2015 Chances of Upgrade Clearing and Upgrade Availability Discussion (consolidated)
Sep 15, 2015, 11:33 am
#826
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: NYC, ORD
Programs: AA EXP, AS 75K, SPG Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 280
Hi
Does anyone have any input on my upgrade from JFK - MXP this Friday (AA 198) clearing from Economy to Business.
I'm EXP, requested points + pay upgrade however Business if FULL with 8 FREE seats in First at the moment.
Will paid J get upgraded to F allowing upgrades from Economy to Business?
Thanks
Does anyone have any input on my upgrade from JFK - MXP this Friday (AA 198) clearing from Economy to Business.
I'm EXP, requested points + pay upgrade however Business if FULL with 8 FREE seats in First at the moment.
Will paid J get upgraded to F allowing upgrades from Economy to Business?
Thanks
If you were to make a same-day change (which I believe is now allowed for international flights), you might be able to route through MIA, which shows J4 Y6, considerably improving your chances. I would wait until T-24 of the MIA flight - when the agents can see the upgrade list -to make that change. You would also have to depart NY no later than 8 hours earlier than your original flight to be able to connect through MIA.
Sep 15, 2015, 11:51 am
#827
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 106
Thanks! Unfortunately I can't get to MIA earlier. Can't leave work up until the minute I need to for JFK.
Thanks - appreciate you checking for me and I'll cross my fingers anyway.
Thanks - appreciate you checking for me and I'll cross my fingers anyway.
Sep 15, 2015, 12:05 pm
#828
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 47
Two scenarios for a possible J upgrade with miles/co-pay on upcoming MIA to LHR and MAN to MIA return. Thoughts on chances please. Thank you very much for the help.
MIA to LHR #38 on 9/30 @9:20pm
Booked economy, paid for MCE when there was 2/3 of MCE still open. 1/3 open at the moment. 33 open J seats at the moment, 19 reserved.
&
LHR to MIA (MAN to LHR is eco and only 25 min.) #39 on 10/10 @3pm
Booked economy, paid for MCE when there was 2/3 of MCE open. 1/3 open at the moment. 15 open J seats at the moment, 37 reserved.
If return home scenario is 50/50 due to fewer avail seats than the outgoing, there is also a MAN - Chicago - MIA option available with 20 open J seats at the moment, 9 reserved. This is on the updated 767. I don't think it has many MCE seats, but i'm not sure.
Thanks !
MIA to LHR #38 on 9/30 @9:20pm
Booked economy, paid for MCE when there was 2/3 of MCE still open. 1/3 open at the moment. 33 open J seats at the moment, 19 reserved.
&
LHR to MIA (MAN to LHR is eco and only 25 min.) #39 on 10/10 @3pm
Booked economy, paid for MCE when there was 2/3 of MCE open. 1/3 open at the moment. 15 open J seats at the moment, 37 reserved.
If return home scenario is 50/50 due to fewer avail seats than the outgoing, there is also a MAN - Chicago - MIA option available with 20 open J seats at the moment, 9 reserved. This is on the updated 767. I don't think it has many MCE seats, but i'm not sure.
Thanks !
Sep 16, 2015, 10:13 pm
#829
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: AUS
Programs: AA Exec Platinum/MM, DL Gold/MM, Hilton Diamond, Accor Platinum, Hertz Presidents Circle
Posts: 6,978
Hi
Does anyone have any input on my upgrade from JFK - MXP this Friday (AA 198) clearing from Economy to Business.
I'm EXP, requested points + pay upgrade however Business if FULL with 8 FREE seats in First at the moment.
Will paid J get upgraded to F allowing upgrades from Economy to Business?
Thanks
Does anyone have any input on my upgrade from JFK - MXP this Friday (AA 198) clearing from Economy to Business.
I'm EXP, requested points + pay upgrade however Business if FULL with 8 FREE seats in First at the moment.
Will paid J get upgraded to F allowing upgrades from Economy to Business?
Thanks
Sep 16, 2015, 10:20 pm
#830
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: AUS
Programs: AA Exec Platinum/MM, DL Gold/MM, Hilton Diamond, Accor Platinum, Hertz Presidents Circle
Posts: 6,978
You must be flying Podunk-Tulsa routes all the time.
If you want to know what an elite-heavy flight is fly BOS-LAX AA147. The F cabin is always full, I've never been upgraded there as an EXP even on Saturday afternoon despite buying a ticket 2-3 months in advance.
The last time I wasn't upgraded even on LAX-BOS AA1076 purchased 2 months before the departure. As usual, I was #1 on the upgrade list, little difference if you end up flying in Y.
If you want to know what an elite-heavy flight is fly BOS-LAX AA147. The F cabin is always full, I've never been upgraded there as an EXP even on Saturday afternoon despite buying a ticket 2-3 months in advance.
The last time I wasn't upgraded even on LAX-BOS AA1076 purchased 2 months before the departure. As usual, I was #1 on the upgrade list, little difference if you end up flying in Y.
If I had your experience I'd probably think about using miles+copay occasionally or connecting at DFW.
Sep 17, 2015, 2:06 am
#831
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: ORD
Programs: status free since 2017
Posts: 2,188
If I'm not mistaken all North America (including Central America) is eligible for EXP and 500-mile upgrades. PTY will be eligible, but BOG will not. It would be nice if they included northern SA as eligible…
I'm a Plat on the 6 AM BNA-DFW on Saturday, connecting to LAX at 9:15. Both these flights just went from more than F7 to F2 last night/this morning. Concerned about my chances, though the next two flights to LAX (which still allow me enough time to connect in LAX) are F6 and F8 right now. I'm stressing out for sure. Any thoughts, consolations or warnings?
I'm a Plat on the 6 AM BNA-DFW on Saturday, connecting to LAX at 9:15. Both these flights just went from more than F7 to F2 last night/this morning. Concerned about my chances, though the next two flights to LAX (which still allow me enough time to connect in LAX) are F6 and F8 right now. I'm stressing out for sure. Any thoughts, consolations or warnings?
Sep 17, 2015, 10:16 am
#832
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: BOS, LAX
Programs: AA Gold, HH Diamond
Posts: 804
You're right, the problem is the paid F demand. AA had a mix of 757s and 737s on this route only 1.5 years ago. Now the 757s are gone, but the number of daily flights went up from 4 to 5.
Sep 25, 2015, 10:13 am
#833
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: New York / Shanghai / Taipei
Posts: 119
Got upgraded a few mins ago @ T-100 for Tuesday afternoon flight LGA-MIA. -- I'm looking at a much earlier flight, pretty empty load for the early bird ones - should I SDC and try to shoot for upgrade through airport control?
Sep 25, 2015, 10:19 am
#834
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2012
Location: MCO
Programs: AA, B6, DL, EK, EY, QR, SQ, UA, Amex Plat, Marriott Tit, HHonors Gold
Posts: 12,809
If you want to switch to one of the earlier flights and you can SDC, what would be the point of waiting for it to go to airport control to upgrade?
Sep 25, 2015, 12:30 pm
#836
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: ORD
Programs: status free since 2017
Posts: 2,188
Sep 25, 2015, 2:18 pm
#837
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: AUS
Programs: AA Exec Platinum/MM, DL Gold/MM, Hilton Diamond, Accor Platinum, Hertz Presidents Circle
Posts: 6,978
Yes. You go back to Y and get in the queue for the remaining available upgrades on the new flight. I would assume your timestamp resets but I'm not positive about that,
If the new flight is lightly loaded in F the new upgrade might confirm shortly after you switch.
If the new flight is lightly loaded in F the new upgrade might confirm shortly after you switch.
Sep 25, 2015, 3:02 pm
#838
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: ORD
Programs: status free since 2017
Posts: 2,188
Original timestamp stays.
New question -
Do I need to have SWU in inventory for being added to wait list? Planning to book DFW-HKG for Dec and Feb but I am one SWU short right now. However, I will clear EXP and will have required number well before it clears (since this route clears T-24hrs).
Last edited by carsnoceans; Sep 25, 2015 at 3:13 pm Reason: 1 more question
Sep 26, 2015, 10:51 am
#839
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2012
Location: MCO
Programs: AA, B6, DL, EK, EY, QR, SQ, UA, Amex Plat, Marriott Tit, HHonors Gold
Posts: 12,809
Yes, though usually the AAgent will be able to tell you if they can process the upgrade immediately or not for the new flight. For example, if there is X space available on the new flight, they can usually SDC you, then immediately upgrade you afterward. At least, this used to be my experience. With all the merger miscues this may no longer be possible. Who knows...
Sep 27, 2015, 1:15 pm
#840
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: New Orleans (MSY)
Programs: AA EXP, IHG PLT, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Explorist, Amtrak, WN
Posts: 2,617
Missed DFW-AUS as a thru pax requesting a few days shy of one month out. Second upgrade ever missed as an EXP (first was JFK-MIA).
At least there was a full beverage service on the quick flight down to Austin!
At least there was a full beverage service on the quick flight down to Austin!