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There are several ways to upgrade your flight with American Airlines at the airport. You can upgrade by holding elite status, buying upgrades with miles, or purchasing an upgrade directly. If you are an AAdvantage member, you can use your miles to upgrade your flight when upgrade space is available. Additionally, you can earn loyalty points by flying with AA and its partner airlines, as well as through various other activities such as retail partnerships and online surveys. These loyalty points can also be used to upgrade your flight. It is important to note that upgrade availability may vary, and there is a higher chance of success at non-hub airports and on less popular routes.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Ways to upgrade | Hold elite status, buy upgrades with miles or cash |
| Elite status | AAdvantage elite status, ConciergeKey members, Executive Platinum members, Platinum Pro, Platinum, Gold elites |
| Loyalty points | Earned by flying AA and partner airlines, using AA credit cards, retail partnerships, opening a Bask Bank Mileage Savings account, completing online surveys, dining at certain restaurants |
| Upgrade priority | AAdvantage elite status, type of upgrade requested, number of loyalty points earned in the last 12 months, flight booking's fare class, date and time of request |
| Upgrade process | Watch the app, buy the upgrade before the flight, pay a large amount for flights or on branded credit cards, sign up for AAdvantage, accumulate enough loyalty points, request an upgrade from a gate agent |
| Systemwide upgrades | Available on British Airways if ticket purchased through American and has at least 1 segment on American Airlines |
| Upgrade waitlist | If there is no confirmable upgrade availability at the time of request, you will be put on the upgrade waitlist |
| Upgrade pricing | $350 plus 25,000 miles, $2000 to as low as $350 with no miles needed, $2100, $935 |
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What You'll Learn
Upgrade priority list
Upgrading your seat on an American Airlines flight is possible at the airport, but it is not always guaranteed. There are several factors that determine your priority on the upgrade list.
Firstly, your AAdvantage elite status is the most crucial factor. ConciergeKey members are at the top of the list, followed by Executive Platinum, Platinum Pro, Platinum, and Gold elites. If you have a higher status, you are more likely to be prioritised for an upgrade.
Secondly, the type of upgrade you are requesting matters. Systemwide and mileage award upgrades take precedence over upgrades on purchased or award tickets.
Thirdly, the number of Loyalty Points you have accrued in the last 12 months is considered. This can be a tie-breaker if multiple passengers have the same elite status and upgrade type. The more Loyalty Points you have, the higher your priority.
Additionally, the date and time of your upgrade request can play a role in prioritisation. Generally, the booking code of your ticket, including the fare class and when you purchased it, will be considered. Tickets purchased earlier and with higher fares may receive higher priority.
It is worth noting that long-haul international flights offer better opportunities for upgrades, especially from economy to business class. You can also increase your chances of an upgrade by purchasing a ticket with a higher fare class, even if you have basic economy.
Lastly, some passengers have shared their experiences of successful upgrades by making requests to flight attendants or gate agents, although these methods may not always be guaranteed.
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Earning elite status
Now, all you need to do to earn elite status is accumulate Loyalty Points. You can earn Loyalty Points by flying with American Airlines, or with one of their partners, including Oneworld, Aer Lingus, GOL Airlines, Air Tahiti Nui, Cape Air, IndieGo, and JetSMART. You can also earn Loyalty Points by using an American Airlines credit card, shopping through the AAdvantage eShopping portal, or booking a vacation package through American Airlines Vacations.
The number of Loyalty Points you need to earn varies depending on the elite status level you are aiming for. The levels are:
- Gold (40,000 loyalty points)
- Platinum (75,000 loyalty points)
- Platinum Pro (125,000 loyalty points)
- Executive Platinum (200,000)
AAdvantage members also earn Loyalty Points when flying with partner airlines. The number of Loyalty Points earned depends on the AAdvantage mileage earnings. This is usually calculated based on the fare class and the distance of the flight.
Elite status members earn Loyalty Points at an accelerated rate, as the bonus miles that AAdvantage elites earn count as Loyalty Points. The higher your elite status, the more Loyalty Points you will earn for every dollar spent. For example, a Gold elite member will earn 7 Loyalty Points for every dollar spent, while an Executive Platinum elite member will earn 11 Loyalty Points for every dollar spent.
In addition to earning elite status, Loyalty Points can also be redeemed for systemwide upgrades. For example, AAdvantage members who reach the Two Million Miler level receive four systemwide upgrades, regardless of their status. These upgrades can be extremely valuable, as they can be used to upgrade from economy class to business class on long-haul international flights.
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Buying upgrades with miles
Upgrading your seat on an American Airlines flight can be done in two main ways: by holding elite status or by buying upgrades with miles. Here is some information on buying upgrades with miles.
Firstly, if you originally booked your flight using miles, you may be able to upgrade to a higher class of service. If you can find saver-award availability in a higher cabin, you can call American Airlines to change your award. You will need to pay the difference in miles between the cabin you originally booked and the cabin you wish to upgrade to. You will also need to pay any additional taxes or fees associated with the higher cabin.
Upgrading with miles involves specific eligibility rules and costs. Basic economy and codeshare flights are excluded from mileage upgrades. Most upgrades require both miles and a cash copay, with the amount varying by route and original fare type. Full-fare tickets may avoid the cash copay. For example, if you booked a full-fare economy, premium economy, or business class fare, there is no cash copay to upgrade to the next class of service. You will only need to pay the mileage amount depending on the region and class of service you booked.
Upgrade requests must be made by phone or in person, and availability is limited to certain fare classes and routes. Mileage upgrades are limited to up to three segments in one direction. Additional taxes and carrier-imposed fees may apply, especially on international routes or flights departing certain countries.
You can increase your chances of securing an upgrade by using ExpertFlyer to monitor upgrade space and set alerts. If there is no confirmable upgrade availability at the time of request, you will be put on the upgrade waitlist.
American Airlines AAdvantage miles are worth about 1.3 cents each when booking award flights. You can earn AAdvantage elite status by accumulating Loyalty Points. Loyalty Points can be earned by flying AA and its partner airlines, as well as through various other activities outside of flying, such as using AA credit cards, retail partnerships, opening a Bask Bank Mileage Savings account, completing online surveys on the "Miles for Opinions" website, and dining at certain takeout restaurants listed on the "AAdvantage Dining" website.
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Upgrade waitlist
If you are on the upgrade waitlist with American Airlines, there are several factors that will determine your upgrade eligibility. Firstly, your AAdvantage elite status is the most important factor. ConciergeKey members are above Executive Platinum members, who are above Platinum Pro. Following this, Platinum and Gold elites are ranked higher than Atmos Rewards elites. The higher your status, the higher you are on the upgrade list.
The second most important factor is the type of upgrade you are requesting. Travellers using a systemwide upgrade get first dibs on available upgrades. Systemwide upgrades are best used for long-haul international flights as you can upgrade from economy class to business class, with its more comfortable seats and elevated service, for up to three flight segments in one direction of travel.
The number of loyalty points you have earned in the last 12 months is also a consideration. You can earn loyalty points by flying with American Airlines and its partner airlines, as well as through various other activities outside of flying. For example, you can earn one loyalty point for each dollar spent on American Airlines credit cards, and two loyalty points per dollar on the account balance of a Bask Bank Mileage Savings account.
Your flight booking's fare class and the date and time of your request are also considered. If there is no upgrade availability at the time of your request, you will be put on the upgrade waitlist. However, American Airlines introduced Instant Upgrades in August 2025, which means that if there is an eligible seat available in your preferred cabin, you will be shown an instant upgrade offer with a price in cash or miles. This means that upgrade prices are now dynamic, which may be a disadvantage for those trying to maximise the value of their miles.
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Upgrade costs
There are several ways to upgrade your flight with American Airlines, either by purchasing an upgrade or by earning elite status through the AAdvantage program.
Purchasing an Upgrade
Upgrades can be purchased through the American Airlines app or by informing an agent at the airport that you would like to pay for an upgrade. The cost of an upgrade depends on the type of upgrade you are requesting. Upgrading to business class on an international flight costs around $3,500, according to one passenger. However, other passengers have reported paying as little as $500-$800 for similar upgrades.
Using Miles
American Airlines AAdvantage miles can be redeemed for upgrades, with miles valued at around 1.3 cents each when booking award flights. Miles can be purchased directly, with a minimum purchase of 2,000 miles, which cost 3.76 cents each. Discounts are available when purchasing 6,000 miles or more.
Earning Elite Status
The AAdvantage program offers four levels of elite status: Gold, Platinum, Platinum Pro, and Executive Platinum. Elite status is achieved by earning loyalty points, which can be accumulated by flying with American Airlines or its partner airlines, using AA credit cards, or through various retail partnerships and online surveys. Higher elite status increases your priority on the upgrade list, with ConciergeKey members receiving top priority, followed by Executive Platinum, Platinum Pro, Platinum, and Gold. Elite status also comes with perks such as free checked bags.
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Frequently asked questions
You can ask an agent at the airport to help you pay for an upgrade. Upgrades can also be purchased through the app or on the American Airlines website.
Your chances of an upgrade are slim, especially if you are not a top elite member of the American Airlines AAdvantage frequent flyer program. However, if you are an AAdvantage member, you can use your miles to upgrade when space is available.
Upgrade prices vary. One source states that upgrades can cost anywhere from $350 to $2000. Another source mentions that an upgrade from Premium Economy to Business Class costs 12,500 miles.
The factors that influence your chances of an upgrade are your AAdvantage status, the type of upgrade, the number of loyalty points you have earned, your flight booking's fare class, and the date and time of your request.
You can earn loyalty points by flying AA and its partner airlines, using AA credit cards, taking part in retail partnerships, opening a Bask Bank Mileage Savings account, completing online surveys on the "Miles for Opinions" website, and eating at certain takeout restaurants listed on the "AAdvantage Dining" website.
