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Older posts have been archived here.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Older posts have been archived here.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)
Dec 10, 2015, 7:59 am
#76
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 370
how much does AA now charge for upgrade during OLCI on CLT-ORD flights?
how much does AA now charge for upgrade during OLCI on CLT-ORD flights?
when it was still operated as US Airways, I frequently buy the upgrade during OLCI for $62 to $95.(each way) Has the upgrade prices increased since US became AA in the last month or two? or do they not sell upgrades during OLCI or at the gate anymore?
Thanks!
when it was still operated as US Airways, I frequently buy the upgrade during OLCI for $62 to $95.(each way) Has the upgrade prices increased since US became AA in the last month or two? or do they not sell upgrades during OLCI or at the gate anymore?
Thanks!
Dec 10, 2015, 8:23 am
#77
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Dallas
Programs: AAdvantage EXP, IHG Spire, Marriott Gold, HHonors Gold, National Executive Elite
Posts: 1,523
how much does AA now charge for upgrade during OLCI on CLT-ORD flights?
when it was still operated as US Airways, I frequently buy the upgrade during OLCI for $62 to $95.(each way) Has the upgrade prices increased since US became AA in the last month or two? or do they not sell upgrades during OLCI or at the gate anymore?
Thanks!
when it was still operated as US Airways, I frequently buy the upgrade during OLCI for $62 to $95.(each way) Has the upgrade prices increased since US became AA in the last month or two? or do they not sell upgrades during OLCI or at the gate anymore?
Thanks!
It will happen, but sure as hell not as much as when it was US.
Dec 10, 2015, 9:13 am
#78
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 370
AA's policy has been to not sell upgrades to the masses until all elites have been cleared. So unless you are flying a very late flight that doesnt connect to much, or on a Saturday afternoon, you are very unlikely to find a Hub to Hub flight like CLT-ORD without enough elites requesting upgrades to fill it up.
It will happen, but sure as hell not as much as when it was US.
It will happen, but sure as hell not as much as when it was US.
Guess the new AA does things differently now.
Dec 15, 2015, 5:04 pm
#79
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 370
just did OLCI but it didn't offer to sell me first class upgrade.
seat maps shows 13 first class seats not pre-assigned. there are still 6 first class seats available for purchse
(could be more, but AA.com only allows me to search for 6 seats at a time) so I guess AA prefers to take its
chances and see if someone will show up last minute and pay the $1300 first class fare?
seat maps shows 13 first class seats not pre-assigned. there are still 6 first class seats available for purchse
(could be more, but AA.com only allows me to search for 6 seats at a time) so I guess AA prefers to take its
chances and see if someone will show up last minute and pay the $1300 first class fare?
Dec 15, 2015, 5:09 pm
#80
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: FIND ME ON TWITTER FOR THE LATEST
Posts: 27,730
just did OLCI but it didn't offer to sell me first class upgrade.
seat maps shows 13 first class seats not pre-assigned. there are still 6 first class seats available for purchse
(could be more, but AA.com only allows me to search for 6 seats at a time) so I guess AA prefers to take its
chances and see if someone will show up last minute and pay the $1300 first class fare?
seat maps shows 13 first class seats not pre-assigned. there are still 6 first class seats available for purchse
(could be more, but AA.com only allows me to search for 6 seats at a time) so I guess AA prefers to take its
chances and see if someone will show up last minute and pay the $1300 first class fare?
Dec 15, 2015, 9:42 pm
#81
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 370
Dec 15, 2015, 9:45 pm
#82
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: FIND ME ON TWITTER FOR THE LATEST
Posts: 27,730
Nothing to do with "new AA" and, yes, that's your answer.
Dec 16, 2015, 8:43 am
#83
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 370
Just got off the plane a few moments ago. in an exit row aisle for free,
so I'm not complaining.
however, I'm confused. The new AA apparently doesn't want money.
When I got to the gate at CLT, I asked the gate agent if I could buy an
upgrade to first. She looked it up and told me "sorry, we don't sell
first class upgrades anymore, would you like to buy first class by paying
the difference between your fare and first class?" I declined because
the difference was almost $500, hardly worth it when the short flight
didn't include a meal in first class. The flight left the gate with 12 empty
first class seats. 
Like I said, I've taken this exact same flight leaving from CLT before
(back in July?) and I paid about $110 to upgrade.(although it was
pretty empty as well)
so I'm not complaining.
however, I'm confused. The new AA apparently doesn't want money.
When I got to the gate at CLT, I asked the gate agent if I could buy an
upgrade to first. She looked it up and told me "sorry, we don't sell
first class upgrades anymore, would you like to buy first class by paying
the difference between your fare and first class?" I declined because
the difference was almost $500, hardly worth it when the short flight
didn't include a meal in first class. The flight left the gate with 12 empty
first class seats.
Like I said, I've taken this exact same flight leaving from CLT before
(back in July?) and I paid about $110 to upgrade.(although it was
pretty empty as well)
Dec 23, 2015, 10:33 pm
#85
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: US
Programs: AAdvantage
Posts: 1,753
however, I'm confused. The new AA apparently doesn't want money.
When I got to the gate at CLT, I asked the gate agent if I could buy an
upgrade to first. She looked it up and told me "sorry, we don't sell
first class upgrades anymore, would you like to buy first class by paying
the difference between your fare and first class?" I declined because
the difference was almost $500, hardly worth it when the short flight
didn't include a meal in first class. The flight left the gate with 12 empty
first class seats.
When I got to the gate at CLT, I asked the gate agent if I could buy an
upgrade to first. She looked it up and told me "sorry, we don't sell
first class upgrades anymore, would you like to buy first class by paying
the difference between your fare and first class?" I declined because
the difference was almost $500, hardly worth it when the short flight
didn't include a meal in first class. The flight left the gate with 12 empty
first class seats.
Fortunately, AA is installing self-service kiosks gateside (which would offer the upgrade) so you can bypass the gate agents.
Dec 24, 2015, 12:03 pm
#86
Join Date: May 2007
Programs: AAdvantage, Hilton
Posts: 3,191
Another LUS agent hallucinating nonexistent policies. AA certainly does continue to sell day-of-departure upgrades. If you have ExpertFlyer, first class upgrades come out of A inventory and business out of C. With 12 empty seats in the premium cabin, it's extremely likely that there were upgrades being offered.
Fortunately, AA is installing self-service kiosks gateside (which would offer the upgrade) so you can bypass the gate agents.
Fortunately, AA is installing self-service kiosks gateside (which would offer the upgrade) so you can bypass the gate agents.
Dec 31, 2015, 12:04 pm
#89
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 2,592
Exact same price than the the copay of a miles upgrade .... without the miles hihihihi
This is not true for Y to J upgrade where LFBU are usually a little higher than the copay (but still without the miles hahahaha)
Dec 31, 2015, 12:16 pm
#90
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: FIND ME ON TWITTER FOR THE LATEST
Posts: 27,730
That is not a LFBU which as Sukn correctly states are via kiosk and on-line check-in only, that is a counter upgrade (or "international Airport Upgrade"), different product and procedure than LFBU.