British Airways has struck a deal with American Airlines that allows using BA upgrade vouchers for AA flights.
You can upgrade one cabin class on AA flights, except upgrades from economy to premium economy are unavailable.
You can access BA’s page for upgrades
You must contact BA to process upgrades for AA flights (good luck!).
Upgrades Available:
Premium Economy to Business
Business to First
Economy to Business (where Premium Economy is not fitted on the aircraft)
However, cabin class upgrades from Economy to Premium Economy are not currently available
There is a difference between AA and BA upgrade vouchers. BA vouchers can be used to upgrade return tickets for up to six segments.
It is unclear what fare class availability must exist on AA to qualify for an upgrade using BA vouchers. If it is the same used for AA eVips, the availability is close to nonexistent. Good development, nevertheless.
I have avoided flying on BA for the past two years, first due to the pandemic and after due to monthly operational meltdowns. So you cannot count on BA getting you to the ticketed destination.
Here are therms of using BA upgrade vouchers on AA:
Members with a Gold Upgrade voucher can now use this to upgrade on flights operated and marketed by American Airlines, or marketed by British Airways and operated by American Airlines.
Gold Upgrade vouchers on AA are a single cabin class upgrade available on a single or return booking. For example:
Premium Economy to Business
Business to First
Economy to Business (where Premium Economy is not fitted on the aircraft)
However cabin class upgrades from Economy to Premium Economy are not currently available
Vouchers can be applied to AA operated transatlantic and US domestic flights only.
Upgrade vouchers can be applied at the time of booking or retrospectively to an existing booking. The Member must call their Local Service Centre to make the reservation, there is no option to waitlist for the upgrade. It must be available to book from the relevant availability. If no availability exists, the Member may call back and check availability at a later date.
To upgrade a new or existing booking please contact your Local Service Centre at least 24 hours prior to departure. Gold Upgrade vouchers cannot be redeemed at the airport.
It’s possible to upgrade a maximum of 6 Sectors per booking; Travel may not originate from or transit though the same city more than once in each direction. Bookings may contain a mix of British Airways and American Airline Sectors (including American Eagle). Other carriers may also be on the Itinerary but may not be upgraded using a Gold Upgrade voucher.
Gold Upgrade vouchers can be used in conjunction with any published fare sold directly by British Airways for travel on American Airlines. Upgrading on American Airlines Reward bookings is not permitted.
Gold Upgrade vouchers cannot be used in conjunction with any bookings that have already been subject to an upgrade (Avios points for Upgrade or
Gold Upgrade vouchers), or any other promotions/offers.
Rules of the ticket are governed by the original fare paid.
When a Member books Gold Upgrade vouchers direct with British Airways the Member must pay for the ticket, but is permitted to give the ticket and upgrade to someone else. When a Member books through a travel agent, the Member must also travel on the itinerary.
The Member and/or those travelling using Gold Upgrade vouchers will be personally responsible for any tax payable by them as a result of this offer.
Gold Upgrade vouchers are not an entitlement to travel and are subject to Reward capacity restrictions.
Cancellations: If you cancel your upgraded booking, the rules of the original ticket apply. If a cancellation is made more than 24 hours before departure, your Gold Upgrade voucher(s) will be reinstated, provided the Gold Upgrade is within its 12 month validity period. If a cancellation occurs within 24 hours of departure, the Gold Upgrade voucher(s) will be invalid for further use.
Infants: If an upgraded booking contains an infant travelling on an infant fare, the infant will be automatically upgraded with the adults. Child fares will be subject to the same rules as adults.
If using your Gold Upgrade voucher(s) on an existing booking and your ticket has already been issued, it will take 24 hours to re-issue the ticket.
Standard booking lead times apply for your area. Members are responsible for paying additional taxes, fees, charges and airline surcharges.
