American tightens upgrade policy on certain domestic routes

Key Points:

• American Airlines is expanding premium economy on more domestic flights and changing its complimentary upgrade policy starting August 25, limiting business-class upgrades for some AAdvantage elite members on routes offering premium economy.
• Passengers originally booked in economy on these routes will be upgraded to premium economy seats instead of lie-flat business-class seats, affecting mostly long-haul domestic routes including coast-to-coast and flights to Hawaii.
• The upgrade queue for premium economy will still prioritize elite status and Loyalty Points, but the change reduces the likelihood of complimentary upgrades to business class on planes with premium economy cabins.
• Complimentary upgrades to domestic first-class and Systemwide Upgrades remain unchanged, and elite members can still access business-class upgrades by booking flights on older A321T aircraft without premium economy or by purchasing premium economy tickets.
• Premium economy is currently offered on select routes including JFK to LAX and SFO, BOS to LAX, and several flights to and from Hawaii via DFW, PHX, and ORD.