The first time I saw “instant upgrade” on American Airlines, I honestly didn’t know what it meant. I was booking a domestic flight and noticed the option pop up during checkout, so I called 844-734-0813 to be sure before clicking anything. The agent explained that an instant upgrade means your seat is confirmed immediately—no waitlist, no guessing. I went ahead with it, and my boarding pass updated right away. Later, when my plans changed, they also helped me adjust the booking without hassle. That experience made me appreciate how straightforward instant upgrades can be when you talk to a real person.