American Airlines rolls out changes to upgrades. How travel rewards cards can help.

American Airlines is the latest major U.S. airline to crack down on free upgrades for economy passengers.

On certain flights starting Aug. 25, 2026, AAdvantage members with status can get complimentary upgrades to premium economy when available — but they’ll no longer get business class upgrades.  

The new upgrade rule applies for select flights to and from Hawaii as well as on transcontinental flights between New York (JFK) and San Francisco (SFO), New York (JFK) and Los Angeles (LAX), and Boston (BOS) and Los Angeles (LAX). 

The airline’s premium economy seats are wider, offer more legroom, and come with amenity kits and “chef-inspired meals.” But some premium economy configurations also have middle seats, which travelers could end up with if they’re upgraded and no other seats are available. 

“We’ll do our best to accommodate your seating preferences, though options may vary depending on aircraft type and availability,” American Airlines (AAL) said in the announcement. 

Here’s what else to know about American’s new complimentary upgrade process, and how travelers can still secure upgraded seats with their favorite airlines.

Read more: Best travel rewards cards for 2026

How to get business class upgrades on American

American Airlines’ new premium economy upgrade policy is limited to domestic flights that have premium economy sections — generally domestic long-haul routes across the country or to Hawaii.

If you’re flying other domestic routes with American that don’t have  premium economy seats, you may still be eligible for a business class upgrade. You can also get a business class upgrade if you purchase a premium economy seat on the affected routes, since the new rule applies to business upgrades from economy seats.

The change does not apply to American’s systemwide upgrades, a benefit available after earning 175,000 or more Loyalty Point rewards with the airline. You can still use systemwide upgrades to move from economy to business or first class on eligible flights. 

How complimentary upgrades work on other airlines

American isn’t the only airline making it tough for travelers — even those with loyalty status — to secure business class upgrades and other perks. 

The three major airlines in the U.S. continue to offer upgrades for passengers with loyalty status. The higher your status, the better your chances are of getting an upgrade. 

Here’s what the process looks like with United and Delta:

United Airlines

If you’re a MileagePlus member with United Airlines and you have Premier status, you may be eligible for a Premier upgrade when seats are available. However, these upgrades are single-cabin upgrades. That means you can upgrade from economy to premium economy or premium economy to business, but not from economy to business class. 

These upgrades are available on domestic flights, flights between Los Angeles (LAX) or San Francisco (SFO) and Hawaii, flights to Alaska, and to some shorter-haul international destinations. They are not available on cross-country flights between Newark (EWR) and Los Angeles (LAX) or San Francisco (SFO). 

You can also get upgrades on United if you have Premier Platinum status or higher using PlusPoints. The points you’ll need to upgrade vary depending on the flight, but you can use PlusPoints to upgrade from economy to business or even United Polaris on some flights. Until now, this program operated with a standard award chart, but United is moving to a dynamic system in 2027 that could change the number of PlusPoints needed for an upgrade.

Delta Air Lines

Delta Medallion members with any status are eligible for complimentary upgrades (when available) to first class and Delta Comfort. You can also get upgraded to Premium Select or Delta One on eligible flights with that seating configuration. Generally, that includes cross-country flights within the U.S. and flights to and from Hawaii. 

To be eligible for upgrades, make sure you book a Classic or Extra ticket (Main Classic or Main Extra for economy seats, for example). If you book Basic tickets, you won’t be eligible for any complimentary upgrades.

Another way to get upgraded on Delta is with Diamond or Platinum status. These status tiers offer your choice of benefits, which include an option for upgrade certificates that you can apply to eligible flights after you book. You can even combine an upgrade certificate with a complimentary medallion upgrade to move up an additional fare class, depending on your flight.

Read more: Limited-time offer: Earn up to $500 in travel credits with a Capital One business credit card

Best travel credit cards for upgrades

Travel credit cards are a great way to earn points and miles that you can use toward future trips. You can use the miles you earn on travel and everyday expenses to book business or first-class tickets for a special trip.

If you’re looking for consistent upgrades with your preferred airline, though, you may get more value from a co-branded airline credit card. These cards help you earn higher-tier status faster, which can lead to more upgrades, and some even offer upgrade benefits for cardholders. Here are a few to consider:

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card

With a Delta Reserve card, you’ll have priority for upgrades over other travelers with your same Medallion status. If you have a Delta Reserve card and Gold status, for example, you’ll have the chance to get upgraded before another passenger who booked a similar fare and has Gold status but no card. This card can also get you added to the complimentary upgrade list even if you don’t have Medallion status.

Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®

American’s most premium card doesn’t have a direct upgrade benefit, but it can help you earn Loyalty Points toward systemwide upgrades. For every AAdvantage mile you earn from making purchases with your card, you’ll earn 1 Loyalty Point. Remember: systemwide upgrades are a benefit option after you’ve earned 175,000 Loyalty Point rewards.

You’ll also earn 10,000 bonus Loyalty Points after you earn 50,000 Loyalty Points in a status-qualifying year, and can get another 10,000 bonus Loyalty Points if you earn 90,000 Loyalty Points in a status-qualifying year (for up to 20,000 total bonus Loyalty Points). 

United Quest℠ Card

It may not get you to business class, but the United Quest Card offers cardholders two global Economy Plus upgrades on United flights. You’ll need to spend at least $40,000 on your card within a calendar year to earn the benefit.

Some United credit cards, including the Quest card, can also help you earn complimentary upgrades on award flights. Typically, these upgrades apply for purchased tickets, but a United credit card allows you to get upgraded (with availability if you’re also a MileagePlus Premier member with status) when you use miles to book award flights.