500-mile upgrade: The Ins and Outs Of American Airlines 500-mile Upgrade Certificates
One of the things I’ll do in this course is share with you what I’m doing as I’m doing it, if it makes sense.
I’ll share lots on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/loyaltytravels in stories as I travel a lot. So follow me there.
I’m heading to NY tomorrow (August 9, 2019) and American Airlines sent me a Gold status challenge in June I think it was. I had not flown them for a while and flew to Antigua and Barbuda on a trip with the Antigua and Barbuda Tourist Board and Traverse Events in London. So I guess that triggered some kind of system that have them offering me an elite status challenge. Normally, you have to pay for this challenge. More in another post all about status challenges.
The Offer
The offer is if I spend $850 and fly 7K miles by I can get Gold elite status until February 2021.
I have one ticket for a conference in Italy in September, but it won’t be completed by the 25th so I still need some more miles. The portion before the 25th will cover the dollar spend, but I need about 1,000 or so miles to make it work.
So I’m doing AA on this trip to New York via Charlotte into Newark to make it happen.
They also gave me some 500-mile upgrade certificates. I used 4 of them on this trip as both legs outbound are over 500 miles.
One cleared today, albeit the shorter segment, but I’ll be able to board as Priority 1 and enjoy and be able to report on the service. My priority on the non-cleared segment is 4! :-).
I got this email notification this morning as with Gold members it happens within 24 hours of departure.
Then wen I checked my itinerary online it showed the following:
So let’s talk about 500-miles upgrade certificates.
500 Miles Upgrade Certificates
500 Miles Upgrade certificates are used by elite members who don’t automatically get on the Upgrade list for segments over 500 miles. As Gold members, you are automatically placed on the list for segments under 500 miles with other frequent elite members.
I actually had 4 certificates from before and I wanted to use them to Antigua, but they said nope as I was not elite at the time and they can only be used on the domestic portion of the ticket anyways. I had flown Houston to Miami to Antigua and Barbuda (ANU).
Earning the 500-mile Upgrade Certificates
You can earn them by flying as you get four for every 12,500 elite qualifying miles you fly or you can buy them for $40 each or 40,000 miles. So take your pick.
Learn More about the American Airlines 500-mile upgrade certificates.
