American Airlines Sells The Cheapest International Upgrades
Over the holidays I saw reports of American Airlines selling upgrades from Los Angeles to Sydney (from coach to business class) for $350 and I thought that this must be a mistake. Lucky passenger!
However there are several data points of American Airlines selling long haul business class upgrades at this price. For instance, a passenger reporting receiving that offer both directions on a Dallas – Auckland, New Zealand trip.
Other data points include,
- $400 per person for business class Dallas – Buenos Aires (“It was ~$2000 or so [per person] until 3 days before we left”)
- $350 per person for business class Dallas – Seoul
Here are a couple of additional insightful comments on American’s paid international business class upgrade offers,
I can confirm that this is about in line with price upgrades I’ve seen and taken in the past, UA’s floor is about $1K, Delta about $600, AA about $350.
These appear to be some multiple of the premium economy (Premium Plus or Premium Select or whatever) that have floor offers of about $300 for both those versus the floor of $175 for AA
For years United Airlines has been known for selling cheap domestic upgrades. They were ahead of the curve in being willing to take almost any amount for a first class seat before awarding it as a complimentary upgrade on domestic flights. Their $59 upgrades are known as TODs or ‘Tens of Dollars’. The upgrades have even been marketed highlighting the number of people waiting for free upgrades you’d be jumping over.
But internationally it does seem that American is willing to take less for a seat the airline doesn’t expect to sell than competitors are. That’s great for passengers lucking into a flight with empty seats as travel approaches. It’s not great for elite frequent flyers looking to upgrade (systemwide upgrades) or AAdvantage members trying to use their miles. Sometimes confirmable upgrade space is offered when these cheap paid upgrades are offered, but not always.
