Get an American Airlines Business Class Upgrade for a Luxe Trip
Are you flying with an AA flight? How about getting an American Airlines Business Class Upgrade for an enhanced flight trip? Sounds great! And getting an upgrade is also not a task, thanks to customer-friendly approaches and flexibility that the airline offers. So, why the wait? Enjoy traveling on lie-flat seats of business class along with other benefits. Now, let’s dive right in to learn about approaches to get a business class upgrade with AA.
Can you Upgrade to Business Class on American Airlines?
Yes, AA allows you to upgrade your booking to business or even first class. You must hold an elite status or pay with miles to get your upgrade.
How to Upgrade to Business Class from Economy on American Airlines?
If you are looking forward to knowing how to upgrade to business class on American Airlines, scroll down. Here are the simple steps to follow –
Getting an Upgrade on American Airlines
- Visit the official website of American Airlines.
- Log in to your AAdvantage account.
- Check your Systemwide Upgrades (SWUs) available.
- Look for the SWUs link to find flights having seats for upgrade while booking your trip.
- For upgrade confirmation or use a SWU for the current booking, call your AAdvantage status service desk.
- The airline waitlists your request if no upgrade is available during reservation.
Please note
- If AA doesn’t confirm your upgrade when you check in, you will be automatically added to the airport upgrade standby list. However, you must have the required upgrades before 48 hours of the scheduled departure.
- After your upgrade confirmation, AA’s app updates your mobile boarding pass.
Getting an Upgrade on British Airways (BA)
- Sign in to your AAdvantage account.
- Check your available SWUs.
- Get in touch with an AAdvantage status service desk for upgrade confirmation.
Please note
If there is no upgrade available while booking, check it with the airline. An upgrade waitlist is not there for British Airways.
Is it Cheaper to Get an AA Business Upgrade after Buying an Economy Ticket?
Yes, you can go for an American Airlines upgrade to business class after purchase of an economy ticket. This is the cheapest approach to travel in a higher class. You can purchase an economy ticket and get an upgrade on it immediately. Alternatively, you can wait for last-minute upgrades.
How Can I Secure an American Airlines Upgrade?
Do you want to learn ways to get AA upgrades or increase your chances for it? Here are some smart tips to help you. However, keep in mind that upgrades are high in demand but limited. So, these tips help you directly get a ticket to a premium cabin.
For American AAdvantage Elite Members
Earn SWU certificates
With AA
Use these SWUs for an American Airlines business class upgrade on international or domestic flights as required. These certificates work for any ticket fare that includes Basic Economy.
On British Airways
When traveling transatlantic on BA flights, get confirmed upgrade from the most –
- Business fares to First
- Premium Economy to Business, or
- Economy to Premium Economy
Use SWUs for one-way trip for up to 3 flight segments on BA –
- Marketed and operated flights or
- Operated flights marketed by American
Please note
For upgrade eligibility, there must be at least one AA marketed flight in the itinerary.
Purchase an upgrade with booking, during check-in, or at the gate
You can get upgrades during booking, at check-in, or before departure at the gate. You might buy gate upgrades at discount.
Buy business/ first class award tickets with miles
Use miles to grab tickets for business or first class and secure your seat in a premium cabin.
For Non-AAdvantage Elite Status Holders
Get a high status AAdvantage elite member sponsor
Do you know anyone who holds a high elite membership? If both of you are traveling on the same American Airlines flight, you have increased your chances to get a seat upgrade easily. The member simply has to request the upgrade and it will be done.
Upgrade with miles
On space availability, economy tickets on discount can get mileage upgrade awards.
Use miles to purchase business or first class award tickets
The easiest way to get a seat in the plane’s front is to get a premium class award ticket with miles. You get enough miles with AAdvantage credit card sign-up bonuses. Use this American Airlines bonus for an upgrade to business or first class award tickets. However, earning AA miles is also possible in numerous other ways.
Set up fare alerts for business class fares
At times, premium economy and business class on discount are cheaper than economy. So, set up fare alerts to get notifications when there is a great deal on business or first class.
Voluntary denied boarding or trip disruption
For a connection missed because of AA’s fault or not having a seat as the flight is overbooked, you can request an upgrade on the next flight.
What is the AA Business Class Upgrade Cost?
To know about your American Airlines business class upgrade cost to/from the contiguous 48 U.S. states, Alaska, and Canada, along with other destinations, go through the table below :-
| Destinations | Cash Co-Pay (in $) | Miles |
| Contiguous 48 U.S. states, Alaska, Mexico, Canada, Central America, Caribbean | 75 | 15000 |
| Colombia, Peru, Guyana, Ecuador | 150 | |
| Hawaii | 175 | |
| Other destinations – Australia, Argentina, Africa, Brazil, China, Chile, Europe, Hong Kong, Japan, Paraguay, Middle East, New Zealand, South Korea, Uruguay | 350 | 25000 |
In Conclusion
In a nutshell, if you have an elite status with AA, you have ripe opportunities to grab a business upgrade. However, don’t be disheartened if you are not an AA elite member, book a ticket and upgrade it with cash and miles combination. Moreover, to save big on getting an American Airlines Business Class Upgrade, book a premium cabin with miles. And enjoy your trip to the fullest.
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