I've had AA status for 25 years. Have never, ever, been upgraded. Never used the 500 mile upgrade coupons they used to issue. Made Lifetime Platinum years ago, never did anything for me. This year, reached Executive Platinum. Thought that maybe I can get some upgrades.

Have a ABE to CLT round trip this weekend and purchased coach fare through the AA website. Since I have automatic upgrade request, I sat back and watched. Sure enough, 100 hours before the outbound trip, I cleared to business class.

It is now 90 hours before the return trip. There are still two open seats in business class. But no upgrade. Any ideas why? Are there that many executive platinum members flying to Allentown, PA on a Sunday evening?

I looked at another thread where, I learned, that many flyers are now given options to upgrade to business class days, or weeks, after their ticket purchase. Is this why the 100 hour window passed - AA is still trying to sell those seats at a discount? Or, are only some seats in business set aside for upgrades, and once those are gone, that's it, even though additional empty seats, not available for complimentary upgrades, are still open?

The thread is full of acronyms I don't know - is there a central list to decode these for me? For example:

<<The same technology that allows "elites" to watch J7 become J3 become J0 also allows AA to better monetize premium seats.>

What about "F seat." "J seat" "TOD upgrade?"

I presume F is code for first class, J for business, and Y for full priced economy.