500-mile upgrade priority now based on fare purchased? [No change - Y/B priority]
Mar 7, 2011, 3:28 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: London UK
Programs: BAEC Silver, IHG Diamond Ambassador
Posts: 2,044
500-mile upgrade priority now based on fare purchased? [No change - Y/B priority]
Just been checking out the new 2011 Platinum guide here. In the section on 500-mile upgrades, the wording has changed and now states:
"Priority within your elite-status level will be determined based on the fare purchased and the date and time your upgrade was initially requested."
In the 2010 guide it only mentions date and time the upgrade was requested. This is a major shift in policy and, as someone who always buys deep discount coach, not one I welcome
"Priority within your elite-status level will be determined based on the fare purchased and the date and time your upgrade was initially requested."
In the 2010 guide it only mentions date and time the upgrade was requested. This is a major shift in policy and, as someone who always buys deep discount coach, not one I welcome
Mar 7, 2011, 3:41 pm
#2
Join Date: Nov 2010
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 446
I thought it was always the case that people who buy full fare jump to the top of the list? 
Mar 7, 2011, 3:47 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: London UK
Programs: BAEC Silver, IHG Diamond Ambassador
Posts: 2,044
This wording has never appeared in the PLT guide before so not sure if it's a new policy or not
Mar 7, 2011, 4:06 pm
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2004
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The last couple of posts from this thread
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...y-email-4.html
make reference to the Y/B aspect.
Cheers.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...y-email-4.html
make reference to the Y/B aspect.
Cheers.
Mar 7, 2011, 4:06 pm
#5
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: los angeles, calif.
Programs: Alaska Airlines Gold MVP
Posts: 7,170
Nothing has changed. Y/B gets priority; then everything else.
Mar 7, 2011, 4:16 pm
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: London UK
Programs: BAEC Silver, IHG Diamond Ambassador
Posts: 2,044
The last couple of posts from this thread
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...y-email-4.html
make reference to the Y/B aspect.
Cheers.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...y-email-4.html
make reference to the Y/B aspect.
Cheers.
(Mods alerted to request a title change for the thread to prevent any nasty surprises
)
Last edited by britenbsas; Mar 8, 2011 at 1:58 am
Mar 10, 2011, 12:30 pm
#7
Moderator: New York City and FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2007
Programs: AA PLT, Natl EC
Posts: 10,855
As there is no change and this is also covered in the FAQ, we'll close this thread and ask for any relevant discussion to continue in the thread provided upthread by brp.
/Moderator
• How does the upgrade waitlist work?
500-Mile electronic / sticker upgrades may clear anytime between the opening of the relevant upgrade window (depending on status) and the time the gate agent closes the aircraft door. Note that upgrades only clear when appropriate inventory is made available and elites do not necessarily clear at their upgrade window. Thus, you will often find yourself at the gate looking at the upgrade waitlist on the monitor. Upgrade priority is based on:
Elites requesting a companion upgrade will have their status applied to both passengers, but will, by default, only clear if both upgrades become available simultaneously, and may be passed over if only one upgrade inventory slot becomes available. This ‘no-split’ designation can be removed manually by calling AA Reservations, however, this also removes the linking of the elite member’s status to the companion.
Award and systemwide upgrades come from distinct inventory compared to 500-mile electronic upgrades, and may clear at any time between the original request and the time when the gate agent closes the aircraft door. For award and systemwide upgrades, you must ask to be added to the upgrade waitlist manually at the airport and, at present, it is believed that check-in time, rather than time of request, does still impact waitlist priority for these upgrade instruments. There is no set priority given to the different upgrade instruments, although some foreign stations have been reported to favor Award Upgrades over systemwide upgrades and domestic gate agents may favor 500-mile electronic upgrades over award and systemwide upgrades for expediency as the former does not require reticketing.
Wiki: Upgrade: Waitlists | PALL List | Inventory Classes
AA.com: 500-mile Electronic and EXP upgrades | EXP Upgrade Info | PLT Upgrade Info | GLD Upgrade Info
FT: Companion upgrades - linking and splitting of elite status and PNRs (consolidated)
FT: Connecting passengers trump originating passengers on upgrade waitlist
FT: Impact of Y & B Fares on EXP and 500-mile Electronic / Sticker Upgrade Priority
FT: Upgrade waitlist info only available at airport, not by phone or web
FT: Can I upgrade from standby? (consolidated)
500-Mile electronic / sticker upgrades may clear anytime between the opening of the relevant upgrade window (depending on status) and the time the gate agent closes the aircraft door. Note that upgrades only clear when appropriate inventory is made available and elites do not necessarily clear at their upgrade window. Thus, you will often find yourself at the gate looking at the upgrade waitlist on the monitor. Upgrade priority is based on:
1) Elite status – EXP, PLT, GLD, non-status AAdvantage
2) Connecting status – passengers connecting from another flight receive higher priority
3) Fare class – passengers traveling on full Y/B fares receive higher priority over other fares
4) Time of upgrade request – when you click the ‘Request Upgrade’ box on AA.com
Note that check-in time no longer affects 500-mile electronic / sticker upgrade priority, although it does still impact standby priority.2) Connecting status – passengers connecting from another flight receive higher priority
3) Fare class – passengers traveling on full Y/B fares receive higher priority over other fares
4) Time of upgrade request – when you click the ‘Request Upgrade’ box on AA.com
Elites requesting a companion upgrade will have their status applied to both passengers, but will, by default, only clear if both upgrades become available simultaneously, and may be passed over if only one upgrade inventory slot becomes available. This ‘no-split’ designation can be removed manually by calling AA Reservations, however, this also removes the linking of the elite member’s status to the companion.
Award and systemwide upgrades come from distinct inventory compared to 500-mile electronic upgrades, and may clear at any time between the original request and the time when the gate agent closes the aircraft door. For award and systemwide upgrades, you must ask to be added to the upgrade waitlist manually at the airport and, at present, it is believed that check-in time, rather than time of request, does still impact waitlist priority for these upgrade instruments. There is no set priority given to the different upgrade instruments, although some foreign stations have been reported to favor Award Upgrades over systemwide upgrades and domestic gate agents may favor 500-mile electronic upgrades over award and systemwide upgrades for expediency as the former does not require reticketing.
Wiki: Upgrade: Waitlists | PALL List | Inventory Classes
AA.com: 500-mile Electronic and EXP upgrades | EXP Upgrade Info | PLT Upgrade Info | GLD Upgrade Info
FT: Companion upgrades - linking and splitting of elite status and PNRs (consolidated)
FT: Connecting passengers trump originating passengers on upgrade waitlist
FT: Impact of Y & B Fares on EXP and 500-mile Electronic / Sticker Upgrade Priority
FT: Upgrade waitlist info only available at airport, not by phone or web
FT: Can I upgrade from standby? (consolidated)