Impact of AA clearing upgrades later than in the past
Feb 9, 2010, 10:00 am
#16
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Cheers.
Feb 9, 2010, 10:02 am
#17
Join Date: Jul 1999
Programs: QF WP, AA EXP
Posts: 3,520
The impact is that the end of the world is near.
Feb 10, 2010, 8:55 am
#18
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Join Date: May 2001
Location: LAX; AA EXP, MM; HH Gold
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My Saturday night transcon upgrade for this weekend cleared overnight, almost 85 hours prior to departure. I had anticipated that upgrades would clear much closer to departure because of the continuing bad weather on the East coast, but was pleasantly surprised to get the email.
Feb 10, 2010, 10:33 am
#19
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: DFW
Programs: AS, BA, AA
Posts: 3,670
There are some other threads in the AA forum that give more details, but AA frequently releases upgrades one seat at a time. Couples will be skipped over in favor of singles in that case. You can split your PNR to allow yourselves to be upgraded one-at-a-time.
Feb 10, 2010, 11:57 am
#20
Join Date: Jan 2008
Programs: AA EXP, AMEX Platinum, Global Entry, TSA PreCheck
Posts: 312
I'm grateful some upgrades are held until the last moment. Very helpful for EP's booking flights well after the 100 hour mark 
I suspect chance is still the biggest player in the game though. Last week I was #3 on the list at the gate on ORD/DFW and my name was called in line to grab my new BP (whew!). Lucky for me someone had caught an earlier flight ...
I suspect chance is still the biggest player in the game though. Last week I was #3 on the list at the gate on ORD/DFW and my name was called in line to grab my new BP (whew!). Lucky for me someone had caught an earlier flight ...
Feb 11, 2010, 8:46 pm
#21
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Last December I was flying DFW-LAS on a Sunday evening. Flight was a 757 with 7s across the board and a whopping four people in F at my 24 Gold upgrade window. Upgrade didn't clear until six hours before the flight. The flight ended up leaving with four empties in F and ten non-revs.
Feb 11, 2010, 9:55 pm
#22
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: DFW, 3.5 MM, AA EXP, LIFETIME PLATINUM, MARRIOTT LIFETIME PLATINUM, STARWOOD AMBASSADOR 223 NIGHTS, AND LIFETIME GOLD, HILTON DIAMOND, NATIONAL EXECUTIVE ELITE
Posts: 5,847
I think it really depends on route/ day/ time.
As a general comment, it does seem like upgrades are clearing a lot later than they used to.
I do feel that AA could release some of the seats a bit earlier (i.e holding 17 of 30 seats on domestic until 24 hours out seems a bit much).
As a general comment, it does seem like upgrades are clearing a lot later than they used to.
I do feel that AA could release some of the seats a bit earlier (i.e holding 17 of 30 seats on domestic until 24 hours out seems a bit much).
Feb 11, 2010, 10:21 pm
#23
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: SBA
Programs: AA EXP || AA Lifetime Plat closing in on 4MM
Posts: 165
Historically, I have found the clearance mark to be all over the place and I fly mostly the harder-to-upgrade routes; LAX-JFK, NRT, LHR, DFW. It can vary wildly from 100+ hours out to the GA handing me a new BP as the plane is loading.
If they are holding seats longer, it does seem logical that they want to sell them if overall capacity has been cut.
If they are holding seats longer, it does seem logical that they want to sell them if overall capacity has been cut.
Feb 12, 2010, 8:06 am
#24
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: New York, NY, USA
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Posts: 4,378
I've found C inventory on the JFK-LHR route to be less available a couple of months out than in previous years, though this may also be a function of reduced frequency, and hence capacity, on that route.
Feb 12, 2010, 8:17 am
#25
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: New York City
Programs: American Airlines EXP 1.99 MM, Marriott Plat Premier, HH Diamond, IHG Plat Ambassador, UA 1K
Posts: 231
Is anyone else experiencing that they don't receive emails when flights are upgraded? For both of my segments this weekend I was upgraded and didn't know until I checked on aa.com.
Feb 12, 2010, 10:32 am
#26
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Dallas
Programs: AA EXP, DL Silver, Priority Club Platinum, Starwood Gold, National Emerald Club
Posts: 218
Ya I actually haven't been receiving upgrade notification emails on all my upgrades either. I've probably only received the UG email about 2/3 of the time. I have no idea why some of my UGed flts don't receive an email.
Feb 12, 2010, 3:17 pm
#27
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Orange County, CA
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Posts: 1,265
Despite all of its flaws, I am convinced AA has the best elite upgrade policy in the biz.
Feb 12, 2010, 6:25 pm
#28
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Feb 12, 2010, 8:03 pm
#29
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: HKG/YVR/NYC
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Maybe I'm having harder routes this year and even though I'm still getting the upgrades, it feels like upgrades are tougher to come by overall.
Feb 12, 2010, 8:14 pm
#30
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You don't get email notifications for eVIP upgrades. Once in a while you get a phone notification, but I haven't had one recently.
