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FAQ: What's a Systemwide Upgrade / SWU / VIP and how to use? (Master thread)

Old Dec 12, 2015, 8:55 pm
FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides
Last edit by: Prospero
FAQ: What's a Systemwide Upgrade SWU (ex-VIP / VIPOW / "eVIP") 2017 on
Please read this wiki for important information not documented elsewhere.
NOTE: CHANGES

NOTE: SWUs are no longer automatically awarded upon achieving Platinum Pro (PP) or Executive Platinum (EXP) status. Starting in the 2021 calendar year, AA switched to Elite Choice Awards. When a member achieves PP status, the member earns one Elite Choice Award. If the member goes on to achieve EXP status, the member earns two additional elite choice awards. Each elite choice award can be redeemed until 12/31 of the following year (example: a member who reaches PP in July 2021 has until December 31, 2022 to redeem the elite choice award). A PP elite choice award can be redeemed for one SWU or other choices; each EXP elite choice award can be redeemed for two SWUs or other choices. Therefore, a member who reaches EXP can choose from one to five SWUs. When an elite choice award is redeemed for one or two SWUs, the SWU(s) are immediately deposited, and expire one year from the day they are deposited.

NOTE: SWUs awarded in 2019 expiring 31 Jan 2021 have been extended through 31 July 2021; this is now reflected in online accounts.

NOTE: Upgrade waitlist priority is 1) Status, followed by 2) type of upgrade, 3)Rolling EQD earning for last 365 days as of 20 May 2017. Link to FT thread.
  • Executive Platinum members receive an additional two SWUs (or may choose bonus miles or to gift status) when they reach 120,000, 160,000 and 200,000 EQMs in 2021 (which includes January and February 2022).
(No further SWUs are forthcoming at 250,000 EQM or after, though CK often have access to two more.)

Remember: EQM earning will vary from 0 to 3.0 EQM per base mile, based on eligible fare class and marketing airline, on EQM earning fares.

As of January 2017

"The way your upgrade request is prioritized is you'll be listed according to your elite status level followed by (the type of upgrade - SWU and Upgrade Award, aka miles + copay), the number of EQD (Elite Qualifying Dollars) earned in the (rolling) last 12 months."

Upgrades are prioritized first by the following elite status levels:

Concierge Key SM (up to 120 hours out)
Executive Platinum (up to 100 hours out)
Platinum Pro (up to 72 hours out)
Platinum (up to 48 hours out)
Gold (up to 24 hours out)

After status tier, upgrades are prioritized by the type of upgrade (SWU and miles + copay before 500 Mile e-upgrades / UDU; your last 12 months' Elite Qualifying Dollar spend on AA. See FAQ: Earning EQD / Elite Qualifying Dollars on AA and partner airlines (2017 on) (EQD will include the EQD offset one might earn from spend on their Barclaycard Aviator Red or Silver card, as announced elsewhere in this forum.)

Date of request has no bearing on upgrade priority other than after all other priorities have been met and theres a highly unlikely tie.

From AA.com... "Before you get to the airport, requests for systemwide and mileage award upgrades are processed independently from 500-mile upgrade requests.

At the airport, upgrades requested will be prioritized in this order:
  1. Status tier (CK, EXP, PPRO, PLT, GLD, no status)
  2. Upgrade type
    • Systemwide and mileage + copay upgrades
    • 500-mile upgrades on purchased tickets
    • 500-mile upgrades on award tickets for eligible status tiers
  3. Rolling last 12 month EQD spend
  4. Fare booking code (highest to lowest )
  5. Date/time of the request
  6. Load Factor Based Upgrades (after all other upgrade requests have been fulfilled)

See: https://www.aa.com/i18n/aadvantage-p...am-updates.jsp

Systemwide Upgrade FAQ:

Q. What are Systemwide Upgrades, exactly?


Electronic Systemwide Upgrades, abbreviated SWU, also previously referred to as eVIPs or VIPs, are electronic instruments earned as stated previously. SWU generally allow the owner to upgrade up to three segments, more or less in the same direction, on any flights AA flies with their own aircraft (not valid on partners or codeshares -- flights must be marketed and operated by AA), on most paid, published fares to the next class of service. (Successful upgrades on a single SWU include EZE-MIA-JFK-LHR, NRT-LAX-DFW-LHR.)

Q. When do SWU clear?
Upgrades can clear immediately if the appropriate inventory is available (e.g., Coach to Business (and domestic First on two class aircraft) requires "C" class to be available, Business to First requires "A" class to be available). Otherwise, SWU may be waitlisted in priority of AAdvantage status, followed by last 12 months EQD spend (and within those, by fare class if they are full fare Y).

Q. Can I use SWU on codeshares operated by AA?
No. (Though 001 AA ticketing is not a requirement), the flight must be marketed and operated by AA.

Q. Are any fare classes ineligible / invalid for SWU upgrades?
Some government and consolidator fares may not be upgraded. Award flights may not be upgraded with SWU. See post #683 by JonNYC:

Invalid (for SWU upgrade)
  • Military fares*
  • Government fares*
  • Agency/industry discounts
  • Employee travel booked in E
  • AAdvantage/promotion free or companion tickets
  • Ticket designators that require a certificate (CEN20, etc.) - contact MSD to verify
  • MSD Site products (ticket designator SITE)
  • CAT25/CAT25 Group Fares for MCLA
  • Charter flights
  • Infant tickets
  • Purchased extra seats (one passenger)
  • Opaque fares
  • Award tickets

*The reason for not allowing SWU / eVIP upgrades to be used in conjunction with a military/government fare is not based on the fare level (although they are discounted), but rather it is based on the full flexibility those fares provide. Military/government fares provide a huge benefit to the customer already in that they can be booked at the last minute and canceled or changed with no advance notice and no penalties. As such, they are not allowed to be used in conjunction with a SWU.

Can I still make use of my SWU and credit the flight(s) to another airline?
You are not supposed to. If switching from AAdvantage to another scheme's FFN, please be aware: Benefitting from a privilege granted for your AAdvantage status and changing your FFN to earn on another airline is generally prohibited by AAdvantage Terms and Conditions. Doing so might risk that benefit (e.g. upgrade).

From the AAdvantage Terms and Conditions (link)

Q. Can I see SWU eligible flights on aa.com? If not, where?
aa.com will show if a flight has SWU availability, provided the member is logged in and has sufficient SWUs in their account. One can see required inventory (A or C) using ExpertFlyer Upgrade and Award query (not Flight Availability query) or other tools.

Q. What is the priority order for SWU wait list clearing?
Priority for wait listing is based first on AAdvantage status of requestor, then by rolling EQD earning during las 12 months; within those criteria, full fare (J or Y) trumps discounted fares.

NOTE: once the booking goes to airport control you may have to request your SWU request be reactivated. Those travel companions previously prioritized by the sponsor's status no longer revert to their own status at airport control.

Q. How do I know if my SWU request has been waitlisted?
The app as well as the web page shows requested and confirmed upgrades.

If my SWU clears on AA but the flights is cancelled or delayed, and I get put on another AA or partner flight, will my upgrade be preserved / honored?

On AA and Joint Business Venture partners (AY, BA, IB, JL, QF), AA will attempt to honor the upgrade. On other airline partners it is unlikely.

Q. Can I gift SWUs to others, and will my or their status apply?
You may certainly gift SWU to others. They will have to provide you their information, including PNR, and you will have to call it in. Your status can carry over to one traveling companion (on your itinerary) until the SWU passes to airport control; otherwise, SWU priority will depend on the user's AAdvantage status followed by date of upgrade request.

Q. What if I apply a SWU to a traveling companion?
They will borrow your status if they are flying as your single traveling companion on the same flights. Otherwise, their status will determine their position on the upgrade wait list. This "borrowed" status was previously lost once the flight has gone to airport control; it doesnt now, but it pays to check and see if it has been mismanaged by software - it can be restored when it has passed to airport control.

Q. Can I sell or purchase SWUs to / from others (e.g. on eBay or CraigsList)?
While SWU may be gifted to others, AAdvantage rules prohibit selling / purchasing, trading or bartering various instruments, including SWU. A sold SWU will, if caught by AA Corporate Security AAdvantage Fraud (and they actively seek these out), cause SWU / upgrade cancellation at minimum and may even include closing the seller's account with forfeiture of miles, upgrade instruments and even elite status.


Further useful details about using SWU

● Members who achieve Platinum Pro (PP) status receive one Elite Choice Award, which may be redeemed for one SWU (among other choices). Members who achieve PP between 1/1/2021 and 2/28/2022 have until 12/31/2022 to redeem the Elite Choice Award. If an SWU is chosen, the SWU is immediately deposited and expires one year from the date deposited.

● Members who achieve Executive Platinum (EXP) status receive two Elite Choice Awards, each of which may be redeemed for two SWUs (among other choices). Members who achieve EXP between 1/1/2021 and 2/28/2022 have until 12/31/2022 to redeem their Elite Choice Awards. If two SWUs are chosen for an award, the SWUs are immediately deposited and expire one year from the date deposited.

● Members who reach 120,000, 160,000 or 200,000 EQMs between 1/1/2021 and 2/28/2022 may choose two SWUs (or additional redeemable miles or a gift of status) upon reaching 120,000, 160,000 and 200,000 EQMs.

Two SWUs (more) are earned by Concierge Key members.

Four SWUs are earned by those crossing Million Miler thresholds of 2MM and every Million Miles milestone thereafter.

● SWUs may be transferred or gifted (not bargained, bartered or sold) to anyone the owner chooses - the owner must authorize the transfer and provide at minimum the designated person's name, frequent flyer #, and PNR. Note fees and taxes may be due, such as APD / Air Passenger Duty due for flights originating in the UK (or with connections exceeding 23:59).

● AA tends to protect passengers granted upgrades with SWUs if IROPS move them to other oneworld flights, particularly JBV partners (AA, AY, BA, IB, JL, preserving already granted upgrades (not waitlisted).

● N.B. A customer may use an SWU to upgrade a flight that departs after the SWU's expiration date, provided the SWU clears (the upgrade is confirmed) and the ticket is (re)issued before the SWU expires. (Previously this had been allowed only for 'high value' customers). See for example:

https://thepointsguy.com/news/americ...wide-upgrades/

● N.B. In the good old days, if there were not sufficient C space (e.g., a party of three but only two upgrades available), agents could ask Revenue Management to release an additional seat, which revenue management sometimes would. This is no longer done, even for CK.

● If you don't want to wait list your SWU so that it automatically encumbered when a domestic segment becomes available for upgrade, but only want the domestic segments to clear if the international segment clears, ask the AA EP agent to waitlist the international portion but "DSR" the domestic segments; that way, the domestic segments will only clear if the international segment clears. Note: it's possible that the domestic segment has SWU upgrade inventory initially, but by the time the international flight becomes available to upgrade, availability is gone on the domestic flight.

● SWU application can include co-terminals: JonNYC, post #601: "This is the current list of MAC airports, and, as far as I understand it, are generally recognized for revenue tickets including SWU application to same:
  • WAS (DCA, IAD)
  • DFW (DFW, DAL)
  • HOU (HOU, IAH)
  • NYC (JFK, LGA) (I think there is a separate rule that says EWR is always part of NYC for this purpose as well)
  • LON (LGW, LHR, STN)
  • SLU (UVF, SLU)
  • TYO (HND, NRT)

UK Air Passenger Duty / APD for LHR/UK departures: (Often incorrectly called "Luxury tax"): Departing from the UK (or on a layover of 24:00 or longer via the U.K.), you'll be charged the full APD (the lowest cabin class - usually economy - pays only half APD). This applies for upgrades to business only. Upgrading business to first doesn't incur this, (since your business ticket already included the full APD). This does not apply TO the U.K. or to connecting in under 24:00 in the U.K. Other airports may impose other taxes, e.g. HKG is USD $2.80.

● Through (two flights with the same flight number, or through flights with stops) flights pose challenges insofar as upgrade availability must exist on all sectors. You may have to call AA to use a SWU on through flights.


Suggested reading:

aa.com: SYSTEMWIDE UPGRADES AND FAQS

FlyerTalk: Upgrades / SWUs / eVIPs and UK APD / Air Passenger Duty questions

New *internal* changes will 90%+ eliminate post-expiration use of SWUs by JonNYC

This post in the thread entitled "Reversing Use of SWU. Is this possible?" (it is not. AA no longer allows cancelling a SWU and substituting "stickers".)


MODERATOR NOTE
Archived posts from 2017 may be read here.

Posts prior to 2016 may be read here: ARCHIVE: SWU / VIP / eVIP Systemwide Upgrade questions

NOTE: This thread is for the discussion of the mechanics of AA systemwide upgrades. For "chance of upgrade clearing" questions, please use this thread: 2015 Chances of Upgrade Clearing and Upgrade Availability Discussion (consolidated)

Please note there is a separate thread discussing lost / missing/ misappropriated SWUs:
Missing / someone else used / unauthorized use my SWU / VIP / eVIP (merged)

American AAdvantage Forum Moderator Team
FAQ: Internal IT changes eliminate 90+% of post-expiry SWU use 26 Jun 2014
Q. I've been able to encumber expiring SWU past their expiration date if I find the proper upgrade inventory available prior to that date. Is this feature still available to Executive Platinum members?

A. Not for most. The option was possible due to software limitations. New software, AAcoRN, put into place 26 June 2014, will prevent this from occurring for "unqualified" members; only "qualified" members will be allowed to encumber SWU past their expiry date in the future. (See post #1)

Q. How do I know if I am a "qualified" member?

A. You can try to call and encumber expiring SWU past their expiry. If you are not allowed to, you aren't.

Q. So, exactly who does AA consider "qualified"?

A. A very high value AAdvantage member, as measured by the internal "Helix" system, which assigns an "Eagles" ranking from 1 to 5 (the more, the better).

Q. I've never heard of this. When did it start?

A. AA's rating system was originally based on three colors, green, yellow and red, which changed to 1-3 Eagles and was later expanded to 1-5 Eagles.

Q. How are Eagles scores assigned? Are they static, or do they change?

A. It has been said spend and fare classes (think lots of annual travel in fare classes of D and above) may affect your Eagles score, as well as OSO and negative incidents you have experienced that might result in your moving your custom to another airline. It is also said your Helix score is updated periodically, perhaps even nightly.

Q. How can I find out my Helix score / how many Eagles I have?

A. You can't. AA employees are not empowered to discuss the Helix system with customers. If you normally get extra SWU once you've made EP, are allowed to extend SWU use and find EP desk agents are willing to bend rules for you often, speculative, you might have 4-5 Eagles rating.

Q. So, this is a hidden tier higher than Executive Platinum?

A. No, because it doesn't give you privileges beyond EP beyond those mentioned, e.g. courtesy Club membership or additional priority for boarding or upgrades, like Concierge Key may.

Q. Do others than Executive Platinum have Helix / Eagles scores?

A. It can be safely assumed all AAdvantage members have such scores.
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FAQ: What's a Systemwide Upgrade / SWU / VIP and how to use? (Master thread)

Old Oct 14, 2022, 5:23 pm
  #2026  
Ambassador: World of Hyatt
 
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: San Diego,CA
Posts: 10,058
Originally Posted by JJeffrey
Neither, typically if the flight is in the range of ~5-10 seats left for sale it will be around 24-36 hours out that you'll see the C space start to open up.
Thank you so much I had this fantasy it would clear weeks before departure
But as long as I have a day or two to prepare I can swing into action
Holding my breath! 🙃 Be a good deal if it comes through
Playing the AA lottery 😎
777 global mile hound is offline  
Old Oct 14, 2022, 8:24 pm
  #2027  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 12,361
Originally Posted by chrisjames
Any luck with HUCA on this? I'm in same situation trying to change a 7/31 SWU for Dec 4th,2022 trip to a Nov 18th,2022 trip. I tried EXP line and they said I'd lose the SWU if I changed the flight; he even said he checked with ticketing desk. I've changed it already once before so I know it can be done but that was a couple months ago.
As you said it for sure can be done, nothing has changed, just HUCA.
JJeffrey is offline  
Old Oct 16, 2022, 4:51 am
  #2028  
 
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Santa Barbara, CA, Park City, UT
Programs: AA EXP, Delta Plat, Marriott Plat,Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, IHG Plat
Posts: 896
Originally Posted by enviroian
google flights won't tell you jack. What's the flight number and departure date and I'll check it on EF
Google flights tells me how many seats are unsold, give me a feel for my chances, by just increasing the number of people I'm checking until the flight shows unavailable. I have EF as well.

I ended up canceling have until Sept 26 to use so could happen next year although can never get an answer as to the actual value.

If use it next year I may not opt for SWU as my choice for reaching EXP so may do as an upgrade miles+copay. Does anyone know how they rank a miles and copay vs. SWU in priority if both by an EXP with equal rolling spending(all other things being equal)? I'm also wondering the chances they'd extend my 2 SWUs that expire end of year, they are newly earned for 2022 status earned, not the extended ones done due to Covid.

My last question is when waitlisted it seems I see the upgrade on EF but no automatic upgrade is done, I have to call in. Does the ranking of the waitlisted flyers not matter when out beyond 5 days, it's just who calls in first? If so, that seems like a very broken system....
Jonesdds is offline  
Old Oct 16, 2022, 5:08 am
  #2029  
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: AUS
Programs: BAEC Gold, AA PPro, Hyatt Globalist, Amex Plat
Posts: 6,983
Originally Posted by Jonesdds
<snip>I'm also wondering the chances they'd extend my 2 SWUs that expire end of year, they are newly earned for 2022 status earned, not the extended ones done due to Covid.
Why in the world would AA extend your SWUs? Covid is pretty much over, airplanes are literally bursting at the seems, premium cabin fares are through the roof, and some airports (mine for example) are seeing higher passenger counts than pre-Covid. Given that, what possible reason, at this point, would AA have for extending an SWU?

Regards
scubadu is offline  
Old Oct 16, 2022, 5:16 am
  #2030  
 
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Santa Barbara, CA, Park City, UT
Programs: AA EXP, Delta Plat, Marriott Plat,Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, IHG Plat
Posts: 896
Originally Posted by scubadu
Why in the world would AA extend your SWUs? Covid is pretty much over, airplanes are literally bursting at the seems, premium cabin fares are through the roof, and some airports (mine for example) are seeing higher passenger counts than pre-Covid. Given that, what possible reason, at this point, would AA have for extending an SWU?

Regards
Pre-Covid there are data points of AA extending these when requested. No idea what the success rate was then. So thought I'd ask in case others have asked and been granted extensions. A lot of people had them extended during covid making the new ones earned even harder to use. Although AA may be looking at that as reason not to grant an extension. The reason? Goodwill for their best customers. That's why they used to occasionally do it for customers, maybe they still have a small amount of goodwill still to give out....
Jonesdds is offline  
Old Oct 16, 2022, 5:36 am
  #2031  
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: AUS
Programs: BAEC Gold, AA PPro, Hyatt Globalist, Amex Plat
Posts: 6,983
Originally Posted by Jonesdds
Pre-Covid there are data points of AA extending these when requested. No idea what the success rate was then. So thought I'd ask in case others have asked and been granted extensions. A lot of people had them extended during covid making the new ones earned even harder to use. Although AA may be looking at that as reason not to grant an extension. The reason? Goodwill for their best customers. That's why they used to occasionally do it for customers, maybe they still have a small amount of goodwill still to give out....
Sorry, but I don't think that "other people got them extended, which makes new ones harder to use" is going to come into play in terms of AAs thinking on extensions.

"Goodwill for their best customers" ok, yea, maybe. The challenge is what defines a "good customer?" I usually find that many on FT believe "they" are the good customer just because they are EXP. But the reality is that EXP is becoming pretty easily attainable for many folks (even more so now with "Loyalty Points") so just being a "run of the mill EXP" doesn't necessarily make one a good customer, at least in terms of deciding who to give special treatment, because doing it for any and all EXPs wouldn't make sense. That said, I suppose one can never say never and you are certainly willing to hope for/ask about it. The problem with extensions though is that AA often doesn't do them until the end of the runway and so you have to play a game of chicken and not blink. But if they don't extend, then it might be too late to make alternate plans.

And just to be clear, I'm not trying to be rude or adversarial, but I will say that I'm in the population that believes its time for all the "waiver" and "extensions" and "exceptions" to be over. For the vast majority of the human population, Covid is no longer an issue precluding travel and if someone can't figure out how to use SWUs in a year or year and half (depending on when, specifically they are earned), maybe that customer just doesn't have a use for them...

Regards
scubadu is offline  
Old Oct 16, 2022, 6:43 pm
  #2032  
 
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 529
SWU Possible to Sydney? Where Does Most Availability Seem To Be?

I have never had a SWU before. I will have all next year to use it.

Do people have any success using an SWU for the LAX-SYD flight?

I am also interested in the below. Have people had success with these?

DFW/MIA to Buenos Aires

DFW/MIA to Santiago

LHR to MLE (Maldives) on BA
EQDsSUCK is offline  
Old Oct 16, 2022, 11:15 pm
  #2033  
Ambassador: World of Hyatt
 
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: San Diego,CA
Posts: 10,058
Originally Posted by EQDsSUCK
I have never had a SWU before. I will have all next year to use it.

Do people have any success using an SWU for the LAX-SYD flight?

I am also interested in the below. Have people had success with these?

DFW/MIA to Buenos Aires

DFW/MIA to Santiago

LHR to MLE (Maldives) on BA
I can't answer your questions being a somewhat newbie to using systemwides for INT flights
What I can say is I decided against trying to use for Sydney at the moment with so few flights being flown with all available carriers
I've never seen inventory this tight in 30 years
I chose slightly less popular routes even if it didn't get me all the way to my destination
Didn't wait list anything with less than a dozen or more available seats in biz to hopefully increase my chances

Cabins to Sydney for my dates had 3 or 4 seats a month to 2 months before departure.
If I am going to book knowing there is a high chance of failure I would rather use miles or pay for my ticket
To few flights and high demand are creating big challenges in my overview to the most popular destinations.
That said someone has to clear! So depending on your status etc perhaps
You wont find me at the gate crossing my fingers till the plane door closes!
Good luck
777 global mile hound is offline  
Old Oct 16, 2022, 11:24 pm
  #2034  
Ambassador: World of Hyatt
 
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: San Diego,CA
Posts: 10,058
Originally Posted by Jonesdds

My last question is when waitlisted it seems I see the upgrade on EF but no automatic upgrade is done, I have to call in. Does the ranking of the waitlisted flyers not matter when out beyond 5 days, it's just who calls in first? If so, that seems like a very broken system....
Your guess is as good as mine.
I truly thought I might clear a few weeks out but AA is sitting on those seats obviously holding out for any revenue possible on those unsold seats
This will be a true test and if I should fail prior to departure I doubt I will make any attempts in the future to earn systemwides
Just be an equal opportunity buyer with a number of other carriers.At the very least i want to know no less than 24 hours before my departure at the very least
Fingers crossed!
777 global mile hound is offline  
Old Oct 18, 2022, 10:43 am
  #2035  
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: BOS
Programs: AA EXP/2MM, IHG Platinum, Marriott Silver
Posts: 1,184
I just used 4 SWUs on HND-LAX next summer. One AAgent I talked to told me sorry, you can only use up to 2 SWUs at once, for yourself and a companion. I'm not sure where that came from - I confirmed that she understood that this isn't an elite upgrade. Anyway, called back later and got taken care of, very nice agent was able to confirm on my connecting domestic flight as well.

Last edited by brenc3; Oct 18, 2022 at 12:27 pm
brenc3 is offline  
Old Oct 18, 2022, 11:33 am
  #2036  
 
Join Date: Apr 2020
Posts: 256
Originally Posted by brenc3
very nice agent was able to open up 4 C on my connecting domestic flight as well.
What does this entail? Are some agents able to open up C on flights where EF doesn't show any?
AB Dada is offline  
Old Oct 18, 2022, 11:58 am
  #2037  
 
Join Date: Dec 2019
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 89
I qualified for PP from a promotion, extended through covid, and have never been able to select any choice rewards. However, for the first time, I qualified for PP for real (likely EXP too) and am a couple segments away from hitting the 30 mark. I always assumed that I would choose SWUs but it seems like they are becoming increasingly difficult to use. I have a couple months to think about it though.
SFflyer20 is offline  
Old Oct 18, 2022, 12:14 pm
  #2038  
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: LAX/PHL
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 292
Originally Posted by brenc3
I just used 4 SWUs on HND-LAX next summer. One AAgent I talked to told me sorry, you can only use up to 2 SWUs at once, for yourself and a companion. I'm not sure where that came from - I confirmed that she understood that this isn't an elite upgrade. Anyway, called back later and got taken care of, very nice agent was able to open up 4 C on my connecting domestic flight as well.
Woah, I didn't know they could open up availability? I've got the same flight in 02/2023. Did you just ask nicely? Or they did it by themselves?
Raralith is offline  
Old Oct 18, 2022, 12:28 pm
  #2039  
 
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: SNA
Programs: AA EXP, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, IHG Plat, Marriott Gold, National EE
Posts: 1,202
Originally Posted by SFflyer20
I qualified for PP from a promotion, extended through covid, and have never been able to select any choice rewards. However, for the first time, I qualified for PP for real (likely EXP too) and am a couple segments away from hitting the 30 mark. I always assumed that I would choose SWUs but it seems like they are becoming increasingly difficult to use. I have a couple months to think about it though.
Agreed, especially if you are mostly buying premium cabin and have constraints on your schedule/time. I booked a SWU flight next year using my July-expiring cert but the dates kinda suck. It's getting to the point where I'm considering just cancelling the flight as I would value better dates over the $2k value or whatever. Of course, other people in other circumstances may disagree.
ralphs is offline  
Old Oct 18, 2022, 12:38 pm
  #2040  
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: BOS
Programs: AA EXP/2MM, IHG Platinum, Marriott Silver
Posts: 1,184
Originally Posted by Raralith
Woah, I didn't know they could open up availability? I've got the same flight in 02/2023. Did you just ask nicely? Or they did it by themselves?
I can't say for sure that's what happened, just that I cleared on an additional segment that I didn't expect to. Who knows, maybe it opened up since I last checked. There's discussion of inventory availability here:

Expanded / additional MileSAAver award & upgrade availability for EXP (consolidated)
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