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?
Jun 30, 2017, 12:46 pm
#1516
Suspended
Join Date: May 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: DL Diamond, AAdvantage EXP, Hyatt Explorist, HHonors Diamond, Avis First
Posts: 7,344
My UPG LGA-MIA for tomorrow AM came through I think at 24 hours out, maybe a little before. Couldn't really tell though because I never received an e-mail notification.
Last edited by AANYC1981; Jun 30, 2017 at 1:48 pm
Jul 2, 2017, 7:10 pm
#1519
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: LAS
Programs: PA FT, TW Gold, NW/CO PE, VK Eagleflyer
Posts: 7,173
7/1 - DFW/LAS: When the upgrade list goes online, I'm not in the lineup. A couple of 30 minute delays and a gate change thins the herd and my partner and I are #1&2 on the list as we board and settle into our exit row seats. 5 minutes later a GA appears and directs us to 1A&C. For the second time on this route, thanks AA!
Jul 7, 2017, 2:30 pm
#1521
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Durham, NC (RDU/GSO/CLT)
Programs: AA EXP/MM, DL GM, UA Platinum, HH DIA, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Platinum, Marriott Titanium, Hertz PC
Posts: 33,857
Seems a number of mine have been clearing at T-24 these days. In the last few weeks:
- T48: Saturday RDU-PHL E90, Friday RIC-DFW S80
- T24: Sunday ORD-RDU S80, Tuesday July 4 BOS-LGA E90
- T48: Saturday RDU-PHL E90, Friday RIC-DFW S80
- T24: Sunday ORD-RDU S80, Tuesday July 4 BOS-LGA E90
Jul 8, 2017, 8:12 pm
#1523
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,044
I've seen that recently too that there is C inventory but my upgrade hasn't auto-cleared. I don't understand that. Have occasionally been using miles to grab an upgrade in that situation (such as when there's only one desirable seat left open).
Jul 12, 2017, 12:31 pm
#1524
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: TPA
Programs: BA Silver; Hilton Gold; IHG Diamond Ambassador; Marriott Gold
Posts: 2,811
Fri 1025 TPA-CLT: at gate
Fri 1310 CLT-DCA: T-48
Sun 1745 DCA-TPA: T-48
The T-48's were literally within 10min of the mark.
TPA-CLT I've chosen not to request in the past due to flight length, but the certs are piling up. AC Angel said I'd be top of the list with 1 seat open, so I did it.
DCA-TPA had 1 request which cleared at the gate, and 2 non-revs moved to First as well.
Fri 1310 CLT-DCA: T-48
Sun 1745 DCA-TPA: T-48
The T-48's were literally within 10min of the mark.
TPA-CLT I've chosen not to request in the past due to flight length, but the certs are piling up. AC Angel said I'd be top of the list with 1 seat open, so I did it.
DCA-TPA had 1 request which cleared at the gate, and 2 non-revs moved to First as well.
Jul 13, 2017, 12:07 pm
#1525
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Chicago, IL
Programs: AA PPro, 1MM
Posts: 505
Most of my flights are booked ~3-4 weeks out and ever since the change to the rolling EQD totals, I've started getting most of my upgrades at around T-100. I don't think I'm that big of a spender compared to other EXPs (~8k EQDs so far in 2017). Was it just that many EXPs book more than a month in advance or has the system changed in terms of how often they're clearing upgrades now?
Jul 13, 2017, 1:56 pm
#1526
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
AA never did eliminate upgrade windows for elites; no hard evidence supports they ever did. They reduced capacity on some routes, increased the seat occupancy rate / passenger load factor throughout, reduced pricing on discounted premium seats, fiddled with Revenue Management algorithms, etc.
Ever since this thread was started, we've seen passengers upgraded within various windows if seats were available and designated (which sometimes doesn't happen for some high demand flights until check-in time - if at all).
Ever since this thread was started, we've seen passengers upgraded within various windows if seats were available and designated (which sometimes doesn't happen for some high demand flights until check-in time - if at all).
Jul 13, 2017, 6:54 pm
#1527
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: FIND ME ON TWITTER FOR THE LATEST
Posts: 27,730
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/27830108-post1160.html
as that technical issue did, in fact, come somewhat close at times-- and to varying degrees-- to doing as the thread title implies.
After that fix it was pretty much a "night and day" situation with upgrades clearing FAR more often in advance (and frequently at/close to max window) vs. at gate/day of.
If you've noticed anything more recent it's what you suggest (people booking more in advance than you, now negated.)
*vs. this change was for day-of improvements: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/28294875-post1453.html
Last edited by JonNYC; Jul 13, 2017 at 7:00 pm
Jul 24, 2017, 7:29 pm
#1528
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: San Francisco
Programs: AA EXP; Marriott BonVoy Titanium Elite, Marriott LT Plat.
Posts: 1,717
Thur 6079 SFO-LAX. Upgraded near immediately after purchase made last night. Got reservations email with new seat number which was quickly followed by upgrade notification email
Now I'm curious to know if I'll clear for 31 LAX - HNL. Seat map online shows only 1 seat open. I'm cool with not getting upgrade since exit row seat was picked. I like row 24 on the A321
Now I'm curious to know if I'll clear for 31 LAX - HNL. Seat map online shows only 1 seat open. I'm cool with not getting upgrade since exit row seat was picked. I like row 24 on the A321
Nov 17, 2019, 9:42 pm
#1529
Join Date: Jun 2019
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Programs: AAdvantage Platinum, Marriott Platinum Elite, Hilton Gold Elite, IHG Platinum Elite
Posts: 6
Platinum Upgrades
Does anyone have clarity around how pre departure upgrades work? I’m Platinum and am scheduled to fly on Tuesday. When I check my app, I’m being offered to pay $800 to upgrade to first class on both of my flights. Since it’s under 48 hours from departure, shouldn’t elite upgrades for Platinum have cleared already? Why am I being offered to pay to upgrade?
Last edited by Jon Hummel; Nov 17, 2019 at 10:25 pm
Nov 17, 2019, 10:10 pm
#1530
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: San Francisco
Programs: AA EXP; Marriott BonVoy Titanium Elite, Marriott LT Plat.
Posts: 1,717
Yea… I just checked on a flight I have on Thursday via the app and I was being offered $1800 to upgrade to First on both legs as well. Clearly it's AA's attempt to get cash from those that want to secure next cabin of service. I'm sure there are non-elites being offered upgrades too. C'est la vie!