Major U.S. carriers are continuing to sell discounted premium cabin upgrades until shortly before boarding while their elite members wait for those same seats. Today, I want to take a closer look at the practice, with particular focus on American Airlines. I understand why AA or any other carrier wants the money, but this is a perfect example of why I now buy the flight I want rather than organizing my travel around earning airline elite status and foolishly hoping for the illusory upgrade benefits that accompany it.
That sparked a discussion on reddit with many other stories. One Executive Platinum member bought an upgrade on a New York LaGuardia–Dallas flight despite being third on the upgrade list, moving ahead of the two passengers above him. Another traveler flying New York–Delhi paid $640 to move from economy to business class shortly before boarding. He had been waiting for a systemwide upgrade for two months and was third on the list with one seat remaining.
These are individual passenger accounts, not an announcement of a new American policy. But American’s published upgrade rules do not promise anything and as the carrier seeks to return to profitability, it is hawking upgrades aggressively and in my experience at much better rates than Alaska Airlines, United Airlines, or Delta Air Lines.
A great solo travel tip spotted this week on Live and Let's Fly.
