Dec 7, 2012, 7:35 pm
Last edit by: Prospero
Load Factor Based Upgrades (LFBU) and Day Of Departure Upgrades (DODU)
These generally relate to Non-elite, space-available, kiosk, online and counter upgrades which may be available close to departure if there is unused (after sales and pending upgrades) inventory once the flight has passed to airport control; these are available for payment (normally, credit card).
• On line check in offers may be made at the time of check-in, including with the AA app.
• Kiosk-based LFBUs may be offered at the Self-Service (Check-in) Machines ("kiosk") (and occasionally with online check-in) if there are seats available - as per the AA wording and the FAQ (see first post). One may be offered a LFBU on an award ticket.
• Counter Upgrades may be offered at the ticket counter or Admirals Club in the USA or at non-stateside locations on occasion, usually announced by a small sign visible to passengers checking in at the ticket counter or Club. They may be offered (or not) and may cost as much as $750 (or more) for a longhaul transocean flight.
As per other upgrades, one earns miles / points at the level of the originally purchased fare.
Older posts have been archived here.
These generally relate to Non-elite, space-available, kiosk, online and counter upgrades which may be available close to departure if there is unused (after sales and pending upgrades) inventory once the flight has passed to airport control; these are available for payment (normally, credit card).
• On line check in offers may be made at the time of check-in, including with the AA app.
• Kiosk-based LFBUs may be offered at the Self-Service (Check-in) Machines ("kiosk") (and occasionally with online check-in) if there are seats available - as per the AA wording and the FAQ (see first post). One may be offered a LFBU on an award ticket.
• Counter Upgrades may be offered at the ticket counter or Admirals Club in the USA or at non-stateside locations on occasion, usually announced by a small sign visible to passengers checking in at the ticket counter or Club. They may be offered (or not) and may cost as much as $750 (or more) for a longhaul transocean flight.
As per other upgrades, one earns miles / points at the level of the originally purchased fare.
Older posts have been archived here.
DOD / DODU (LFBU) Space-available, counter, kiosk, and online upgrade (master thd)
Apr 16, 2017, 7:47 pm
#213
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 1999
Posts: 11,468
AA 1700 CLT-PUJ on 4/14 upgrade to F for $ 165, offered at check-in kiosk. Non-AAdvantage member.
Load showed one open F-seat for sale the evening prior. Earlier upfare charge was over $ 1200!
Upgrade was grabbed swiftly. First segment of itinerary BNA-CLT did not offer upgrade.
Load showed one open F-seat for sale the evening prior. Earlier upfare charge was over $ 1200!
Upgrade was grabbed swiftly. First segment of itinerary BNA-CLT did not offer upgrade.
Apr 16, 2017, 7:57 pm
#216
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: SFO
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 5,270
Yes, elites can receive offers at the kiosk for load-factor based upgrades (LFBUs) on international flights. They're only supposed to be offered if all systemwide and miles+copay upgrades will clear.
Apr 16, 2017, 9:50 pm
#217
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: New Orleans (MSY)
Programs: AA EXP, IHG PLT, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Explorist, Amtrak, WN
Posts: 2,617
I received one offer for a paid domestic upgrade, and that was seven years ago as a non-status passenger. The 16-seat First cabin had four other passengers.
As an elite, the only time I've ever "paid" for an upgrade is with stickers when I was Gold and later Platinum. Still, I've never seen any options for payment outside of "stickers." Maybe this has something to do with the fact that, unless you're EXP, upgrades to F/J are paid for on AA.
I haven't seen LFBUs in a long time! Can't LFBUs be offered at the counter, as well? I think the last LFBU offer I had was on an ORD-MSY flight about seven years ago when it was all mainline. With two checked bags, it was essentially $40 more for a bigger seat and breakfast. ^
As an elite, the only time I've ever "paid" for an upgrade is with stickers when I was Gold and later Platinum. Still, I've never seen any options for payment outside of "stickers." Maybe this has something to do with the fact that, unless you're EXP, upgrades to F/J are paid for on AA.
I haven't seen LFBUs in a long time! Can't LFBUs be offered at the counter, as well? I think the last LFBU offer I had was on an ORD-MSY flight about seven years ago when it was all mainline. With two checked bags, it was essentially $40 more for a bigger seat and breakfast. ^
Last edited by brewdog11; Apr 16, 2017 at 9:56 pm Reason: removed typo in last sentince
Apr 16, 2017, 9:55 pm
#218
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: SFO
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 5,270
Oh, I'm sure they can, but the only ones I've seen (a couple offers, a couple years back) were at the kiosk. Would be a bit surprised if AAgents proactively tried to sell LFBUs, but they could certainly respond if a customer asked about upgrading.
Apr 17, 2017, 1:25 am
#220
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: jfk area
Programs: AA platinum; 2MM AA, Delta Diamond, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 10,291
Even though I print my bp at home, I also print my bp from a kiosk: on p/home bps the "tsa pre-check is in small size type, on p/kiosk it is in BIG letters", just in case the agent monitoring pre-check line can't read small type.
Only once in 5 years have I been offered a kiosk upg from Y to BC: jfk-zrh for $3,000
Only once in 5 years have I been offered a kiosk upg from Y to BC: jfk-zrh for $3,000
Apr 17, 2017, 1:44 am
#221
Moderator, Amtrak & Spirit Airlines
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: EWR :rolleyes:
Programs: AC 50K, AS MVP, AA Plat Pro, DL Plat, UA Silver, IHG Spire, Marriott Titanium, Hertz PC
Posts: 9,634
I have seen them as an EXP. Most recent was on BCN-JFK it was like 438 euros to move up from Y to J. I have never seen them domestically, but thankfully I have usually cleared into F by the time I get to the airport.
Apr 17, 2017, 1:46 am
#222
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: FNT, but DTW if I can't help it
Programs: AAdvantage Former EXP/Current PLT / Total Rewards - Diamond / Hilton HHonors - Gold
Posts: 757
Last year, I noted in a different thread my experience with LFBU as a PLT.
Long story short:
I booked tickets for my immediate family DTW-ORD-JFK-FCO
Another relative met up with us for the same JFK-FCO flight, but her origin was IND.
As we were checking in for our return flights (Again, same longhaul segment, but we diverged once we got to the USA), only the non-status relative on the separate reservation was offered an LBFU. Nobody on my reservation was offered one, myself included.
Long story short:
I booked tickets for my immediate family DTW-ORD-JFK-FCO
Another relative met up with us for the same JFK-FCO flight, but her origin was IND.
As we were checking in for our return flights (Again, same longhaul segment, but we diverged once we got to the USA), only the non-status relative on the separate reservation was offered an LBFU. Nobody on my reservation was offered one, myself included.
Apr 17, 2017, 6:03 am
#223
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: MDE
Programs: AA-PLT, HH-GLD, PP
Posts: 1,511
For me it's been hit-or-miss. Sometimes I get offered an LFBU on my flights between MDE and MIA and sometimes not. I expected to get one when I did OLCI today, as the flight is J2 D1 I1 and there are few elites on this route, but no offer. No matter, as I would turn it down anyway - $162 for 3 hours in an A319 business seat vs. the exit row isn't a good deal.
Apr 17, 2017, 8:32 am
#224
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: New Orleans (MSY)
Programs: AA EXP, IHG PLT, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Explorist, Amtrak, WN
Posts: 2,617
Last year, I noted in a different thread my experience with LFBU as a PLT.
Long story short:
I booked tickets for my immediate family DTW-ORD-JFK-FCO
Another relative met up with us for the same JFK-FCO flight, but her origin was IND.
As we were checking in for our return flights (Again, same longhaul segment, but we diverged once we got to the USA), only the non-status relative on the separate reservation was offered an LBFU. Nobody on my reservation was offered one, myself included.
Long story short:
I booked tickets for my immediate family DTW-ORD-JFK-FCO
Another relative met up with us for the same JFK-FCO flight, but her origin was IND.
As we were checking in for our return flights (Again, same longhaul segment, but we diverged once we got to the USA), only the non-status relative on the separate reservation was offered an LBFU. Nobody on my reservation was offered one, myself included.