Originally Posted by
corporate-wage-slave
A very low percentage of upgrades in my case, usually early on a Saturday morning when every ExPlat worth their salt is tucked up in bed. It counts for very little indeed on AA (and, it has to be said, on BA services if ExPlat).
When you check in via an AA machine there is sometimes a button suggesting an upgrade price. I only know that when I hit an irrop which took me to the next day. I was downgraded from First to Y - not unusual - had to check in on the machine the next morning, and low and behold I was offered an upgrade back to First, but for a certain fee!
On the other hand I think you can deploy Emerald status to get Main Cabin Extra, a noticeably bigger Y seat on certain services.
Me too. AA are very proactive with offering reasonably priced upgrades at check in, and so the requirement for op-ups tends to be minimal. Every domestic AA flight I've been on this year has had 5+ people on the F upgrade list and more than 10 on standby for Y.
The lack of op-ups is probably also linked to the 500 mile upgrades handed out to Ex Plats.