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?
May 14, 2017, 11:02 am
#1474
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: UA 1K and PP, AA PPro (3MM, former CK), Marriott Ambassador and LTT, Uber One
Posts: 1,348
In addition to the previously mentioned fix which opened the floodgates to in-advance upgrade processing that had been blocked by some kid of technical problem, effective May 1st AA implemented a new process to further aid in this endeavor-- in this case processing more upgrades day of departure but -before- at-the-gate processing.
May 14, 2017, 11:19 am
#1475
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: FIND ME ON TWITTER FOR THE LATEST
Posts: 27,730
I am well aware this is anecdotal at best, but I just cleared for a flt ~5.5 hours from now that was J2 before I cleared (now J1). I fly this route often (weekly) and I am familiar with the upgrade patterns, and when inventory is 3-4 J seats or below, I'm used to seeing these clear at the gate...so it does appear that the change JonNYC mentioned is yielding benefits.
May 14, 2017, 5:57 pm
#1476
Join Date: Aug 2004
Programs: AA (EP), Hilton (Diamond), Marriott Bonvoy (Titanium)
Posts: 8,937
Glad to hear it ^
Glad to hear it ^
I am well aware this is anecdotal at best, but I just cleared for a flt ~5.5 hours from now that was J2 before I cleared (now J1). I fly this route often (weekly) and I am familiar with the upgrade patterns, and when inventory is 3-4 J seats or below, I'm used to seeing these clear at the gate...so it does appear that the change JonNYC mentioned is yielding benefits.
May 14, 2017, 7:39 pm
#1478
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: FIND ME ON TWITTER FOR THE LATEST
Posts: 27,730
but just to add a little clarity:- in mid/late January AA fixed the larger problem that had been _severely_ inhibiting upgrades from clearing at/near upgrade windows and causing far, far too many upgrade to come down to at-the-gate-clearing. That problem existed from roughly the time of the first post in this thread (a bit before, obviously.)
- The May 1st AAdv upgrade enhancement applies to day-of-departure (but before-gate time) upgrades.
May 14, 2017, 9:15 pm
#1479
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: DFW
Programs: AA ExPlat, 4mm
Posts: 102
May 14, 2017, 9:24 pm
#1480
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: DCA
Programs: MR Plat; AA Gold; UA Silver
Posts: 352
Lowly Gold and just got upgraded on both legs of a DCA-LGA flight. Pretty surprising. The first flight I was #3 on the list and cleared as we were boarding. On the flight from LGA I cleared around 5-6 hours in advance. It does happen!
May 24, 2017, 9:10 am
#1483
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: DFW
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 1,590
I just don't see any improvement and waiting until post check-in every single flight I buy in Y except 1 this year has just become depressing. Same story this week...AA opens C inventory roughly 36 hours out while not processing stickers.
Maybe the sunday return on memorial day weekend will have better luck. J7 D7 I5 Y7 B0 H7 K7 M7 L7 G7 V7 S7 N7 Q7 O7
Maybe the sunday return on memorial day weekend will have better luck. J7 D7 I5 Y7 B0 H7 K7 M7 L7 G7 V7 S7 N7 Q7 O7
May 25, 2017, 11:48 am
#1484
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: LAS
Programs: PA FT, TW Gold, NW/CO PE, VK Eagleflyer
Posts: 7,173
In a first for me, when flying DFW-LAS my travelling partner and I were fetched from row 20-something and handed F BPs moments before the door closed. Apparently there were mis-connects that opened up 3 seats up front.
Thanks AA!
Thanks AA!
May 25, 2017, 11:55 am
#1485
Join Date: Aug 2011
Programs: AA EXP, Amex Plt, AA AC
Posts: 174
Got cleared the other day for my friday morning flight ORD-DFW. it was nice to clear early for a change. It's been a few months since that happened and on that one my connection was late so I missed it, grr