Elite, non-elite, business, and leisure travelers can now save big on Transcon routes—up to 81% off.
In the past three months, FCF has written three special reports for oneworld members (American) looking to deploy miles in order to achieve or maintain their elite status. In December, we focused on Europe, in January on Asia, and in February on South America.
By the way, the tactics also work for anyone who can’t find a low Business Class fare, and they also work for those who don’t even have any American miles.
This month FCF takes the same approach to the Transcon routes. The premium non-stop service offered from Los Angeles and San Francisco to New York/JFK, is America’s glamour route.
Our Pitch: The same as Asia, Europe, and South America: Forget about free mileage awards because they don’t earn elite credit, and it can be difficult at times to find award availability. Instead, use miles to upgrade, as availability is much greater and you earn miles and elite credit.
AMERICAN’S UPGRADE PROGRAM
On the Transcon, American requires 15,000 miles plus a $75 co-pay each way on the lowest upgradeable economy fares (H, K, M, L, V, G, Q, N, O, S classes) to Business Class. Upgrades to First Class also require 15,000 miles plus a $175 co-pay each way. When fares are high, this upgrade offers a great return—for anyone.
SAVE 64% ON TRANSCON BUSINESS CLASS FARES
One example: Business Class on Los Angeles-JFK is often expensive, $1,300+, even when booked way in advance. The lowest AA economy fare is currently $322, while Business Class is $1,317, so even with the $150 co-pay, you can save 64% ($845) off the published fare by using miles. (See chart below for an upgrade award availability survey.)
WHAT TO DO WHEN AN UPGRADE IS ONLY AVAILABLE ONE WAY?
American lets you combine coach and Business Class fares (and also Business and First Class fares), so you can upgrade the segment that has space and pay for the other leg in either First, Business, or coach. On Los Angeles-JFK, the combined coach-Business Class fare is $902 while round-trip Business Class is $1,317—so even with the $75 one-way co-pay, you can still save 32% ($145) by using miles one-way.
CONNECTIONS CAN SAVE UP TO 81%
Smart travelers use the long-haul Business Class flight as a “bridge.” All they have to do is get to and from the bridge gateway.
That means you might even buy an economy through-fare ticket, meaning the fare gets you to and from the Transcon gateway on one ticket rather than requiring two separate tickets. Upgrade all the flight segments if the space is available.
Example: JFK-Portland: The through-fare ticket gets you there via Los Angeles in coach for $279 instead of $2,264, the cost of a Business Class ticket on American. Even with the $150 co-pay, you can save $1,835 (81%) off the published fare by using miles.
Use our cheat sheet, below, to know when you can easily upgrade the long-haul segments; fly the short connecting flight/s in coach if you must.
TRANSCON UPGRADE FROM BUSINESS TO FIRST CLASS
In short, there’s often no value. Because published First Class fares are often only a bit more than Business Class fares, and once you add in the $350 co-pay for the First Class upgrade, the upgrade has no value. With one exception: You’re faced with a high First Class fare. Then, go for an upgrade using miles.
HOW TO BOOK MILEAGE UPGRADES WITH AMERICAN
Before buying your economy ticket, call American (upgrades cannot be done online) at 1-800-433-7300 to find out if the flights/dates you want are available for a mileage upgrade. Book the economy ticket online—keep American on the phone—then have the AA reservationist book the upgrade, or pay the by-phone booking fee and book both the economy ticket and upgrade at the same time directly with the AA reservationist.
If the upgrade on the flights/dates you want are not available, have the agent check dates/flights on the days before and after.
Use our survey below to get an idea of months with great upgrade space to get off to a fast start.
HOW ANYONE CAN PLAY THIS UPGRADE GAME
Don’t have any or enough American miles? No problem. Just buy American miles when they go on sale (recent opportunity here), or transfer Starwood points (takes about two days), and you, too, can save.
Sweet Redeem Survey: American Upgrade Availability on Transcon
[table_opt id="5953" style="blue-header" width="default" alignment="thcenter" heading="thcenter" rows="tdcenter" responsive="no" /]