Looking to upgrade to a more comfortable seat for your next American Airlines flight? Upgrading seats can provide more legroom, additional amenities, and an overall enhanced travel experience. This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about American Airlines seat upgrades including the different types of upgrades available, upgrade eligibility and priority, how to request an upgrade, and the costs associated. Whether using miles, paying a fee, or hoping for a complimentary upgrade, we’ll explain your options in detail so you can determine the best way to score a superior seat for your next trip.
An Introduction to American Airlines Seat Upgrades
When booking a flight on American Airlines, you are typically assigned a seat in the main cabin at no additional cost. However, American Airlines does offer several options to upgrade your seat for a fee or using frequent flyer miles. Upgraded seats provide more space, comfort, and amenities. They are located near the front of each cabin section or in a separate premium class of service.
The key benefits of upgrading your seat on an American Airlines flight include:
- More legroom and recline
- Priority boarding
- Complimentary food and drinks
- In-seat entertainment
- Access to the Admirals Club lounge
- Earlier deplaning
American Airlines seat upgrade options for both domestic and international flights, the availability, cost, and procedures vary depending on whether it’s a short hop within the U.S. or a long journey overseas. However, in both cases, there are complimentary, paid, and mile-based upgrade options available.
Let’s take a closer look at the types of seat upgrades offered by American Airlines and how you can request them for your next flight.
Types of American Airlines Upgrades
American Airlines provides four primary ways to upgrade your seat:
Complimentary Upgrades
Top tier AAdvantage elite status members may be offered a one-cabin complimentary upgrade to the next class of service. These upgrades are subject to availability and are prioritized based on the flyer’s status level. Complimentary upgrades can be requested at booking or added to the upgrade waitlist for confirmation starting 100 hours before departure.
Systemwide Upgrades
AAdvantage members can redeem systemwide upgrade certificates to confirm an upgrade in advance on any American Airlines flight. These certificates are earned after flying a required number of miles or segments each year. Systemwide upgrades can be requested during booking or later added to guarantee an upgrade to the next class of service on your flight.
Mileage Upgrade Awards
AAdvantage members can use miles to request upgrades on American Airlines flights. The number of miles required varies based on your original booking class, destination, and class of service being upgraded to. These awards can be requested in advance or at the airport on the day of travel. Upgrade priority is based on elite status.
Paid Seat Upgrades
Any passenger can pay a fee to upgrade their seat on American Airlines, regardless of frequent flyer status. Paid upgrades can be purchased during online check-in starting 24 hours before departure or at the airport. Prices vary based on the flight, seat selection, and availability.
Now let’s explore each of these American Airlines upgrade options in more detail.
Complimentary Upgrades
American Airlines offers complimentary upgrades as an elite status benefit for their most loyal flyers. Complimentary upgrades are subject to availability and cleared no earlier than 100 hours before departure. Here are the details on eligibility and priorities:
- Executive Platinum – The top Executive Platinum elite members get the highest priority for complimentary upgrades. They can be upgraded from any fare on domestic flights and most Economy Class fares on international flights.
- Platinum and Gold – Next, Platinum and Gold members can request upgrades when flying on domestic Y, B, H, or W fares or international O, E, or U fares. Upgrades are subject to availability after Executive Platinums are accommodated.
- Other Elites – Lower elite tiers including silver, bronze, and regular AAdvantage members are not eligible for complimentary upgrades. However, they can still use miles or certificates to upgrade.
In most cases, a complimentary upgrade will move you from Economy Class to Business Class on domestic flights. On international flights, it upgrades from Economy to Premium Economy or Business Class depending on your original booking code. Any passenger, regardless of status, can get upgraded if no elites are on the upgrade list.
Systemwide Upgrades
American Airlines AAdvantage members can redeem systemwide upgrade certificates to confirm a seat in a higher class of service on any American Airlines flight. These certificates are earned by reaching certain elite status thresholds or as a bonus when you open certain cobranded credit cards like the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®.
Here are some key details on using systemwide upgrades:
- Upgrade is confirmed at booking when the certificate is applied.
- Upgrades are permitted from any economy booking fare to the next class of service.
- Certificates can only be used when booked directly with American Airlines (not third parties).
- Upgrade priority is based on the member’s elite status if multiple upgrades are requested for the same flight.
- Both one-way and round-trip certificates are available
- Regional upgrades are valid on American Eagle flights.
The number of systemwide upgrades earned each year depends on your elite tier status:
- Executive Platinum: 8 one-way / 4 roundtrip
- Platinum: 4 one-way / 2 roundtrip
- Gold: 2 one-way / 1 roundtrip
When you use a systemwide upgrade, you can relax knowing your seat is confirmed in advance. It’s an excellent perk for loyal American Airlines customers.
Mileage Upgrade Awards
AAdvantage members can redeem frequent flyer miles to upgrade seats on American Airlines. This allows you to use your hard-earned miles to confirm a superior seat. The number of miles required varies based on these factors:
- Original booking code (fare class)
- Cabin upgrading to (First, Business, Premium Economy)
- Domestic, short-haul international, or long-haul international flight
- Regional vs mainline flight
- One-way vs roundtrip upgrade
Here are some sample Mileage Upgrade Award pricing details:
- Domestic economy to first class one-way: 15,000 – 32,500 miles
- Hawaii economy to first roundtrip: 30,000 – 60,000 miles
- Transcontinental economy to business one-way: 7,500 – 15,000 miles
- Europe economy to business one-way: 20,000 – 50,000 miles
- Japan economy to business roundtrip: 80,000 miles
Mileage upgrades can be requested starting at booking or later through online check-in. Upgrade priority goes to elite members based on their status. There is no co-pay required when redeeming miles to upgrade.
Using AAdvantage miles for seat upgrades is a terrific way to enhance your flight experience. The full award chart details are on the American Airlines website.
Upgrade Priority: Who Gets the Upgrade First?
Since upgrade availability is limited, American Airlines has an order of priority for complimentary and mileage-based upgrades when there is competition for the premium seats:
- Executive Platinum members
- Platinum Pro members
- Platinum members
- Gold members
- Non-elite members, sorted by Mileage Upgrade Award request date
This ensures their best customers get priority access to upgrades. Within the same elite tier, upgrades are cleared based on the time the request was made.
So it pays to request upgrades as early as possible, ideally at booking, to get the best chance even as a non-elite. Signing up for an AAdvantage credit card can also boost your upgrade priority over other non-elites.
How to Upgrade American Airlines Flight Seats
Now that you know the upgrade options available, here are steps for how to actually request an upgrade on an American Airlines flight:
Book your flight – You must first book your base fare ticket before requesting an upgrade. American does not sell upgraded seats as separate booking classes. All seats start as economy fares.
Purchase at check-in – Starting 24 hours before departure, you can purchase a paid upgrade during online check-in. Prices vary but tend to range from $59 for preferred economy seats to $199+ for business on domestic flights.
Use miles to upgrade – AAdvantage members can redeem upgrade awards starting at booking. The earlier you request, the more likely your upgrade will clear.
Add to upgrade waitlist – All passengers can add themselves to the upgrade waitlist starting at online check-in. Complimentary upgrades are cleared from this list.
Ask at the airport – On the day of travel, you can ask to purchase an upgrade at the airport if available. This should be seen as a last resort for the best chance of success.
Enroll in Free Upgrades – Joining the Free Upgrades program allows any passenger to be notified if complimentary upgrades open up within 24 hours of departure.
The easiest way to upgrade is booking the cheapest eligible economy fare early, then using miles or certificates to confirm an upgrade at booking. But even requesting a complimentary upgrade or waitlisting
at online check-in gives you a shot at scoring a better seat. Being flexible on your dates and departure time also helps increase upgrade chances due to lower demand.
How Much Does It Cost to Upgrade on American Airlines?
The price to upgrade your seat on an American Airlines flight depends on the type of upgrade, your current fare class, destination, and specific seat selected. Here are some general guidelines on upgrade costs:
- Complimentary upgrades – Free for eligible elite status members.
- Systemwide upgrades – Redeem certificates earned from elite status or credit card benefits. No additional cost.
- Mileage upgrades – Redeem miles starting at 7,500 each way for economy to economy plus. No co-pay required.
- Paid upgrades – Ranges from $59 for Main Cabin Extra economy to $599+ for business on transcontinental flights. International business class upgrades can be $1,000+.
- At the airport – Gate upgrades start around $100 for economy plus seats and up to $300+ for exit row seats. Business class upgrades are $500+ if available.
- First class – Domestic first class upgrades start at 15,000 miles or around $150-$300 when paying with cash. Prices are higher for long haul international first class.
As you can see, using miles, certificates or requesting complimentary upgrades are the most cost effective options. But paid upgrades can still be reasonable if you want to guarantee a better seat in advance.
How to Pay for Seat Upgrades on American Airlines
If you want to purchase a paid upgrade on an American Airlines flight, here are the payment options available:
- Online check-in – Pay with credit/debit card, AAdvantage miles or e-voucher during web or mobile check-in starting 24 hours before departure.
- Reservations – Call American Airlines reservations to purchase an upgrade with a credit card by phone. You can also apply certificates or miles.
- Airport kiosk – Use the self-service kiosks at the airport to pay for upgrades with any major credit or debit card.
- Gate agent – Ask an American Airlines agent at the departure gate to purchase an upgrade if available. Only credit or debit card payment is accepted.
- Mobile app – Use the American Airlines mobile app to pay for seat upgrades with Apple Pay, stored miles or credits.
- Subscription – Purchase an annual domestic upgrade subscription starting at $599 per year for 12 one-way upgrades.
No matter how you pay, the best deals will come from booking early and pre-paying for upgrades vs waiting until airport check-in. Purchasing upgrades is quick and easy with all the self-service options American provides.
Can You Upgrade Seats After Booking on American Airlines?
Yes, it is possible to upgrade your economy seat after booking a flight on American Airlines. However, your chances of success depend on the type of upgrade and availability.
Here are your options for upgrading after purchase:
- Complimentary upgrades – Eligible elite flyers can be upgraded from the waitlist starting 100 hours before departure.
- Mileage upgrades – Apply award miles to upgrade starting anytime after booking. Clears based on availability.
- Paid upgrades – Purchase an upgrade during web check-in starting 24 hours before scheduled departure.
- Gate upgrades – Request to pay for an upgrade at boarding time if unsold seats are available. Limited success.
- Free upgrades – Join the program for a chance at complimentary upgrades within 24 hours of flying.
While full-fare first and business class seats cannot be purchased after booking directly with American, economy class travelers still have a very good chance of upgrading their seat later by taking advantage of elite status perks, redeeming AAdvantage miles or purchasing upgrades at check-in.
Can You Upgrade to Extra Legroom Economy Seats?
Yes, American Airlines allows all passengers to upgrade to extra legroom economy seats for a fee at booking or during check-in. These seats are labeled Main Cabin Extra or Preferred Seats.
Main Cabin Extra seats offer:
- At least 6 inches more legroom
- Earlier boarding
- Free alcoholic drinks (excluding basic economy fares)
- Priority baggage delivery
You can purchase access to these seats:
- During original booking – $20-$59 fee each way
- At online check-in – Around $40-$59 if available
- At the departure gate – Approximately $40-$75 based on availability
There are no elite status restrictions for Main Cabin Extra upgrades. Any passenger can purchase access to these extra legroom seats on American Airlines mainline and regional flights.
Can You Ask for a Free Upgrade at the Gate?
While you can always ask, your chances of successfully being upgraded to a premium seat for free at the gate are slim. Airlines like American prioritize selling seat upgrades to generate revenue.
However, gate agents may occasionally upgrade passengers free of charge when:
- The flight is not full and surplus first or business class seats are available.
- You are displaced due to an aircraft change or seat malfunction.
- You are traveling due to a family emergency or special occasion.
- You are an elite status member not originally upgraded due to a technical issue.
Unless it’s a nearly empty flight, expect to pay a fee or use miles/certificates for upgrades. But it never hurts to politely ask an American Airlines agent about availability and cost of gate upgrades if interested. Just don’t expect miracles on busy flights.
Is It Better to Upgrade at the Airport Instead of Booking?
Generally it is better to upgrade in advance at booking rather than waiting until the airport if you want the best fares and guaranteed availability.
Benefits of booking upgrades in advance:
- Locks in the seat you want before others can select it
- Lower cost vs buying day of travel
- Miles or certificates more likely to clear
The advantages of upgrading at check-in or the gate:
- See if lower fares become available as flight fills
- Take advantage of unsold premium seats on unpopular flights
- Chance of free operational upgrades due to irregular operations
- Use miles or certificates that expire soon
While pre-purchase is recommended for peace of mind, the last minute airline app check for cheap upgrades can also pay off in certain cases. Just have a backup plan if no deals appear.
Conclusion
Upgrading to a premium seat can transform your American Airlines flight from an endurance test to a much more comfortable and enjoyable experience. Understanding the different options for complimentary, mileage-based, and paid upgrades enables you to choose the best path based on your individual needs and budget. Focus on elite status, booking the right economy fare codes, and using AAdvantage miles wisely as the keys to success. With the tips provided, you’ll be relaxing up front on your next American Airlines journey.