Originally Posted by
BLI-Flyer
It's a bit more complicated. AS has two elite tiers, MVP Golds (the highest tier) who request an upgrade find out at 72 hours. MVPs (the lowest tier) find out at 48 hours. Unlike AAdvantage Gold and Platinum who have to use "stickers" on AA, upgrades for both MVP Gold and MVPs are free on AS. MVP Golds also get 4 one-way upgrade coupons/year that can be used to upgrade to FC at time of ticket purchase if U inventory is available. People using mileage can also upgrade at time of purchase if U inventory is available. The process you describe for upgrading is available at the airport through the kiosk, at the ticket counter, or at the gate for all other passengers IF (and that's a BIG IF) there is any FC inventory left over after AS elites get their free upgrades. Of course, it's worth a try, but highly unlikely on mid-cons and trans-cons. I'm an AS MVP Gold and rarely get upgraded on transcons, AS does an excellent job of selling those seats.
Thanks for the clarification. It makes sense. One addition, the upgrade is also available for non-status who are booked full Y at OLCI. I've done it. Two things about the policy as you describe it don't match what I've heard from AS: 1) When I called about 48 hours in advance of a flight and asked for an upgrade the agent checked and told me none were available, she didn't say anything about my status and I didn't dial an elite number. 2) At the gate on the one flight I wasn't able to upgrade on the last trip I had a long nice chat with the gate agent who told me that, with no AS status, I can request an upgrade as soon as I book the ticket (another GA was listening and nodding). I have certainly learned that when there is a disagreement between an FT'er who's done it a lot and a GA I believe the FT'er, but I find it interesting that the GA knew so little about the policy.
I'll edit my orignal post to reflect the policy as you descibe it. Thank you.