Flying in premium cabins is more comfortable than ever, but scoring an upgrade isn’t always easy — especially with airlines increasingly prioritizing paid premium fares. Fortunately, upper elite members on American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines have access to upgrade certificates, which can unlock lie-flat seats on international flights or a more spacious ride in domestic first class.
But not all upgrade programs are created equal. American’s Systemwide Upgrades (SWUs), Delta’s Global and Regional Upgrade Certificates and United’s PlusPoints each come with their own rules, restrictions and best-use strategies. Some are easier to confirm, while others are more flexible or work on partner airlines.
In this guide, we’ll break down how each airline’s upgrade certificates work, compare their key differences and share expert tips to help you maximize your chances of flying upfront. Whether you’re a frequent flyer deciding where to earn status or just looking to make the most of your hard-earned perks, this deep dive will ensure you get the most value from your upgrades.
Each of the three major U.S. airlines — American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines — offers upgrade certificates to their top-tier elite members. While they all serve the same purpose — moving you from economy to a more premium cabin — the way you earn, redeem and confirm varies significantly.
American Airlines Systemwide Upgrades (SWUs) are some of the most sought-after upgrade certificates because they can be used on any paid, published fare and are valid for both domestic and international flights.
How to earn:
American Airlines systemwide upgrades allow you to move up one class of service on a paid ticket for a one-way journey, covering up to three flight segments. To use a systemwide upgrade, your itinerary must include at least one American Airlines-marketed flight. Eligible flights include:
On American Airlines flights, you can upgrade:
On transatlantic British Airways itineraries that include at least one segment on American Airlines, you can upgrade:
Systemwide upgrades are valid only on individual published fare tickets. If upgrade space is available, you can confirm upgrades at booking; otherwise, the system will waitlist them.
Best use: SWUs shine on long-haul international flights where upgrading to business class can save thousands of dollars. They are especially valuable on American’s transpacific and South American routes, where cash fares in business class tend to be high. Last year, I used a systemwide upgrade to confirm an upgrade from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to New Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) via New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK). My base fare was only $130. You can also use SWUs on basic economy tickets.
Delta offers Global Upgrade Certificates (GUCs) and Regional Upgrade Certificates (RUCs) to its Platinum and Diamond Medallion members, which provide greater flexibility but also come with stricter fare requirements.
Also, you cannot stack upgrades (e.g., upgrading from Main Cabin to Premium Select, then using another GUC to move to Delta One).
Best use: The GUCs is on long-haul international flights, where they can upgrade from Main Cabin or Comfort+ to Premium Select and potentially from Premium Select to Delta One if space is available. They are especially valuable on routes where Delta One fares are expensive, such as flights to Asia, Europe and Australia. Regional Upgrade Certificates (RUCs) are best used on domestic flights with Delta One or First Class cabins, particularly on transcontinental routes like JFK-LAX/SFO, where upgrades can provide a lie-flat seat. Both certificates are most effective when applied early and used on flights with upgrade availability at booking to avoid being waitlisted.
United Airlines takes a different approach with PlusPoints, a flexible upgrade currency available to its Premier Platinum and 1K members. Instead of issuing fixed upgrade certificates, United allows travelers to redeem PlusPoints for different types of upgrades, each with its own cost.
You can use PlusPoints on United-operated flights and select partners like Lufthansa and ANA.
Domestic and short-haul international upgrades are simple:
Medium and long-haul international upgrades can be more complicated:
You can confirm upgrades at booking if space is available. Otherwise, upgrades are waitlisted.
Best use: PlusPoints allow for strategic stacking. Members can use them on multiple shorter flights or save them for an international Polaris upgrade. They are especially valuable on United’s ultra-long-haul flights like San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Singapore Changi Airport (SIN) and Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) to Sydney Airport (SYD). Of course, these flights are notoriously hard to upgrade.
When it comes to airline loyalty programs, upgrading from economy to premium cabins is one of the most coveted benefits for frequent flyers. While American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines each offer upgrade certificates and programs, the best choice depends on what you value most: flexibility, ease of use or the ability to use upgrades on specific routes.
United’s PlusPoints system offers the most flexibility of the three programs. Unlike American and Delta, which provide fixed upgrade certificates (SWUs or GUCs), PlusPoints allow travelers to redeem a specific number of points depending on the route and upgrade class. This means that 40 PlusPoints could get you an upgrade from economy to business class on a long-haul international flight or 20 PlusPoints could get you an upgrade to first class on a domestic route. The flexibility of PlusPoints extends to the types of upgrades available (domestic first class and Polaris business class) and the ability to use them on a wide range of routes.
When it comes to actually securing an upgrade, American Airlines’ Systemwide Upgrades (SWUs) take the edge. While American’s SWUs require a bit more effort to earn — Executive Platinum members only receive a total of four SWUs when they qualify for their status — they are highly valuable for international flights, where upgrades are often more difficult to come by.
American’s SWUs have the added benefit of being usable on any paid, published fare, which gives them an advantage over Delta’s more restrictive upgrade certificates. With Delta’s Global and Regional Upgrade Certificates (GUCs and RUCs), upgrade space is more limited, especially for the Regional Upgrade Certificates, which are primarily for domestic flights or short-haul international routes.
Delta’s Global Upgrade Certificates (GUCs) are highly valuable for international travel, especially on long-haul flights where upgrades are costly. They offer the best value for business-class upgrades on routes like transatlantic flights. Delta also offers Regional Upgrade Certificates (RUCs) for domestic and short-haul international flights.
The downside of Delta’s system is stricter fare rules, requiring eligible fares for GUCs and limiting options for cheaper classes. Additionally, while the upgrade process is generally smooth, high-demand flights can lead to longer waitlists and limited availability.
Ultimately, you can use your upgrade certificates however you like, but your goal remains to confirm upgrades across the board. To do that, here are a few tips to help you make the most of these valuable perks:
Choosing the best upgrade program depends on your travel preferences and frequent flyer status. American, Delta and United each offer unique advantages. By understanding the nuances of each program and leveraging the right strategies, you can make the most of your upgrade certificates and enjoy a more comfortable flying experience.
You can change your preferences or opt out at any time by clicking on one of the hyperlinks available at the bottom of each newsletter.
If you are already a subscriber and would like to unsubscribe, you can click on the link at the bottom of any of our e-mails.
