How can I get an upgrade to business class even though my ticket code is the letter Q (discounted fare)?
Posted in Travel Schedule on 10/12/2008 03:49 am by admin
missy asked:
A travel agent booked a discounted economy class ticket for me on American Airlines. I’m flying to beunos aires and I’d like to get an upgrade. Im a member of the AAdvantage program and I only have about 6,000 miles and I know that won’t cover the whole upgrade. When I spoke to an AA rep, she said that because I have a Q ticket I can’t upgrade. Surely there is some way this can be done?
NORMAN
A travel agent booked a discounted economy class ticket for me on American Airlines. I’m flying to beunos aires and I’d like to get an upgrade. Im a member of the AAdvantage program and I only have about 6,000 miles and I know that won’t cover the whole upgrade. When I spoke to an AA rep, she said that because I have a Q ticket I can’t upgrade. Surely there is some way this can be done?
NORMAN
10/15/2008 at 6:25 am
TRAVIS
When you check in at the airline kiosk there may be an option on the screen to upgrade your ticket. Also, ask the person at the gate if they can upgrade your ticket and how much it will cost. Sometimes, you can get the upgrade the day of the flight very inexpensively.
10/17/2008 at 12:14 am
DALE
As is noted on AA’s website (which is linked below), it is not possible to use AAdvantage miles to upgrade Q fares to many international destinations, including South America. You could call your travel agent and ask them the cost of upgrading to the lowest upgradeable fare, but it’s likely that will cost hundreds of dollars once the change fee is factored in. Furthermore, even if you do this, you’re still close to 20,000 miles short of the miles necessary to upgrade.
Otherwise, the most likely scenario is the one brought up in another answer — see if the check-in kiosk will offer upgrades for sale when you check in. If they are available (which is seldom the case on international flights), they will be expensive, but cheaper than a business class ticket. Given that these kiosk upgrades are unlikely, I believe you should be prepared to sit in coach for this trip, unless you’re willing to spend several thousand dollars or more to change your ticket to a business class ticket.