Mar 30, 2017, 4:57 pm
Last edit by: jay_dubya
AA Upgrade Window for AAdvantage Elites
The "upgrade window" is the time during which an upgrade may be granted to statusholders. The "upgrade window" for AAdvantage Elites varies upon elite status held. In 2017:
- ConciergeKey - 120 hours
- Executive Platinum - 100 hours
- Platinum Pro - 72 hours
- Platinum - 48 hours
- Gold - 24 hours
- Non-elite - no upgrade window
Conversely, higher load factors, Revenue Management predictions and actions, flight route, season, demand, supply and other factors all affect the availability of upgrade seats and when any seats might be made available to upgrade. AA has tightened upgrade availability over the recent years, but planning leading to significantly higher load factors has been undoubtedly been a major factor in upgrade "tightness" to the point even upper tier elites who get upgraded may do so airside at the gate counter.
Has AA eliminated the upgrade window for elites?
Mar 17, 2015, 12:48 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2012
Programs: AA EXP MM/UA MM/Marriott PLT Premier-LT PLT
Posts: 383
Has AA eliminated the upgrade window for elites?
Lately, the last few weeks, it seems like AA has eliminated the upgrade window almost completely. For my last few flights inventory has been abundant and still no upgrade in advance of 4 hours. For example on a flight in 5 hours all categories are at 7 (F7 through A6, T7) and still no upgrade. And this is what I have been seeing for the past 10 days. The results are the same so not a big deal, but is anybody else seeing this. Im EXP.
Mar 17, 2015, 1:24 pm
#5
Join Date: May 2007
Programs: AAdvantage, Hilton
Posts: 3,191
Lately, the last few weeks, it seems like AA has eliminated the upgrade window almost completely. For my last few flights inventory has been abundant and still no upgrade in advance of 4 hours. For example on a flight in 5 hours all categories are at 7 (F7 through A6, T7) and still no upgrade. And this is what I have been seeing for the past 10 days. The results are the same so not a big deal, but is anybody else seeing this. Im EXP.
Mar 17, 2015, 1:41 pm
#6
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2006
Programs: AAdvantage PP
Posts: 13,913
Which is probably the primary reason. For the past several years FTs have complained more and more about upgrades clearing later. Whether its fact or fiction is up to debate.
Mar 17, 2015, 1:45 pm
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2012
Programs: AA EXP MM/UA MM/Marriott PLT Premier-LT PLT
Posts: 383
Quote:
Originally Posted by sukn
Don't know if this applies to your specific situation, but whenever Y is oversold, the system stops processing upgrades until very late in the game.
Which is probably the primary reason. For the past several years FTs have complained more and more about upgrades clearing later. Whether its fact or fiction is up to debate.
Originally Posted by sukn
Don't know if this applies to your specific situation, but whenever Y is oversold, the system stops processing upgrades until very late in the game.
Which is probably the primary reason. For the past several years FTs have complained more and more about upgrades clearing later. Whether its fact or fiction is up to debate.
Mar 17, 2015, 2:43 pm
#8
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Los Angeles
Programs: AA EXP, Hyatt Diamond, SPG Gold, Marriott Silver
Posts: 123
I was on an A321T with J10 and I didn't clear until T-5.... usually I clear a few days out if it's J10. C inventory was 7 out a few days prior to departure but I didn't want to spend a SWU on what I knew would clear... But yes the trend seems to be later and later.
Mar 17, 2015, 3:40 pm
#9
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Santo Domingo, Dom. Rep. / Washington, DC
Programs: AA PPro/DL PLT, PPass, Marriott / Hilton Gold, JetBlue Mosaic, Hertz Presidents Circle, Amex Plat
Posts: 4,628
I was on an A321T with J10 and I didn't clear until T-5.... usually I clear a few days out if it's J10. C inventory was 7 out a few days prior to departure but I didn't want to spend a SWU on what I knew would clear... But yes the trend seems to be later and later.
Where can you see any inventory > 7 ???
Mar 17, 2015, 8:41 pm
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: jfk area
Programs: AA platinum; 2MM AA, Delta Diamond, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 10,291
I was on 1441 jfk-las on Fri. 3/13, EF showed F7 for days before dep.; I cleared at T-4. On the return flt. 44 on 3/16, also F7, I cleared at T-100.
Mar 17, 2015, 9:56 pm
#13
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Los Angeles
Programs: AA EXP, Hyatt Diamond, SPG Gold, Marriott Silver
Posts: 123
Mar 17, 2015, 10:28 pm
#14
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: California
Programs: AA EXP...couple hotels and cars too
Posts: 4,548
T-100 seems a fond distant memory.
My major annoyance is missing the t-24 meal selection.
It used to be that I would see this for tight F cabins, or even when Y was getting oversold ...but it is clear that they are much more restrictive. Not absolute, as in 'there is a new blanket policy', but virtually never clear at 100.
Good news, if you are EXP or an F flyer and make last minute changes, there is a much higher likelihood of F seats will be there up to the end.
My major annoyance is missing the t-24 meal selection.
It used to be that I would see this for tight F cabins, or even when Y was getting oversold ...but it is clear that they are much more restrictive. Not absolute, as in 'there is a new blanket policy', but virtually never clear at 100.
Good news, if you are EXP or an F flyer and make last minute changes, there is a much higher likelihood of F seats will be there up to the end.
Mar 17, 2015, 10:45 pm
#15
Join Date: Oct 2007
Programs: AA, WN, UA, Bonvoy, Hertz
Posts: 2,491
Some recent T-24, but most are even later. These are not flights with much paid F demand. Not sure what is going on, but it seems pretty ugly right now.
I also dislike most missing the meal ordering window.
Finally, getting a lot more 'guarantee the upgrade' sales message on the aa.com order screen which I have never seen prior to this year. So, clearly, a lot of tweaking going on behind the scenes.
Rasheed
I also dislike most missing the meal ordering window.
Finally, getting a lot more 'guarantee the upgrade' sales message on the aa.com order screen which I have never seen prior to this year. So, clearly, a lot of tweaking going on behind the scenes.
Rasheed