OK, but if the upgrades are clearing as complimentary, seems to be a distinction without much of a difference. Put the request in with an SWU, if doesn't clear before the window, and you then clear in the window via the complimentary process, you've still got the upgrade and you've still got the SWU.

If there's a dilution to the SWU benefit for domestic usage, its lack of advance (before the window) space; not complimentary clearing before SWU's when in the window.

(And, still doesn't have any affect on international upgrades.)

And that's enough from me on this point, as it's somewhat OT for this thread.

Just want to share a datapoint, it seems like for connecting itineraries, AA is still prioritizing/opening the window based on the time of the first segment. Case in point: I was scheduled to fly LAX-JFK-BOS, my JFK-BOS upgrade cleared ahead of the 100 hour window of the flight itself, though it seems consistent with the timing for the departure time out of LAX.
This is good and bad news in that AA got rid of prioritizing connection upgrades, they still open the window based on the time of the first segment, though there is no way to tell how they prioritize the waitlist otherwise

HNL-PHX cleared at T48. The flight was J3 for weeks so was surprised it cleared.

PHX-MAF cleared at T100

AA# 9 JFK-SFO 3/5 cleared at T-48 down to J2. They cleared 14 people.

AA34 LAX-JFK cleared 2 at t-48 as a plat. There were 2 more cleared at the gate. I never had this flight clear so early in the window.

AA 6023 OKC-LAX 3/7 cleared at T48, simultaneous with the onward connection to RNO (so more like T54 for that one).

I was surprised MIA/RDU cleared at T-105 then RDU/CLT cleared at T-105 and CLT/MIA T-72. All three flights the F cabin was half full. Lately those upgrades would not have cleared until T-24 at the earliest. Mid week travel Tues and Wed.

Looking at DFW-EWR & RT with empty F cabins (ok, ok...J cabins) and no upgrade yet at T-90ish. MCE is about 45% occupied...was hoping for an early clearance

Flying ORD-BOS tomorrow, only 4 of 16 F seats showing as reserved and no upgrades have been processed. Until 2 days ago, coach was available in discounted booking classes and then suddenly, coach was no longer available. I'm surprised that they haven't opened any coach fares considering how open F is. Perhaps Y is already oversold and so that's why they're only allowing F bookings?

It seems like upgrade processing is determined by both availability of F seats as well as Y seats, i.e., when Y is at least nearly full, F upgrades are not processed in advance.

Flying ORD-PHX tomorrow with the opposite issue-- all F sold out across the board.

Strangely my MIA/JFK flight which was half full still cleared at T-100. Even stranger my BOS/JFK flight cleared at nearly T-130. My chance to finally ride the 321T (live in Miami) albeit for a very short trip.

I am still not being cleared at T-100. On my current trip, I was not cleared until T-99.82 on the outbound and even worse, T-99.03 on the return!

Seriously though, I'm really glad AA has pulled its act together on this.

AA1362 IAD-LAX on Monday cleared at T-48 as a plat. Received a prompt email. Pre-ordered Herbes de Provence Chicken (Poblano Peppers was option 2). 4 open F seats remain.

HOPING a sundae is offered for a change :-)

Gate upgrade(s) with lots of open seats up to boarding
 

PHX - FSD - PHX. 3/9 seats assigned, no upgrade prior to gate, noted on mobile that upgrade had cleared, asked to refresh my boarding pass on the mobile, no change, FC boarding pass presented on boarding.

AC agent said they do all upgrades at the gate now. Called the EXP desk who denies this. At gate now @ FSD waiting for the agent and hopefully new boarding pass.

they certainly cannot be holding 6 FC seats from/to PHX for sale can they be?

Seems odd...

:confused:

Given the EP upgrade window is 100 hours and Platinum window is 48 hours, all it demonstrates is AA can, and will, upgrade outside of the upgrade window if the flight is "loose".

I've been upgraded a week out in relatively recent times - and at the gate counter, or not at all.


There are reasons why they might do this. A common one is when the airline is experiencing high OSO / IROPS (i.e. west Texas, Indiana severe storms and much of the west impacted by significant high winds right now) and seats are held in case they need to reaccommodate paid F passengers from delayed or canceled flights.