How can I Upgrade my Flight on American Airlines

The answer is yes! If you have booked standard flight tickets, you can upgrade to higher class on American Airlines. Thus, you can enjoy a more luxurious flight journey with a more comfortable seating experience, better customer service, & much more. 

Continue reading to learn about various ways to upgrade on American Airlines, what the American Airlines Upgrade Cost is, & other important info. 

Methods to Make American Airlines Seat Upgrade

Broadly, American Airlines has five cabin classes: Basic Economy, Main Cabin, Premium Economy, Business Class, & First Class! So, if you want to upgrade to American Airlines Business Class, First Class, or Premium Class, you have four ways to do so!!

1. Upgrades with miles.
2. Systemwide upgrades, or SWUs.
3. Complimentary upgrades.
4. Upgrades through the airline’s small-business program.

You should be aware that you can only upgrade through the miles option if you don’t have the airline elite status. So, SWUs & the Complimentary Upgrades are available only if you have elite status.

All of these four upgrade options are discussed in detail as follows.    

American Airlines Upgrade With Miles

This option has to be the most relevant one for the passengers. As stated above, the upgrade with miles option is available for non-elite passengers. This upgrade option is available either during booking or anytime before check-in. AA Flight upgrades depend on availability, and there is no guarantee of whether you will get them.

 Note: The miles you require depend on where you fly. Also, an upgrade will apply to up to 3 flight segments in one direction. 

Steps to Make the AA Miles Upgrade

The following steps are involved if you are willing to upgrade with miles. 

1. Call the American Airlines Reservations number. 
2. State your upgrade request. 
3. Share your booking reference & last name. 
4. You will be informed whether the upgrade with miles option applies to your flight booking. 
5. If applied, proceed forward to the upgrade process. 
6. After the upgrade is complete, receive confirmation by mail. 

Systemwide upgrades (SWUs)

If you reach 175,000 Loyalty Points (tier between Platinum Pro & Executive Platinum), you can access Systemwide Upgrades. Initially, you can choose from two SWUs, which will be unlocked after 250,000 points, 400,000, subsequently & so on. 

Note: for American Airlines upgrades, SWUs are priority one, tied with miles & cash upgrades. 

Complimentary Upgrades

This is one of the best aspects of travelling on American Airlines. Those passengers with the Elite Status are automatically eligible for complimentary upgrades on all AA flights. This type of upgrade is the third priority on the waitlist. 

Upgrades via Airline’s Small-Business Program

The airline also has options for small and mid-size businesses. You can upgrade with the American Business Extra program if you fall in this category. In this, you get discounted fare upgrade vouchers unlocked when you have reached 650 points, 1,100 points & 3,100 points respectively. Note: per the points system, you earn 5 points for every $1 spent on airline travel. 

How Upgrades Are Prioritized at American Airlines

Lastly, to avoid any confusion & frustration, you should be aware of the priority in which American Airlines will provide the upgrade. The airline considers various factors: passengers get to the top of & and get to the bottom. The priority list below shows how likely the airline will give you an upgrade (from highest to lowest). 

1. American Airlines elite status. 
2. Type of upgrade you are requesting. 
3. An upgrade request was made for the ticket travel class. 

Passengers can ask an AA professional for further queries regarding the upgrade. 

Conclusion

Thus, the post has everything you need to upgrade to American Airlines successfully. If you are a non-elite member, you can utilize the upgrade with miles option or choose other options. A more relaxed, comfortable & luxurious inflight experience awaits you now!