American to let fliers bid on first-class upgrades

Updated at 9:15 p.m. ET

American Airlines testing a new option that allows customers to bid on upgrades to their flight's first or business class cabins. AA says it initially is offering the program on a trial basis for for flights between specific markets, though the company declined to specify which markets are included in the trial.

How does it work?

"It's simple," American says on a page explaining its "Plusgade" program, which was quietly rolled out on Tuesday. "Make us an offer starting 6 days prior to departure and we will email you before check-in to let you know whether your offer was accepted."

A customer can bid to upgrade to the next-highest class of service on their flight. When the flier does, he or she must also submit their credit card information along with their suggested price.

If American likes a flier's offer, that passenger's card will automatically be charged and the upgrade will be confirmed. If American does not accept the offer, the flier's card is not charged.

Passengers who successfully bid for an upgrade also will receive American's priority check-in, boarding and baggage handling.

The move might drum up interest from bargain seekers, but AA also moved to ease possible concerns among its frequent-fliers.

"Rest assured that elite status member upgrade requests will continue to be given priority and will not be impacted by this program," AA says on its Plusgrade page.

Generally speaking, AA's elite frequent-fliers are able to request upgrades anywhere from 24 to 100 hours prior to departure, depending on a flier's elite status. Most elite frequent-fliers must apply enough 500-mile upgrade awards for the length of the flight on which they'd like to upgrade.

"Upgrade requests made via this bidding process will only be accommodated after AAdvantage elite status members' 500-mile upgrade requests have been accommodated," American spokesman Matt Miller says in an e-mail to Today in the Sky, referring to the carrier's frequent-flier upgrade procedure.

"Elite status members should continue to request 500-mile upgrades (either complimentary or purchased) as they do now," Miller adds.

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