FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - Chance of Upgrade Clearing and Availability (2025 Master Thread)
Old Feb 9, 2026 | 12:56 pm
  #583  
AJNEDC
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Join Date: Jun 2019
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Originally Posted by PowerLu
MIA-DCA 2/9 (Monday) at 6:29am
7/34 on waitlist having 300 LP

This used to be an easy route for an EP, but really no one cleared except that two seats opened up due to no shows so two cleared after boarding completed - EP sitting next to me was one of them and gave his seat away to the stranger next to us in the middle seat because he was already settled in and didn’t feel like moving at this point (totally get it). Happy me because now the middle seat was empty.

The statistics below is what gets me:

J6 about a week before flight with app offer around $100 - no comp seats released at window because they never are on this route until 24hrs

J3 at T-26 hours - no comps released

During checkin (at T-14 hours) I was offered $93 to upgrade. I did not take it thinking I should clear with J3 still open. I ended up 7 on the WL which eventually went to J0 and no one cleared (as I could see and tracked the WL now - same guy stayed on top).

In summary: at least 7+ EPs with over 300k LPs (maybe some CKs) waited for comp upgrades and instead all seats went to those who paid $100 during the comp window or $93 at check-in. Then two comps went out only due to the two no shows.
If there was ever a post that demands a few eye rolls...

So you have reached EP and an upgrade came your way for $100, but you declined it and are now ticked off because someone else who wanted an upgrade purchased it? How does that make sense to you? My last trip last year to Barbados, the upgrade offer at one point was a little over $400. I declined it because I was hoping it would drop to <$400. It never did. It went from $400 to $700+ and on up. Clearly someone purchased at the $400 level. How could I be ticked off that AA decided to get some cash. Good for them.
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