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Older posts have been archived here.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Older posts have been archived here.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 24, 2018, 3:08 pm
#346
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Bay Area
Programs: WN A-List, AA good-riddance, Safeway Club Card Extraordinaire
Posts: 3,851
If an upgrade wasn't offered at check-in, then it's likely that there are enough elites on the upgrade list to take all the available seats (in which case no upgrades will be offered for sale). Whether or not you take the upgrade on the shorter flight should have nothing to do with it.
Dec 24, 2018, 10:05 pm
#347
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: YVR
Programs: AA
Posts: 872
So the upgrade offer for my second leg is now being offered to me. And as AA would have it, im trying to pay for it for a couple hours now and the “system is having troubles”
called in to do it and was told ot was online only.... maybe just that the xmas eve staff are not the sharpest. AA’s loss. Im trying to give them money and they wont take it.
called in to do it and was told ot was online only.... maybe just that the xmas eve staff are not the sharpest. AA’s loss. Im trying to give them money and they wont take it.
Dec 25, 2018, 7:46 am
#348
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: YVR
Programs: AA
Posts: 872
So the upgrade offer for my second leg is now being offered to me. And as AA would have it, im trying to pay for it for a couple hours now and the “system is having troubles”
called in to do it and was told ot was online only.... maybe just that the xmas eve staff are not the sharpest. AA’s loss. Im trying to give them money and they wont take it.
called in to do it and was told ot was online only.... maybe just that the xmas eve staff are not the sharpest. AA’s loss. Im trying to give them money and they wont take it.
So, to sum it up. If you are hoping for an upgrade offer at OLCI and dont get it. Keep looking at manage your booking. It may be offered later. But if you have already checked in you may have trouble processing the upgrade without calling in.
Dec 26, 2018, 7:06 am
#349
Join Date: May 2017
Location: ORD
Posts: 369
So the upgrade offer for my second leg is now being offered to me. And as AA would have it, im trying to pay for it for a couple hours now and the “system is having troubles”
called in to do it and was told ot was online only.... maybe just that the xmas eve staff are not the sharpest. AA’s loss. Im trying to give them money and they wont take it.
called in to do it and was told ot was online only.... maybe just that the xmas eve staff are not the sharpest. AA’s loss. Im trying to give them money and they wont take it.
Dec 26, 2018, 9:34 am
#350
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 10
Flying ORD to Madrid on Friday (I'm Gold and booked in Economy)... it's AA-marketed on Iberia. My friend and I are hoping to get an upgrade offer at the counter (she doesn't have status on AA). Is there anywhere online where I can look at first/business availability on our flight?
Also calling AA today to start a platinum challenge... has anyone heard if they are offering a plat pro challenge yet? Between Spain + work travel, I think I could get it and would still be less expensive than buying the EOY boost to plat either way.
Thank you so much!
Also calling AA today to start a platinum challenge... has anyone heard if they are offering a plat pro challenge yet? Between Spain + work travel, I think I could get it and would still be less expensive than buying the EOY boost to plat either way.
Thank you so much!
Dec 26, 2018, 11:13 am
#351
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: YVR
Programs: AA
Posts: 872
this is not correct. I was subsequently offered the upgrade after checking in. I just kept checking manage my flight. I was then able to purchase it but only after a web support agent changed something in the back end
Dec 27, 2018, 7:42 am
#352
Join Date: May 2017
Location: ORD
Posts: 369
The "something" is that you were un-checked in. This is how it's worked since at least 2012.
Dec 29, 2018, 7:36 am
#353
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: PHX & AGP
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Gold
Posts: 11,453
Flying ORD to Madrid on Friday (I'm Gold and booked in Economy)... it's AA-marketed on Iberia. My friend and I are hoping to get an upgrade offer at the counter (she doesn't have status on AA). Is there anywhere online where I can look at first/business availability on our flight?
Also calling AA today to start a platinum challenge... has anyone heard if they are offering a plat pro challenge yet? Between Spain + work travel, I think I could get it and would still be less expensive than buying the EOY boost to plat either way.
Thank you so much!
Also calling AA today to start a platinum challenge... has anyone heard if they are offering a plat pro challenge yet? Between Spain + work travel, I think I could get it and would still be less expensive than buying the EOY boost to plat either way.
Thank you so much!
Jan 15, 2019, 12:21 pm
#359
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948