American Airlines offers affordable post-purchase upgrades starting at just $40

Flyers are reporting just how cheap American Airlines is offering to let them buy up to first class after they’ve purchased their coach tickets. Buy a flight, skip paying for first class and you’ll often – but not always – be offered that first-class seat for less than the difference in what it would have cost to pay for it in the first place.

Here are some sample upgrade prices being offered to passengers. The lowest prices tend to be on the shortest flights, often operated by regional jets, and often when cabins are mostly empty:

- $59 Akron – Charlotte

- $57 Philadelphia – Providence

- $40 Dallas – New Orleans

- “I’ve gotten a $35 before”

- $64 New Orleans – Dallas

- $52 New York LaGuardia – Toronto

- $64 Columbus – Charlotte

- $49 Boston – Washington National

- $42 Miami – Orlando

Twenty years ago front cabins domestically were about full with about 10% paid fares. Delta was first to drive sales of domestic first class up over 70% using a variety of pricing tactics including small dollar upgrades. That’s the biggest reason upgrades have been so hard to come by for elite frequent flyers.

One reasonable strategy is to lean into discounted first-class buy-up offers: Pay for coach, even if you want first class, then wait for an upgrade offer. If you don’t get one, cancel the ticket and use the flight credit to buy the first-class seat you wanted—as long as you didn’t buy a basic economy fare.