Dec 5, 2014, 11:27 pm
Last edit by: JDiver
NOTE: Changed flight numbers from 137 / 138 to AA 125 / 126 Nov 2016
This thread is for the discussion of upgrades (using systemwide upgrades /SWUs or mileage+ copay) for the DFW-HKG route.
General discussion about the new DFW-PVG and DFW-HKG routes can be found here: DFW-PVG and DFW-HKG Starting Summer 2014 [route discussion]
Discussion and questions about flight experiences on the DFW-HKG flights can be found here: 77W DFW-HKG AA 137 / 138 flight experiences, questions
DFW-HKG AA 125 / 126 77W Upgrade Chances & Waitlist Discussion
Aug 7, 2018, 12:12 pm
#2206
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Austin
Programs: AA EXP +2MM- LT PLT! HH Diamond
Posts: 6,087
I've been fortunate enough to use my SWU for the SFO-LAX-HKG-LAX-SFO routes pretty steadily thus far. Looking to go later this month and see that PE is now officially on the flight and seats are available for the picking.. Most likely, it's going to be a J-> F upgrade around for me though. I'll even accept the SFO-DFW-HKG-DFW-SFO routing if it gets me the upgrades.
Aug 8, 2018, 4:47 am
#2207
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: San Francisco
Programs: AA EXP; Marriott BonVoy Titanium Elite, Marriott LT Plat.
Posts: 1,717
All is well here in chilly northern CA. Hopefully that will change later this month as it tends to finally and consistently warm up for us that live close to the Bay.
Oct 2, 2018, 12:05 pm
#2209
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: ORD [formerly] + HKG
Programs: CX Diamond, AA exExPlat, BAEC exGold, HH Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, Starriott Titanium, GE
Posts: 2,966
Oct 10, 2018, 1:59 pm
#2210
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Colorado 50% of the time
Programs: American Plat Exec
Posts: 5
I tried to UPG this time last year. I am Platinum. When I left my home, there were 11 "unassigned seats" in Business, and the Platinum desk thought I would be able to UPG at the gate. But gate agent wouldn't let me - claimed that all inventory had gone to Platinum Execs ahead of me. Hoped to UPG on return from HKG, because of low load factors, but found that AA had cancelled previous day's flight (blaming strong winds, which really did not exist), thus no room to upgrade. I find it amazing how airlines can decide to inconvenience passengers when it suits them, but if we have an emergency, and we bought anything other than full fare, our monies are forfeit. Contracts of Carriage are effectively worthless.
Oct 10, 2018, 3:58 pm
#2211
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: NYC
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 1,372
I tried to UPG this time last year. I am Platinum. When I left my home, there were 11 "unassigned seats" in Business, and the Platinum desk thought I would be able to UPG at the gate. But gate agent wouldn't let me - claimed that all inventory had gone to Platinum Execs ahead of me. Hoped to UPG on return from HKG, because of low load factors, but found that AA had cancelled previous day's flight (blaming strong winds, which really did not exist), thus no room to upgrade. I find it amazing how airlines can decide to inconvenience passengers when it suits them, but if we have an emergency, and we bought anything other than full fare, our monies are forfeit. Contracts of Carriage are effectively worthless.
11 unassigned seats doesn't mean 11 available for sale, never mind 11 available for upgrade. In fact, I would be very surprised if on the day of departure, 11 seats in J were available for purchase. And any upgrades into J would rightly have gone to Executive Platinum or Concierge Key members before they were made available to you.
Jan 25, 2019, 6:38 pm
#2213
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: San Francisco
Programs: AA EXP; Marriott BonVoy Titanium Elite, Marriott LT Plat.
Posts: 1,717
CNY festival goers perhaps. I know I had plans to be going in fours days myself. Plans were to have a little pre-cruise vacation in HKG before boarding cruise ship that would be arriving in HKG on Feb 5th.
Nov 13, 2019, 8:34 am
#2215
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: San Diego US and Brisbane AU
Programs: AA EXP/2MM - DL PM - OZ Diamond - Bonvoy LTT - Hyatt Glob - IHG Plat - National EE - Sixt Platinum
Posts: 1,315
I'm at T-5 days now for HKG-DFW and J seats available for sale went from 10+ seats a few weeks ago to ~5-6 seats, to only 1 seat left today. EXP with about 20-22k rolling EQD, but I don't think I'll make this one...
Not sure it would have made a difference, but I wish I had checked the SWU request in my trip/itinerary earlier though. I had initially requested it months ago but only found out several weeks after that the EXP agent didn't put me on the waitlist correctly... lesson learned!
Nov 13, 2019, 8:44 am
#2216
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Roswell, GA
Programs: AA EXP 2.8m,Lifetime PLT, Hilton Diamond, IHG PlLT, SPG Gold
Posts: 3,193
had no problem going for J to F (3x this year, at time of booking usually 2 months out)
found some deals in J for under $2000, and I understand that F on AA is not the best when you compare to F on other OW airlines.. but needed to use SWU's.
just to note: coach on that routing was $1600...
found some deals in J for under $2000, and I understand that F on AA is not the best when you compare to F on other OW airlines.. but needed to use SWU's.
just to note: coach on that routing was $1600...
Nov 13, 2019, 12:38 pm
#2217
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: San Francisco
Programs: AA EXP; Marriott BonVoy Titanium Elite, Marriott LT Plat.
Posts: 1,717
Yeah, I've never had an issue clearing waitlists for LAX-HKG and HKG-LAX, usually clearing anywhere from several weeks prior, to T-72 -- my SWU percentage is 100% for those routes.
I'm at T-5 days now for HKG-DFW and J seats available for sale went from 10+ seats a few weeks ago to ~5-6 seats, to only 1 seat left today. EXP with about 20-22k rolling EQD, but I don't think I'll make this one...
Not sure it would have made a difference, but I wish I had checked the SWU request in my trip/itinerary earlier though. I had initially requested it months ago but only found out several weeks after that the EXP agent didn't put me on the waitlist correctly... lesson learned!
I'm at T-5 days now for HKG-DFW and J seats available for sale went from 10+ seats a few weeks ago to ~5-6 seats, to only 1 seat left today. EXP with about 20-22k rolling EQD, but I don't think I'll make this one...
Not sure it would have made a difference, but I wish I had checked the SWU request in my trip/itinerary earlier though. I had initially requested it months ago but only found out several weeks after that the EXP agent didn't put me on the waitlist correctly... lesson learned!
Good Luck!! Leaving today LAX-HKG and returning perhaps the day after you... Still waiting for the SWU to clear..
Nov 13, 2019, 2:34 pm
#2218
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: New York City + Vail, CO
Programs: American Airlines Executive Platinum, Marriott Bonvoy Ambassador Elite
Posts: 3,226
I’m about to do an inter-Asia flight from Osaka to Hong Kong to LAX and I’m really freaked out about the political situation there right now.
Nov 14, 2019, 6:35 am
#2219
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: AUS
Programs: BAEC Gold, AA PPro, Hyatt Globalist, Amex Plat
Posts: 7,043
Regards
Nov 14, 2019, 6:58 am
#2220
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: KHOU/KIAH
Programs: AA EXP | Marriott Bonvoy Titanium| Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 11,257
Ummm... why? It's highly, highly unlikely to impact the airport at this point. It's not impossible of course, but extra security, etc. was put in place at the airport and to my knowledge no further impact has occurred. We just flew LAX-HKG-DPS round trip a couple weeks ago and noticed nothing, whatsoever, during transit through HKG.
Regards
Regards