Changes to the upgrade priority list [NOT for AA]
Apr 29, 2015 | 4:05 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2008
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 8
Changes to the upgrade priority list [NOT for AA]
I have noticed a change in the upgrade priority list and an Angel at the AC confirmed it. EQM for the current year now determine the order on the upgrade list. I have been flying the same route for the past 9 years (EXP all 9 years) and I have been fortunate enough to get an upgrade 95% of the time. This year I am around 5%. AA has also done away with the through passenger priority so it looks like my upgrades are a thing of the past. Have others had the same experiences and seen a lower success rate on upgrades?
Apr 29, 2015 | 4:19 pm
#2
Join Date: Feb 2008
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 3,049
I have noticed a change in the upgrade priority list and an Angel at the AC confirmed it. EQM for the current year now determine the order on the upgrade list. I have been flying the same route for the past 9 years (EXP all 9 years) and I have been fortunate enough to get an upgrade 95% of the time. This year I am around 5%. AA has also done away with the through passenger priority so it looks like my upgrades are a thing of the past. Have others had the same experiences and seen a lower success rate on upgrades?
JonNYC, one for you I think
Apr 29, 2015 | 4:27 pm
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: SJC/VCE
Programs: AA PLT (2.9+ MM), HH GLD, Hyatt Diamond, SPG PLT
Posts: 10,161
Add'l data point to consider: more often than not a very minimal cost differential between coach and first so that many passengers - myself included - simply buy F rather than waiting to see if an upgrade clears.
Apr 29, 2015 | 4:33 pm
#4
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: PHL
Programs: AA - Plat, HHonors - Diamond, IHG - Plat, Marriott - Gold, National - Exec, Amtrak - Select, NEXUS
Posts: 1,075
The pmUS system for upgrades was to prioritize by level (CP, Plat, Gold, then Silver), then within the level to prioritize by BIS miles for the past year.
It sounds like the AAngel was trying to describe that system, which hasn't been confirmed as a policy for the new program.
How exactly would EQM prioritizing work on the first day of the qualification year, if it was by EQM for the current year, when everyone has 0 at the same time?
It sounds like the AAngel was trying to describe that system, which hasn't been confirmed as a policy for the new program.
How exactly would EQM prioritizing work on the first day of the qualification year, if it was by EQM for the current year, when everyone has 0 at the same time?
Apr 29, 2015 | 4:35 pm
#5
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: PBI/FLL/MIA
Programs: DL DM/360 2.8MM, MR Ambassador, National EE
Posts: 1,616
Quote:
Originally Posted by luvmywife
I have noticed a change in the upgrade priority list and an Angel at the AC confirmed it. EQM for the current year now determine the order on the upgrade list.
This is not correct.
Quote:
Originally Posted by luvmywife
AA has also done away with the through passenger priority so it looks like my upgrades are a thing of the past. Have others had the same experiences and seen a lower success rate on upgrades?
This is correct.
Add'l data point to consider: more often than not a very minimal cost differential between coach and first so that many passengers - myself included - simply buy F rather than waiting to see if an upgrade clears.
Originally Posted by luvmywife
I have noticed a change in the upgrade priority list and an Angel at the AC confirmed it. EQM for the current year now determine the order on the upgrade list.
This is not correct.
Quote:
Originally Posted by luvmywife
AA has also done away with the through passenger priority so it looks like my upgrades are a thing of the past. Have others had the same experiences and seen a lower success rate on upgrades?
This is correct.
Add'l data point to consider: more often than not a very minimal cost differential between coach and first so that many passengers - myself included - simply buy F rather than waiting to see if an upgrade clears.
Apr 29, 2015 | 6:29 pm
#7
Join Date: May 2008
Programs: US CP, HH Diamond, Marriott Silver.
Posts: 325
I'm not agreeing with the factuality of the OP's post but in the old US World EQM's always trumphed EQS and the at airport upgrade list went by status first, then check-in time, then EQM's. So two Elites of the same level who checked in at exactly the same time would have their previous year's EQM's as the tie breaker. Those qualifying primarily on segments were always at a disadvantage in those tie-breaker situations. We had no EQP system in the US World.
Apr 29, 2015 | 6:39 pm
#8
Suspended
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Tampa, FL
Programs: AA EXP; UA Silver; Marriott Platinum Premier; Hilton Gold; Hyatt Platinum; National Executive Elite
Posts: 156
I sure hope this isn't going to be the case. As a segment qualifier, I hated that US factored this in. I would much prefer a tiebreak being check-in time and/or fare class paid (such as the case on DL).
Apr 29, 2015 | 8:23 pm
#9
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: PHL
Programs: AA ExP, Marriott Amb, National EAE, Hilton Diamond, SPG Plat (RIP), US CP (RIP)
Posts: 2,433
Apr 29, 2015 | 9:00 pm
#10
Join Date: Oct 2007
Programs: AA, WN, UA, Bonvoy, Hertz
Posts: 2,723
I am just not sure of this change on the AA side. Doing the math, I still see 100 hour upgrades are still possible for EXP if there are seats in the specific class available. So, I really doubt a EQP/BIS check was added if they didn't move to an actual 4 days window.
Rasheed
Rasheed
Apr 30, 2015 | 9:17 am
#11
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Location: FIND ME ON TWITTER FOR THE LATEST
Posts: 27,729
Rumor is not rue for the AA side of things.
For US, as I understand it, this is how it's supposed to work (unclear to me if it -has- been working that way since the program merge.)
But on the AA side, anyone experiencing any huge changes in % of upgrade is obviously experiencing the elimination of -T designation, nothing relating to YTD-EQ activity.
For US, as I understand it, this is how it's supposed to work (unclear to me if it -has- been working that way since the program merge.)
But on the AA side, anyone experiencing any huge changes in % of upgrade is obviously experiencing the elimination of -T designation, nothing relating to YTD-EQ activity.