Shift in upgrade priority?
Nov 17, 2011, 8:08 pm
#1
In memoriam
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2001
Location: La Jolla, CA, USA
Posts: 765
Shift in upgrade priority?
[N.B. There must have been a lot of blank stares over at the Air Canada forum when I posted this there in error. One of the kind souls there showed me my error. I hope I do better this time.]
I don't know if this has been covered recently, but I had an odd experience yesterday that makes me think my knowledge may be a bit dated. I’ve been under the assumption that the time of request for upgrade (essentially when tickets are purchased) is the determining factor for your place in line, subject to elite status. I purchased a ticket seven months ago for an RIC-SAN itinerary through DFW.
My wife and I are both Platinum. I believe I purchased my ticket before my wife's (separate locator), but I'm not sure. My upgrade for RIC-DFW came in pretty close to the 72 hour period. There were plenty of open F seats, and my wife got her RIC-DFW upgrade the next day or so. I didn't pay much attention about checking in at 24 hours before our flights, but I did do it about 15 hours before, because I wanted to be sure to check the box to be on the "gate list" for the DFW-SAN segment. (The seating chart showed four F seats not reserved.) I had assumed my position would be governed by the same principles that applied before going on the gate list.
Long story short, I may have checked in my wife first (I'm not sure), but when we got to DFW she was #3 and I was #4 on the gate upgrade list which surprised me because I had been upgraded for the first segment before her, and now she was ahead of me in the queue. (She wound up getting the last seat, and I settled for the exit row.) So my question is simply: does the priority from buying 7 months in advance disappear when you're placed on the gate list? I recall that we used to scramble to be the first on the gate list, but I thought that all changed a couple of years ago. From what happened yesterday, I can see that I don't understand the rules.
Anyone up on this? Thanks.
I don't know if this has been covered recently, but I had an odd experience yesterday that makes me think my knowledge may be a bit dated. I’ve been under the assumption that the time of request for upgrade (essentially when tickets are purchased) is the determining factor for your place in line, subject to elite status. I purchased a ticket seven months ago for an RIC-SAN itinerary through DFW.
My wife and I are both Platinum. I believe I purchased my ticket before my wife's (separate locator), but I'm not sure. My upgrade for RIC-DFW came in pretty close to the 72 hour period. There were plenty of open F seats, and my wife got her RIC-DFW upgrade the next day or so. I didn't pay much attention about checking in at 24 hours before our flights, but I did do it about 15 hours before, because I wanted to be sure to check the box to be on the "gate list" for the DFW-SAN segment. (The seating chart showed four F seats not reserved.) I had assumed my position would be governed by the same principles that applied before going on the gate list.
Long story short, I may have checked in my wife first (I'm not sure), but when we got to DFW she was #3 and I was #4 on the gate upgrade list which surprised me because I had been upgraded for the first segment before her, and now she was ahead of me in the queue. (She wound up getting the last seat, and I settled for the exit row.) So my question is simply: does the priority from buying 7 months in advance disappear when you're placed on the gate list? I recall that we used to scramble to be the first on the gate list, but I thought that all changed a couple of years ago. From what happened yesterday, I can see that I don't understand the rules.
Anyone up on this? Thanks.
Nov 17, 2011, 8:16 pm
#2
Join Date: May 2006
Programs: AA Plat
Posts: 126
Don't know about your specific question, but I do know that when I was listed for an upgrade with my SO, the GA passed us over and gave the upgrade to someone lower on the list thinking my SO and I wouldn't want to split up (for the flight, that is).
It's possible that when two passengers are tied together on an upgrade that the two appear in alphabetical order. Just a guess and not related to my anecdote.
It's possible that when two passengers are tied together on an upgrade that the two appear in alphabetical order. Just a guess and not related to my anecdote.
Nov 17, 2011, 8:19 pm
#3
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Las Vegas
Programs: DL Platinum, AA Lifetime Gold, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Platinum, Radisson Premium
Posts: 6,638
When you buy a ticket 7 months in advance, chances are there are schedule changes that will occur prior to departure. These changes may include flight time, flight number, or routing.
When this occurs, despite the fact that sometimes the upgrade box may still say "Requested"--a lot of times the upgrade request is "lost" and you have to call an AAgent to get it reinstated. Obviously, this can be misleading if the check box is still there the whole time.
It is possible that your upgrade request was lost but your wife's was not. So, what could have happened was your wife checked in with the original date of purchase, and your upgrade priority was "newer" because it may have gotten lost.
This is the only thing I can really think of. Any time there's a schedule change regardless of what it shows online I always call in to make sure.
Sorry about that!
When this occurs, despite the fact that sometimes the upgrade box may still say "Requested"--a lot of times the upgrade request is "lost" and you have to call an AAgent to get it reinstated. Obviously, this can be misleading if the check box is still there the whole time.
It is possible that your upgrade request was lost but your wife's was not. So, what could have happened was your wife checked in with the original date of purchase, and your upgrade priority was "newer" because it may have gotten lost.
This is the only thing I can really think of. Any time there's a schedule change regardless of what it shows online I always call in to make sure.
Sorry about that!
Nov 17, 2011, 8:33 pm
#4
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,905
When you buy a ticket 7 months in advance, chances are there are schedule changes that will occur prior to departure. These changes may include flight time, flight number, or routing.
When this occurs, despite the fact that sometimes the upgrade box may still say "Requested"--a lot of times the upgrade request is "lost" and you have to call an AAgent to get it reinstated. Obviously, this can be misleading if the check box is still there the whole time.
It is possible that your upgrade request was lost but your wife's was not. So, what could have happened was your wife checked in with the original date of purchase, and your upgrade priority was "newer" because it may have gotten lost.
This is the only thing I can really think of. Any time there's a schedule change regardless of what it shows online I always call in to make sure.
Sorry about that!
When this occurs, despite the fact that sometimes the upgrade box may still say "Requested"--a lot of times the upgrade request is "lost" and you have to call an AAgent to get it reinstated. Obviously, this can be misleading if the check box is still there the whole time.
It is possible that your upgrade request was lost but your wife's was not. So, what could have happened was your wife checked in with the original date of purchase, and your upgrade priority was "newer" because it may have gotten lost.
This is the only thing I can really think of. Any time there's a schedule change regardless of what it shows online I always call in to make sure.
Sorry about that!
Nov 17, 2011, 8:38 pm
#5
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: Marriott Bonvoy Ambassador, AA EXP
Posts: 2,704
Yes, normally the date of request should carry over. The system unfortunately does quirk off, so it's a good idea to call AA up and verify.
Nov 17, 2011, 9:53 pm
#6
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: South Park, Metropolis
Programs: AA LT PLT 3MM, Hilton/Marriott/SPG/Club Carlson GLD, IHG PLT
Posts: 4,608
I disagree with this statement.
Nov 17, 2011, 9:58 pm
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2006
Programs: Fabulous on one of the US carriers..
Posts: 11,878
It's all very strange. I added myself (at the time - plt) and my hubby (nothing) to a waitlist once (at the airport) - he showed up ahead of me. Think it was because he was added first and then took my status? Not sure.. but was irritating at the time (I even posted about it here). Regardless, we were both up'd so all was good.
Nov 17, 2011, 10:07 pm
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: SJC
Programs: AA EXP, BA Silver, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton diamond, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 33,533
Cheers.
Nov 18, 2011, 8:07 am
#9
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Frisco, TX
Programs: HHonors - Diamond; IHG - Gold; Club Carlson - Gold; Marriott - Silver; AA - Platinum
Posts: 48
I was told that if you didn't get your upgrade in advance of check-in, then the priority list for upgrades is based on check-in time. So it helps if you are connecting to that flight as you have the ability to check-in sooner than somebody just taking that particular flight.
Nov 18, 2011, 8:15 am
#10
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Programs: AA 1.5 MM Exec Plat, WN A-List, DL Silver, UA nonrev
Posts: 2,593
I was told that if you didn't get your upgrade in advance of check-in, then the priority list for upgrades is based on check-in time. So it helps if you are connecting to that flight as you have the ability to check-in sooner than somebody just taking that particular flight.
For "sticker" (500 mile electronic) upgrades, it's based on original request date within elite tier.
All else being equal, through/connecting passengers trump originating passengers.
Nov 18, 2011, 8:35 am
#11
Join Date: Jul 2008
Programs: AA: Former CK (LT PLT), MB: PE (LT Gold)
Posts: 503
