Tag Archives for upgrades.
Along with the move to qualifying for elite status based on Loyalty Points rather than qualifying miles and qualifying dollars, American Airlines is eliminating 500 mile upgrade certificates and they are also processing elite upgrades earlier at the airport.
Here’s what it means and why they’re doing it.
oneworld says it is on track to roll out the platform for members of one airline’s program in the alliance to use their miles to upgrade on a flight operated by another airline in the alliance.
This would mean members of American Airlines AAdvantage and Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan could potentially use their miles to upgrade on at least 14 different airlines.
American Airlines will let you confirm an upgrade at booking or any time before travel using miles (plus a cash co-pay) or systemwide upgrades (which are a choice benefit for Platinum Pro elite members and above, and given out to million milers upon qualification).
However the airline is super stingy with this space, even on flights that are completely empty and likely to remain so. But a glitch is giving away upgrades to customers that American Airlines didn’t intend to offer.
Hilton has introduced advance upgrades for elites. Seventy two hours prior to check-in upgrades are automatically processed, and elites receive a notification and are able to select a room from the new upgraded room category through the Hilton mobile app.
It appears we now know the priority order in which guests get upgrades.
Golds and Diamonds will be notified of enhanced room’ upgrades 72 hours in advance and will be able to select a room from the new upgraded room category through the chain’s mobile app.
They’re also adding key sharing to their digital room key feature, so that a guest can give their key to (for instance) someone sharing their room.
American Airlines Executive Platinum (and Concierge Key) members have been getting upgrades on Alaska Airlines for the past three months. This benefit is being extended to Platinum Pro members as well.
Platinum Pro (“75K” elite tier) becomes oneworld emerald on Wednesday, June 30th. That means more free checked bags, and better priority check-in as well as first class lounge access on international trips where those lounges have re-opened. Separate from oneworld benefits, and unique to the American partnership with Alaska, it will also mean upgrades on Alaska starting in ‘a few days’.
Last summer the CEO of the global oneworld alliance – which includes airlines like American, British Airways, Japan Airlines, Qantas and others – was talking up a project to let members of one frequent flyer program upgrade on other airlines in the alliance
Now they’re saying it’ll launch this year.
I reported two weeks ago to expect announcements from American Airlines at the start of June extending systemwide upgrade expiration again and offering further incentives for earning elite status this year.
It appears that the American Airlines IT shop is out ahead of their Corporate Communications team, because systemwide upgrades have already been extended in accounts.
In the fall top American Airlines executives – including President Robert Isom – started cold-calling their best customers “to find out who it is that’s traveling and still earning elite status throughout the pandemic.”
Recently several top American Airlines AAdvantage elite members have reported getting calls scheduled with Rick Elieson, the head of the AAdvantage program. In one of these calls he leaked some great information!
An interesting story American Airlines upgrade story – compounded by terrible customer service – tells me it’s worth reminding that American Airlines does not offer any way to upgrade to premium economy before the day of travel and that no American Airlines upgrade instrument will cover the cost of a premium economy upgrade.
This is actually a good thing because it means that all advance upgrades, and upgrades paid for with a certificate, still skip over the premium economy cabin.
Gary Leff is one of the foremost experts in the field of miles, points, and frequent business travel -- a topic he has covered since 2002.
Co-founder of frequent flyer community InsideFlyer.com, emcee of the Freddie Awards, and named one of the "World's Top Travel Experts" by Conde' Nast Traveler (2010-Present) Gary has been a guest on most major news media, profiled in several top print publications, and published broadly on the topic of consumer loyalty. More About Gary »
