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SWU International Destinations

Following are the international destinations where AA flies its own metal, SWUs (formerly known as eVIPs) can be used, and 500-mile stickers cannot be used. As implied, SWUs can not be used on other airlines, even on American Airlines codeshares. (N.B. SWUs are also referred to as Systemwide Upgrades by AA.) SWUs may be used to upgrade to the next Class of Service on eligible fares.

SWUs are earned as follows: becoming Executive Platinum (8 each year); crossing a million-miles ever earned threshhold (any if the flyer resides abroad, or the second and further million if in the USA, four each crossing.) SWUs are valid through the year earned, the following year and expire March 1 of the third year (e.g. SWUs earned July 2006 are valid through February 29, 2008.) They are electronic and are visible in one's AAdvantage account online under the "view my upgrades" tab. They may be transferred to others, but may not be bartered, traded or sold, according to American's Terms and Conditions.

Using SWUs depends on upgrade inventory being available; if it is not available when booking, one can be put on the wait list. Wait lists for upgrades priority depend on 1) the passenger's elite status, and 2) within elite group, the date of upgrade request. It is possible to be on the wait list until hours before flight departure. (Having the "certificate" number of the SWU helps if you try to upgrade at the airport itself.)

As a reminder, SWUs can be used on any / all itineraries where AA flies its own metal (subject to certain fare restrictions) so this list is a bit more restrictive of complete SWU use. Specifically, North American destinations where 500-mile stickers are valid are not listed. Last but not least, each SWU is valid for up to 3 segments each way (not counting Eagle segments) from any departure point in the AA system. The departure points listed below in parenthesis are for connection purposes only.

Basically for the destinations below, to confirm a seat up front: a) pay for Business/First, or b) upgrade with miles [and the requisite copay], or c) upgrade with SWUs.

Destinations

ARGENTINA

• EZE Buenos Aires (DFW, JFK, MIA, MVD)

BELGIUM

• BRU Brussels (JFK, ORD)

BOLIVIA

• LPB La Paz (MIA)
• VVI Santa Cruz (MIA)

BRAZIL

• BSB Brasília (MIA)
• CNF Belo Horizonte (MIA)
• GIG Rio de Janeiro (MIA)
• GRU Sao Paulo (DFW, JFK, MIA)
• REC Recife (MIA)
• SSA Salvador de Bahia (MIA)

CHILE

• SCL Santiago (DFW, MIA)

CHINA

• PVG Shanghai(ORD) (LAX Effective April 6, 2011)
• PEK Beijing (ORD)

COLOMBIA

• BAQ Barranquilla (MIA)
• BOG Bogota (MIA)
• CLO Cali (MIA)
• MDE Medellin (MIA)

ECUADOR

• GYE Guayaquil (MIA)
• UIO Quito (MIA)

ENGLAND

• LHR London-Heathrow (BOS, DFW, JFK, LAX, MIA, ORD, RDU)
• MAN Manchester (ORD)

FINLAND

• HEL Helsinki (ORD) Effective May 1, 2011

FRANCE

• CDG Paris (BOS, DFW, JFK, MIA, ORD)

GERMANY

• FRA Frankfurt (DFW, ORD)

HUNGARY

• BUD Budapest (JFK) Effective April 6, 2011

INDIA

• DEL Delhi (ORD)

IRELAND

• DUB Dublin (ORD)

ITALY

• FCO Rome (JFK, ORD)
• MXP Milan (JFK)

JAPAN

• HND Tokyo Haneda (JFK) Effective January 20, 2011
• NRT Tokyo Narita (DFW, JFK, LAX, ORD)

PERU

• LIM Lima (MIA)

SPAIN

• MAD Madrid (DFW, JFK, MIA)
• BCN Barcelona (JFK)

SWITZERLAND

• ZRH Zurich (JFK)

URUGUAY

• MVD Montevideo (MIA)

VENEZUELA

• CCS Caracas (DFW, JFK, MIA, SJU)
• MAR Maracaibo (MIA)

Related Flyertalk threads

• Valid International Destinations for SWUs. Thread started August 13 2006