Mar 30, 2017, 4:57 pm
Last edit by: jay_dubya
AA Upgrade Window for AAdvantage Elites
The "upgrade window" is the time during which an upgrade may be granted to statusholders. The "upgrade window" for AAdvantage Elites varies upon elite status held. In 2017:
- ConciergeKey - 120 hours
- Executive Platinum - 100 hours
- Platinum Pro - 72 hours
- Platinum - 48 hours
- Gold - 24 hours
- Non-elite - no upgrade window
Conversely, higher load factors, Revenue Management predictions and actions, flight route, season, demand, supply and other factors all affect the availability of upgrade seats and when any seats might be made available to upgrade. AA has tightened upgrade availability over the recent years, but planning leading to significantly higher load factors has been undoubtedly been a major factor in upgrade "tightness" to the point even upper tier elites who get upgraded may do so airside at the gate counter.
Has AA eliminated the upgrade window for elites?
Jan 23, 2017, 3:54 am
#1129
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: NYC,MIA,XFL
Programs: AA EXP, B6 Mosaic, DL PM
Posts: 863
Called up last night and switched to flight 1103 because of expected weather in NYC today, re-requested the upgrade for my son, and we cleared at 415 am - about T-5.5
Last edited by jay_dubya; Jan 23, 2017 at 5:04 am Reason: Poorly written
Jan 23, 2017, 7:20 am
#1130
Join Date: Aug 2003
Programs: Bonvoy Amb; AA EXP
Posts: 1,136
I was on the 8am BOS-LGA shuttle last Thursday. They upgraded 7 people at the gate (well six at the gate and one onboard upgrade). I was #2, I think. It was the most battlefield upgrades that I have seen on this route.
Jan 23, 2017, 8:55 am
#1131
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Chicago O'Hare
Programs: AA EXP, LT PLT 2.6MM, HHonors Lifetime Diamond, Hertz Presidents Circle
Posts: 678
While waiting for an upgrade for my 5:20 PM ORD/PHX today which is J7/C7 with twelve open seats and what looks to be a light elite load, my Wednesday evening PHX/ORD cleared at T-52 or so. Just about fell over.
Jan 23, 2017, 9:56 am
#1132
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: PDX
Programs: AA Ex Plat, Alaska MVP Gold 75K, Hertz Gold 5*
Posts: 197
Weight restricted?
Last weekend was on a flight ORD to PHL on a 321. There were 4 open seats in FC and the GA told me that the flight was weight restricted so no more upgrades. I've been on regional aircraft that were weight restricted but never on larger equipment. Besides, what difference would it make moving me from row 5 in the main cabin to row 4 in FC? Anyone else been told they couldn't clear upgrades due to weight restrictions?
Jan 23, 2017, 11:18 am
#1133
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: LAX, LGB, SNA
Programs: AA EXP OWE, DL DM ST+, AS MVPG, UA, BA, WN CP, Hyatt E, Ritz Plat, HH GM
Posts: 3,185
Jan 23, 2017, 11:34 am
#1134
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
Last weekend was on a flight ORD to PHL on a 321. There were 4 open seats in FC and the GA told me that the flight was weight restricted so no more upgrades. I've been on regional aircraft that were weight restricted but never on larger equipment. Besides, what difference would it make moving me from row 5 in the main cabin to row 4 in FC? Anyone else been told they couldn't clear upgrades due to weight restrictions?
Jan 23, 2017, 11:35 am
#1135
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: SNA LAX
Programs: AA PLT
Posts: 116
Last weekend was on a flight ORD to PHL on a 321. There were 4 open seats in FC and the GA told me that the flight was weight restricted so no more upgrades. Besides, what difference would it make moving me from row 5 in the main cabin to row 4 in FC? Anyone else been told they couldn't clear upgrades due to weight restrictions?
Jan 24, 2017, 6:21 am
#1136
Join Date: Aug 2003
Programs: Bonvoy Amb; AA EXP
Posts: 1,136
Jan 24, 2017, 7:26 am
#1137
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: CLT
Programs: AA EXP; Avis PC; Hertz PC; Marriott LT Gold; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,133
Was there any compensation due or received? I understand weight and balance is a bit out of their control, but that's a significant downgrade on a decent length flight.
Jan 24, 2017, 8:47 am
#1138
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: SNA LAX
Programs: AA PLT
Posts: 116
I fly this route pretty frequently and a senior FA said this plane in the winter causes major headaches like this. In fact, last trip (OGG-LAX) a few weeks ago they were temporarily offering volunteers (in Y no less) $1K voucher and a hotel to take the next day's flight b/c of weight and balance issues. Ultimately, the Pilot decided we were fine with the load so it wasn't needed. For that deal, I was actually hoping I would get bumped.
Don't want to hijack this thread so here is the original post:
Involuntary Downgrade LAX-OGG
Jan 24, 2017, 9:12 am
#1139
Moderator: American AAdvantage, Travel Safety/Security & Texas, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: AUS / GRK
Programs: AA, HHonors, Hertz
Posts: 13,485
The gate dance is when you're upgraded at the gate.
Jan 24, 2017, 10:30 am
#1140
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: DFW
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 1,590