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Posts from 2014 through 2016 have been archived, and may be read here.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
Jun 26, 2019, 11:13 am
#407
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: NYC / MIA
Programs: AA Exec Plat
Posts: 22
Jun 26, 2019, 11:48 am
#408
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 12,483
If you are flying LAX/SFO-JFK, then AA business is the best. Definitely not worth flying 1,000 miles out of your way to get CX business, especially as this is an overnight redeye flight, and would require separate tickets.
Jun 26, 2019, 12:21 pm
#409
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
Could be PDX/SEA based
If you are flying YVR-JFK, then CX business is the best. Definitely not worth flying 1,000 miles out of your way to get on AA 321T business via LAX/SFO, especially as this is an overnight redeye flight.
If you are flying LAX/SFO-JFK, then AA business is the best. Definitely not worth flying 1,000 miles out of your way to get CX business, especially as this is an overnight redeye flight, and would require separate tickets.
If you are flying LAX/SFO-JFK, then AA business is the best. Definitely not worth flying 1,000 miles out of your way to get CX business, especially as this is an overnight redeye flight, and would require separate tickets.
Jul 9, 2019, 11:57 am
#410
Join Date: Jul 2014
Programs: AA EXP, SPG PLT
Posts: 4
I need to fly LAX-JFK redeye on a thursday in August, hoping to upgrade from Y to J. Any thoughts on which of the 3 flights might be the best bet? AA 10 at 9:45, AA 28 at 11:00, and AA 292 at 12:30.
I am EXP, but no SWU's left, so I'm guessing mileage upgrade is the way to go? Has anyone gotten a comp upgrade in the summertime on a thursday? I have done it in the past but it was years ago.
I am EXP, but no SWU's left, so I'm guessing mileage upgrade is the way to go? Has anyone gotten a comp upgrade in the summertime on a thursday? I have done it in the past but it was years ago.
Jul 9, 2019, 12:02 pm
#411
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: AS 100K, AA EXP, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 298
I need to fly LAX-JFK redeye on a thursday in August, hoping to upgrade from Y to J. Any thoughts on which of the 3 flights might be the best bet? AA 10 at 9:45, AA 28 at 11:00, and AA 292 at 12:30.
I am EXP, but no SWU's left, so I'm guessing mileage upgrade is the way to go? Has anyone gotten a comp upgrade in the summertime on a thursday? I have done it in the past but it was years ago.
I am EXP, but no SWU's left, so I'm guessing mileage upgrade is the way to go? Has anyone gotten a comp upgrade in the summertime on a thursday? I have done it in the past but it was years ago.
Even better would be to hedge by booking through Amex travel (if you have Amex Plat) with one of their special fares that you can change with no AA fees. If J capacity drops on the flight you chose, you can always choose to move later to another one if you think the fare difference is worth it.
Jul 11, 2019, 1:04 pm
#412
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Los Angeles& Telluride
Programs: UA1K, 1MM,AA Exec. Platinum, Global Entry, Nexus
Posts: 731
Upgrades on LAX-JFK Biz to F, Coach to Biz???
Hi All,
I'm hopeful that this has not fully been answered. If so, please forgive in advance. I'm flying to JFK in a few weeks. I'm currently in coach. I'm an Exec Plat and I've asked AA Exec Plat desk to put me on the miles upgrade list so that I can get ahead of the complimentary upgrades. I noticed that there are 8 unfilled seats in F and 7 unfilled seats in biz. Can anyone speak to at what point in time does AA start to upgrade people? I know that they want to sell the seats first, second and third. If I didn't see huge availability I wouldn't be posting. Also, on this three-cabin flight have people in Biz been getting upgraded to F or they will fly with those seats empty?
I'm hopeful that this has not fully been answered. If so, please forgive in advance. I'm flying to JFK in a few weeks. I'm currently in coach. I'm an Exec Plat and I've asked AA Exec Plat desk to put me on the miles upgrade list so that I can get ahead of the complimentary upgrades. I noticed that there are 8 unfilled seats in F and 7 unfilled seats in biz. Can anyone speak to at what point in time does AA start to upgrade people? I know that they want to sell the seats first, second and third. If I didn't see huge availability I wouldn't be posting. Also, on this three-cabin flight have people in Biz been getting upgraded to F or they will fly with those seats empty?
Jul 11, 2019, 1:15 pm
#413
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SEA, but up and down the coast a lot
Programs: Oceanic Airlines Gold Elite
Posts: 20,392
The F seats might not fly empty because AA employees can waitlist into those seats if they aren't sold and nobody is upgrading from J into them.
Jul 11, 2019, 1:44 pm
#414
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Los Angeles& Telluride
Programs: UA1K, 1MM,AA Exec. Platinum, Global Entry, Nexus
Posts: 731
Once again forgive the stupid question. I have a ton of different instruments to use for upgrade. Since its so rare to fly three cabin aircraft these days, does anyone know if you can go from economy to first using different modes of upgrades?
Jul 11, 2019, 2:00 pm
#415
Join Date: Dec 2016
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 214
You cannot go from Y-->F using upgrade instruments. You can only be upgraded one cabin Y-->J or J-->F. In the rare instance, you can be double upgraded due to an oversell (e.g. I purchased a coach ticket to Asia, upgraded using a SWU, and then received an operational upgrade at the gate from J-->F since Y was oversold). This is pretty rare though and you'd have to get very lucky.
Jul 11, 2019, 2:01 pm
#416
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: IND/MEX
Programs: AA PPro BA Bronze SPG Gold HH GLD Hyatt Exp
Posts: 1,134
No, not unless you get an OPUP.
Jul 11, 2019, 2:44 pm
#418
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: DL: Silver; AA: EX PLAT; UA: Silver; HY: DIA; HH: DIA; MR: TIT
Posts: 1,708
Sadly, you will likely stay in coach. J will likely be in full with at most a token upgrade or two available. AA is happier to give F seats to its employees and let paying customers sit in coach. Sad!
Jul 11, 2019, 3:52 pm
#419
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: The FT AA forum, until it no longer wants me.
Programs: CK or bust
Posts: 1,913
Jul 11, 2019, 4:08 pm
#420
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SEA, but up and down the coast a lot
Programs: Oceanic Airlines Gold Elite
Posts: 20,392
Paying customers of course have the choice to pay to sit in first class, or pay for business class and use an upgrade instrument or miles to go to first class, both of which I bet would make AA happier than giving that employee that F seat.