In December, American and United joined Delta in offering a promotional Business Class fare on transcon routes. From Los Angeles or San Francisco to New York during January (travel has to be completed by Feb. 1), a seven-day advance Business Class ticket costs $998 round-trip (plus taxes).
What makes this an even better deal is that American now allows First Class upgrades from this discounted Business Class fare, using 30,000 AA miles and a co-pay of $350. (United’s similar offer begins Jan. 12.) With First Class tickets running around $5,000, you’ll save about $3,700 (see chart at right).
Anyone can take advantage of American’s offer, because the AAdvantage program allows members to buy up to 40,000 miles per year. The 30,000 miles needed for this upgrade cost only $750. Other options include transferring credit points from either Diners or Starwood.
The major hurdle when it comes to using miles is upgrade availability. However, because American offers so many flights on both the San Francisco and Los Angeles to New York routes, upgrade space is good in January, with more upgrade availability on mid- to late-day flights.
The money you’ll save with the promotional fares on these transcon routes makes it well worth buying an additional ticket to connect. For example: Traveling First Class from Santa Barbara to New York on American usually costs about $5,300. But if you add the cost of a separate ticket from Santa Barbara to Los Angeles (about $400) to the price of the Business Class ticket to New York ($998), then add the cost of the upgrade (co-pay, $350; miles, $750), your total comes to around $2,498—a savings of about $2,800.
AA’s Upgradeable Business Class Fares (Between Los Angeles or San Francisco and New York)
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