In a move no doubt related to its upcoming partnership with Continental, United Airlines announced on FlyerTalk.com today that they will begin offering unlimited complimentary domestic upgrades to elite Mileage Plus members starting next year.  Members will no longer need to earn and burn electronic 500 mile upgrades, and requests for upgrades will be automatically entered.  This is a system similar to Continental, Delta and US Airways.  (Hat tips to One Mile at a Time and View from the Wing)

American is now the only “Big 5″ carrier with the 500-mile electronic upgrade system where members spend electronic upgrades in 500 mile increments.  American’s Executive Platinum members receive complimentary upgrades while Platinum and Gold members earn four 500 mile upgrade credits for every 10,000 miles flown.  American also sells 500 mile upgrades for $30 dollars per unit (more if purchased from a live agent).

I’m not a regular United flier anymore, so this isn’t a big deal for me.  The question I have is what are the implications of this change to my primary program, American AAdvantage?  Frankly, I like American’s system just fine as it is.  I’ve had great success in upgrading as a Platinum, and even as a Gold member of AAdvantage.  I think the need to “pay” for your upgrade in some way with American results in more seats being available for those who really want to upgrade while other elites who may have spent all their upgrades or are inclined to sit in the back with their non-elite friends remain in coach.

Apparently, more details about the changes United is making will be forthcoming tomorrow.  I’ll watch with interest.  But right now, I hope this is one move that American does not copy.

Random post, I know.  But I think many less-than-frequent fliers may not be aware that a lot of airlines offer travelers the opportunity to change to an earlier or later flight on their day of travel with a confirmed seat (if available) for a relatively small fee.

Yesterday, I got a later than planned start on my 50 mile drive from my family home in North Carolina to the Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU).  Faced with the need to make a couple of stops on the way, I knew I was pushing the envelope for making my scheduled 3PM departure.  Add in the need to re-fuel and return the rental car, and it became apparent that the math just wasn’t going to work.

I stopped at an I-40 rest area and reached for my iPhone.  I first did a quick check of flight availability from RDU to DCA which showed “all 7′s” on later flights.  (Note: For those that don’t know, airline availability is displayed from their reservations systems in a series of letters and numbers, i.e. Y7….  meaning there are at least 7 seats left to sell in the “Y” fare bucket.)  Then I called American’s Platinum Reservations number.  When I reached the agent, I asked if there was “same day confirmed” availability on a later flight to DCA.  There was, and the agent confirmed my seat for the flight I wanted.  Cost:  $50 dollars, which I think is a bargain in the world of airline fees.

I then continued my drive to the airport without worry, and without danger of a speeding ticket.  You can read the scoop on American’s same-day flight change options here.  Other airlines offer their own similar programs:

Continental

Delta

JetBlue

United

US Airways

Received an invitation to apply for the Hilton HHonors Surpass Card from American Express.  I already hold the card, but I thought the offer was worth posting.  Earn the points by accomplishing the following:

• 40,000 bonus points after your first purchase.

• 20,000 bonus points for your first 8 stays (2,500 points per stay over 18 months).

• 2,500 bonus points for adding an additional cardmember.

The card carries a $75 dollar annual fee, but includes an annual pay per visit Priority Pass membership ($99 dollar value), and earns 9 points per dollar at Hilton properties, 6 points per dollar at select merchant categories such as grocery and drugstores, telephone providers, gas stations, internet service providers, home phone, wireless, cable and satellite TV providers.  The card includes one year of HHonors VIP Gold status and the ability to attain Diamond status by making $40,000 dollars per year in charges. 

I still love the Starwood Preferred Guest Amex, but this card offers a compelling package of benefits for Hilton customers.

Click here to apply.

Did you see the trailer for Up In the Air?  I got a kick out of the “turned on by elite status comment.”  Why?  Yesterday, I took a look at where I stand on AAdvantage elite qualifying miles.  With my 2 trips coming up this weekend and next, I’ll be at just over 51,000 elite miles for the year, and Platinum status will be in the bag.  But then it occurred to me that being at 51,000 eqm’s means I’m only 49,000 eqm’s away from Executive Platinum status!  I spent my lunch hour (note: not naked in a hotel room like George Clooney) calculating how I could earn those 49,000 eqm’s before December 31.

Long story short, it’s very attainable.  However, I’m not going to do it.  I’ve got vacation plans, including a 7-night cruise, coming up in early November.  I’m actually using my last United miles to fly us to LAX for that, so no mileage earning.  The total trip time is around 12 days.  That coupled with other work responsibilities…some of which will include travel on airlines other than American (one will make me Medallion on Delta), are standing in my way.  If I’d planned my year better, I could’ve easily made Executive Platinum this year.  So close, but so far away.  Oh well, life goes on….as AAdvantage Platinum.  Maybe I’m not that turned on by elite status afterall.

I checked my AAdvantage balance yesterday morning and found that the double elite qualifying miles I earned from American’s latest Double EQM promo have posted.  This thread on FlyerTalk verifies that flights taken through September 23rd have posted.