Originally Posted by
Rsherwin
I'm based in Chevy Chase,MD. Not too far from IAD or DCA. About 35 mins to IAD, 25 to DCA.
I pay for the deep discount tickets -- is this why I'm not getting the upgrades? I figure that the DFW-DCA routes will be tough because it is their most popular route and I fly Monday/Thursday's most times. With that being said -- I figured I'd work my way into a First class upgrade 20% of the time or so..... (without using my upgrade stickers or anything)
You're still Gold right? I'd venture that you are not getting upgrades because you are Gold, the lowest of AA's elite tiers. Basically, all the EXPs and PLATs are in-line before you.
The cost of your tix on AA, unlike on other carriers, has nothing to do with whether you get your upgrade. Upgrades on AA are based on status and time of booking, when upgrade was requested. So, besides being the last in line among elite levels for upgrades, you will also be behind any Gold who has purchased and requested an upgrade before you. Are you requesting your upgrade at the time of your booking? If you are buying via your corp travel site, you will probably have to access your tix via AA, after purchase, to request your upgrade.
Both Gold and Plat have to use stickers/500 milers to upgrade. As a Gold, you wouldn't (shouldn't) get a "free" upgrade unless econ is oversold and all EXPs and PLATs have already been op-up'ed into F. I was only Gold for a blink of the eye, but in the 2 or 3? years I was PLAT, I only got one op-up -- Sunday after T-day, LAX-SFO.