Flying Business Class for $575? Yes, Please!

If there’s one thing I love, it’s scoring a ridiculously good travel deal. And this one? Chef’s kiss. We booked business class flights from Miami to London for only $575 round trip—no points needed! Just a little strategy, patience, and some elite status perks. Let me break it down.

The Magic of Systemwide Upgrades

Jorge, my travel, hack loving husband, has AAdvantage Executive Platinum status with American Airlines. One of the biggest perks? Systemwide Upgrades (SWUs).

Here’s how they work:

• At 175,000 Loyalty Points, he gets one reward choice, and one option is two SWUs.
• At 250,000 Loyalty Points, he gets two reward choices, meaning he can grab four more SWUs.
• That adds up to six systemwide upgrades, enough for three round-trip flights in business class.
• These upgrades can be used for himself or gifted to other travelers (lucky for me and Julie!).

Step 1: Finding the Right Flight

Earning the SWUs is only half the battle. The real work is in finding the perfect flight to use them on. Not every route or fare class is eligible, so it takes some digging.

For maximum value, you want to use them on long-haul international flights. Think transatlantic or transpacific. After weeks of stalking flights (yes, weeks), I found the one:

• MIA to LHR on a Boeing 777
• Non-stop (because who wants layovers?)
• Under $600 round trip

Step 2: Booking and Upgrading

Once we snagged those Basic Economy tickets for $575 each, we immediately called the American Airlines elite line to request the upgrades. And just like that, business class seats were ours!

What to Look for When Using SWUs

If you want to pull this off yourself, here’s what you need to keep in mind:

• Check for "Systemwide Upgrades" availability before booking.
• Aim for lay-flat seats on long-haul flights. If you're upgrading, make it count!
• Non-stop is ideal, but those flights get snapped up fast.

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• Confirm that the long leg of your trip qualifies for the business class upgrade (this part can be tricky). Click on the Systemwide Upgrades button to see what parts of the trip qualify.

Earning Loyalty Points for SWUs

Want to get in on this? Here’s how to rack up those Loyalty Points:

• Fly American Airlines or partner airlines.
• Use an AAdvantage® credit card for everyday purchases.
• Earn with AAdvantage® partners like hotels, car rentals, and shopping portals.

Our End Goal: Paris

Our end goal was Paris, so the best way to do that was to fly into London with this deal, then hop over to Paris on a OneWorld partner, British Airways, for a mere $150 round trip each. By doing this, we were able to enjoy both London and Paris for a total of $725. ☕️🥐

Worth the Effort? Absolutely.

It took weeks of searching and some strategic planning, but scoring a lie-flat seat to London for $575? 100% worth it. If you want to travel in style without blowing your budget, follow along—more travel hacks coming soon!

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