Roselinda

Checked in at JFK today for flight to SFO. I asked where I was on upgrade list and told number 4. i said that was surprising since I booked 3 weeks ago. they told me only one personhad ticketed ahaed of me, but there were 2 connecting passengers from a flight from Boston and through passengers go to the top of the list, even if they ticketed later.

I had never heard of this before, but 2 AC agents said that was the case, i though with the new rules, each leg, was solely on date ticketed and fare class.
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wittc

Perhaps they were "distressed" pax from previous flights (Wx delay, crew delay), that should move them up in the upg list ahead of those non-distressed pax. Or MAYBE they were CK members that no gate agent wants to talk about

BStrauss3

"Through & Connect" has always had the higher priority in each tier...

e.g

T&C EXP
EXP
T&C PLT
PLT

goheelswks

Hmmmm, this never seems to help me snag upgrades when connecting through DFW as a Plat, but guess EXP's are a dime a dozen there.

My CLT-DFW legs are never a problem, though, in either direction.

brp

Well, this was true in the days when priority was based on check-in time, but this doesn't make as much sense now, with time of purchase (request) method. If I puchase 2 months oin advance, and originate at DFW, it makes no sense that I'd be trumped by thh SJC connector that purchased yesterday. As the guy from SJC, where there is no T&C traffic, this works to my advantage, but it doesn't make sense. Are we sure that this is really the way it is now?

Cheers.

billgrates3

The last time I missed an upgrade was as a T&C passenger. However, that was before the current upgrade priority system began.
I do know that eVIP and miles+copay upgraders (i.e. 'C' or 'A' inventory) have priority over all 'X' class upgraders, regardless of status. But... if you find yourself using eVIP or miles but 2nd or 3rd segments are not yet confirmed, you have to make sure that the GA or TA at origin puts in the correct priority code, for example "EVIPT". ("T" for Transfer)

gemac

To me, the more important question is, if this is true can we do anything differently to improve upgrade chances? The answer appears to be no, so I regard this information in the category of curiosity rather than actionable information. I put less time and energy into curiosity. YMMV.

zipadee

Isn't it almost certain that these were "distressed" Boston travelers who would trump?

kiwicanuck

No, once it goes to the airport list, the tiers are stratified by Thorugh passengers and local O&D passengers within each status level

jeffreyt

On a side note, doesn't Delta do the exact same thing as to upgrade priority and conx pax?

billgrates3

Yes, there is something you can do! just buy your ticket (and click the upgrade box) earlier.... oh, and one more thing, be sure to reach EXP status. That really helps.

jakuda

One thing people can try to do, if you are an AC member, is ask the AAngel very nicely if she can change your upgrade request a through/connecting upgrade request (even if you're not a through/connecting). So from a UPG1 to a UPG1T for EXPs.

I've never had to do this except during my PLT days and it was a legitimate request. Also even among gate agents/AAngels, there is a varying definition of a through/connecting pax.

dstan

It's the -T designation on the PALL list. BStrauss3 has it correct - this trumps request time within tier.

Based on what jrhone has told us:
I agree that the rationale for this is unclear in the context of the upgrade list, although it does make sense for the standby list. In the properly applied case above (-T suffix added with at least one more flight afterwards), pax who do not clear might be at greater risk of misconnecting. Even in an apparently improperly applied case (in which the -T suffix were added for standby on a final leg, as has been done for me), this would also reduce chances of pax getting stranded overnight at an intermediate airport rather than their origin or destination, one of which might also be 'home' and not require a hotel stay.

ijgordon

I disagree. You could take a connection to increase your upgrade chances.

Assuming this "T&C" priority is correct, what isn't clear from this thread is whether a T&C passenger has higher priority on all segments (including the first one) only the 2nd and subsequent segments.

gemac

If this is true, it is only on the 2nd and subsequent segments, as I understand it.