Plus, the availability treasure map.
The Strategy: Use American miles to upgrade. Forget free mileage awards because they don’t earn elite miles or elite dollars, and are much harder to find availability.
Works Best For: American or oneworld members looking to maintain elite status.
Works Best When: Low First Class fares are scarce.
The Cost: 25,000 miles each way and a $550 co-pay with “I” fares (lowest upgradeable Business Class fare).
Save 53% on High First Class Fare Routes
Say you’re traveling New York- São Paulo, often an expensive First Class fare route. The lowest Business Class fare is currently $3,602 from New York, while First Class is $6,496 more ($10,098)—so even with the $1,100 co-pay, you can save 53% off the published fare by using 50,000 miles. (See chart below for upgrade award space.)
Low Business Class Fare Route on American Saves 51%
Miami-Buenos Aires is a low Business Class fare route with American, currently starting at $3,272 round-trip, while First Class is $8,961. Even with the $1,100 co-pay, you can save 51% off the published fare by using 50,000 miles.
If Upgrade Is Only Available One-Way?
Combine a Business and First Class fare. On Miami- São Paulo, the combined Business-First Class fare is $6,106 (plus 25,000 miles), while round-trip First Class is $9,018. See cheat sheet below for availability.
Through-fare / Connection Tickets Can Save Up to 49%
Great choice if you are not in an American Airlines gateway city, as the fare gets you to and from the U.S. departure city to the South American destination. A Boston-Buenos Aires through-fare ticket, via Miami in Business Class, is $3,656 (plus $1,100 co-pay and 50,000 miles) versus $9,375 in First Class. Even with the $1,100 co-pay, you can save $4,619 (49%) off the published fare.
Onward Travel in South America?
Go with AA’s partner LATAM and book the entire trip on one ticket. Say you want to fly Miami-Gramado in Brazil. On American that means making a connection in São Paulo. The round-trip through-fare is $3,210 in Business Class versus $9,034 in First Class. You upgrade the long-haul/bridge legs of the trip, Miami-São Paulo and São Paulo-Miami. Even with the $1,100 co-pay, you can save 52% off the published fare by using miles. Note that the São Paulo-Gramado leg will be on LATAM in economy (but the flight is less than two hours).
How to Book American Upgrades
Upgrades cannot be booked online. Call 1-800-433-7300 to find out if the flights/dates you want are available for a mileage upgrade. Book the Business Class ticket online—keep the American rep on the phone while you book the Business Class ticket online, then have the reservationist book the upgrade. Doing all of this by phone incurs a booking fee of $35.
No AA Miles?
Just buy them when they go on sale (recent opportunity here); or transfer Marriott/SPG to AA (takes about two days).
Sweet Redeem Survey: American Upgrade Availability to First Class to southern South America
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