These are routes that, if i had to guess, AA sells a higher than average % of seats in their premium cabins. And the JFK/LAX route i bet a lot are within the 100 hours. I could understand your anger a bit more on a ORD-DEN or JFK-MCO flight, but your examples are heavy business traveler routes.

Maybe you didn't see the large number of open F/J seats in my post. What is the point of advertising the potential confirmation of upgrades if your are not going to do anything?

As anther poster mentioned, you seem confused about the unambiguous language of "as early as" 100 hours.

I agree that the routes I fly are heavy on business travel but I am usually in the top three spots on the upgrade list and NO SEATS are released for upgrades before hand. I totally understand that AA needs the last minute revenue but if you have 6 to 8 seats in F/J at T-100 and the number does not change all the way down to T-4 don't you think it is time to start working on the upgrade list?

I have NO fantasies about upgrades clearing at T-100 (nor will they ever) but I don't think it is TOO much to ask that upgrades are confirmed at T-8 to T-4 especially if there has been no movement in the F/J inventory. AA can always leave 2 seats available for last minute purchases but there is no need what so ever to delay upgrade processing and alienate their top travelers.

I am now seeing the same thing - no processing of upgrades until 4 hours out, at best.

Take a regional route with CR9 (with 12 F seats) from Florida to DCA, and only 3 occupied - so likely 9/12 empty. Shows F7.

It is Sunday afternoon. Does anyone really believe that on Sunday night, someone is going to buy 9 F seats to DCA for a 7am departure the next day? Still Y7 as well, so 9 people would need to choose to buy F over Y on a 2 hour flight, when they need to get up at 4:30am tomorrow. And this is a small town originating flight - so no connection traffic.

And of course, updates aren't free for Plat and Gold. They need to pay $80 for that 1,000 mile flight. The cost difference between F and cheap coach is only $120 more one way. So the extra amount for AA is only $40.

Some days are impossible to purchase J seats on LAX-JFK even a week in advance. I've seen multiple flights in a row on a given day be J0 and never open up. In some cases EXP desk has overbooked the flight and gotten me on, but that's a $3k+ one-way fare. These are mid-week flights like yours. Given the tendency for AA to sell out like this, why would they ever clear a J6 cabin until the gate?

JFK-SFO AA#9 this morning had 3 seats taken in business and still no upgrade until T-30. Gate agent cleared 12 people before boarding and business went with 5 empty seats. Not sure why they wouldn't even clear some at T-4.

DCA-LAN on a Saturday!
12 seat CR7. 3 booked.
Upgrade cleared 4 hours prior to departure.
EXP.

As you well know, free is a relative word. I have spent over 15K with AA this year and just made platinum again Friday

Again, the issue is actually sticking to the policies. After the woeful service and lack of timeliness lately, I am seriously considering a change even though I am CLT based.

The official policy as advertised.

"Upgrades confirmed before departure (as early as)"

As long as they process the upgrade before departure they are honoring the benefit as published.

Personally, I'd prefer a little more advance processing, particularly around T-36 to give me the opportunity to pre-order meals if possible as well as have some flexibility with seat assignments. However, they aren't breaching the policy by processing the upgrades 30 minutes before departure.

Upgrade rates are much worse over at DL or UA. When I was 1K during my last year with UA my CPU was around 40% and some 1Ks were jealous of that rate - yes, many only clear 5-20% of the time. Delta aims to monetize 70% of their F cabins by 2018 or something (right now they are at 58% IIRC).

Really - if upgrades are the most important benefit for someone then AA is really your best bet IMO even if the upgrades clear at the gate most of the time. If you value another benefit more than upgrades that AA does not do a good job of providing then definitely look into another airline that delivers on that benefit well (i.e. DL's IRROPs handling or UA's same day change benefit).

If A inventory is available (along with F/P) is there a reason why you wouldn't clear at T-100? I'm watching my flight for Thursday wondering if I should bother even worrying about clearing if I haven't already

Dear all, I will fly AA39 LHR-MIA on Dec 24. Applied for SWU upgrade to biz class 1 month ago. Currently it shows F1 A0 P0 J7 R6 D5 I2 Y7 B0 H7 K7 M7 L1 G0 V0 S0 N0 Q0 O0. Does it look a good chance to get cleared? Thanks in advance.

A inventory is not the complementary upgrade inventory. That is for SWUs and miles upgrades

When I used to be a premium seat buyer, I guess I understood holding seats until closer to departure. What really bugs me is when they begin boarding before they process any upgrades and it is impossible to find any overhead space.

I'm and EXP and on DFW to IND (MD80) at 24h it showed 12 of 16 open. When I landed at DFW I got the changed seat msg which showed I was upgraded. When we took off there were still 2 open seats in 1st. I understand waiting when there are only 3 seats left at 100h but 12 seats? Not going to get many up-sells on a 90 minute flight.