OLCI purchased upgrade offer to non-elite before elite upgrades processed
Aug 25, 2012, 4:36 am
#256
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: NYC
Posts: 6,434
From AA's site:
Q:Will the Confirmed Upgrade option (LBFU) reduce the number of premium class seats available to full-fare and AAdvantage elite customers?
A: No. Upgrades via Self Service will be offered only after we've determined that sufficient premium seats are available to accommodate customers who want to buy full-fare tickets and to AAdvantage elite members who wish to upgrade.
Q:Will the Confirmed Upgrade option (LBFU) reduce the number of premium class seats available to full-fare and AAdvantage elite customers?
A: No. Upgrades via Self Service will be offered only after we've determined that sufficient premium seats are available to accommodate customers who want to buy full-fare tickets and to AAdvantage elite members who wish to upgrade.
Something can happen more than once and still be rare.
Aug 25, 2012, 6:01 am
#257
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: DFW, DAL
Programs: AA Lifetime Plat, SWA A-list +
Posts: 1,007
Aug 25, 2012, 8:19 am
#258
Join Date: Nov 2008
Programs: AA EXP 3MM
Posts: 1,773
"...seem to work in almost every case." Really??
Unfortunately, if you have read this entire thread, you will see that is not, in truth, what has happened in more than one case. This forum is a very, very small part of the entire EXP base. It's shown up here like an iceberg. 2/3 or more of it is underwater/unreported. Is there a point in remaining loyal by flying 100,000+ miles a year if non status/non AA members are being upgraded ahead of EXP? I'm pretty sure that all the EXP's who've missed upgrades repeatedly in the last few months would be unhappy if there was even a hint that this was happening.
Unfortunately, if you have read this entire thread, you will see that is not, in truth, what has happened in more than one case. This forum is a very, very small part of the entire EXP base. It's shown up here like an iceberg. 2/3 or more of it is underwater/unreported. Is there a point in remaining loyal by flying 100,000+ miles a year if non status/non AA members are being upgraded ahead of EXP? I'm pretty sure that all the EXP's who've missed upgrades repeatedly in the last few months would be unhappy if there was even a hint that this was happening.
Aug 25, 2012, 9:18 am
#259
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: STL
Programs: AA 2MM, AS MVP Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 12,966
The problem here is that we don't have any idea in what percentage of cases their models work. We only know of this situation in a very limited proportion of the cases in which Flyertalk elites don't get upgrades - those cases where the Flyertalk elite is flying with a non-elite and is checking that non-elite in. In my entire experience as an AA elite, that has never been me - when flying with a companion, my companion has always been elite. Therefore, I have never seen this - but that doesn't mean that it hasn't been happening on flights I have been on, and it doesn't mean that I haven't been denied an upgrade because of this.
Aug 25, 2012, 10:05 am
#260
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: NYC
Posts: 6,434
The problem here is that we don't have any idea in what percentage of cases their models work. We only know of this situation in a very limited proportion of the cases in which Flyertalk elites don't get upgrades - those cases where the Flyertalk elite is flying with a non-elite and is checking that non-elite in. In my entire experience as an AA elite, that has never been me - when flying with a companion, my companion has always been elite. Therefore, I have never seen this - but that doesn't mean that it hasn't been happening on flights I have been on, and it doesn't mean that I haven't been denied an upgrade because of this.
Aug 25, 2012, 11:44 am
#261
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: Marriott Bonvoy Ambassador, AA EXP
Posts: 2,704
A few people here mentioned that they should offer paid upgrades to elites first then to everyone else and then have the upgrade list processed. That way if an elite really wants the upgrade, they can pay for it.
VX does this right now with its elite program.
VX does this right now with its elite program.
Aug 25, 2012, 1:45 pm
#262
Join Date: Nov 2008
Programs: AA EXP 3MM
Posts: 1,773
If AA were selling upgrades and depriving elites of upgrades, then I would definitely agree that what you propose would be desirable. However, since AA do not offer LFBUs unless they have "determined" (i.e., estimated) that all elites on the list will clear, it doesn't make a lot of sense to offer paid upgrade to those on the list. In fact, if they offer LFBUs to elites already on the waitlist, it would be an indication that they were selling upgrades with the intention of depriving complimentary/500-mile upgrades to elites (which they have stated in no uncertain terms in not the case).
Aug 25, 2012, 7:16 pm
#263
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: Marriott Bonvoy Ambassador, AA EXP
Posts: 2,704
If AA were selling upgrades and depriving elites of upgrades, then I would definitely agree that what you propose would be desirable. However, since AA do not offer LFBUs unless they have "determined" (i.e., estimated) that all elites on the list will clear, it doesn't make a lot of sense to offer paid upgrade to those on the list. In fact, if they offer LFBUs to elites already on the waitlist, it would be an indication that they were selling upgrades with the intention of depriving complimentary/500-mile upgrades to elites (which they have stated in no uncertain terms in not the case).
Aug 26, 2012, 12:48 pm
#264
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: NYC
Programs: Delta Platinum, former AA EXP, Hilton Diamond, Uber Diamond, National Executive
Posts: 249
My husband I are both EXP & on our last three flights we were the top of the upgrade list & denied upgrades even though at T-24 EF still showed several seats. I am not saying that LFBU's happened for sure on our flights, but I have to entertain that possibility after reading this entire thread. Yes, we bought the tickets months out & requested the upgrades then & at T-24 (exactly.)
Aug 26, 2012, 8:35 pm
#265
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: ABI/DFW
Programs: AA1MM;AA EXP;Hilton HHonors Gold; Hertz Gold; Emerald Club; Admirals Club;
Posts: 29
LGA/DFW
DFW/ANC
YVR/DFW (offered one- declined)
There have been more instances. These are our flights within the last five weeks.
DFW/ANC
YVR/DFW (offered one- declined)
There have been more instances. These are our flights within the last five weeks.
Aug 26, 2012, 8:46 pm
#266
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: ABI/DFW
Programs: AA1MM;AA EXP;Hilton HHonors Gold; Hertz Gold; Emerald Club; Admirals Club;
Posts: 29
Thank you for the link. I will start monitoring the travelingbetter forum as they seem to have more inside information on AA.
Last edited by wrfrhiannon; Aug 26, 2012 at 8:50 pm Reason: clarification
Sep 4, 2012, 6:22 am
#267
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: jfk area
Programs: AA platinum; 2MM AA, Delta Diamond, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 10,291
The OP was going to contact CR and report back. Has his report gotten lost?
[So far there are few instances reported of paid upgrades (by non elites) trumping exp's (for free)--so I guess we should assume that this is not AA's new policy.]
[PS: being offered an international upgrade (for a fee) at the check-in terminal at T-3 hours at jfk (which happened to me a 18 months ago), while there was an EVIP = SWU upgrade list in place is a different issue(?)]
[So far there are few instances reported of paid upgrades (by non elites) trumping exp's (for free)--so I guess we should assume that this is not AA's new policy.]
[PS: being offered an international upgrade (for a fee) at the check-in terminal at T-3 hours at jfk (which happened to me a 18 months ago), while there was an EVIP = SWU upgrade list in place is a different issue(?)]
Last edited by nrr; Sep 4, 2012 at 6:30 am
Oct 8, 2012, 8:39 am
#268
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 447
EXP vs LBU UG
30 minutes prior to boarding, I was told I was #1 on the UG list for F for flight 712 from DFW to LGA, and that the flight was 15/16 sold, so as long as someone didn't jump the queue, I'd be upgraded... Upon return, I was told that a kiosk upgrade grabbed the last seat. These were the gate agent's words. I understand if a full F seat is purchased, but in what reality did I start losing upgrades to LBUs as an Executive Platinum?
I'm aware that any number of situations could have occurred, including the gate agent justnot asaying the right thing, but she explicitly mentioned a kiosk upgrade for the last seat.
I'm aware that any number of situations could have occurred, including the gate agent justnot asaying the right thing, but she explicitly mentioned a kiosk upgrade for the last seat.
Oct 8, 2012, 8:42 am
#269
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: SJC
Programs: AA EXP, BA Silver, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton diamond, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 33,535
Existing thread on the topic
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...processed.html
(Search term {"upgrade"})
This is the first time I've seen an explicit admission of this. Certainly disconcerting. I assume that you've already written AA to inquire about this. Please do report back since there seems no way to easily weasel on this one.
Cheers.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...processed.html
(Search term {"upgrade"})
This is the first time I've seen an explicit admission of this. Certainly disconcerting. I assume that you've already written AA to inquire about this. Please do report back since there seems no way to easily weasel on this one.
Cheers.
Oct 8, 2012, 9:20 am
#270
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 447
Thanks brp.
Was having a hell of a time getting search to work on my phone's browser.
AA twitter responded that it was an AAirpass member, but the open seat is occupied by a girl no more than 25. Before you pounce me, FT, I'm not attempting to make any inferences from this, as seats change all the time, and her perceived age is in no way indicative of anything - just find it odd.
Would AAirpass members come through similarly to paid F?
Was having a hell of a time getting search to work on my phone's browser.
AA twitter responded that it was an AAirpass member, but the open seat is occupied by a girl no more than 25. Before you pounce me, FT, I'm not attempting to make any inferences from this, as seats change all the time, and her perceived age is in no way indicative of anything - just find it odd.
Would AAirpass members come through similarly to paid F?