American Airlines upgrades to first class and business class can be achieved in several key ways:

Upgrades with miles.

Systemwide upgrades, or SWUs.

Complimentary upgrades.

Upgrades through the airline’s small-business program.

Unfortunately, non-elites are only able to take advantage of the upgrades with miles option. SWUs and complimentary upgrades are available only to elites. However, in January 2022, American Airlines completely overhauled how AAdvantage members earn elite status, which means that scoring these upgrades may be easier than it once was.

If you plan to fly American Airlines and you’re looking for ways to get moved up to the front of the plane, here’s what you need to know to get an upgrade to first class or business class.

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How to upgrade on American Airlines

Let’s look closer at the five ways you can upgrade on American Airlines.

1. American Airlines upgrades with miles

This type of upgrade is the only option that non-elite members can take advantage of. If you don’t have elite status, your only chance of upgrading to the front of the plane is by redeeming AAdvantage miles.

Tickets bought with cash (not award tickets) may be eligible for using AAdvantage miles to upgrade. Depending on the fare class, you might have to pay for an upgrade in both miles and cash. For example, if you bought a discount economy ticket on a domestic flight, you’ll pay 15,000 miles plus $75 to upgrade to the next class of service. But if you purchased a full-fare economy ticket for that domestic flight, you’ll need just 5,000 miles and no copay.

Take a closer look at this AA award upgrade chart to better understand the cost to upgrade, based on your original ticket.

Beyond the fare class of your ticket, the copay and/or number of miles you’ll need will further depend on where you’re flying. An upgrade will apply for up to three flight segments in one direction.

You can request your upgrade at the time of booking or anytime before check-in by calling American Airlines Reservations, but there’s no guarantee you’ll get the upgrade.

If the airline can’t confirm you’re getting the upgrade at the time you request it, you get put on a waitlist. If your upgrade still hasn’t been confirmed by the time you check in for your flight, you’ll automatically be added to the upgrade standby list (assuming you have enough miles in your account 48 hours before the flight).

The waitlist isn’t purely first come, first served. Upgrade priority (more on this later) will dictate how the airline ranks your upgrade request against those of other travelers.

2. American Airlines systemwide upgrades, or SWUs

SWUs were previously available when you reached Platinum Pro elite status, or after earning 125,000 Loyalty Points. As of March 2023, American has raised the threshold to 175,000 Loyalty Points.

The good news is you now receive two SWUs instead of one. Other rewards you can opt for at this level include bonus miles, Admirals Club access, or a trip credit.

With new reward levels under the revamped Loyalty Points Rewards, several levels from 250,000 to 5,000,000 now have SWUs as a reward choice.

To earn Loyalty Points, you will need to earn 125,000 AAdvantage miles. The miles could be earned by flying, using an American Airlines credit card or earning with American’s partners.

This new earning mechanism may make it easier to earn Platinum Pro (reached at 125,000 Loyalty Points), and get you a step closer to earning those SWUs.

American Airlines Million Miler

AAdvantage members who reach the Two Million Miler level receive four systemwide upgrades (no matter their current status), and they will receive an additional four of these upgrades for each million-mile threshold reached thereafter.