2016 Chances of Upgrade Clearing and Availability (consolidated)
#152
Join Date: Aug 2012
Programs: AA PLT, SPG Gold
Posts: 2,401
I know you don't believe me, but 100% that my wife and I recently upgraded a flight where C was released without clearing the waitlist first. No idea if we actually jumped the queue or not - upgrade list at the gate was shorter than I anticipated. But someone with no/lower status could absolutely have called in and snagged the upgrades if they saw them first. We've also had it happen recently where we clear without ever getting C alerts from EF. But for those of you who aren't worried about queue jumping - well - you should be IMO.
#153
Join Date: Aug 2012
Programs: AA PLT, SPG Gold
Posts: 2,401
Just a guess - either AA released C and then cleared two off the waitlist in short order (but still triggered the EF alert), or someone else beat you to the punch. EF alerts are not in real time, so that C space might've been available for hours prior to you getting the notification.
#154
Join Date: Oct 2010
Programs: AA ex-EXP (buh-bye!), HH Gold, SPG Gold, UM Go Blue
Posts: 543
Just a guess - either AA released C and then cleared two off the waitlist in short order (but still triggered the EF alert), or someone else beat you to the punch. EF alerts are not in real time, so that C space might've been available for hours prior to you getting the notification.
Is there any other way to see "real time" C space then? Or do I just need to call on the hour a day before my flight to check?
#155
Join Date: Aug 2012
Programs: AA PLT, SPG Gold
Posts: 2,401
Another thing I do is as soon as I receive an alert, I log in and check myself to make sure what I want is still there.
Even with EF not being real-time it's still worth it's weight in gold. If it was, it'd be the greatest thing since sliced bread.
#156
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: San Diego, CA
Programs: AA EXP 2MM
Posts: 24
Just a guess - either AA released C and then cleared two off the waitlist in short order (but still triggered the EF alert), or someone else beat you to the punch. EF alerts are not in real time, so that C space might've been available for hours prior to you getting the notification.
#157
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: St. Petersburg, FL
Programs: AAdvantage - PLT Pro, United Premier PLT, HHonors - Diamond, National - Ex. Elite
Posts: 31
Hey, Plat. boarding gets me overhead bin space! That makes me happy.
#158
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: SoCal
Programs: AA EXP, HHonors LTDia, Marriott Plat
Posts: 639
EXP reserving 4-6 weeks in advance. This year I've been running about 10% on mainline and 90% on Regional. Main is LAX to CLT or DFW. The exception was ONT to DFW (75%) but every flight (4) missed the connection and I was stranded overnight twice. I'm sitting in CLT again after missing my connection - 5 times in 8 flights and 2 of the 3 that had no issues were code share on AS. I left UA 2 years ago because they kept messing up my flights. Everything has been good until the last 2 months and it's just gone in the crapper.
#159
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: CLT
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 866
EXP reserving 4-6 weeks in advance. This year I've been running about 10% on mainline and 90% on Regional. Main is LAX to CLT or DFW. The exception was ONT to DFW (75%) but every flight (4) missed the connection and I was stranded overnight twice. I'm sitting in CLT again after missing my connection - 5 times in 8 flights and 2 of the 3 that had no issues were code share on AS. I left UA 2 years ago because they kept messing up my flights. Everything has been good until the last 2 months and it's just gone in the crapper.
#160
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: MCO via TUL + CMH
Programs: AA EXP, Former Hilton Diamond and Marriott Plat
Posts: 46
So I'm trying to determine when to take a Tokyo vacation/mileage run since the prices are so cheap right now. Plan is to book the cheap fare then upgrade using miles/copay since I'm only Gold. My understanding is that I need C, and C is generally not being released until close in.
So basically its a... try to pick random days and cross fingers?
So basically its a... try to pick random days and cross fingers?
#161
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Rockville, MD
Programs: Alaska-MVP100k; AA-Plat; HH-Diamond; Hertz Pres
Posts: 415
Just posting this as an FYI update..
The SWU on the outbound cleared today. (This is for 3/29 AA732 CLT-LHR).
(Updated my profile, thanks to Stripe!)
#162
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Phoenix/Columbus
Programs: Delta Silver Medallion, United Gold, US Airways silver
Posts: 1,716
Just cleared at T24 for AA 798 PHL - AMS tomorrow using a SWU. There was only one seat available on a 757 with only 12 first/business class seats available. Was not optimistic, but now happy!
#163
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Thatcham, UK
Programs: BA Gold, HHonors Gold, Marriott Silver
Posts: 470
Was offered a Biz to First upgrade at checkin today for tomorrow's AA107 from LHR TO JFK. £288.
I declined, the flatbed J is more than good enough for me.
I declined, the flatbed J is more than good enough for me.
#164
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: LA
Programs: AA, DL, UA
Posts: 543
MIA-MVD now at T-8 with J0 and a full seat map. Waitlisted 2 SWU's 3 months in advance when the cabin was empty... sigh. Looks like it's back of the bus for me. Oddly it's Y7 so this must be a premium heavy route which is surprising considering it's a Saturday departure.
I'd say chances are about 0% for us both clearing unless there's some misconnect from a feeding flight -- is it terrible to wish this sort of thing happening?
Edit: Full flight. Nada. Also just learned (the easy way I guess... since no one cleared) that SWU's used on non-EXP companions (even if on the same itinerary, doesn't matter if companion is Gold, Plat, no status) will go to the bottom of the pile in terms of priority.
I'd say chances are about 0% for us both clearing unless there's some misconnect from a feeding flight -- is it terrible to wish this sort of thing happening?
Edit: Full flight. Nada. Also just learned (the easy way I guess... since no one cleared) that SWU's used on non-EXP companions (even if on the same itinerary, doesn't matter if companion is Gold, Plat, no status) will go to the bottom of the pile in terms of priority.
Last edited by supermintyfresh; Mar 14, 2016 at 7:36 pm
#165
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: DCA/IAD/WAS
Programs: MAR AMB, WOH Explorist, AA EXP, UA 2P
Posts: 2,133