Science Goy

Why would one do this? The worst-case scenario is that the SWU is deducted at some point in the future; the best case is that it's never deducted and the upgrade is ultimately free. The OP's optimal strategy is to not say anything to AA.

Flyer_70

We're going to have to disagree on this. After dealing with another type of SWU mess, I tend to like my stuff in order.

gemac

Because they may not get around to deducting it until next year. If the OP is going to have plenty of SWUs this year, and ends up burning his last one on a domestic flight, he could be disgruntled if they deduct a SWU in April of next year, a SWU that doesn't expire until Feb. 28, 2014.

Alex_I

- Since your friend was trying to clear eVIP at LHR, she would be the subject to additional collection of the British air passenger duty (APD) which is not very cheap after recent increases. In my personal experience, date agents don't like to do that ... because they may not know the exact procedure. Perhaps, they simply gave an old lady a break and op-up her to J at the last moment.

etsmyers

So wait, you guys have to pay taxes on your upgrades?

jordyn

If AA made a mistake and deducted an extra SWU, I'd certainly call and try to get them to fix it. Using the golden rule, if they make a mistake in my favor, I'd alert them to this error as well. I find a good chunk of the time when I alert merchants to errors in my favor, they tell me not to worry about it--when they don't, all I end up doing is paying the proper amount.

anabolism

Welcome to FT, GEO22Olsen! There are a few possibilities, some of which have been discussed already. Another is that the flight was oversold, and assuming this was an AA 3-class 777, the gate agents rolled J to F to clear space in J, rolled Y to J to clear the oversold. In cases like that, especially where time is short, the gate agents may book people into F or J just to be quick. So, it's possible your friend didn't steal anyone's upgrade, but rather those ahead of her were cleared. I've been on LHR-LAX flights where a couple hours ahead F was half or more empty, and towards the end of boarding it filled up completely, presumably due to roll-forwards to clear the oversold. When this happens, more than 2 people often get rolled from Y to J, meaning your friend may have been upgraded in turn, not out of order.

Wow -- so you also got full F points and miles? Have they done anything like that in the past few years? (I recall a few years back a big change restricted AC agents' ability to process upgrades.)

Not in general, no, but on flights originating in the U.K., there are higher taxes when traveling in a premium cabin. This is originating only, so connections are exempt, but when it applies it can be fairly steep. Last time I did it, if I recall it was 80 GBP.

aamilesslave

When the upgrade occurs from a departure location that charges additional taxes for the higher class of service - e.g. for Y to J upgrades from the UK (ADP) or from France (French Solidarity Tax).

saint

I agree. I'm not saying you shouldn't just wait and see. Maybe they will never catch it. But like Flyer_70, I had planned to use one of my SWU on a really special trip and ended up short one for it as they unexpectedly pulled it out.

I guess it just depends on your circumstances. But all I know was it was really inconvenient for me coming up short when I needed it. Of course if you keep in the back of your mind that possibility, I guess it wouldn't hurt to wait and see.