Sign Of The Times With American Airlines – 75% Of My Systemwide Upgrades Will Probably Go Unused

airplanes parked at an airport

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Not too long ago I was a pretty big fan of American Airlines. I liked the fact that the airline was investing in a newer fleet, I loved the AAdvantage program (it was the best airline loyalty program out there) and as a top-tier elite I had some very nice perks. But that was then.

When the takeover by US Airways took place (please let’s just call it a takeover as it was only really a merger in name) I was expecting changes….but I wasn’t expecting the raft of changes and the depth of changes that we’ve seen.

I’m not going to rehash all the reasons I’m disillusioned with American all over again (I’ve probably done that enough times in the past) but I am going to look at why something I never thought would happen is actually probably going to happen – 3 out of my 4 complimentary systemwide upgrades may well expire before I get a chance to use them.

a screenshot of a computerMy AAdvantage Systemwide Upgrades Sitting Unused

The Problem

The problem is partly one of my own making and partly one that American Airlines has created with some of its practices and policy changes.

Why it’s partly my fault my systemwides will probably go unused:

  • This year I’ve been making a special effort to avoid giving American Airlines any more cash than I absolutely have to so that hasn’t really fostered all that many opportunities to use my systemwide upgrades. Still, the reason for my attempt to bypass American as much as possible lies squarely at the feet of the airline and has a lot to do with the issues surrounding upgrades.
  • I use systemwide upgrades on long-haul routes as I rarely fly short-haul with American Airlines any more and long-haul upgrades have always been hardest to clear.

Why it’s mostly American Airlines’ fault my systemwides will probably go unused:

There are four reasons why American is to blame here and all four relate to how the airline now handles upgrades.

  • Having a systemwide upgrade clear before a flight (if it wasn’t confirmed at the time of booking) has become a lot harder.
  • Confirming a systemwide upgrade at the time of booking has become a lot harder
  • Systemwide upgrades now have to be used by 31 January (i.e. the flights have to be flown by 31 January) where, in the past, they expired at the end of February.
  • Up until a few years ago flyers could use systemwide upgrades on flights taken after the upgrade expiry date as long as the upgrade was confirmed before the expiry date.

I’ve been finding it a lot harder to clear systemwide upgrades on my transatlantic flights even when I request them months in advance of my departure dates – that’s how I ended up in Economy Class on an American 777-300ER on an overnight flight between LA and London earlier this year – and that has made me very wary of taking any American Airlines flights that won’t allow me to confirm an upgrade at the time of booking.

That leads on nicely to my second issue which is that it’s very, very hard to find upgrades on transatlantic flights nowadays….especially to/from London where I’m based part of the year.

This is normally the kind of results page I see on ExpertFlyer when searching for confirmable upgrades….zero availability on all the long-haul options.

a screenshot of a computer

I have a pretty flexible travel calendar so if I’m finding it difficult to nail down confirmable upgrades across the Atlantic I can only imagine how poorly others with more restricted travel dates are faring.

I thought I’d get a chance to use some of my 3 outstanding upgrades on a trip Joanna, mini-Joanna and I are taking this December but, even in the depths of the holidays when Business Class travel really slows down, I couldn’t find confirmable upgrades that worked for us. I ended up booking us into British Airways Economy Class (exit row) on the day flight and Premium Economy (upgraded with Avios to Club World) on the night flight.

a plane with seats and people in the backgroundBA Club World is a poor excuse for a modern Business Class cabin…but it beats playing the American Airlines upgrade lottery

Do I really want to spend 10+ hours in Club World over 10+ hours in Business Class on an American Airlines 777? No, of course not…but confirming Club World with Avios now is a lot better than playing the American Airlines lottery and hoping upgrades become available before we fly.

The final two issues go together quite neatly and, at this moment, really add insult to injury.

I have some super-cheap transatlantic flights booked for next February and, amazingly, there’s confirmable upgrade availability on at least one long-haul sector…but I can’t use this year’s systemwide upgrades in February next year.

a seat in a planeAmerican Airlines’ 777-300ER Business Class – A Great Seat To Upgrade Into

In the past, systemwides didn’t expire until the end of February so, under the old rules, I would have been fine…but not any more.

Also, in the past you could use systemwide upgrades past their expiration date as long as you confirmed them before they expired so, even with a January 31st expiration date, this old rule would have let me use my upgrades next February….but not any more.

It’s more than a little annoying.

The Upshot

If I hadn’t already decided not to go for AAdvantage top-tier status next year this would have tipped me over the edge. As someone who, when he does fly American, primarily flys the airline on long-haul routes the systemwide upgrades are the best perk left of Executive Platinum status….but they’re not much good to me if I don’t feel I’ll get to use them.

Add to that the fact that American Airlines has now added minimum spend criteria to their elite status levels and the fact that I can see the day coming when we’ll have to pay for Premium Economy if we want to upgrade to Business Class on American and I’m happy with my decision to quit caring about American Airlines status.

If I really want top-tier status I know I can get British Airways Gold status in 3 trips and for under $5,000 (without any strange routings) and that will do just fine. BA Gold (if I even want it) will give me most of the important and usable benefits of Executive Platinum status plus it will grant me access to Admirals Clubs on the rare occasions I have a domestic itinerary with American. Given that and all that I’ve written why would I bother with AAdvantage?

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5 COMMENTS

    • You can ask American to apply a SWU to any reservation you feel like applying it to but there’s no mechanism for actually transferring a SWU to someone else’s account.

  1. I couldn’t agree more with you. I’m a London based EXP for the last 5 years, but with all the recent cuts and negative changes, my loyalty has now shifted. For the first time in years I’m not worried about status, and taking the opportunity to try out other airlines and their alliances which can often offer a better product. Will I go back to American in the future? Maybe, but not unless they realise that they have to earn my loyalty.

  2. Been multi-year EXP on AA, on occasions traveling monthly accros the atlantic. The systemwide upgrades were by far the best benefit. After AAdvantage changed… I have abandonned the programme, using up miles, and simply looking for the best option to purchase business class flights. I’m not looking at tier status any longer with an airline, it works out better over time to simply look for a good combination of flight convenience and price.

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