Summary

  • Earn AAdvantage miles through flights, partners, and credit cards for cabin upgrades.
  • Upgrade classes include Basic Economy, Main Cabin, Main Cabin Extra, Premium Economy, Business, and First Class.
  • Use miles and potentially pay cash for upgrades, with priority based on status tier and loyalty points.

American Airlines offers a frequent flier program called AAdvantage. Passengers who accumulate miles through this loyalty program can spend them on various benefits. These include priority boarding, extra baggage allowance, and the ability to upgrade their cabin class from economy to business and sometimes from business to first class. Here is how to upgrade your next American Airlines flight.

Types of upgrades

Like most loyalty programs across the world, American Airlines’ AAdvantage offers its top elite members complimentary upgrades or the opportunity to earn cabin upgrades through various ways.

Perhaps the most straightforward way, though not the easiest, to score an upgrade is by earning miles and using them for the upgrade. All members with AAdvantage miles can use them to upgrade their flights, subject to the availability of upgrade space.

Three American Airlines aircraft

Photo: Wenjie Zheng | Shutterstock

In addition, passengers can use AAdvantage miles to upgrade not only on American Airlines flights but also on flights with premium partner carriers, including British Airways and Iberia.

It is worth noting that you can only upgrade your cabin class on codeshare flights marketed by American Airlines, British Airways, and Iberia and operated by any of the three carriers.

Ways to earn miles

Before thinking about the upgrades, what’s needed first is miles. There are multiple ways to earn miles. Of course, the most obvious one is through flying with American Airlines. However, there are more, including:

  • Flying with premium partner carriers British Airways and Iberia
  • Flying with other oneworld alliance partners
  • Spending with a Citi AAdvantage or AAdvantage Aviator Mastercard credit card

Related

The Different Ways To Earn American Airlines AAdvantage Miles

Earning through AA flights is not the only way to earn AAdvantage miles.

Available upgrade classes

American Airlines offers several service classes on its planes, each tailored with unique amenities for different types of travelers. Occasionally, the differences between these classes are minimal, making it essential to understand them to choose the best option for your next flight.

A cabin of American airlines aircraft

Photo: Samuel Ponce | Shutterstock

Basic Economy: Normal Main Cabin seats with restrictions such as no refunds and no changes.

Main Cabin: Limited legroom, limited meal service, inflight entertainment screen, groups 5 to 9 boarding.

Main Cabin Extra: Same seats as Main Cabin but includes bulkhead seats, seats at emergency exits, and the first few rows of the Main Cabin section.

Premium economy: Wider seat, amenity kit, inflight entertainment screen, elevated dining experience, complimentary checked baggage.

Business class: Complimentary bar, onboard dining experience, inflight entertainment screen, lie-flat seat, amenity kit, free checked baggage, priority boarding and check-in, and lounge access.

First class: Complimentary bar, onboard dining experience, inflight entertainment screen, lie-flat seat, amenity kit, free checked baggage, priority boarding and check-in, and lounge access. Offers a more private seat with more room to work or rest, additional courses and options during mealtime, and access to first-class-level lounges on departure or arrival.

Related

5 Ways To Upgrade To First Class On American Airlines

First class on American Airlines is available on flights within North America.

Using AAdvantage miles for seat upgrade

To use your miles for upgrades, you first need to book a flight in the aforementioned service class. After booking your ticket, you can then check for upgrade availability if you have enough miles. It is important to note that more than miles alone may be required for an upgrade; passengers may need to combine cash with a certain amount of accumulated AAdvantage miles.

An American Airlines Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner flying in the sky.

Photo: Vincenzo Pace | Simple Flying

According to American Airlines website, if you bought a discounted economy ticket for a domestic flight, you would need to pay 15,000 miles plus $75 to upgrade to the next class of service. However, for a full-fare economy ticket on the same domestic flight, only 5,000 miles are needed, with no additional payment required.

Below, find a mileage upgrade chart table:

To/from

To/from

From Discounted Economy/Premium Economy

From Full-Fare Economy/Premium Economy

From Discounted Business

From Full-Fare Business

Contiguous 48 US states, Alaska, Canada

Contiguous 48 US states, Alaska, Canada

15,000 + $75

5,000

15,000 + $175

15,000

Contiguous 48 US states, Alaska, Canada, Mexico, Caribbean

Contiguous 48 US states, Alaska, Canada, Mexico, Caribbean

15,000 + $75

8,000

15,000

Contiguous 48 US states, Alaska, Canada, Mexico, Caribbean

Hawaii

15,000 + $175

8,000

15,000

North America

Central America

15,000 + $75

8,000

15,000

North America

Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Suriname

15,000 + $150

8,000

15,000

North America

Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Uruguay, Paraguay

25,000 + $350

15,000

25,000 + $550

25,000

North America

Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, China, Indian Subcontinent, Australia, New Zealand

25,000 + $350

15,000

25,000 + $550

25,000

North America

Europe, Middle East, Africa

25,000 + $350

15,000

25,000 + $550

25,000

To upgrade your seat, you will need both miles and to make a request. According to the airline’s website, when requesting a mileage upgrade award:

  • Contact Reservations or visit an American Airlines Travel Center
  • Request the upgrade when you book your trip or any time before check-in
  • Have your trip details ready if you call and have already booked travel

It’s also crucial to understand upgrade priority, as American Airlines follows specific rules for prioritizing upgrades. If an upgrade isn’t available at booking, your request will be waitlisted. Upgrade requests are prioritized by:

  • AAdvantage status tier
  • Type of upgrade
  • Loyalty Points earned in the last 12 months

What are your thoughts on this? Have you ever used AAdvantage miles for American Airlines class upgrade? Let us know your experiences in the comments section below.

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