Last Friday (8/12), SMF-DFW 12 F seats open from a week out until about 15 min before boarding when 12 people were cleared at the gate. This is every week now, usually more like 8-10 people upgraded at the gate. Based on seat map, no upgrades processed until the gate.

Echoing this at GRR today. Seat map wide open, 7/7 people upgraded at ~15 minutes before boarding.

I'll have some more data, but my last flights have all cleared withing 30 hours out.

It's unfortunate (in the first world problems sense) because I like window seats, towards the front, and I always end up in an aisle seat in the back (4D this case on an E175). Since I'm usually #1 on the UG list the app likes to assign me the last row ( I think they fill back to front for UGs)

I'm more concerned with the 60% Monday morning cancel rate I've had over the last five weeks and I've let AA know that it's unacceptable.

AA 1160 RDU-ORD last Friday on an MD-80. No upgrade at the Gold window despite it being F7 at that time. They finally upgraded me with four hours to go. At that time there were zero other people on the upgrade list and six empty seats in F after I cleared :rolleyes:

Flying ORD-PHX this evening on AA1151. Flight is showing F7 and 8 unassigned F seats - but still no upgrade. The inventory really hasn't changed much over the past several days - had though for sure it would have cleared yesterday by T-24 (would have liked to pre-select meal). Will see what happens at the T-4 sweep.

In my own experience, despite F9+, upgrades would consistently be clear a few hours before departure for PHX-EWR Mon-Fri.

I am on the 1st Friday departure from DCA to DFW about twice a month. This week its #2707, departing 0538. EF shows F7/A7 and the map indicates 8 of 16 open. Almost w/o fail I'm upgraded around 90-100 hrs out with this kind of inventory. Coach has 40 seats open. At ~62 hours - nothing and F7/A7 has been up for at least 10 days.

And increasingly I've seen F0/A0 on the morning DFW connections to DEN, yet I'm upgraded at the gate with 4 or 5 others - while afternoon and evening flights have plenty of F and A codes open. In and out of DFW can be tight but I would not think DEN early Fridays would have that limited inventory. I don't think many leaving DFW for DEN are connecting for another destination just before a weekend, so I would expect later flights to be more in demand.

Upgrade for tonight's AA1151 cleared at T-4h9m. Looks like only 1 F seat open.

AUG 15:
AA2312 - Upgraded three hours before departure, all other UGs (around 10, according to the app) cleared at the gate.
AA2331 - Upgraded at gate.

Both flights showed F7/A7 for a few days prior to departure.

T-23. Crickets. EF F7/A7 (P7 as well) with 8 unassigned as it has been for 12 days. Perhaps AA has a faint hope with 45 open in Y some will bite on check-in for the ride up front for another ~$250. Thanks for the drama AA.

I'm monitoring 2 flts F7 A7 etc., it is just T-24 and NO upgrade.
Why not "advertise" for EXPs that you can now [potentially!] clear at T-168 [24 x 7]--it sounds great, if they are really going to clear you at T-15(min).:rolleyes:

Quite honestly, all I'm "hearing" when reading this thread is a lot of "wah-wah-wah". Who cares when you get upgraded as long as you get upgraded.

1) The airline has never said upgrades are guaranteed to be processed at 100 hours out. Its always said the process will start at 100 hours out. Which is clear it does as many people do get upgraded that far out.

2) If waiting on upgrade causes somebody so much stress or drama, just pay for the ticket in the premium cabin. Problem solved. There are bigger things in life to worry about than an upgrade.

3) For those of you that have seat preferences and worry about if you'll get your preference when the upgrades move to the gate. Simple solution, if its clear that you will get the upgrade, just make your preference known to the gate agent. I've never once not been accommodated.

The thread is about the upgrade window. I think for very regular domestic route travelers, there has been a significant change in how seats are released to X. As AA goes to four tiers next year, I think it is helpful for everyone to understand what is happening.

And I think it is absolutely true that reducing use of advanced windows for upgrades will reduce overall elite upgrades. When airlines like SW are making a big push for my business, if I don't have upgrades (already got pummeled on RDM), exactly why would I fly AA to get to 100k?

Rasheed

AA touts the F product as much more than just a seat. By delaying the upgrade until at the gate, pretty much everything else is effectively eliminated. This might work for some and yes, if you really want all the perks, maybe you should just pay for it. But AA has put together the loyalty program to entice participation. Taking away benefits at every turn is not comforting to the members.

If an upgrade clears at < T-24 (hrs.:)), you lose your meal selection options.