Summary

• Complimentary upgrades are available for elite members, who can receive upgrades to business or first class if space is available.
• Earn first class upgrades with AAdvantage miles, with redemption requiring both miles and cash, depending on fare class.
• Systemwide upgrades for the first class seat can be obtained via Loyalty Point Rewards or the Million Miler program.

Upgrading to business or first class will make anyone's travel experience, especially on long-haul flights, much more memorable. Some airlines offer opportunities to upgrade from economy to business or first class. In this guide, we will take a closer look at the various upgrade options available with American Airlines.

Before delving into the various ways of upgrading your seat with American Airlines, it is worth noting that American Airlines has discontinued its first-class service on international flights. First class is available only on domestic flights and those to the Caribbean and Central America.

1 Complimentary upgrades

Eligible only to elite members

When will different tier members be able to claim an upgrade:

• Executive Platinum: 100 hours before departure
• Platinum Pro: 72 hours before departure
• Platinum: 48 hours before departure
• Gold: 24 hours before departure

Some passengers may receive complimentary upgrades to either business or first class seats. According to the American Airlines website, AAdvantage status members will automatically receive a complimentary upgrade if space is available in either of these cabins.

Upgrades to first class are only available on flights within the US, Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean. Additionally, they can include one companion on the same flight. After booking a flight, passengers can view the reservation from 'Manage trips' to check their upgrade status.

The wait time to determine if someone is to be upgraded varies based on the status of the AAdvantage program. For example, Gold members receive notification 24 hours before departure, while Platinum members are informed earlier, 48 hours before departure.

2 Upgrade with miles

Earning AAdvantage miles can score you an upgrade

Options for earning AAdvantage miles include:

• Flying with American Airlines
• Flying with premium partner carriers British Airways and Iberia
• Flying with other oneworld alliance partners
• Spending with a Citi AAdvantage or AAdvantage Aviator Mastercard credit card

For non-elite members, this upgrade option is the sole opportunity available. First-class cabin upgrades can be obtained by redeeming AAdvantage miles as long as the flight is marketed and operated by American Airlines or American Eagle.

Cash-purchased tickets may qualify for AAdvantage miles upgrades. Depending on the fare class, upgrading may require payment in both miles and cash. For example, if you bought a discounted economy ticket for a domestic flight, you would need to pay 15,000 miles plus $75 to upgrade to the next class of service. However, for a full-fare economy ticket on the same domestic flight, only 5,000 miles are needed, with no additional payment required, according to the American Airlines website.

It is worth noting that earning AAdvantage miles through American Airlines flights is not the only option available. Below, find the complete Simple Flying guide on various methods of earning AA miles.

3 Systemwide upgrades

Available via the Loyalty Point Rewards and Million Miler program

As you fly more and more frequently, options to collect "SWUs" increase

Obtaining a first-class upgrade is possible through systemwide upgrades (SWU), and AAdvantage members have two methods of obtaining the upgrade. Firstly, you can choose systemwide upgrades annually through the Loyalty Point Rewards system, starting at 175,000 Loyalty Points. These upgrades enable up to 3 segments in each direction of travel to move from economy or premium economy to business class or from business class to first class.

In addition, AAdvantage members can also earn systemwide upgrades through the AAdvantage Million Miler program. Passengers earn rewards for every Million Miler-qualifying mile threshold reached. The last two sections below will broadly explain the Loyalty Point Rewards system and the AAdvantage Million Miler program.

4 Loyalty Point Rewards

At least 175,000 Loyalty Points are needed for the first upgrade

• 175,000 Loyalty Points - 2 SWUs
• 250,000 Loyalty Points - 2 SWUs
• 400,000 Loyalty Points - 1 SWU
• 550,000 Loyalty Points - 1 SWU
• 750,000 Loyalty Points - 1 SWU
• 1 Million Loyalty Points - 4 SWUs
• 3 Mllion Loyalty Points - 6 SWUs
• 5 Mllion Loyalty Points - 10 SWUs

AA has launched the Loyalty Point Rewards program, designed to benefit AAdvantage members based on their accumulation of Loyalty Points. Advancing through various tiers of Loyalty Point Rewards is contingent upon earning more points, with each tier offering distinct benefits.

For example, members may receive perks in the lower tiers, like coupons for preferred seat selection. As members progress to higher tiers, they gain access to additional amenities such as lounge passes, bonus miles, or even systemwide upgrades, allowing for upgrades to business or first class.

However, to get the systemwide upgrade, passengers must have at least 175,000 Loyalty Points. You can read more about American's Loyalty Points system here.

5 AAdvantage Million Miler program

With two million miles flown, passengers can get four systemwide upgrades

• One million miles: AAdvantage Gold status for the life of the program and 35,000 AAdvantage bonus miles.
• Two million miles: AAdvantage Platinum status for the life of the program and four one-way SWUs.
• Each additional mile: Four additional one-way SWUs.

AAdvantage members have the opportunity to earn systemwide upgrades by flying enough with the American legacy airline to participate in the AAdvantage Million Miler program. Members are rewarded for each milestone reached in Million Miler-qualifying miles as above.

Here is what American Airlines has to say about the Million Miler program:

"It's a special honor to be recognized with Million Miler status, and it is our pleasure to reward such loyalty with the AAdvantage Million Miler program. Miles earned toward Million Miler status are based on the distance of your flight for travel on American marketed flights or the base miles earned for travel on eligible partner marketed flights."

What are your thoughts on this? Have you ever flown with American Airlines in its first class cabin? Let us know your experiences in the comments section below.