I had this issue a couple of weeks ago and FT is not clear on this that I can see. Perhaps others can share a newer link if it is. EF isn't clear either. Not all C space is the same according to 2 EXP agents when I was trying to use some SWUs. Links and pasted info to short explanations below. What I learned was that you do a test booking, and the note in blue on the left below will say something like System wide upgrades available. Or SWU available. If you can find the routes you want, then put them on hold. Then Call the EXP line to check to see if indeed they are available. The agent will go to the rate desk to confirm, then come back and book it. So I tried to book AUS-PHL-ZRH, and return next April. I found SWU availability for PHL-ZRH and return, but nothing else with AUS involved. So I put that on hold and called the EXP line. They confirmed the availability with the rate desk, came back and I booked it. Then I nested that flight with travel AUS-PHL before and after on a separate PNR. The best part was PE was not available on the PHL ZRH flight so all i had to do was buy cheap Y and upgrade to J. bam... Also have done the nesting thing several times before without problems.
Many times, your upgrade will not be confirmed in advance and it will require you to be placed on an airport list, which is automatic if it doesn’t clear prior.
This waitlist is ordered by status, followed by the type of upgrade, followed by rolling spend within the past 12 months on American or Oneworld partners.
Here’s the order of this list:
- VIP1 — ConciergeKey on a systemwide upgrade
- UPG2 — ConciergeKey on a complimentary upgrade
- UPGA2 — Concierge Key on an award ticket requesting a complimentary upgrade
- VIP2 — Executive Platinum on a systemwide upgrade
- UPG2 — Executive Platinum on a complimentary upgrade
- UPGA2 — Executive Platinum on an award ticket requesting a complimentary upgrade
- VIP3 — Platinum Pro on a systemwide upgrade
- UPG3 — Platinum Pro on a complimentary upgrade
- VIP4 — Platinum on a systemwide upgrade
- UPG4 — Platinum on a complimentary upgrade
- VIP5 — Gold on a systemwide upgrade
- UPG5 — Gold on a complimentary upgrade
- VIP — Any non-elite status member on a systemwide upgrade
As you can see, systemwide upgrades always take priority within each tier but do not take priority over lower elite levels. For example, a ConciergeKey on a complimentary upgrade always takes priority over an Executive Platinum on a systemwide upgrade.
There are several important things to note when trying to use a systemwide upgrade:
- You cannot use a systemwide upgrade online or through the app, as there is no functionality to do so. There is functionality for an Executive Platinum or ConciergeKey member to see if an upgrade is available to use, but there is no electronic method of applying it online.
- Using a systemwide upgrade requires speaking with an agent over the phone, as they will need to confirm if the upgrade is available to use and then actually re-ticket your reservation. Sometimes, you can ask the American Airlines social media team to apply an upgrade, especially if you happen to see upgrade space available when you are unable to call-in.
https://upgradedpoints.com/travel/ai...wide-upgrades/
https://viewfromthewing.com/american...ability-works/