mingw

End up only two people requested upgrade and I'm #1. So I'm sitting with my daughter

CaptainB

Can anyone speak to the amount of time it takes for the 4 500-mile certificates to hit your account upon passing the 10K mile barrier? I flew on Friday to get past the barrier, but nothing has hit my account yet. I fly tomorrow and am hoping to request an upgrade before then.

Thanks!

CB

lobo411

My last 4 posted 2 days after I passed the 10k mile mark.

mingw

I don't understand how the upgrade works. last time I got cleared at the gate, with only two people requested upgrade, I was #1 (as a gold member!)

I was not cleared at 24 hours. when I checked in online it did ask whether I want to stay on airport wait list. there were 5 empty first class seats when we took off. totally no idea why they didn't clear me at T-24.

I'm not complaining though as they didn't deduct my stickers!

Xero

For Gold, T-24 is the earliest possible time your upgrades can clear. AA tends to hold off longer if they think there is the slightest chance they can sell the F seat.

FlyMeToTheLooneyBin

You got cleared but no stickers were deducted? Lucky you.

As Xero said, T-24 is just the start of the window when they can upgrade you, not when they will.

PNGento

Fairly new to flying AA and am currently GLD. I've read the same info on AA site, but still am left wondering...I assume that once I hit GLD, it will then begin the 10K actual miles flown "clock"...or, will I get credit for prior miles?

living near shamu

They start accruing after you hit Gold.

Northshore Bob

I apologize if this is anwered elsewhere but I couldn't find it . . . I am currently Gold but will be Plat in two weeks after completing my next trip. I have to book a domestic flight for November and want to request upgrades using stickers. If I book now, will the system know to move up my upgrade window to 72 hours even if I book the trip as a Gold?

_kurt

Probably not, but go ahead and book. After you make PLT, call and ask them to update your reservations.

devlboy

Just lost my status, wife and child still Gold...any way to use my e500's to upgrade a V class ticket (they still show in my account)? -or use their e500's if I can't use mine? Seems to make little sense that I earned the upgrades but can't use them?!?

HNL

Are they traveling with you? You can be their companion, bu the stickers will come from their account - not yours. You can only use yours on a Y/B fare.

ts3

As a LT Gold, I never used stickers as on the routes I flew I tended to never got upgrades. I tend to use miles instead. Now that I'm LT PLT, I would like to make use of sticker upgrades more often vs miles+copay.

I've read the FAQ and Wiki, and there are frequent references to "EXP heavy routes." For a PLT, that would seem to be a deciding factor in getting upgrades. I usual book my flight 1-4 months in advance, so I know that helps, but I also book deep discount. I almost always connect at DFW but sometimes ORD. My first leg is always on Eagle as that is all we have here in Hooterville.

So, is there any info available on "EXP heavy routes"? Are there any tricks to monitoring upgrade availability? I have an Expert Flyer membership, and I'm wondering if I can use it to help make the decision to use miles instead of waiting for sticker upgrades.

FYI, my typical routes are SGF-DFW-SFO, SGF-DFW-TUS, SGF-DFW(ORD)-LGA.

Thanks!

Microwave

Of the routes you mention, DFW-SFO can be quite elite heavy, as can DFW/ORD-LGA, but even that is really dependent on time and day; Monday mornings may have more elites than kettles (or it may seem that way), whereas Wednesday afternoon may be much less so.

mingw

also on the way out, you would be through passenger and would get ranked higher than other PLT for second leg, increasing your chance. but if you book far advance enough probably doesn't matter.

the TUS flight you shouldn't have much problem. I got 60% change as a gold, on friday and sunday afternoon flights.