FREE upgrades for all OneWorld elite passengers, benefit extended to all 15 companies

We had a chance to explain how the Free upgrades are now an impossible pipe dream, or nearly so, to obtain. There is news, however, regarding passengers holding the elite statuses of theOneWorld alliance.

Who is part of the OneWorld alliance

The last company to join this alliance was, in chronological order, American Alaska Airlines. Here are all the carriers that are members:

• Aer Lingus
• Alaska Airlines
• American Airlines
• British Airways
• Cathay Pacific (founding member)
• Finnair
• Iberia
• Japan Airlines
• Malaysia Airlines
• Qantas
• Qatar Airways
• Royal Air Maroc
• Royal Jordanian
• S7 Airlines
• SriLankan Airlines

How this new benefit should work

For many years, American Airlines, British Airways, and Iberia have offered one-class upgrades to all elite passengers who bought a full-fare ticket. Buying a full-fare ticket, however, in 99% of cases means paying more to travel in economy than the cost of a business class ticket. That's why this is one of those advantages that you would gladly do without.

The same benefit is also offered to the American Express Alitalia credit card holders, but precisely because it applies only in the case described, it is for all intents and purposes a useless, or nearly useless, vantggio.

The new feature, which is expected to arrive in the coming months, is that these free upgrades will be awarded to elite passengers based on the availability of seats on board, giving preference-when status levels are equal-to those with higher class tickets.

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