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Older posts have been archived here.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Older posts have been archived here.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)
Sep 13, 2017, 5:34 pm
#271
Join Date: Dec 2006
Programs: BA Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 237
Paid airport upgrades DFW-LHR?
Hello,
Do AA ever do airport paid cash upgrades to business class DFW-LHR? If so - how much is this likely to be? I mean 'airport upgrade' prices rather an recalculating fare to J class etc if that makes sense.
Best Wishes,
M
Do AA ever do airport paid cash upgrades to business class DFW-LHR? If so - how much is this likely to be? I mean 'airport upgrade' prices rather an recalculating fare to J class etc if that makes sense.
Best Wishes,
M
Sep 13, 2017, 5:45 pm
#272
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: SLC/HEL/Anywhere with a Beach
Programs: Marriott Ambassador; AA EXP 3MM; AS MVP, Hilton Gold, CH-47/UH-60/C-23/C-130 VET
Posts: 5,234
Ever? Perhaps.
But LBFU (Load Based Factor Upgrades) are only offered if AA doesn't think it can fill the seats with elites pending upgrades. I'd check out this thread but I suspect it is very unlikely.
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/amer...ter-thd-7.html
But LBFU (Load Based Factor Upgrades) are only offered if AA doesn't think it can fill the seats with elites pending upgrades. I'd check out this thread but I suspect it is very unlikely.
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/amer...ter-thd-7.html
Nov 18, 2017, 2:58 am
#275
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: PHL
Programs: IHG Diamond Ambassador, AAdvantage Gold, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 263
Aa100 jfk-lhr
My wife and I booked JFK-LHR-FCO on a cheap fare. I’m AA GLD with seats in MCE (free; selected when I was PLT at the time) on AA 100 JFK-LHR for Saturday night flight. J Cabin was about 1/3 full and Y Cabin was about 1/2 full.
During check in, they offered $410/ea to upgrade to J. I took it (special occasion, plus I didn’t want a cranky sightseeing companion).
During check in, they offered $410/ea to upgrade to J. I took it (special occasion, plus I didn’t want a cranky sightseeing companion).
Dec 22, 2017, 9:12 am
#278
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: SAN
Programs: UA 1MM/1K, HH Diamond
Posts: 6,832
We're flying JFK-LAX tonight in paid (discount) J. We were not offered a LFBU/DODU at T-24 check-in. Is there still a chance that we'll get one at the airport kiosk, or is this not going to happen?
Our flight is full in Y and J with F wide open.
Our flight is full in Y and J with F wide open.
Dec 22, 2017, 6:58 pm
#279
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 75
I've had success buying from the kiosk when I wasn't offered at check-in, but that was on a much smaller flight on Thanksgiving. YMMV.
Jan 1, 2018, 8:18 am
#281
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: TGU
Programs: Lm silver / MileagePlus / Aadvantage / Amex platinum / stargold points silver
Posts: 266
does it make a difference if I have a BA or an AA Frequent flyer number?
First time flying American Airlines but would like to buy an upgrade, I have experience with United if I have a United Non Elite Frequent flyer on reservation is cheaper than have a star alliance Frequent Flyer. I have a British airways membership and I would like to get the miles to that account, what do you recommend? can I add my BA frequent flyer number now or will that decrease the change for this type of offers.
Jan 2, 2018, 2:32 am
#282
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: PHX & AGP
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Gold
Posts: 11,463
First time flying American Airlines but would like to buy an upgrade, I have experience with United if I have a United Non Elite Frequent flyer on reservation is cheaper than have a star alliance Frequent Flyer. I have a British airways membership and I would like to get the miles to that account, what do you recommend? can I add my BA frequent flyer number now or will that decrease the change for this type of offers.
Jan 3, 2018, 7:40 am
#283
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: TGU
Programs: Lm silver / MileagePlus / Aadvantage / Amex platinum / stargold points silver
Posts: 266
Mar 29, 2018, 3:41 pm
#284
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Programs: AA Platinum Pro, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, IHG Platinum, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 171
$610 LFBU upgrade to J on first flight of the season from FCO to DFW
The two of us were booked in Premium Economy on the 2018 season's first flight from FCO to DFW leaving March 26th. When we checked in online, we were pleasantly surprised to be offered an upgrade to J for just $610 each. Given that we had paid a little less than $900 for the leg in PY (I'm referring to half the roundtrip airfare here), adding the $610 brought the total up to around $1,500, which I think is a REAL steal for a 12-hour flight in a refreshed J cabin with lie-flat B/E Aerospace seats. Now we aren't even AAdvantage members, our loyalties lie with AS. So it makes me wonder why AA gave us this chance for such a bargain upgrade? I wondered if it was because PY was overbooked, but when I looked at the available seats before departure there were at least 5 empty seats, so that was clearly not the case. In any case we were very happy with this turn of events. Does AA do this on a regular basis, I wonder? If so, I might be tempted to fly them more often LOL.
Mar 29, 2018, 3:53 pm
#285
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: SFO
Programs: AA EXP, SPG / Marriott GLD, HHonors GLD
Posts: 520
The two of us were booked in Premium Economy on the 2018 season's first flight from FCO to DFW leaving March 26th. When we checked in online, we were pleasantly surprised to be offered an upgrade to J for just $610 each. Given that we had paid a little less than $900 for the leg in PY (I'm referring to half the roundtrip airfare here), adding the $610 brought the total up to around $1,500, which I think is a REAL steal for a 12-hour flight in a refreshed J cabin with lie-flat B/E Aerospace seats. Now we aren't even AAdvantage members, our loyalties lie with AS. So it makes me wonder why AA gave us this chance for such a bargain upgrade? I wondered if it was because PY was overbooked, but when I looked at the available seats before departure there were at least 5 empty seats, so that was clearly not the case. In any case we were very happy with this turn of events. Does AA do this on a regular basis, I wonder? If so, I might be tempted to fly them more often LOL.
AA offers these upgrades to all passengers at check in if the situation arises. This only occurs if there are surplus seats in the J cabin AA expects not to sell and not enough elite upgrade requests by SWU or other mileage + copay upgrade requests to fulfill available inventory. Unclear if PE would be given a cheaper upgrade "price" than economy, I'll let others chime in but it wouldn't surprise me as the incremental difference would be smaller. Hope you enjoyed the J cabin.