{"id":1025,"date":"2019-06-21T14:45:17","date_gmt":"2019-06-21T14:45:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lasvegasadvisor.com\/travel\/?p=1025"},"modified":"2019-06-21T14:45:25","modified_gmt":"2019-06-21T14:45:25","slug":"upgrading-with-miles","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lasvegasadvisor.com\/travel\/upgrading-with-miles\/","title":{"rendered":"Upgrading with Miles – US Airlines"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

There’s nothing worse than being crammed into a middle seat of coach with only 21 inches of legroom (unless it’s being crammed into a middle seat with only 20 inches of legroom). So when possible, upgrading with miles is a great option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The key words in that paragraph are, of course, “when possible.” It’s no longer a case of throwing a few miles at the airline and taking your rightful seat in 2-C. Only certain fares are eligible, you may need to pay a surcharge, etc. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, I’m going to take a look at using miles to upgrade from coach to first on a domestic flight. There are, of course, other ways to upgrade (or other destinations to upgrade to), and I’ll hit those in future posts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Upgrading with Miles on American Airlines<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"american
In this case, “domestic” also includes the Caribbean<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I’ll start with American, if for no other reason than it’s the only one of the Big Three that doesn’t involve an advanced degree in mathematics to understand it. Rather, it involves some miles and a co-pay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When available, upgrades on American are a tremendous value. They only require 15,000 miles (from regular coach), whether you’re flying 3,000 or 300 miles, and the fee is flat at $75. That’s a bargain to get to the front of the plane.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The key words, though, are again “when available.” Due to a change last year in the way that American categorized its fare classes, the “bucket” for domestic upgrades shifted to one with far less availability, particularly on transcontinental flights. You’ll have to call and find out if it’s available. If not, you can request to be waitlisted. If it is, I’d grab it immediately.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Upgrading with Miles on Delta<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Delta has changed its mileage upgrade process more times in the last year than I can count, so there’s a 50\/50 shot that, by the time I’ve finished this paragraph, it will have changed again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Delta used to have a fixed price chart for upgrades. Then it didn’t. Then it didn’t. And we’re still at “didn’t,” which is probably where we’ll stay. Delta has moved to a variable cost structure: The cost in miles will be about the same as the cost in cash, with miles valued at a penny each. That’s a lousy exchange rate, but if you have millions of miles, no cash and want to upgrade, I guess it’s an option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you want to upgrade from coach to first on Delta, you have one of two methods:<\/p>\n\n\n\n