Even on the now (rare:p) occasions when upgrades do clear via the internet, even though WINDOW preference is in my profile AND lots of window seats are still available, I'm assigned an AISLE seat.

No, you lose the option to select your meal in advance, but most likely will be able to select on board.

Disagree. It helps the GAs also. Assume there are 8 of 16 unassigned and the posted upgrade list isn't up. You'll see plenty of upgrade hopefuls who don't stalk EF queuing up to ask where they stand. This is a distraction and a waste of time when they are trying to accommodate standbys or some pax with a problem. If most upgrades are processed in a reasonable time, saving a few in a tight inventory situation - it s better for everyone. If AA wants to depart from or suspend the T-100 window then they should just do that and have no window. Rather than fooling around with software if that's the case here or simply doing a test drive to see if they can score more late buyers when they check in. It's amateur, really.

8/18 - BOS-DCA cleared at T-5. I same day changed to my flight too from one an hour later.

I don't follow. As an EXP, or even lower level elite, what benefits are there to domestic upgraded F (other than seat/meal) that I don't already have as part of my status?

Extra bags? Nope, have that.

Priority check-in lines? Nope, already have that too.

Priority security? Nope, have that as well. Or PreCheck.

OK, golds may pick up some extra benefits in F, but their expectation of an upgrade should be pretty low to begin with, IMO.

I was wondering why FAs always skipped asking my meal preference, when I hadn't made my choice on-line.:rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

Ah yes, this same, tired argument. :rolleyes:

1. If AA isn't going to process upgrades at T-100, it shouldn't say that it does. Reality is it can say it starts processing 2 weeks out but T-100 or 2 weeks out mean nothing if reality is actually different. Offering a benefit on paper doesn't encourage loyalty - it pisses people off.

2. If AA doesn't want to offer upgrades as a perk, it shouldn't advertise it as part of their FFP.

3. I park my butt on their metal a lot - sometimes in paid F and sometimes not. When I upgrade, I have to pay with a currency that they required that is only earned by parking my butt on their planes. There's nothing "free" about them.

4. No one's saying AA shouldn't try to sell the F seats. At the same time, when you're at F9+ with < T-24, you're not going to fill all those seats up except on certain heavy routes. Are people really chomping at the bit to buy F to places like SMF and RDU? Bottom line is they're not going to sell those seats. So start upgrading people. Hold some back to accommodate misconnects or last minute sales. Perfectly reasonable. But clearing 12 of 16 seats at T-15 minutes? Ridiculous.

AA and US both used to be much better at this process. Along with other cuts, they've gotten stingy here too. There can be a better balance where everyone wins.

+1

Thank you. ^

This is my self-quote re: post 487. I’m now at T-11 and AA has sold exactly ONE F seat in almost 2 weeks which now leaves F7/Z0/A5 and exactly 7 seats unassigned. What exactly does AA think is going to happen overnight for a 0538 departure in a 67% full Y cabin? The cumulative effect of this and the abysmal failures with IRROPS is trending toward a culture of indifference, incompetence and apathy. Not what you expect from the #1 carrier is it?

Don't know if you've seen the news, but they're actually the #12 carrier (at least by one metric). :rolleyes:

I've definitely had upgrades clear at 100 hrs in the last month, and at intervals less than that. But always before the gate.

In the end all I care is that they do clear (and there are other aspects of the program I care about far more than domestic upgrades). The seat is essentially the same whether I clear at 100 or 0. The food's still pathetic whether I get to preorder or not. Unless it's JFK-SFO/LAX, this is worth precisely zero angst.

Oh, and there is a benefit to holding back upgrades. Today I cleared a PHX-DEN flight at about T-4. Ended up missing the connection due to a 15-minute arrival delay & AA's ludicrous banked schedule at PHX (selling legal connection less than 30 minutes...:eek:). As I sit here drinking a beer at Matt's, I just cleared the upgrade on my replacement PHX-DEN flight. That doesn't happen if they fill the cabin at T-24 or earlier as some here want.

Something has definitely changed in the last few months. I am writing this from my coach seat. I am a 19 year Executive Plat who has done the same route for the last 2 years every Thursday. Up until this spring, I was always upgraded at the opening of the window with the exception of Spring Break and Thanksgiving week. In the last 3 months, I have only been upgraded 3 times. I called and they said it was because I bought my tickets only 1 month out. So I started buying them much earlier, but it didn't help. I started watching when I noticed that they still had System Wide Upgrades available for my flight until the time that I needed to leave for the airport. What I noted was that during the upgrade window there are numerous first class seats available for purchase. What has changed is that they cost $20 more than the coach seats. I have over 2 million actual flown miles with this airline and they are willing to loss me for $20. Despite my executive platinum status and my status for life, I am looking for an airline that values my business. Wake up American!

Welcome to FT. :)

The narrowing of the gap between F and Y prices almost certainly has something to do with the reduction in upgrades in recent years. The upside to this, of course, is that a lot more of us can afford to purchase F outright now.

That works both ways, if you find that tiny price difference regularly.