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?
Jan 18, 2017, 2:16 pm
#1111
Join Date: May 2008
Programs: US CP, HH Diamond, Marriott Silver.
Posts: 325
AA 891 today 1/18/17 (CLT to DFW) showed J7 and C7 for last 3 days according to ExpertFlyer but my ExPlat Comp Upgrade never cleared within the window. Checked with Admirals Club Agent upon check-in today and he confirmed actually 9 seats in J were available. Upgrade finally cleared 1 hour prior to departure.
QUESTION - If C is the new X why didn't upgrades clear when C showed availability over the previous 3 days?
QUESTION - If C is the new X why didn't upgrades clear when C showed availability over the previous 3 days?
Jan 18, 2017, 2:18 pm
#1112
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: SNA
Programs: AA EXP, UA 1K (until it expires then never again), *wood Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 9,239
I don't think that C is the new X, C is the new A in that its for upgrades using a SWU or miles. R is the new X which is different from C or A. At least thats my understanding.
Jan 19, 2017, 5:25 pm
#1114
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: San Francisco, CA
Programs: AA (PPro/3MM/Admirals Club), AS, UA, Marriott (Gold), HHonors (Gold), Accor (Plat)
Posts: 2,602
If this policy is going to continue, and I'm guessing there is a business reason for it, I would hope that they could go DL style and tell folks how many unallocated seats remain so we can steel ourselves for the coach ride. It actually matters - particularly on the long hauls - since I will need to stock up on food and water for the journey if I'm living in the back.
From my own experience, changing the front cabin to the J categories is making SWU harder for domestic trips. i was looking in Feb to use up some that will expire and I can't find much C availability the days that I can travel. I could often find lots of A availability that would work.
Jan 19, 2017, 7:05 pm
#1115
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: ORD
Programs: Once a somebody now a nobody
Posts: 514
Flew MCO-ORD on Tuesday and only 2 seat taken on the seat map. At T-2 was talking to the customer service desk agent and indeed confirmed only 2 seats taken. I was #3 out of 10 on the list and we all cleared 15 minutes til boarding. 4 seats left empty. I wasn't really sweating that one but still a bit annoying as being able to chose the meal is really nice. Of course the newest rotation of meals is pretty bad so maybe not getting the upgrade would have been better 
Jan 19, 2017, 8:15 pm
#1116
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Wesley Chapel, FL
Programs: American Airlines
Posts: 29,970
AA 891 today 1/18/17 (CLT to DFW) showed J7 and C7 for last 3 days according to ExpertFlyer but my ExPlat Comp Upgrade never cleared within the window. Checked with Admirals Club Agent upon check-in today and he confirmed actually 9 seats in J were available. Upgrade finally cleared 1 hour prior to departure.
QUESTION - If C is the new X why didn't upgrades clear when C showed availability over the previous 3 days?
QUESTION - If C is the new X why didn't upgrades clear when C showed availability over the previous 3 days?
Jan 20, 2017, 1:13 am
#1118
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Everywhere you wanna be
Programs: AA EP | UA 1K
Posts: 1,657
MSY-DFW on the other hand was J7 for as long as i can remember and that didn't clear until T-2 hours.
Jan 20, 2017, 4:11 am
#1119
Moderator: American AAdvantage, Travel Safety/Security & Texas, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: AUS / GRK
Programs: AA, HHonors, Hertz
Posts: 13,484
I'd say that you requested your upgrade/bought your ticket before the others.
Jan 20, 2017, 2:25 pm
#1121
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Chicago
Programs: AA- EXP UA - Silver SPG- PLT Marriott- PLT
Posts: 755
AA 891 today 1/18/17 (CLT to DFW) showed J7 and C7 for last 3 days according to ExpertFlyer but my ExPlat Comp Upgrade never cleared within the window. Checked with Admirals Club Agent upon check-in today and he confirmed actually 9 seats in J were available. Upgrade finally cleared 1 hour prior to departure.
QUESTION - If C is the new X why didn't upgrades clear when C showed availability over the previous 3 days?
QUESTION - If C is the new X why didn't upgrades clear when C showed availability over the previous 3 days?
Jan 21, 2017, 1:07 am
#1123
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: ORD [formerly] + HKG
Programs: CX Diamond, AA exExPlat, BAEC exGold, HH Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, Starriott Titanium, GE
Posts: 2,966
Although the window shrinkage is quite annoying I'm still on a 100% score so far into the year (booking within a week or more so). Today JFK-ORD finally for first time I cleared before airport, at T-5.5. Other ORD-LGA-ORD runs were all at gate.
For those that share the anxiety of them having called boarding already before processing upgrades, each time now I go ahead a bit in advance and inform the GA of my position and ask if I should wait it out. For some of the flights it turns out that they already sorted the upgrades, so perhaps it'll be helpful to be just a bit assertive
For those that share the anxiety of them having called boarding already before processing upgrades, each time now I go ahead a bit in advance and inform the GA of my position and ask if I should wait it out. For some of the flights it turns out that they already sorted the upgrades, so perhaps it'll be helpful to be just a bit assertive
Jan 21, 2017, 6:16 am
#1124
Join Date: Mar 2014
Programs: aa
Posts: 3
I agree the 100 hour upgrade window is a thing of the past. Last year flying the same route would get upgraded 100 hr. I noticed last August, when they made changes to the advantage awards. I noticed, same route, upgrade went to 24 hours then down to 5 hours and every flight I'm on now, upgrades now are done at the gate. They don't care about loyalty just revenue now. Holding F until the last minute to sell and those that have bought, choice of seat. Time to move on, free agent, loyalty is a two way street. Haven't missed an upgrade yet but sitting at the gate waiting to be called or board and have them pull you up from coach, sux, time to explore other airlines.