AA members can purchase upgrade requests through their AA online accounts or by phone with assistance from customer service agents. When purchasing online, there is a "Buy Upgrades" button where a member can purchase an upgrade.
A member can also purchase upgrades at the airport, a travel center or an Admirals Club lounge (only available to club members). A purchased upgrade is updated in a member's account within two hours. Once credited, the member can readily request for an upgrade.
All AAdvantage Elite members can enjoy complimentary upgrades when purchasing eligible full-fare Economy Class tickets on American Airlines flights between the United States, Canada, Mexico, Bahamas, Bermuda, the Caribbean and Central America. An upgrade offer allows the member to take advantage of the next class of service. An upgrade can be utilized both by the member and one traveling companion, as long as both of them are holding full-fare tickets.
All AAdvantage Executive Platinum members can enjoy complimentary upgrades on any purchased, published fare on the same routes as Elite members. An upgrade offer allows the member to take advantage of a class upgrade for himself and another traveling companion, as long as the said companion is traveling on a full-fare Economy Class ticket.
Every membership year, all AAdvantage Platinum and AAdvantage Gold members can accumulate electronic upgrade points, which allow them to request flight ticket upgrades. For every 10,000 qualifying base miles flown (including guaranteed minimum miles), each member earns four 500-mile electronic upgrades. This means that the more a member travels, the more upgrades are earned for future flights.
As of December 2010, a membership year starts on March 1 or the date a member qualifies for Elite status until the last day of February of the next year.
