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Posts from 2014 through 2016 have been archived, and may be read here.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
Dec 14, 2017, 12:09 pm
#151
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: DCA
Posts: 7,769
Dec 14, 2017, 12:15 pm
#152
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: SAN
Programs: UA 1MM/1K, HH Diamond
Posts: 6,832
What I mean is a "UFG" - Upgrade For Cash - offer at check-in, e.g., $250. UA offers these regularly when premium cabin loads are light.
Dec 15, 2017, 1:37 am
#153
Join Date: Jan 2015
Programs: Alaska Gold 75K, AA EXP, United 1K
Posts: 472
got my first email today in awhile. And honestly pretty shocked as it was at t-100 for a transcon redeye. Don't think that has ever happened to me before and the J cabin while J7 was more than half booked. There is hope!
Dec 27, 2017, 10:51 am
#154
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: New York
Programs: AA Concierge Key, DL Silver, UA Silver, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Gold, Avis PC
Posts: 89
My 321T upgrade experience (both standard Exec Plat and as the transcon leg of a long-haul international itinerary) has been pretty good. Have never missed Y--J and get complimentary gate upgrades from (paid) J to F at least 50% of the time I buy a J class seat. Just recently upgraded around T+48 on an early evening post-Christmas JFK --> LAX. Exec Plat with <$15k in rolling 12mo EQD. AA.com seatmap had been showing 3 first class and 5 business class seats open a few hours before.
Dec 27, 2017, 11:02 am
#155
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 1,159
Dec 27, 2017, 11:53 am
#156
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 393
As a lowly plat, I have gotten the double lotto. Y->J cleared and J->F at the gate. Was an op-up as they told me my J seat was inoperable. Though I suppose they can roll some J to F if they need space in the back, it’s probably more the exception than the rule. Sounds like some mighty good luck
Dec 27, 2017, 12:08 pm
#157
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: LAX, LGB, SNA
Programs: AA EXP OWE, DL DM ST+, AS MVPG, UA, BA, WN CP, Hyatt E, Ritz Plat, HH GM
Posts: 3,185
Dec 28, 2017, 9:04 am
#158
Join Date: Dec 2016
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 214
Jan 21, 2018, 7:10 pm
#159
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: NYC
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP, DL Silver, Hyatt Diamond, SPG Gold, HHonor Gold, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 352
If I have the option to fly LAX-JFK vs SFO-JFK, which route offers better upgrade probability for EXP? LAX is more elite heavy but more flights, SFO relatively fewer elites but also fewer J supplies and more cash loaded tech and finance people?
Jan 21, 2018, 8:04 pm
#160
Moderator, Amtrak & Spirit Airlines
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: EWR :rolleyes:
Programs: AC 50K, AS MVP, AA Plat Pro, DL Plat, UA Silver, IHG Spire, Marriott Titanium, Hertz PC
Posts: 9,625
I think for both it really comes down to trying to fly at "off peak" times. Can you travel on a Saturday etc.
Jan 21, 2018, 8:14 pm
#161
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: NYC
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP, DL Silver, Hyatt Diamond, SPG Gold, HHonor Gold, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 352
Jan 22, 2018, 2:36 am
#162
Join Date: Jan 2015
Programs: Alaska Gold 75K, AA EXP, United 1K
Posts: 472
Would probably depend on the day. Unfortunately SFO only has one afternoon flight and loads vary quite a bit. Lax runs 3-4 depending on when in the afternoon you can leave, but those also get pretty full. How far out is your travel date? If in the next week or two I would check actual loads. If further out and optimizing for chance of upgrade is important I would probably wait a bit to book until it's 1-2 weeks out and even a week out these flights frequently can fill in the last week. One possibility is booking out of LAX and doing a SDC to the flight with the most J availibility. Of course that requires Y loads to be light enough they open E.
Jan 31, 2018, 5:45 am
#163
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: NYC
Programs: AA EXP, SPG Plat, Marriott Silver, HH Gold
Posts: 797
Personally I have had pretty good luck on LAX-JFK vv routes. Was surprised recently to clear in advance on an SWU on the return LAX-JFK, but it was a Tuesday red-eye (cleared two days in advance, no upgrade notification by email or app but got email indicating ticket re-issue). I was also able to SDC to the one later red-eye and it had C space.
As reported before, on the JFK-LAX portion there was C available at booking.
As reported before, on the JFK-LAX portion there was C available at booking.
Jan 31, 2018, 9:25 am
#164
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: SNA
Programs: AA EXP, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, IHG Plat, Marriott Gold, National EE
Posts: 1,204
Just booked a vacation in August and C space was...sparse. Had to adjust to a Tuesday redeye LAX-JFK and the last flight on Monday JFK-LAX. Not ideal timing!
Jan 31, 2018, 10:40 am
#165
Suspended
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Location: NYC
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Posts: 7,344
I used a new trick for me. LAX-JFK last week was looking like a tight UPG, so I did SDC to an earlier flight which looked to be J7 and about an hour later my UPG came through on the earlier flight.