How to standby AND get EXP (or "500 mile") upgrade?
I used to be able to standby for an earlier AA flight, then get my new coach seat, then ask to be upgraded for the EXP complimentary upgrades.
Now they have three times given me the standby coach seat assignment, but told me that they can't upgrade me because I am on Standby.
What hoops do I have to jump through to get BOTH a free standby to an earlier flight on the same day AND get my free EXP upgrade (of course, subject to space availability).
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Sorry. AFAIK, no Sterling way to standby AND get a complimentary upgrade unless there is space available after the booked pax have been accommodated, other than that suggested (CFC).
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So I can't get both. If I Choose to get the first available coach seat on the early flight because I Really want the earlier flight, I can ONLY get upgraded if I am repeatedly pushy and there happens to be a First seat available and I don't board early and I tough it out waiting at the gate, and hope the agent doesn't get irritated with me, and wait to be the last passenger to board, and then not have any overhead space in economy if I don't get upgraded? Or PAY for a confirmed standby.
So I can't get both. If I Choose to get the first available coach seat on the early flight because I Really want the earlier flight, I can ONLY get upgraded if I am repeatedly pushy and there happens to be a First seat available and I don't board early and I tough it out waiting at the gate, and hope the agent doesn't get irritated with me, and wait to be the last passenger to board, and then not have any overhead space in economy if I don't get upgraded? Or PAY for a confirmed standby.
Yep. Them's the breaks. I waited in ORD once for several hours and couldn't fly earlier because I wasn't willing to pay $75 or sit in coach. Lounge was good though.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 925
So I can't get both. If I Choose to get the first available coach seat on the early flight because I Really want the earlier flight, I can ONLY get upgraded if I am repeatedly pushy and there happens to be a First seat available and I don't board early and I tough it out waiting at the gate, and hope the agent doesn't get irritated with me, and wait to be the last passenger to board, and then not have any overhead space in economy if I don't get upgraded? Or PAY for a confirmed standby.
Don't know about the "repeatedly pushy" part. That may actually hurt your chances. You can get upgraded only if you are confirmed into coach on the flight AND all others previously confirmed and waiting for upgrades are upgraded AND there are still F seats open. It can happen and has happened to me more than once, but I understand going in that by standing by for a different flight I'm probably not going to get the upgrade.
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Actually, as soon as you have a seat you are eligible for upgrade. If things are done right you'll get your seat only after all upgrades have been processed. If for some reason you get a confirmed seat prior to UG processing then you may jump all plats and golds.
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Actually, as soon as you have a seat you are eligible for upgrade. If things are done right you'll get your seat only after all upgrades have been processed. If for some reason you get a confirmed seat prior to UG processing then you may jump all plats and golds.
Good luck with that. GAs know better than to let an EXP who has cleared the standby list leapfrog PLTs and GLDs still on the upgrade list.
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If you pay the $75 for the CFC, you will clear above plats and golds. Otherwise, you will get upgraded only if there are empty seats in F. I have had a couple flights lately with empty seats in F.
Stripe - The "Repeatedly Pushy" comment is because there appears to be no way to get on the "Upgrade List" as a stand-by passenger, even once I have a confirmed seat. So the reason why I have to "keep checking" is that no automated process will do it for me. I don't WANT to be pushy, but if I don't ask, I don't get. Right?
Todorovic - That is what I thought too - But the last gate agent said that even though I was holding a boarding pass with a confirmed seat assignment, I couldn't go on the "upgrade list" because I got my confirmed seat via the standby process.
Blumie - Yes, this has certainly been my experience in the PAST! IF they force you onto the upgrade list, then you pop to the top. But they seem to know they aren't supposed to, or the software no longer allows it.
C17PSGR - I agree with you as far as you go. But even if there ARE available F seats, you aren't going to get them in any automated way. So you have to hang back and wait and ask - or you will NEVER get the upgrade. And many Gate Agents see this as being pushy, since there are so many other things going on for them at that time. And once they perceive you as being pushy, you won't get the upgrade since there is no automated process they are supposed to let you on, and you have worn out your welcome and they are busy trying to get to pushback, or are even down the jetway.
All - So unless I initially say "Standby only in F" (which defeats me from getting any coach seat, and certainly GOOD coach seats), it is a delicate, manual process.
I was hoping SOMEONE here had figured out a better way. Thanks for the help! Let me know if you have better approaches!
That old saying, "Beggars can't be choosers" rings true for this scenario.
I am looking at a similar situation tomorrow; the CS agent told me first was already full, so even if I paid for the confirmed seat, I am nearly guaranteed to be sitting in the back.
I'll keep the $75 and go standby and just gamble on whatever seat I get.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JDiver
Sorry. AFAIK, no Sterling way to standby AND get a complimentary upgrade unless there is space available after the booked pax have been accommodated, other than that suggested (CFC).
Dont know policy but recent experience. Was travelling with Mrs. on LHR-LAX-LAS on award F.. LAX-LAS was the night 8pm flight.. arrived from LHR at 3... instead of just handing bags after customs, took them up to the check-in area and had the agent list us for standby on earlier flight for 5.30 something..... he said we are listed for F only and if not then Y.. at gate, there were other pax listed for UG's but we got cleared ahead.. then one of the other requests got cleared to fill the cabin..
Dont know policy but recent experience. Was travelling with Mrs. on LHR-LAX-LAS on award F.. LAX-LAS was the night 8pm flight.. arrived from LHR at 3... instead of just handing bags after customs, took them up to the check-in area and had the agent list us for standby on earlier flight for 5.30 something..... he said we are listed for F only and if not then Y.. at gate, there were other pax listed for UG's but we got cleared ahead.. then one of the other requests got cleared to fill the cabin..
You were cleared ahead because your original booking was in F (or whatever the award code is) as opposed to having been booked in Y and then upgrading via complimentary or 500-mile upgrades. Despite traveling on an award ticket, you paid for F, albeit with miles and that gave you priority.
or sit in coach. Lounge was good though.
