AA "Sticker" / 500-mile & EXP "UDU" Complimentary Upgrade Policy / FAQ
Originally Posted by JY1024
(Post 27704755)
We'll merge this with our 500-mile upgrade thread for further discussion. Thank. /Moderator
now i remember why i stopped using this terrible site -- it's completely useless because of the thread nazis that merge every question into a 100-page threads that nobody reads |
Posts exploring the chances of upgrading have been moved to https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/amer...solidated.html.
JDiver, Moderator |
Originally Posted by JDiver
(Post 29249803)
Posts exploring the chances of upgrading have been moved to https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/amer...solidated.html.
JDiver, Moderator |
Originally Posted by platbrownguy
(Post 29113920)
In my experience, this stuff only happens when the non-elite passenger tries to OLCI before I do. The past half-dozen times I've upgraded a non-elite (always on a separate PNR that I called to have linked -- and all of which have worked/cleared at T-100), I made sure to OLCI myself first and then to OLCI my companion. No trouble at all, and the stickers have later come out of my account as expected. In the past the other passenger had tried to OLCI before me and gotten the "please buy stickers" message you describe.
On the return, no advance upgrade; I asked at the check-in counter (after prior checkin via app) to make sure we had the same priority (we were showing up on the upgrade list well separated). It took him quite a long time to manage it (at least 10 min) but eventually worked out. Had to ask at gate for transcon segment for them to process the upgrade list. In this case, upgrades were deducted from my account. I wonder if the separate check in, lower status companion, always will work when pre-upgraded? I've only about 14 e500 left, but she has like 90. |
Originally Posted by hurnik
(Post 29250195)
Thanks but that thread is closed/locked.
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/amer...solidated.html |
Just an odd observation (maybe add to the Wiki, but not sure if it's relevant there):
Last night purchased (2) 500 mile upgrade stickers. Checked my account this morning, shows I have 2 on file. Purchased 4 more this morning. 4 hours later, still only shows 2 on file. (yes, the website says *at least 2 hours* for processing). Anyway, the "oddity" If I try to use the aa.com iOS app, it will not let me check in unless I purchase 4 upgrades (currently 1 upgrade confirmed other two are "requested" theoretical total would be 6 stickers I need). If I use the online website, then it happily lets me check-in and wait-lists me for the other 2 segments. Not sure if this is WAD, but if it is, perhaps this info is useful in the Wiki? (can't check-in online with the app unless your account shows X amount of sticker upgrades, but the website will let you)? |
UDU & SDC
Not sure exactly where to post this, please move if needed.
I used SDC today on ord/clt Since I came early given the weather. Club could not confirm so I walk to the gate. Easily clear into 11A ( 1 of 2 on list and cabin is y7) gate agent and a premium services agent waiting in a CK both claimed I couldn't be put on the FC upgrade list since it's The Same list and you can't double upgrade. Also said you have to be confirmed to get on the upgrade list which I understand but having a boarding pass W/ a seat should mean confirmed, correct? didn't really fight it just boarded but now I am curious as to the policy. And btw I was upgraded on the 6pm flight (my original) in to R class. |
Originally Posted by nismo240ssx
(Post 29327303)
Not sure exactly where to post this, please move if needed.
I used SDC today on ord/clt Since I came early given the weather. Club could not confirm so I walk to the gate. Easily clear into 11A ( 1 of 2 on list and cabin is y7) gate agent and a premium services agent waiting in a CK both claimed I couldn't be put on the FC upgrade list since it's The Same list and you can't double upgrade. Also said you have to be confirmed to get on the upgrade list which I understand but having a boarding pass W/ a seat should mean confirmed, correct? didn't really fight it just boarded but now I am curious as to the policy. And btw I was upgraded on the 6pm flight (my original) in to R class. |
Originally Posted by Antarius
(Post 29226842)
As long as you hold status, you earn stickers.. so say you are PLT now that expires 1/31/2018 and drop to no status, you'd still accumulate stickers till 1/31/2018 as you are a PLT till then.
|
Originally Posted by Panamajon513
(Post 29353304)
What are your thoughts on getting a pro-rata amount of stickers based on earned miles? I won't have 12,500 at end of 1/31/18 but I will have 9,267 or just under 75% ... any chance they will give me 3 vouchers if I ask after Jan 31? Speculation, of course.
|
Originally Posted by Panamajon513
(Post 29353304)
What are your thoughts on getting a pro-rata amount of stickers based on earned miles? I won't have 12,500 at end of 1/31/18 but I will have 9,267 or just under 75% ... any chance they will give me 3 vouchers if I ask after Jan 31? Speculation, of course.
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/amer...15-2016-a.html I cannot remember whether this did or did not change for 2017 and haven't found a thread on it for last year. Perhaps others with better memories or search skills can provide that update. |
Originally Posted by Panamajon513
(Post 29353304)
What are your thoughts on getting a pro-rata amount of stickers based on earned miles? I won't have 12,500 at end of 1/31/18 but I will have 9,267 or just under 75% ... any chance they will give me 3 vouchers if I ask after Jan 31? Speculation, of course.
|
Uggh. I didn't know that the program year was changing this year. I was about 2,500 EQMs away from my next set of stickers but I just had my clock reset. Has anyone had any luck after the change in the program year at getting pro rated stickers for the prior year or do you need to call before the changeover?
|
So I don’t normally buy these but was one short. I made the purchase through the AA app four days ago. I got a receipt by email. None of my AA apps show an increased number of upgrades. The only place I see the increased number is one place on aa.com. Even there, there are still some places that show the lower number. The only remark I saw was about needing at least 48 hours to allow the upgrade to credit. Should I contact AA at this point since none of my apps show the correct number? I have also tried logging out of the app and back in. |
Originally Posted by lkar
(Post 29373372)
Uggh. I didn't know that the program year was changing this year. I was about 2,500 EQMs away from my next set of stickers but I just had my clock reset. Has anyone had any luck after the change in the program year at getting pro rated stickers for the prior year or do you need to call before the changeover?
|
Originally Posted by LPCJr
(Post 29385580)
So I don’t normally buy these but was one short. I made the purchase through the AA app four days ago. I got a receipt by email. None of my AA apps show an increased number of upgrades. The only place I see the increased number is one place on aa.com. Even there, there are still some places that show the lower number. The only remark I saw was about needing at least 48 hours to allow the upgrade to credit. Should I contact AA at this point since none of my apps show the correct number? I have also tried logging out of the app and back in. |
Originally Posted by AAdamE
(Post 29386992)
I called just now and got 3. I had flown 1090 EQMs, they initially gave me two, but saw that some folks got 3 or 4 on here and said that my colleague was offered more and they gave me one more. I'm so glad I saw this thread, I would have ended up with 0.
|
Question along the same line. I am now Platinum Pro and I do not need 500 mile stickers anymore but I do for companion but do I understand it correct that I will not earn anymore as PP moving forward to use for my companions. That seems silly.
|
Originally Posted by shawnecooper
(Post 29399237)
Question along the same line. I am now Platinum Pro and I do not need 500 mile stickers anymore but I do for companion but do I understand it correct that I will not earn anymore as PP moving forward to use for my companions. That seems silly.
I get why they did it, not sure what makes more sense - you continue to earn (maybe at a reduced rate) or the current model. Somehow I ended up with 51 stickers, so haven't had any issues for companions as EXP. |
Question about upgrades and how stickers are deducted if we get lucky. Ticket purchased from an OTA, once it ticketed I logged into my AA account and checked the upgrade request box. My wife and I are both Gold with the same EQD from 2017 since all our flights were together. If the upgrades clear, will it deduct all the stickers from my account since I checked the box, or will we each pay our '2'?
I am not sure b/c the only other time our upgrades processed, I was Plat (she was Gold) so all were deducted from my bank rather than split the PNR and lose her upgrade priority. But this time we're on equal footing. |
Originally Posted by Gig103
(Post 29511861)
Question about upgrades and how stickers are deducted if we get lucky. Ticket purchased from an OTA, once it ticketed I logged into my AA account and checked the upgrade request box. My wife and I are both Gold with the same EQD from 2017 since all our flights were together. If the upgrades clear, will it deduct all the stickers from my account since I checked the box, or will we each pay our '2'?
I am not sure b/c the only other time our upgrades processed, I was Plat (she was Gold) so all were deducted from my bank rather than split the PNR and lose her upgrade priority. But this time we're on equal footing. When I requested upgrades for previous trips for my wife and me, AA deducted the stickers from her account when she had them on one trip and deducted the stickers from my account when she had no stickers on another trip. So, it seems like they will hit each respective account if stickers are available in each account. |
I have a question - is it possible to be on both the sticker and the VIP/miles waitlist for an EXP on a revenue coach domestic ticket? I've been waitlisted on both before and have cleared into R before C availability. I am trying to upgrade a domestic coach itinerary and have been told by the EXP desk that I can either be on the EVIP or complimentary list but not both. I am hoping to avoid missing an upgrade if R becomes available before C, which seems to have happened in the past.
|
No suppose to be. But sometimes agents when requesting C will forget to take u off of the 500 miler list.
Originally Posted by Allusha
(Post 29533838)
I have a question - is it possible to be on both the sticker and the VIP/miles waitlist for an EXP? I've been waitlisted on both before and have cleared into R before C availability.
|
Originally Posted by robertablake
(Post 29514142)
Based on my experience, they will deduct from your respective Advantage accounts.
When I requested upgrades for previous trips for my wife and me, AA deducted the stickers from her account when she had them on one trip and deducted the stickers from my account when she had no stickers on another trip. So, it seems like they will hit each respective account if stickers are available in each account. |
My wife was EP last year, and only made Plat this year (not enough EQDs). She was on a flight with available F seats but did not get an upgrade because as EP she didn't accumulate stickers, so she had none. Later, she called customer service to "complain" (very courteously). The very nice agent told her, "I can fix that for the future," and moved her to PlatPro at no charge! She had been offered PlatPro earlier for about $1800.
|
Anyone know how this would happen?
LAX to JFK flight to this morning. Gate agent announces that business checked in full. After boarding numbers 9 and 10 on the waitlist clear no one else. If 9/10 went biz to first why didn't 1/2 go coach to biz? If 9/10 went coach to biz, why did they jump the queue? |
Biz checked in full but 2 where no shows. 9/10 went coach to biz. Everyone else before then in queue was already in biz waiting for first. Or something like that.
|
Husband was number 2 waiting on coach to business.
|
|
Sticker Upgrade Use: Please Advise New User
I'm curious about how people use their sticker upgrades. I've never used one.
I almost never flew AA before the merger, and when I was elite it was usually on US or DL, who both have unlimited free upgrades. Since the merger I've accumulated 11 stickers. They accrue pretty slowly, even not counting for the rounding-up you get stickers for 16% of your flown miles; used to be 20%. In a couple weeks I'm flying PHL-LAX-PDX. Y was $183, F was $565, a difference of $380. It would take 7 stickers to upgrade, which would cost $280. By buying F I get extra EQMs, and I'd have almost no chance of being upgraded anyway on the PHL-LAX leg. Admittedly this is possibly an extreme example. I think paid PHL-LAX is about $220 in Y and $1020 in F, so that would be $800 fare difference vs. $200 worth of stickers. ("Hidden City" pricing is of course in play here, but no I'm not playing that game, I'm going to PDX.) Unless you're EXP, or Plat Pro since there has been Plat Pro, you're going to earn stickers much more slowly than you will fly. I'm saving mine because I never know when I might have a really stressful trip and want to treat myself, or maybe have a traveling companion I want to impress. Do people buy stickers and then try to upgrade as often as possible? |
To be sure you understand the ins and outs of 500 mile upgrades, do take a look at https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/amer...questions.html, particularly reading the Wikipost.
|
If the fare difference is less than $600 and if you really want to fly First, I'd call ASAP to just buy up to First and forget about using 500 mile upgrades. (IMHO) I'm having a little trouble understanding how you're determining these prices, though. What is the F fare PHL-PDX? Not the F fare PHL-LAX and then LAX-PDX.
|
Originally Posted by redtop43
(Post 29596419)
I'm curious about how people use their sticker upgrades. I've never used one.
I almost never flew AA before the merger, and when I was elite it was usually on US or DL, who both have unlimited free upgrades. Since the merger I've accumulated 11 stickers. They accrue pretty slowly, even not counting for the rounding-up you get stickers for 16% of your flown miles; used to be 20%. In a couple weeks I'm flying PHL-LAX-PDX. Y was $183, F was $565, a difference of $380. It would take 7 stickers to upgrade, which would cost $280. By buying F I get extra EQMs, and I'd have almost no chance of being upgraded anyway on the PHL-LAX leg. Admittedly this is possibly an extreme example. I think paid PHL-LAX is about $220 in Y and $1020 in F, so that would be $800 fare difference vs. $200 worth of stickers. ("Hidden City" pricing is of course in play here, but no I'm not playing that game, I'm going to PDX.) Unless you're EXP, or Plat Pro since there has been Plat Pro, you're going to earn stickers much more slowly than you will fly. I'm saving mine because I never know when I might have a really stressful trip and want to treat myself, or maybe have a traveling companion I want to impress. Do people buy stickers and then try to upgrade as often as possible? On PHL-LAX-PDX I would be surprised if you clear PHL-LAX, although again it depends on the date and time-- Tuesday for instance would probably give you better luck than Friday. If you want to fly in F on your trip and you think it is worthwhile, I would strongly suggest just upfaring to F. As you said, you will earn extra EQM etc. If you are fine in MCE, then request the upgrade and there's a small chance you will be pleasantly surprised. By the way one advantage of sticker upgrades is you can upgrade a single segment. So you could request the upgrade on PHL-LAX and not on LAX-PDX. That would only take 5 stickers and you might feel it is more worth it for the longer segment. |
Originally Posted by redtop43
(Post 29596419)
They accrue pretty slowly, even not counting for the rounding-up you get stickers for 16% of your flown miles; used to be 20%.
Do people buy stickers and then try to upgrade as often as possible? |
Originally Posted by USFlyerUS
(Post 29597094)
If the fare difference is less than $600 and if you really want to fly First, I'd call ASAP to just buy up to First and forget about using 500 mile upgrades. (IMHO) I'm having a little trouble understanding how you're determining these prices, though. What is the F fare PHL-PDX? Not the F fare PHL-LAX and then LAX-PDX.
I've bought F fares for upcoming trips to both destinations on the daily A330. I'm sure a lot of people like me will consider it more worthwhile to fly F when you're getting an A330 Envoy Suite than a regular domestic F seat. And likewise I'm sure more people would try to use sticker upgrades. I do understand how they work. I was just curious about the volume of discussion about them, because AA is fairly stingy about giving them out. |
Originally Posted by redtop43
(Post 29597929)
I'm working a little from memory here, but I think the F fare PHL-PDX is $565, and PHL-LAX is $1020. So it's much cheaper if you continue on to PDX. That's why I referred to the hidden city trick - this would be a prime candidate route for using it, although I'm actually going to PDX. PHL-LAS is also about $615, so again cheaper to fly PHL-LAX-LAS than PHL-LAX.
I've bought F fares for upcoming trips to both destinations on the daily A330. I'm sure a lot of people like me will consider it more worthwhile to fly F when you're getting an A330 Envoy Suite than a regular domestic F seat. And likewise I'm sure more people would try to use sticker upgrades. I do understand how they work. I was just curious about the volume of discussion about them, because AA is fairly stingy about giving them out. |
Originally Posted by redtop43
(Post 29597929)
I'm working a little from memory here, but I think the F fare PHL-PDX is $565, and PHL-LAX is $1020. So it's much cheaper if you continue on to PDX. That's why I referred to the hidden city trick - this would be a prime candidate route for using it, although I'm actually going to PDX. PHL-LAS is also about $615, so again cheaper to fly PHL-LAX-LAS than PHL-LAX.
|
Originally Posted by redtop43
(Post 29596419)
("Hidden City" pricing is of course in play here, but no I'm not playing that game, I'm going to PDX.)
The practice of hidden-city ticketing is one of many observations you could make in discussing your question, but it has zero relevance to your question, so it makes sense that now you're getting exactly the responses you probably meant to preempt rather than invite. As for your actual question, when I was gold & plat (and when my wife was gold), we would always put in for the upgrades. We had pretty good success (better than the average reported success here on FT) but mostly because of the DCA routes we were flying. Thus, every now and then we'd have a shortage in upgrades and I'd buy whatever we needed plus 4ish more a person. When I went from plat to EXP a few years ago I ended up with 20 or so stickers in my account, but I've used many of them upgrading co-workers so I'm down to 5. Wife is PPRO and just has the 14 in her account that she accrued in her last ~45k miles of flying, which was all from one trip in J last December. She'll probably drop back down to gold or plat next year and revert to applying them on every trip. Advice above is good re: picking/choosing which segments are "worth it," but of course PHL-LAX is more "worth it" and less "likely to clear" where as LAX-PDX may be less worth it but more likely to clear. Final point, I wouldn't save stickers for that one trip where you really want to treat yourself or will be stressed. That'll end up being the day where you're #48 of 60 on the upgrade list with the flight oversold. When you want to treat yourself, buy F or fly private. |
Originally Posted by platbrownguy
(Post 29599733)
Advice above is good re: picking/choosing which segments are "worth it," but of course PHL-LAX is more "worth it" and less "likely to clear" where as LAX-PDX may be less worth it but more likely to clear.
|
Originally Posted by redtop43
(Post 29597929)
. I'm sure a lot of people like me will consider it more worthwhile to fly F when you're getting an A330 Envoy Suite than a regular domestic F seat.
|
All times are GMT -6. The time now is 8:36 am. |
This site is owned, operated, and maintained by MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Designated trademarks are the property of their respective owners.