCI repeats the horey old myth about dressing nice to score a free upgrade. And it works every time, no less!
I guess 0.0001% of his/her target audience of TikTok airheads might swallow that guff.

By: JH

JH — Wed, 31 Jul 2024 22:34:02 +0000

AA lies when they say that for EPs upgrades are processed at the 100-hour mark, when available. The upgrades ARE available–but they’re still being sold at that point. Status has become almost meaningless. I’ve been EP for 12 or 13 years running, and every year before the advent of LPs more than 90% of my flights were upgraded, sometimes as many as 95% in a few years. And now? For the year so far 35%. What a sham.

By: Baron

Baron — Wed, 31 Jul 2024 21:49:57 +0000

But do you get loyalty points when you buy a 1st class upgrade in this way? I thought AA said they were going to make that possible this year but I haven’t seen any evidence that you earn loyalty points for purchasing an upgrade.

By: Richard

Richard — Wed, 31 Jul 2024 21:45:19 +0000

It’s become a game of roulette about accepting a purchased upgrade offer vs waiting for a complimentary upgrade.

I read several months ago that AA would soon begin awarding loyalty points on the upgrade fees.

Have there been any updates on the possibility of this happening?

By: Jon

Jon — Wed, 31 Jul 2024 20:14:26 +0000

Recently got $250 for JFK-LAX Business… and ended up getting op-up into First lol

By: 305

305 — Wed, 31 Jul 2024 19:41:23 +0000

I once got $70 for AUS-MIA. A no-brainer for a 3 hour flight, much longer than many that you mentioned.

By: Brian W

Brian W — Wed, 31 Jul 2024 18:37:16 +0000

I fly the JFK-SNA route monthly on AA. If you book a roundtrip J ticket a few months out (which is cheaper than one ways), the added ticket cost to move from Y to J is around $500 each way and I earn about 9000 LPs. If I try to snag a buy up offer, the cost is usually around $400 each way. So I may save $100, but lose the LPs and risk not getting an aisle seat that I want. I can also use trip credits to pay for a J fare, where you have to pay cash for the buy up offer. For me, the juice usually isn’t worth the squeeze if J is priced reasonably.

By: Steven Weiner

Steven Weiner — Wed, 31 Jul 2024 18:28:09 +0000

On my upcoming flight from FLL to PHL I was able to but an upgrade for 140(280 RT). Certainly worth it.
On my next upcoming flight PHL-PBI I was offered 440 Southbound and 284 North bound. Hard pass!!

FWIW I am EXP.