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Posts from 2014 through 2016 have been archived, and may be read here.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
Jul 11, 2019, 5:38 pm
#421
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: USA
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Posts: 1,573
This should be filed under the "least substantive thing you can complain about" thread.
Jul 11, 2019, 8:29 pm
#422
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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What makes this complaint so disingenuous is it isn't even AA specific. Upgrades for one cabin class (Y to J OR J to F) using an instrument is an industry standard. I am not aware of any airline on earth where there is an upgrade instrument that will get you from Y to F when there is a J cabin. Nor am I aware of any airline that advertises complimentary J to F upgrades for elites as an elite benefit (complimentary Y to J is only a common program benefit on US domestic flights).
This should be filed under the "least substantive thing you can complain about" thread.
This should be filed under the "least substantive thing you can complain about" thread.
AA actually has a very generous transcon upgrade policy, so for all their warts, this isnt where I would be complaining.
Jul 11, 2019, 9:01 pm
#423
Join Date: Nov 2018
Programs: Global Entry
Posts: 125
Is multiple FAs stopping by to chat with a (fairly young by flyertalk standards) pax in F cabin on a three-cabin flight for several minutes at cruising altitude a good indicator that the pax is an airline employee who was handed down the F seat by AA?
Jul 11, 2019, 11:04 pm
#424
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: NYC/PHX
Programs: IATA, Sabre, AvgeekAgent
Posts: 1,958
Could be a non-rev (not necessarily an employee) or a frequent F customer. I'd hesitate to use the phrase "handed down" as it suggests a giveaway of some sort rather than a perk offered in accordance with company policy only when there are no revenue passengers willing to purchase the product.
Last edited by NYC Flyer; Jul 11, 2019 at 11:04 pm Reason: clarification
Jul 12, 2019, 3:06 am
#425
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: DL: Silver; AA: EX PLAT; UA: Silver; HY: DIA; HH: DIA; MR: TIT
Posts: 1,708
What makes this complaint so disingenuous is it isn't even AA specific. Upgrades for one cabin class (Y to J OR J to F) using an instrument is an industry standard. I am not aware of any airline on earth where there is an upgrade instrument that will get you from Y to F when there is a J cabin. Nor am I aware of any airline that advertises complimentary J to F upgrades for elites as an elite benefit (complimentary Y to J is only a common program benefit on US domestic flights).
This should be filed under the "least substantive thing you can complain about" thread.
This should be filed under the "least substantive thing you can complain about" thread.
Jul 12, 2019, 3:08 am
#426
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: DL: Silver; AA: EX PLAT; UA: Silver; HY: DIA; HH: DIA; MR: TIT
Posts: 1,708
Yes, that was exactly what I was suggesting. OK - sarcasm off.
Jul 12, 2019, 3:10 am
#427
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: DL: Silver; AA: EX PLAT; UA: Silver; HY: DIA; HH: DIA; MR: TIT
Posts: 1,708
Could be a non-rev (not necessarily an employee) or a frequent F customer. I'd hesitate to use the phrase "handed down" as it suggests a giveaway of some sort rather than a perk offered in accordance with company policy only when there are no revenue passengers willing to purchase the product.
Jul 12, 2019, 7:23 am
#428
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Midwest USA
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Jul 12, 2019, 8:03 am
#429
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: DL: Silver; AA: EX PLAT; UA: Silver; HY: DIA; HH: DIA; MR: TIT
Posts: 1,708
At this point, I just wish AA would allow those who paid for J to use "sticker" upgrades into F. That would likely result in many more J to F upgrades than occur nowadays due to requirement for SWU or miles. This should dramatically reduce the non-rev in F problem while providing Ex Plats (and other elites) more opportunities to upgrade into J. Problem solved!
Jul 12, 2019, 12:20 pm
#430
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: AS 100K, AA EXP, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 294
Yes, we sure did!
At this point, I just wish AA would allow those who paid for J to use "sticker" upgrades into F. That would likely result in many more J to F upgrades than occur nowadays due to requirement for SWU or miles. This should dramatically reduce the non-rev in F problem while providing Ex Plats (and other elites) more opportunities to upgrade into J. Problem solved!
At this point, I just wish AA would allow those who paid for J to use "sticker" upgrades into F. That would likely result in many more J to F upgrades than occur nowadays due to requirement for SWU or miles. This should dramatically reduce the non-rev in F problem while providing Ex Plats (and other elites) more opportunities to upgrade into J. Problem solved!
Jul 20, 2019, 8:34 pm
#431
Join Date: May 2017
Location: LAX
Programs: AA EXP, SPG Amb
Posts: 38
I had my first LAX-JFK-LAX round trip during regular business commute hours last week and was upgraded on both flights as an EXP with about 25k rolling EQD. Monday morning 7am flight cleared four pax to J at the gate. Thursday evening 8pm flight I was upgraded to J at 100 hours, and actually op-up'd to F at boarding. I was not expecting much based on reports in this thread. Did I just get lucky last week?
Jul 20, 2019, 10:11 pm
#432
Join Date: Jan 2015
Programs: Alaska Gold 75K, AA EXP, United 1K
Posts: 472
I had my first LAX-JFK-LAX round trip during regular business commute hours last week and was upgraded on both flights as an EXP with about 25k rolling EQD. Monday morning 7am flight cleared four pax to J at the gate. Thursday evening 8pm flight I was upgraded to J at 100 hours, and actually op-up'd to F at boarding. I was not expecting much based on reports in this thread. Did I just get lucky last week?
Jul 26, 2019, 5:49 pm
#433
Join Date: May 2017
Location: LAX
Programs: AA EXP, SPG Amb
Posts: 38
I would say the Monday morning upgrade is nice but not out of what I would expect. The double upgrade is very rare on a paid Y ticket. On Paid J it happens time to time due to overbooking in Y but I’m surprised there weren’t enough paid J that they didn’t all get upgraded before you. Paid J loads are usually quite good JFK-LAX especially on a Thursday evening.
Jul 27, 2019, 8:40 am
#434
Join Date: Nov 2008
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Apologies if this has been discussed elsewhere but i'm new to this forum. Looking at booking business from JFK-SFO in August. I have 20 500-mile upgrades. It wasn't clear on AA.com that I could use those 500-mile upgrades to book into Flagship First. It seems from the Wiki that I could but depends on availability closer in. Is that right?
Jul 27, 2019, 9:23 am
#435
Join Date: Apr 2009
Programs: American EXP; British Airways Gold
Posts: 1,896
Apologies if this has been discussed elsewhere but i'm new to this forum. Looking at booking business from JFK-SFO in August. I have 20 500-mile upgrades. It wasn't clear on AA.com that I could use those 500-mile upgrades to book into Flagship First. It seems from the Wiki that I could but depends on availability closer in. Is that right?
However, you could potentially move to First using miles + copay upgrade on your paid business-class seat.