100K/75K AA Upgrade (SWU) Codes
Aug 21, 2023, 10:31 am
#151
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Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
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Aug 21, 2023, 11:27 am
#152
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 4,997
My biggest gripe with these is how long it takes AS to issue them. There is really no excuse for a 4-5month delay and then making then expire end of calendar year they are issued in. So you really only have 7-8 months to use them, but really its less time than that if you want to make sure you use them and not get waitlisted without clearing. 1-2 month day I could understand, but 4-5 is nuts. Thats part of the reason so many find them "worthless".
Last edited by olouie; Aug 21, 2023 at 11:57 am
Aug 21, 2023, 5:41 pm
#153
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: LAX/ONT
Programs: AS 100K, Hilton Diamond, IHG Plat, Marriott G, Hertz PC, Avis PC
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My biggest gripe with these is how long it takes AS to issue them. There is really no excuse for a 4-5month delay and then making then expire end of calendar year they are issued in. So you really only have 7-8 months to use them, but really its less time than that if you want to make sure you use them and not get waitlisted without clearing. 1-2 month day I could understand, but 4-5 is nuts. Thats part of the reason so many find them "worthless".
Aug 21, 2023, 7:33 pm
#154
Moderator: Alaska Mileage Plan
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 12,335
At the risk of (once again) sounding like an AS apologist, my past understanding is that AS' acquisition of these SWUs is a one-time batch issuance by AA. In other words, AS has to wait until it finalizes its list of 100K/75Ks before it can request the codes from AA, then confirm the account matching after it receives them. Since we're talking about two dinosaur IT environments, I think the minimum turnaround time would be 60 days, so 100 days doesn't seem that unreasonable to me. YMMV.
Aug 21, 2023, 7:41 pm
#155
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I'll add as well that they're of such limited utility, it doesn't matter that much to me. I always had to struggle to use my SWU as an EXP, and usually wound up burning them for J=>F upgrades on SFO/LAX-JFK.
Aug 21, 2023, 8:41 pm
#156
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 4,997
At the risk of (once again) sounding like an AS apologist, my past understanding is that AS' acquisition of these SWUs is a one-time batch issuance by AA. In other words, AS has to wait until it finalizes its list of 100K/75Ks before it can request the codes from AA, then confirm the account matching after it receives them. Since we're talking about two dinosaur IT environments, I think the minimum turnaround time would be 60 days, so 100 days doesn't seem that unreasonable to me. YMMV.
Aug 23, 2023, 9:46 am
#157
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Seattle, WA
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Posts: 601
Aug 23, 2023, 11:25 am
#158
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Sep 1, 2023, 11:15 am
#159
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: AA EXP, AS MVP 100k, Hyatt Globalist, Hhonors Diamond, Marriot Platinum
Posts: 69
Happy to report that i was able to use both my SWUs for upgrades for upcoming lights to europe in october. I was able to confirm one at booking and another cleared in 2 days The business class loading is pretty low for flights in october (i checked flights to ZRH and MUC), so its worthwhile to waitlist on those flights. It was easier for me to search for routes with SWU upgrade space as a AA EXP.
Sep 4, 2023, 11:57 am
#160
Join Date: Sep 2023
Programs: AS MVPG100K
Posts: 2
I am booking for flights for my wife to Paris via LAX-LHR. Found availability for return but 0 for outgoing flight. Using EP, shows that there are 7C when using flights from LAX to CDG, but shows 0 from LAX to LHR. Do you know if this is likely to clear? Thanks
Sep 4, 2023, 12:57 pm
#161
Join Date: Oct 2021
Location: Portland, OR
Programs: AS MVP Gold 100k - UA Premier Gold - AA Platinum Pro
Posts: 186
AA y-up fares into PE are a sweet spot. You earn 100% EQM in Mileage Plan too.
Last year's upgraded PE to J on YVR-DFW-IAH-LHR and on PHX-LHR-BUD.YVR-DFW was waitlisted but all the rest confirmed at booking. A gifted SWU upgraded LHR-LAX from J to F.
My two from this year have already been applied and confirmed on LHR-JFK in mid December, waitlisted on A321T JFK-LAX. The segments are part of a larger itinerary flying PE from South Africa outbound and J back to Europe next Easter.
James
Last year's upgraded PE to J on YVR-DFW-IAH-LHR and on PHX-LHR-BUD.YVR-DFW was waitlisted but all the rest confirmed at booking. A gifted SWU upgraded LHR-LAX from J to F.
My two from this year have already been applied and confirmed on LHR-JFK in mid December, waitlisted on A321T JFK-LAX. The segments are part of a larger itinerary flying PE from South Africa outbound and J back to Europe next Easter.
James
Also, do we know what order in the SWU upgrade list we fall in as 100k's?
Sep 4, 2023, 7:32 pm
#162
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 4,997
Its 0 for the long haul and only shows 7C due to married segmented issues with upgrade space search, keep monitoring the LAX to LHR segment as inter Europe business class is not huge deal.
Sep 4, 2023, 8:12 pm
#163
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 10,904
You can look at total J (revenue) space in flight availability to give you an idea of the chance of clearance (they clear down to the last business class seat at the gate) but remember that you will probably be last on the list because the vast majority of SWUs go to AA CK and EXP who will be ahead of you. I would not waitlist unless you are really ok with sitting in economy. There is also a thread about likelihood of clearance on various routes on the AA forum; you'll probably get more useful information there.
Sep 5, 2023, 3:41 pm
#164
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: LAX/ONT
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Posts: 518
LAX-SYD roundtrip Thanksgiving week both confirmed
I could be wrong, but AA LAX-SYD used to be once daily for my dates, but it's now twice daily. I'm sure more frequency helped out here.
Sep 5, 2023, 4:16 pm
#165
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 4,997
Slapping myself in the face here. I borrowed my buddy's EF for an LAX-SYD alert. Got the alert on Saturday morning, booked an $1100 roundtrip, and cleared after calling at noon. No wait for the call. Thanksgiving week, J cash is about $11k roundtrip. SWU value: $5k/piece. Finally had a score this year. Used both on Transcon last year.
I could be wrong, but AA LAX-SYD used to be once daily for my dates, but it's now twice daily. I'm sure more frequency helped out here.
I could be wrong, but AA LAX-SYD used to be once daily for my dates, but it's now twice daily. I'm sure more frequency helped out here.