That GA was misinformed and/or just having some fun with ya'.

I noticed a huge change about mid year. I fly an average of once a week. I've probably been UG on 2 reservations @ 100 hours in 5 months. Last week there were 11 available (DFW_BNA) FC at 96 hours out. I wasn't upgraded until 20 hours. There is something going on. Algorithm? Huge discounted last minute FC fares? The devaluation to the program has already occurred. AAdvantage milestones, -4 SWU, and now it appears EPs are not truly being rewarded for loyalty. I'm EP on AA because I left Continental after the United merger because of shenanigans involving 1K status.

Maybe a petition is in order.

Something is broken in the transfer of upgrade requests from the pre-departure list to the PALL list. It used to be automatic and invisible. Recently I have observed errors both using the desktop site and also when using the upgrade function on the Voice Response system. And since getting added to the PALL list cannot be done via phone agent (airport-only function), if upgrades get processed within the PALL window (T-4 until departure), and if you are not on the list, you will miss the upgrade even with higher status.

Basically, this means you're better off NOT checking in until you arrive at the airport and can guarantee that an agent has added you correctly to the PALL list.

The transfer process is not blanketly "broken". Still works for plenty including myself

Something is broken. EXP agent confirmed that they know there are defects in that process. It is not always broken, but I have observed the problem (no automatic transfer of request from pre-departure list to PALL list) on two of last six eligible flights. Yes, it worked the other four times for me. But that doesn't obviate the defect.

One Mile at a Time writes some good/interesting travel reviews, but the things he values in an FFP are way different than the things I value (hint - RDMs don't matter). But that's a discussion for another thread.

The only time I have seen anything broken is if there is some sort of iirop or sdfc and even then not every instance, so no there is not an inherent issue with this in my opinion.

On another note, why is this thread even still open? By many (many many many) reports the windows still exist, so the whole premise has already been proved wrong. The thread has merely turned into a b***h session for people who feel entitled to an upgrade at the potential window if there is even one seat open in F.

No one is saying the windows don't exist - one out of my four flights for tomorrow cleared at T-100 (and the only one to clear so far). There are however multiple reports of 5-10+ people clearing upgrades right before departure, with evidence showing AA is becoming more stingy on the upgrades. It's one thing if a plane only clears one or two upgrades at the gate, but when more then 75% of the plane is cleared at the last second, it seems to indicate a new trend, which is what this thread supports.

BLAH BLAH

I'm an EXP with 4 flight over the next 48 hours

Flights with 6/8 6/8 10/16 12/16 EMPTY F seats on both AA and EF

I'm still wait listed on all 4. So I just called the EXP line I and was told told that they were "still trying to sell these upgrades at check in".

Welcome to the new American.

Same, have a 12/16 empty flight on Saturday morning. Approaching T-24 now, no dice. :mad:

I am also an exec platinum. Have noticed the same things that many on this board have discussed. I fully expected the upgrades to become less frequent after the merger, but this is ridiculous. At this rate of decline, all AA will have done is completely unshackel frequent fliers from their program. From that perspective, I think we should all say "Thank you, American.". Now we can take the most convenient/least expensive/best service flight rather than attempting to stick strictly with AA.

I can't speak for most of you, but the ability to upgrade on domestic flights its the single most important benefit of Exec Plat status to me. Without that, I see no reason to fly exclusively with AA.

Now after all of that what I really wanted to say. This may already have been answered, but my question is -- if they are going to offer the upgrades for sale at the kiosk, why wouldn't they offer them to Exec Plat's first?

They aren't selling upgrades out from under EXPs. This has already been well-established.

I totally get that and while it is disappointing, the trends don't in any way contradict the marketing or policy regarding domestic elite upgrades at AA.

With that being said, I understand why the thread exists, I just don't see what the end goal is, but hey, that's a lot items on FT (of which I may be guilty as well).

Going to test this out next week (sort of). Wife, MIL, and I are flying FLL-CLT on Friday night. Wife and I are on one PNR and MIL on another. I am PLT. Requested upgrades for me and wife. Will see if/when we clear and if MIL is offered upgrade at check-in.

As extensively discussed in other threads, they may offer upgrades for sale before all EXPs have been upgraded, but that doesn't mean they're selling them from under EXPs.