Originally Posted by contrary

Why do people keep peddling this trash? Is it in the job description for ambassadors?

Upgrades on US domestic flights are very powerful as a tool to encourage loyalty and discourage price comparison, especially amongst business travelers whose employers have a Y-only policy. They are a defined benefit of elite membership and are not free.

While higher tier members can be confirmed into the higher cabin 100 or 72 hours before departure, it doesn’t mean they are always confirmed that far in advance. Many are cleared only at the gate, sometimes even after that passenger has boarded.

Like all major airlines, AA will manage their inventory to cater for last-minute bookings and misconnecting passengers. Like all major airlines, it works most of the time but they don’t always get it exactly right.