American Airlines Faces Backlash Over Pilot First Class Upgrade Rule
American Airlines is facing growing passenger frustration after introducing a new policy that gives deadheading pilots first-class upgrade priority over even its highest-tier frequent flyers. The change, effective December 2, 2023, stems from the airline’s latest pilot contract and reshapes how upgrades are managed within 24 hours of departure.
Under the new agreement, pilots traveling on duty under A1DP or A3DP codes are automatically placed at the top of the upgrade list at check-in. Their PNRs are tagged with a new “Upgrade Priority Code UPG0,” ensuring they outrank Executive Platinum and ConciergeKey members. If pilots check in via the Travel Planner or American Essentials app, they are added to the upgrade list automatically; check-ins through AA.com or the mobile app require manual intervention from Customer Care.
According to American, the standard upgrade window for paying customers remains unchanged. However, once deadheading pilots enter the queue, they move ahead of elite passengers — a shift confirmed by multiple internal advisories and first highlighted by ViewFromTheWing.
Frequent flyers have strongly criticized the policy, noting that pilots are now taking upgrade seats historically reserved for the airline’s most loyal and highest-spending customers. One viral post described the decision as “rewarding employees at the expense of passengers,” fueling concerns about the future of the AAdvantage program.
The pushback comes at a time when upgrades are harder than ever to secure due to limited premium-seat availability and airlines holding more inventory for last-minute paid sales. Seeing pilots seated in first class while elite members remain in coach has only intensified customer dissatisfaction.
Industry context shows that American is not alone. United Airlines adopted a similar policy in 2020, driven largely by labor agreements rather than operational needs. Deadheading — when pilots travel as passengers between assignments — counts as duty time but does not require special seating for safety or rest, making this upgrade priority a contractual benefit rather than a necessity.
As American balances pilot contract commitments with customer loyalty expectations, the brand faces a delicate challenge: maintaining strong labor relations without weakening the value proposition of its elite program.
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Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, aviationa2z.com