TxTravelPro

Specifically DFW to LGW (or FRA).
Platinum level AAdvantage member.
The fare is 1200.00 in coach.
How many ways are there to upgrade to Business?
Thanks!

yk

Just one, AFAIK:

$300 + 25k miles each way

Gardyloo

1) 25K miles plus $300 copay each way - as yk indicated;
2) Y or B class economy fare plus 10K miles and no co-pay;
3) E-VIP systemwide upgrade contributed by friendly EXP status flyer;
4) Pay the difference;
5) Get lucky and receive an operational upgrade.

yk

Not to disagree with Gardyloo, but for TxTravelPro's Q specifically -

I assume the $1200 price tag in Economy is a discount Economy and not a Y/B fare. So, to upgrade to Biz from a discount Economy for TxTravelPro (PLT on AA), there's only one viable option - the one I offered.

The chance of option 5 (complimentary op-up) is close to 0%, unless the flight is sold out in Economy and open in Biz.

TxTravelPro

Thanks... Fodors is so much easier than asking my corporate travel department knuckleheads.
I am assuming that $300 + 25k miles each way is subject to upgrade timelines... ie... 72 hours out?
Man, these international fares are high! I am pricing August 26 on AA.
I have flown to Europe many times but only as a non-rev!
I can deal with coach on the return, assuming I can get an exit row aisle... which is available on the flight I am shopping.

BeachBoi

TTP..No upgrade seats available on eithe rof the LGW flights or the FRA flight.....for Aug 26 anyway....When your ticket is issued,you call to get the upgrade.If the seat is available,you are confirmed and they charge the copay right then.If its not available, you are put on the waitlist.When, and if, it is confirmed, then you pay the copay amt and your ticket is reissued by AA reflecting the upgrade...Hope this helps!

TxTravelPro

Excellent...
I have enough flexibility in my schedule to look for flights with the upgrade. I could route through LGW as an option, too.
I am looking for C class, is that correct?

stumpworks73

Absolutely the unfriendliest upgrade system to frequent flyers. Why I fly elsewhere when all else is equal.

BeachBoi

TTP...."C" class it is...

BeachBoi

TTP...Frankfurt looks good for that week.Here are dates the upgrade is available as we speak.Aug 22/25/27/29..No seats that whole week for London.

TxTravelPro

Thanks Beach!!!!

eschule

"Absolutely the unfriendliest upgrade system to frequent flyers."

They're the worst at everything. Lets not limit it just to upgrades. I have been on a 3 year purge of all my AA miles in my account.

Gardyloo

TTP...Frankfurt looks good for that week. Here are dates the upgrade is available as we speak.Aug 22/25/27/29..No seats that whole week for London.

There are actually quite a few C seats available to LHR via JFK or ORD that week, if it's London you want. Don't forget the punishing passenger duty fees you'll pay for business class departures from the UK. Some of the FRA C seats are on the 763, where you may get the new biz class seats (and arguably better service in the 2-class plane than on the 3-class 777s.)

If you're okay with coach on the way back, then fine.

My point about the B/Y fares however was that sometimes the math can be telling. Take your $1200 coach fare - add $600 for co-pays, and then (my assumption - your opinion may vary) 2.5 cents per mile for the 50K miles (RT) and you're at $3050+ in cash equivalent for the trip.

A B fare to FRA that week, returning after the first of September, is around $2500. Add 20K miles at 2.5c and you're at $3K even, i.e., cheaper than the discount fare plus copays plus miles.

And to make matters worse/better, you can buy a business class ("I" fare) ticket for $2800 for the same period - no copays, no miles redeemed, only extra class of service bonus miles to your credit and (as with the B fare) 1.5 Elite Qualifying Points per mile.

TxTravelPro

Thanks Gardy...
I recall seeing a some website that will say the lowest fare is XXX.XX and it goes on to show you what dates that fare is available on the outbound, and then what dates it is available on the return.
I don't have to leave on the 24th...
I have business in FRA and then I will head to AMS for another meeting. I'm not sure how to get to AMS from FRA but since it is not a long flight, I am not too concerned about those legs.
Do y'all know of a tool that does what I describe above?

Gardyloo

I would probably use the "flexible dates" feature on aa.com and assume you'd do the FRA-AMS portions on the train (under 4 hours downtown to downtown, probably faster than the fastest plane connection.)

Otherwise, farecompare.com, itasoftware.com, kayak.com... the usual suspects.

TxTravelPro

Thanks for all the help! I was a domestic agent and have been on the hotel automation side for 10 years... I never had interest in faring, which was probably the smart thing since I obviously S*** at it!
Honestly, I would rather jump a MAC flight at the NAS Ft Worth JRB so I could sleep on the floor of the aircraft in a sleeping bag!