BlatheringPenguin

I've not had to travel so much the last few years, so I've lost track of the some of the guru level tips for navigating AA. But, now look like I'm headed back in to a busy period.

I assume expertflyer.com is still the best (or at least equally good to others) way of checking whether upgrades are available right now for a given flight (international in my case).

It would seem like someone would have figured out a way to monitor and build up a record of when & how many upgrades became available for specific flights in the past. But, I haven't found that.

Are there any other resources (than expertflyer) that I should be looking at for judging what our upgrade chances are?

thanks,
-BP

Col Ronson

Upgrade space generally opens up T-48 before departure for SWUs. Other than that its random.

BlatheringPenguin

Thanks. Helpful to know. I've been out of the loop for a few years traveling infrequently and am suddenly facing a steep ramp up again.

JY1024

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babypuwet

Hi guys, am looking to fly AA 61 or 175 in May. Which day is easier for upgrade? I can depart Friday Saturday or Sunday.

Also, my wife and daughter will be traveling with me and only I am EXP. Wife and daughter are golds. With companions given my EXP status starting next year, anyone know how that would work? Would both of them clear with me or just one?

FlyerBeek

I generally find Sundays and midweek to be easiest to upgrade to NRT. Best advice would be to get an EF membership and check the specific loads for the particular dates/flights you're considering.

Who knows how/when the inherited companion status will work, honestly. I really don't think it will matter in your case. For transpacs, I've only seen C inventory opened up 24-48hrs prior to departure, at which point you should all clear together before going to the airport list (assuming there's sufficient business class space at that time). Again, an EF membership and a little vigilance will allow you to call the EXP desk and ensure all upgrades are cleared once C inventory appears (potentially even skipping those ahead of you on the waitlist).

-FlyerBeek

babypuwet

Thanks for the advice Flyerbeek. Since I couldn't travel mid-week, I was thinking Sunday would be a good day as well, however, I actually do have an EF subscription and Sundays are actually showing as packed for the next couple of weeks. Not sure if that's the general trend. Also, C inventory hasn't been appearing for me the last couple of months unless its a flight with over half of the business class cabin being empty.

discoverCSG

I'm due to travel DFW-NRT a week from Monday (1-9) on the later flight. SWU is requested, but J cabin is filling up.

I think I heard someplace that NRT flights have a lot of no-shows/cancellations in J. How true is that?

Astromiles

Traveling on AA 65 ZRH>JFK on 1/3 and SWU hasn't cleared. Wondering if there's any upgrade space left...

azcoyote

Flight still shows J3 so there is still a chance.

Adelphos

How are upgrades from LGA to non-AA hubs as a Plat using stickers?

I checked the Google Docs sheet, but LGA data is limited and old. I'll be flying to ORD, ATL, DCA, Richmond, MSP, DFW and MIA from LGA. How are upgrades on these routes generally?

nbevan

It is not clear to me when advance upgrade space is released: in past years it has sometimes been released in batches a few months ahead, but maybe now just 329 days in advance?

A few weeks before departure it is easier to assess your chances from the seat map. I normally book a few months before travel so have typically been first on the upgrade list, and have almost always been upgraded even on apparently full flights. (But no longer when EQD priority is introduced. )

3Cforme

Set an EF award alert and it will automatically check for award/upgrade inventory. Move fast to reticket when you get the alert. EF doesn't assess the likelihood of an eventual upgrade success, however.

akcae

Pretty sure there is no such rule, nor enough anecdotal evidence to make such an assertion, or even count on a likelihood.

conklaven

Hi. Can someone please check the availability of aa731 on Jan 5 lhr -clt. Been on the wait list since August and a dummy booking is showing 15 open business class seats. Wondering why we haven't been upgraded yet. (Me plus wife with platinum status (miles+copay))

thanks.