Mar 5, 2015, 10:12 pm
Last edit by: Prospero
A321T / 321T / Transcontinental JFK to/from LAX & SFO: Upgrade Success & Assistance
American flies the transcontinental A321T with three classes including solo First and Business pairs that fully recline horizontally. (Note the "32B" designation applies to all Airbus A321-100 and -200 - aircraft with "Sharklets" blended winglets in accord with ICAO standards, including two and three class A321s used by AA.)
It appears demand in J is high, supply less so, making this a tricky upgrade from coach to business. First sometimes looks like there’s good availability until close to departure, and it’s common that this cabin is filled deadheading.
Upgrading is challenging, and Y to J SWU or miles + copay always trumps 500 mile or DODU / courtesy upgrades within an elite tier. (500 mile and courtesy upgrades from Business to First is not allowed).
Remember, upgrade priority for these flights is:
*Y to C/J only; C to F not allowed
Cabins will generally not be “rolled” forward (e.g. J to F) to accommodate upgrades.
Those confirmed in Flagship First on these (between JFK and LAX or SFO) can access Flagship Lounges as well as Flagship First Dining at JFK or LAX, or the Admirals Club at SFO (or the LAX TBIT Qantas First lounge).
Related threads:
Aircraft guide: Which Airbus A321? (including “321”, “32B”, A321neo)
A321 Transcon / A321T / "32B" 3 class began service Jan 2014 (consolidated)
Best Business / First seat on AA transcon Airbus A321 / A321T / "32B" (consolidated)
Best Economy / MCE seat on AA transcon Airbus A321 / A321T / 32B (consolidated)
Posts from 2014 through 2016 have been archived, and may be read here.
Signed in members with 90 days / 90 posts can edit this Wikipost; wiki contents may be printed by using the
(lower right wiki corner)
American flies the transcontinental A321T with three classes including solo First and Business pairs that fully recline horizontally. (Note the "32B" designation applies to all Airbus A321-100 and -200 - aircraft with "Sharklets" blended winglets in accord with ICAO standards, including two and three class A321s used by AA.)
It appears demand in J is high, supply less so, making this a tricky upgrade from coach to business. First sometimes looks like there’s good availability until close to departure, and it’s common that this cabin is filled deadheading.
Upgrading is challenging, and Y to J SWU or miles + copay always trumps 500 mile or DODU / courtesy upgrades within an elite tier. (500 mile and courtesy upgrades from Business to First is not allowed).
Remember, upgrade priority for these flights is:
- Elite status tier
- SWU & miles and copay
- Business Extra and “special corporate agency upgrade certificates”
- 500 mile (“stickers”) and complimentary / DODU upgrades*
- Award upgrades (CK, EXP, PRO)*
- Last 12 months’ rolling EQD spend
- Etc.
*Y to C/J only; C to F not allowed
Cabins will generally not be “rolled” forward (e.g. J to F) to accommodate upgrades.
Those confirmed in Flagship First on these (between JFK and LAX or SFO) can access Flagship Lounges as well as Flagship First Dining at JFK or LAX, or the Admirals Club at SFO (or the LAX TBIT Qantas First lounge).
Related threads:
Aircraft guide: Which Airbus A321? (including “321”, “32B”, A321neo)
A321 Transcon / A321T / "32B" 3 class began service Jan 2014 (consolidated)
Best Business / First seat on AA transcon Airbus A321 / A321T / "32B" (consolidated)
Best Economy / MCE seat on AA transcon Airbus A321 / A321T / 32B (consolidated)
Posts from 2014 through 2016 have been archived, and may be read here.
Signed in members with 90 days / 90 posts can edit this Wikipost; wiki contents may be printed by using the
(lower right wiki corner)
Airbus A321T / 321T “32B” Transcon JFK <--> LAX / SFO Upgrade Success / Help
Feb 4, 2019, 5:26 pm
#271
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: San Francisco
Programs: AA EXP; Marriott BonVoy Titanium Elite, Marriott LT Plat.
Posts: 1,717
Will just have to pack Lactase pills this time. On the TPAC flights, I'm turning ice cream/dairy loaded deserts away with regret. Will try it on the SFO/JFK routes this week and if all goes well, I'll be ready for the my LAX/HKG trips as well.
Feb 4, 2019, 5:57 pm
#272
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: PHL, NYC
Programs: AA PLT, DL SLV, UA SLV, MR LTT, HH DIA
Posts: 10,060
Snagged an ultra cheap $159 one way Main Cabin fare, LAX-JFK (1040pm redeye) on an upcoming Monday in February. So, I can't use a BXP1 because it's booked into one of the few fare buckets that doesn't allow this type of instrument. I'm left to rely on my sticker balance.
Buckets are: F7 (0 out of 10 seats currently assigned), J7 (8 out of 20 assigned).
My hope is some of those J's get rolled up to F, opening up more J space and then I miraculously get moved up with my Plat status. Medium to Long shot, I know. If not, I got 11C and will survive.
Most of my flying is ex-PHL, so I've not had the opportunity to fly on the 321T.
Buckets are: F7 (0 out of 10 seats currently assigned), J7 (8 out of 20 assigned).
My hope is some of those J's get rolled up to F, opening up more J space and then I miraculously get moved up with my Plat status. Medium to Long shot, I know. If not, I got 11C and will survive.
Most of my flying is ex-PHL, so I've not had the opportunity to fly on the 321T.
Feb 5, 2019, 3:32 pm
#273
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: San Francisco
Programs: AA EXP; Marriott BonVoy Titanium Elite, Marriott LT Plat.
Posts: 1,717
To my surprise, I just receive notification that my Y->J comp upgrade was confirmed 100+hrs in advance. Maybe the EF alert I set for my former reat in Y becoming vacant will appear "soon".
Feb 6, 2019, 11:48 pm
#274
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: San Francisco
Programs: AA EXP; Marriott BonVoy Titanium Elite, Marriott LT Plat.
Posts: 1,717
Interesting situation on my flight with regards to the upgrade list.
First flight out SFO-JFK. Noticed that there were only three people on the Upgrade list and two seats vacant. However, no one cleared and those two seats went out empty.
So, to be placed on the airport upgrade list, you have volunteer for it as a Plat and Gold? Did they just not purchase certificates to confirm the upgrade? Last minute C space even was available too.
First flight out SFO-JFK. Noticed that there were only three people on the Upgrade list and two seats vacant. However, no one cleared and those two seats went out empty.
So, to be placed on the airport upgrade list, you have volunteer for it as a Plat and Gold? Did they just not purchase certificates to confirm the upgrade? Last minute C space even was available too.
Feb 7, 2019, 10:05 am
#275
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: JFK, DCA, BUR, YVR
Programs: AC, AS, BA, DL, HH (D), MR (T/LTP), UA (*S), UScAAre (PLT/1,87MM), WN
Posts: 5,207
Snagged an ultra cheap $159 one way Main Cabin fare, LAX-JFK (1040pm redeye) on an upcoming Monday in February. So, I can't use a BXP1 because it's booked into one of the few fare buckets that doesn't allow this type of instrument. I'm left to rely on my sticker balance.
Buckets are: F7 (0 out of 10 seats currently assigned), J7 (8 out of 20 assigned).
My hope is some of those J's get rolled up to F, opening up more J space and then I miraculously get moved up with my Plat status. Medium to Long shot, I know. If not, I got 11C and will survive.
Most of my flying is ex-PHL, so I've not had the opportunity to fly on the 321T.
Buckets are: F7 (0 out of 10 seats currently assigned), J7 (8 out of 20 assigned).
My hope is some of those J's get rolled up to F, opening up more J space and then I miraculously get moved up with my Plat status. Medium to Long shot, I know. If not, I got 11C and will survive.
Most of my flying is ex-PHL, so I've not had the opportunity to fly on the 321T.
Feb 7, 2019, 10:06 am
#276
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: JFK, DCA, BUR, YVR
Programs: AC, AS, BA, DL, HH (D), MR (T/LTP), UA (*S), UScAAre (PLT/1,87MM), WN
Posts: 5,207
Interesting situation on my flight with regards to the upgrade list.
First flight out SFO-JFK. Noticed that there were only three people on the Upgrade list and two seats vacant. However, no one cleared and those two seats went out empty.
So, to be placed on the airport upgrade list, you have volunteer for it as a Plat and Gold? Did they just not purchase certificates to confirm the upgrade? Last minute C space even was available too.
First flight out SFO-JFK. Noticed that there were only three people on the Upgrade list and two seats vacant. However, no one cleared and those two seats went out empty.
So, to be placed on the airport upgrade list, you have volunteer for it as a Plat and Gold? Did they just not purchase certificates to confirm the upgrade? Last minute C space even was available too.
Feb 7, 2019, 10:38 am
#277
Join Date: Dec 2016
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 214
Interesting situation on my flight with regards to the upgrade list.
First flight out SFO-JFK. Noticed that there were only three people on the Upgrade list and two seats vacant. However, no one cleared and those two seats went out empty.
So, to be placed on the airport upgrade list, you have volunteer for it as a Plat and Gold? Did they just not purchase certificates to confirm the upgrade? Last minute C space even was available too.
First flight out SFO-JFK. Noticed that there were only three people on the Upgrade list and two seats vacant. However, no one cleared and those two seats went out empty.
So, to be placed on the airport upgrade list, you have volunteer for it as a Plat and Gold? Did they just not purchase certificates to confirm the upgrade? Last minute C space even was available too.
Feb 8, 2019, 1:40 pm
#279
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: PHL, NYC
Programs: AA PLT, DL SLV, UA SLV, MR LTT, HH DIA
Posts: 10,060
Upfaring my deep discounted coach would be another $150. I did set an alert for C inventory opening up to use a BXP1, but EF now shows J4 F7, so unless some J's move up to F (currently no assigned seats), I'm pretty skeptical that I'll be moving up from 11C.
Feb 8, 2019, 4:25 pm
#280
Suspended
Join Date: May 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: DL Diamond, AAdvantage EXP, Hyatt Explorist, HHonors Diamond, Avis First
Posts: 7,344
Interesting situation on my flight with regards to the upgrade list.
First flight out SFO-JFK. Noticed that there were only three people on the Upgrade list and two seats vacant. However, no one cleared and those two seats went out empty.
So, to be placed on the airport upgrade list, you have volunteer for it as a Plat and Gold? Did they just not purchase certificates to confirm the upgrade? Last minute C space even was available too.
First flight out SFO-JFK. Noticed that there were only three people on the Upgrade list and two seats vacant. However, no one cleared and those two seats went out empty.
So, to be placed on the airport upgrade list, you have volunteer for it as a Plat and Gold? Did they just not purchase certificates to confirm the upgrade? Last minute C space even was available too.
Last edited by AANYC1981; Feb 8, 2019 at 5:13 pm
Feb 8, 2019, 4:29 pm
#281
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: USA
Programs: Chase Sapphire Reserve, WFBF
Posts: 1,573
Snagged an ultra cheap $159 one way Main Cabin fare, LAX-JFK (1040pm redeye) on an upcoming Monday in February. So, I can't use a BXP1 because it's booked into one of the few fare buckets that doesn't allow this type of instrument. I'm left to rely on my sticker balance.
Buckets are: F7 (0 out of 10 seats currently assigned), J7 (8 out of 20 assigned).
My hope is some of those J's get rolled up to F, opening up more J space and then I miraculously get moved up with my Plat status. Medium to Long shot, I know. If not, I got 11C and will survive.
Most of my flying is ex-PHL, so I've not had the opportunity to fly on the 321T.
Buckets are: F7 (0 out of 10 seats currently assigned), J7 (8 out of 20 assigned).
My hope is some of those J's get rolled up to F, opening up more J space and then I miraculously get moved up with my Plat status. Medium to Long shot, I know. If not, I got 11C and will survive.
Most of my flying is ex-PHL, so I've not had the opportunity to fly on the 321T.
Feb 8, 2019, 10:14 pm
#282
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: San Francisco
Programs: AA EXP; Marriott BonVoy Titanium Elite, Marriott LT Plat.
Posts: 1,717
Happened to me as #1 a couple of times and was told it was because there were revenue paid customers standing by thus why they were not on the UPG list.
Feb 9, 2019, 5:43 am
#283
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: NYC
Programs: CO
Posts: 608
Was on the 10am JFK-LAX last Sunday and the aisle seat across from me went out empty in biz despite 15+ people on the upgrade list. Is this just a function of lazy GAs? If so that is ridiculous. None of those seats should go out empty with numerous elites on the list
I'm on the 6:20 departure tonight JFK-LAX and seeing J0. My upgrade hasn't cleared so not very hopeful at this point but if they send out empty biz seats I'll definitely be pissed!
I'm on the 6:20 departure tonight JFK-LAX and seeing J0. My upgrade hasn't cleared so not very hopeful at this point but if they send out empty biz seats I'll definitely be pissed!
Feb 9, 2019, 6:43 am
#284
Suspended
Join Date: May 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: DL Diamond, AAdvantage EXP, Hyatt Explorist, HHonors Diamond, Avis First
Posts: 7,344
Was on the 10am JFK-LAX last Sunday and the aisle seat across from me went out empty in biz despite 15+ people on the upgrade list. Is this just a function of lazy GAs? If so that is ridiculous. None of those seats should go out empty with numerous elites on the list
I'm on the 6:20 departure tonight JFK-LAX and seeing J0. My upgrade hasn't cleared so not very hopeful at this point but if they send out empty biz seats I'll definitely be pissed!
I'm on the 6:20 departure tonight JFK-LAX and seeing J0. My upgrade hasn't cleared so not very hopeful at this point but if they send out empty biz seats I'll definitely be pissed!
Whether they do or not is another story :/
Feb 9, 2019, 9:25 am
#285
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: NYC
Programs: AA Explat / UA Silver
Posts: 598
Flew SFO-JFK this Wednesday (3:35P departure) and there were 26 on the upgrade list and J / F booked full... Thankfully I was in J, but do the SFO or LA from NYC a couple of times a month, and usually see 8-12 people on the gate list. 26 is a big number given how small the Y cabin is...