How to get upgraded on American Airlines flights
It's relatively easy to get upgraded on American Airlines flights if you've booked via an eligible method.
There are four primary ways to secure an upgrade on an American Airlines flight: purchase an instant upgrade after booking with cash or miles, get a complimentary elite upgrade within North America within four days of departure, use a systemwide upgrade at or after booking, or book into an upgraded cabin.
Here's what to know about securing an upgrade on your next flight.
Pay cash or use miles to secure an instant upgrade
In June 2025, American Airlines unveiled its new instant upgrade system. In August, the airline discontinued its previously popular mileage upgrade award chart. Now, instant upgrades are the primary vehicle most travelers use to secure upgrades on American Airlines flights.
Instant upgrades may be available for American Airlines-marketed and -operated flights (including American Eagle flights). You can use American miles or cash for an instant upgrade. However, you may not be able to secure an instant upgrade with miles if you purchased your ticket outside the 50 U.S. states.
As the name implies, purchasing an instant upgrade with cash or miles confirms you into the upgraded cabin immediately.
To view the available options for your flight, log in to your trip on the American Airlines website or app.
If instant upgrades are available, you'll see an offer. If no instant upgrade offer appears, it's not currently available for your flight. However, be sure to check both the app and website before assuming no upgrades are available; I've often found upgrade offers on the app that didn't appear on the website.
When available, you can secure an instant upgrade at any time between booking and departure for a cash payment. But you'll only have until 24 hours before departure to redeem American miles for an instant upgrade.
Related: Is it worth it? 5 things I consider before paying for a seat upgrade
Get a complimentary elite upgrade
If you have American Airlines elite status or Atmos Rewards elite status and fly on an American-operated flight that Alaska or American markets, you and up to one companion on the same flight can get a space-available upgrade when you purchase an eligible published fare or award in the main cabin or premium economy for travel within North America. Specifically, your travel must be within the U.S. or between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, the Bahamas, the Caribbean, Bermuda and Central America.
Complimentary upgrades on eligible routes are only from economy or premium economy to the next class of service (first class or business class).
If you're flying on a separate reservation from your companion, you can call AAdvantage customer service to get your reservations linked. And if you're traveling with an infant or more than two passengers in your reservation, you'll need to call AAdvantage customer service to request an upgrade.
American Airlines clears upgrades based on status tier in the following order:
- AAdvantage Concierge Key
- AAdvantage Executive Platinum
- AAdvantage Platinum Pro
- Atmos Platinum and Atmos Titanium
- AAdvantage Platinum
- Atmos Gold
- AAdvantage Gold
- Atmos Silver
If there's a tie between two or more members, the tie is broken as follows:
- Type of upgrade (Systemwide and mileage award upgrades get priority over complimentary upgrades)
- Loyalty Points earned in the last 12 months
- Booking code
- Date of upgrade request
- Time of upgrade request
AAdvantage Executive Platinum members might get a complimentary upgrade as early as 100 hours before departure, Platinum Pro members as early as 72 hours, Platinum members as early as 48 hours and Gold members as early as 24 hours. If your upgrade is cleared, you'll receive an email.
If your complimentary upgrade hasn't cleared 12 hours before departure, you can check the American app to see where you stand on the upgrade list.
As a Platinum Pro elite member, I've been on several American Airlines flights recently where the entire upgrade list cleared ahead of departure. But I've also been more than halfway down the list of uncleared elite members on several flights this year. So, while it's nice when an upgrade clears, you certainly can't rely on getting complimentary elite upgrades on eligible flights within North America.
Related: Breakfast, upgrades and more: 9 TPG staffers reveal their favorite elite status perks
Use a systemwide upgrade
American Airlines elite members who earn at least 175,000 Loyalty Points during a qualification period can choose two systemwide upgrades through the Loyalty Point Rewards program. Additional systemwide upgrades are available as choices when you reach higher Loyalty Point Rewards milestones.
Systemwide upgrades are extremely valuable, as they allow you to confirm an upgrade to the next class of service on any American Airlines flight or British Airways transatlantic flight.
You must find availability in specific fare buckets and book an individual published-fare ticket. However, you can use each systemwide upgrade for one-way travel on up to three segments on American-marketed and -operated flights, British Airways-marketed and -operated flights, or British Airways-operated flights that American markets.
You can now apply systemwide upgrade certificates online. Check out our guide on American Airlines systemwide upgrades for more information.
Related: Last-minute strategies for earning American Airlines elite status
Cancel and rebook into an upgraded cabin
Finally, if you booked a fare that allows you to cancel for free or with a minimal penalty, you could cancel and rebook into an upgraded cabin. Doing so may let you pay fewer cash or miles than you would through an instant upgrade.
I've noticed long-haul award tickets on some routes operated by American Airlines that cost just 10,000 more miles in premium economy than in economy. If this is the case on your flight, it might make sense to cancel your current AAdvantage award and rebook instead of using the instant upgrade system.
Related: How to change or cancel an American Airlines flight
Bottom line
As you can see, you have several options if you want to secure an upgrade on your next American Airlines flight.
Your options may be more limited if you don't book through American Airlines, though, as then you may not have access to instant upgrades or be eligible to apply a systemwide upgrade. However, you may have different upgrade options if you book through select partner airlines, such as British Airways. Specifically, British Airways Gold members can use upgrade vouchers on select paid American Airlines flights ticketed by British Airways.
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