American Airlines will stop upgrading some flyers on long flights
American Airlines is eliminating complimentary business-class upgrades for elite frequent flyers on several long-haul domestic and Hawaii routes starting August 25. Affected passengers will instead be eligible for upgrades to premium economy, reflecting a broader industry trend of restricting high-value seat inventory.
Why it matters
This policy shift illustrates how major airlines are prioritizing revenue management by limiting free upgrades to maximize the sale of premium cabin seats.
American Airlines elite frequent flyers have to say goodbye to the free coach-to-business leap on several long-haul domestic routes.
Starting Aug. 25, American said it will stop putting frequent flyers with elite status on the upgrade list for business class on some of its transcontinental and Hawaii routes. They'll be put on the list for a complimentary upgrade to premium economy instead.
The change is the latest sign of how American and other airlines are working to give fewer high-fare seats away to increase revenue and profits. Getting an upgrade overall has become tougher on many flights with more and more customers paying up for pricier, roomier seats.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in