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 theres good availability until close to departure, and its 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Posts from 2014 through 2016 have been archived, and may be read here.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 theres good availability until close to departure, and its 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 27, 2017, 3:22 pm
#106
Join Date: Dec 2016
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 214
Or you can call AA and tell them you want to buy-up to F and they will charge you the fare difference without a change fee
Jul 27, 2017, 3:35 pm
#107
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: San Jose, CA
Programs: CX Diamond, AA CK (quit 2018), Starwood Platinum, National EXC Elite
Posts: 283
[QUOTE=Finsup72;28616512]I have never seen a buy-up offer, but if there's A class available, then you can call AA and use miles + co-pay to confirm an upgrade from J --> F.
I had a buy up offer a while back - $250. These days in my observations F, is not much more than J to just buy outright, and it is so much better.
I had a buy up offer a while back - $250. These days in my observations F, is not much more than J to just buy outright, and it is so much better.
Jul 27, 2017, 5:11 pm
#108
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: SAN
Programs: UA 1MM/1K, HH Diamond
Posts: 6,831
I have never seen a buy-up offer, but if there's A class available, then you can call AA and use miles + co-pay to confirm an upgrade from J --> F.
Or you can call AA and tell them you want to buy-up to F and they will charge you the fare difference without a change fee
Or you can call AA and tell them you want to buy-up to F and they will charge you the fare difference without a change fee
For $250 we'd do it. Between the new Flagship dining experience at JFK, and the fact that we always enjoy trying new products, it's worth a premium. Just not $600 a person...
Jul 27, 2017, 8:26 pm
#109
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: SFO/MIA/JFK
Programs: AA EXP/*wood Plat/Hilton Gold/Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 289
JFK --> SFO on Monday July 24 at 7am had an upgrade list of 26 people from Y --> J. Gate agent came on board to upgrade #1 on the list but many EPs stuck in coach
Jul 28, 2017, 8:28 am
#112
Join Date: May 2011
Location: NYC (LGA, JFK), CT
Programs: Delta Platinum, American Gold, JetBlue Mosaic 4, Marriott Platinum, Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Diamond,
Posts: 4,893
Delta and United don't even offer upgrades on this route. JetBlue (the darling on these routes) doesn't offer upgrades at all to my knowledge. Frankly pricing for J and F for these flights is pretty cheap relative to the quality of the product and length of flight time. If you book far enough out, you can buy a flagship lounge access, a lie flat seat, drinks and a meal, and in-cabin entertainment for $700 or so each way with a J ticket. You also get 5,000 EQM each way.
Jul 30, 2017, 7:46 pm
#113
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: NYC
Programs: AA EXP, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 2
Cleared 60hrs out
Cleared AA177 JFK -> SFO Y -> J on a Sunday ~60hrs out. Granted, this is the weekend and not elite heavy....but still was nice to get the early upgrade and enjoy the new Flagship Lounge @ JFK.
Jul 30, 2017, 8:58 pm
#114
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
Delta and United don't even offer upgrades on this route. JetBlue (the darling on these routes) doesn't offer upgrades at all to my knowledge. Frankly pricing for J and F for these flights is pretty cheap relative to the quality of the product and length of flight time. If you book far enough out, you can buy a flagship lounge access, a lie flat seat, drinks and a meal, and in-cabin entertainment for $700 or so each way with a J ticket. You also get 5,000 EQM each way.
Jul 31, 2017, 8:32 am
#115
Suspended
Join Date: May 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: DL Diamond, AAdvantage EXP, Hyatt Explorist, HHonors Diamond, Avis First
Posts: 7,344
Jul 31, 2017, 4:38 pm
#116
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
Jul 31, 2017, 4:56 pm
#117
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Vail, CO
Programs: AA EXP/1mm, Marriott Titanium/LT Gold, UA Silver
Posts: 626
You can gain admission to the AC/FL on a Y booked ticket upgraded to J? I thought upgrades do not count for admission...
Jul 31, 2017, 5:04 pm
#118
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: 9,613
I don't think many EXPs expect to clear the premium transcons with any regularity. Flights like ORD-RAP sure...but not JFK-LAX/SFO all the time. Certainly not on Monday morning.
Jul 31, 2017, 5:12 pm
#119
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Thousand Oaks, Ca., USA
Programs: AA Lifetime Plat; Bonvoy Titanium Lifetime Elite;Hyatt Globalist; HHonors Diamond; United Silver
Posts: 8,311
Jul 31, 2017, 5:15 pm
#120
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: NYC
Posts: 27,227
I think there was a brief time where 3-class transcon F Flagship Lounge access was only for F or Z booking codes (full fare or award); I don't remember if this also applied for business class access to the Admirals Club. In any event, that restriction didn't last too long, and is long gone.