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Older posts have been archived here.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Older posts have been archived here.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)
Jun 7, 2017, 8:19 am
#256
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: New Orleans (MSY)
Programs: AA EXP, IHG PLT, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Explorist, Amtrak, WN
Posts: 2,617
Back when I had no status, AA used to offer LFBU's for $90 on the MadDog between ORD and MSY. Since I always had two checked bags, it essentially became a $30 upgrade to F. Not bad for a much better seat (I love the F seats on the MD-80s) and a decent breakfast. Judging by the loads in F at check-in and at boarding, lots of people took advantage of it.
Side note: Has anyone ever been offered a LFBU from J to F on a three-class flight after using a SWU to upgrade from Y to J?
This is a smart way to think about if an upgrade is "worth it." I never thought to consider it this way. Good idea!
Side note: Has anyone ever been offered a LFBU from J to F on a three-class flight after using a SWU to upgrade from Y to J?
A reasonable paid upgrade is whatever you think is reasonable. That said, a normal miles + co-pay upgrade is $350 + 25,000 miles. If you value AA miles at 1.5 cpm, that would be $375 worth of miles. $375 + $350 = $725 = the ceiling on what I'd ever pay for a cash upgrade. Maybe factor in the extra miles earned and you'd get me to $800.
Jun 7, 2017, 12:23 pm
#258
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Jun 7, 2017, 1:36 pm
#259
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I chose the chicken for my ZRH-JFK in bc. They had some sauce on the chicken which detracted from the chicken--I only ate 1/3 of the portion; the salad had a miniscule amount of dressing.
The chicken in Y for JFK-ZRH was pretty good.
The chicken in Y for JFK-ZRH was pretty good.
Jun 7, 2017, 3:36 pm
#260
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: New Orleans (MSY)
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That's one nice thing about AA economy - the Y meals are usually pretty good. Except for some vile entrees catered ex-HKG, I find that AA's Y food is generally pretty good.
Jun 11, 2017, 5:12 pm
#261
Join Date: Sep 2014
Programs: IHG Platinum
Posts: 629
Was just offered upgrade at OLCI for a transcon ex-LAX tomorow for $204.65. Took the offer since I had been planning on paying for a checked bag and an exit row seat anyhow. And now no need to buy dinner at LAX and spend close to $20! So I figure i'm paying about $100 more which is fine.
Jun 11, 2017, 9:06 pm
#262
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: New Orleans (MSY)
Programs: AA EXP, IHG PLT, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Explorist, Amtrak, WN
Posts: 2,617
Has anyone ever received an LFBU offer from J to F after using a SWU/miles+copay upgrade from Y to J? Do they only offer J->FF upgrades to pax on paid J tickets?
Jun 12, 2017, 10:39 am
#263
Join Date: Oct 2007
Programs: AA, WN, UA, Bonvoy, Hertz
Posts: 2,491
Was just offered upgrade at OLCI for a transcon ex-LAX tomorow for $204.65. Took the offer since I had been planning on paying for a checked bag and an exit row seat anyhow. And now no need to buy dinner at LAX and spend close to $20! So I figure i'm paying about $100 more which is fine.
This means your original fare purchased was pretty expensive and/or the business class fare was competitive.
Rasheed
Jun 16, 2017, 1:13 pm
#264
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I just finished a MCI-LGA-MCI trip. Both directions there were empty F seats. I went to the airport kiosk both directions, hoping to see an upgrade offer, but didn't get one. I know I could have used 500-mile credits to do it, but since it's an 1100-mile flight I thought I might get a better kiosk offer than $120. It didn't happen, and I didn't upgrade since I already had a good MCE seat.
Do the kiosks *only* show you 500-mile options if you qualify? Was that what prevented it from showing me a cash upgrade option? I realize that in most cases, most elites would happily use the 500-milers...
Do the kiosks *only* show you 500-mile options if you qualify? Was that what prevented it from showing me a cash upgrade option? I realize that in most cases, most elites would happily use the 500-milers...
Jun 16, 2017, 2:44 pm
#265
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: New York
Programs: AA, CX, Hyatt, Marriott
Posts: 1,484
Just wondering, since it was not mentioned in the EQD post, in the case when I buy up the upgrade, how will EQD/EQM be treated?
I guess the buy-up fee probably does not count towards EQD, but will the EQM based on the upgraded fare or the original fare (like SWU or stickers) with class bonus? If this is a special fare, EQD and EQM ratio will be different as well.
I guess the buy-up fee probably does not count towards EQD, but will the EQM based on the upgraded fare or the original fare (like SWU or stickers) with class bonus? If this is a special fare, EQD and EQM ratio will be different as well.
Jun 16, 2017, 6:21 pm
#266
Join Date: Oct 2007
Programs: AA, WN, UA, Bonvoy, Hertz
Posts: 2,491
For domestic routes, you would need to remove your elite number to get a LFBU ($55 per 500 miles approximately). It might be a bit cheaper on a 1100 miles flight by curving the cost of the last 100 miles.
Otherwise, you may frequently get fare difference upgrade offers which are really no deal, just buying up the difference that you might not have realized.
Rasheed
Otherwise, you may frequently get fare difference upgrade offers which are really no deal, just buying up the difference that you might not have realized.
Rasheed
Sep 7, 2017, 1:25 am
#267
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: MUC
Programs: BA Executive Club Silver
Posts: 108
So did I get this right, a paid Upgrade at the Check-In Kiosk would be $55 per 500 miles? Is that always the same price or can it vary on the routes? I´m looking to upgrade 2 flights in January(HNL-LAX and LAX-JFK). Heard something about 300$ for an Upgrade from Y to J. Can I expect that range?
Cheers
Cheers
Sep 7, 2017, 1:59 am
#268
Moderator: Travel Safety/Security, Travel Tools, California, Los Angeles; FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Sep 7, 2017, 10:36 am
#269
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
@EDDMflyer
In my experience, AA doesn't offer kiosk upgrades unless the computer gods predict that F/J seats will otherwise go empty because there aren't enough elites on board. So, for example, when I flew from Phoenix to Spokane recently, there were empty seats in First. I presume there might have been an option for a kiosk upgrade to non-elites.
On the other hand, LAX-JFK and HNL-LAX are routes with lots of elites. As an EXP, I normally get upgraded on HNL-LAX although there are often 30-40 people on the upgrade list. Getting upgraded as an EXP on the LAX-JFK route is 50/50 at best and there will be 30-50 people on the upgrade list. So, the computer gods will never (well never might be a little strong -- I suppose their could be a typhoon in Hawaii and no one is heading that direction) offer kiosk upgrades on those routes.
In my experience, AA doesn't offer kiosk upgrades unless the computer gods predict that F/J seats will otherwise go empty because there aren't enough elites on board. So, for example, when I flew from Phoenix to Spokane recently, there were empty seats in First. I presume there might have been an option for a kiosk upgrade to non-elites.
On the other hand, LAX-JFK and HNL-LAX are routes with lots of elites. As an EXP, I normally get upgraded on HNL-LAX although there are often 30-40 people on the upgrade list. Getting upgraded as an EXP on the LAX-JFK route is 50/50 at best and there will be 30-50 people on the upgrade list. So, the computer gods will never (well never might be a little strong -- I suppose their could be a typhoon in Hawaii and no one is heading that direction) offer kiosk upgrades on those routes.
Last edited by C17PSGR; Sep 8, 2017 at 11:53 am
Sep 8, 2017, 8:30 am
#270
Join Date: May 2005
Programs: BA Gold, AA PLT PRO, AGR, Strawberry (Nordic Choice), Marriott Bonvoy
Posts: 4,244
Was offered a paid upgrade at online checkin yesterday for AA141 LHR-JFK for £391 per passenger (about $510). I declined.
It was actually a very empty flight but the business class seatmap seemed to have filled up a bit when I looked closer to flight time, which suggests that some people at least did take them up on the offer.
It was actually a very empty flight but the business class seatmap seemed to have filled up a bit when I looked closer to flight time, which suggests that some people at least did take them up on the offer.