Originally Posted by CO FF

Since the FT search feature disregards numbers (I enter "4 hour upgrade", and it says that it's searching "hour upgrade"), this may repeat something -- if so, apologies in advance.

I've wondered about the 4 hour loophole for upgrades, and how it can be tested. I think I stumbled on something that both proves it works, and is dangerous for EXPs and (less so) PLTs.

The family had to run to NYC on no notice earlier this month. Time was more important than money, so I bought 4 OWs LAX-JFK, figuring I'd get the returns when I knew when I wanted to fly. On Saturday night, 4/8, I bought (on aa.com) 4 tix JFK-LAX for 4/10 10am AA 245 -- using 2 separate PNRs, 1 for me and one kid, the other for Mrs CO FF (a GLD, fallen from her PLT challenge) and the other kid. Her purchase was made a few seconds ahead of mine (separate laptops). I also made sure each of our accounts had enough upgrades for both of us. At the 24 hour mark, we did OLCI - again, her first then me.

At 6am on 4/10, I did the call-in request using MRS CO FF's AAcount. She cleared, and had seats assigned (11 H/J - FEBO perfection). I immediately called back for myself -- and learned that I had cleared, but could not get a seat assignment at that time.

Unless someone knows why a GLD would get assigned seats ahead of a PLT, I think this shows that my wife cleared before I did. Since the fare basis was the same, and I'm a higher elite level, if the "system" had run its course, I would have gotten the upgrade before her, so presumably I would have gotten seat assignments before her too.

(I ended up with 10D/G - close enough to put the kids in 11 and leave them there by themselves with only the occasional visit to/from mom & dad.)