Oct 1, 2015, 9:14 pm
Last edit by: Prospero
This thread is for the discussion of upgrades (using systemwide upgrades / SWUs or mileage+ copay) for the LAX-SYD-LAX route. This flight began with three class Boeing 777-300ER, but has changed to a two class Boeing 787-9.
Inaugural flights:
LAX-SYD: 17 Dec 2015 AA 73 Flight duration 15:05
Lv LAX 21:50 Dec 17 PST / 05:50 18 Dec GMT
Ar SYD 07:55 Dec 19 EADT / 20:55 18 Dec GMT (same day)
SYD-LAX: 19 Dec 2015 AA 72 Flight duration 13:50
Lv SYD 12:00 Dec 19 EADT / 01:00 19 Dec GMT
Ar LAX 06:50 Dec 19 PST / 14:50 19 Dec GMT
General discussion of the LAX-SYD-LAX route is at:
AA to operate LAX-SYD with 77W (inaugural 17 December 2015) archived
AA LAX-SYD-LAX 77W AA73 / AA72 (17 Dec 2015)
Was operated with Boeing 77W / 777-323ER to 8 Nov 2017
Changed to Boeing 787-9 in November 2017.
Inaugural flights:
LAX-SYD: 17 Dec 2015 AA 73 Flight duration 15:05
Lv LAX 21:50 Dec 17 PST / 05:50 18 Dec GMT
Ar SYD 07:55 Dec 19 EADT / 20:55 18 Dec GMT (same day)
SYD-LAX: 19 Dec 2015 AA 72 Flight duration 13:50
Lv SYD 12:00 Dec 19 EADT / 01:00 19 Dec GMT
Ar LAX 06:50 Dec 19 PST / 14:50 19 Dec GMT
General discussion of the LAX-SYD-LAX route is at:
AA to operate LAX-SYD with 77W (inaugural 17 December 2015) archived
AA LAX-SYD-LAX 77W AA73 / AA72 (17 Dec 2015)
Was operated with Boeing 77W / 777-323ER to 8 Nov 2017
Changed to Boeing 787-9 in November 2017.
LAX-SYD AA 73 / 72 Upgrade & Waitlist Discussion
Oct 9, 2018, 6:12 pm
#557
Join Date: Oct 2018
Programs: AA Advantage
Posts: 9
I have to learn these acronyms stat! PE? EP? I am sorry for not knowing them.
Nov 19, 2018, 11:56 am
#560
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: SLC/HEL/Anywhere with a Beach
Programs: Marriott Ambassador; AA EXP 3MM; AS MVP, Hilton Gold, CH-47/UH-60/C-23/C-130 VET
Posts: 5,234
Upgrades are difficult on this flight ... even as a high spend EXP, the seats keep dwindling so they must be selling them 
Is there an arrivals lounge at SYD?
Is there an arrivals lounge at SYD?
Nov 19, 2018, 12:11 pm
#561
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Melbourne
Programs: ►QFWP/LTG►VA WP►HyattExpl.►HiltonGold►ALL Silver
Posts: 21,992
Nov 19, 2018, 7:22 pm
#562
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Here and there
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 1,551
Nov 23, 2018, 11:45 am
#563
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: San Diego
Programs: Plat Pro AAdvantage, but defected to BAEC
Posts: 1,222
Flew this route back in April. I had originally booked PE and requested a miles + copay waitlist at time of booking. A few months after booking, J on the LAX-SYD leg was starting to fill up and as that was the overnight leg, I decided to upfare to guarantee a lie flat. When I showed up at the airport, the upgrade list was 32 deep which is more than the total number of business seats on the plane. Only 1 upgrade actually cleared.
The return flight also filled up, so I wasn’t expecting any luck on the way home. Got to the airport to see that my wife and I were 4th and 5th on the list. The first three names on the list did clear just before boarding.
The return flight also filled up, so I wasn’t expecting any luck on the way home. Got to the airport to see that my wife and I were 4th and 5th on the list. The first three names on the list did clear just before boarding.
Last edited by Reetmafreen; Nov 25, 2018 at 8:56 pm
Nov 25, 2018, 9:52 pm
#566
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: SLC/HEL/Anywhere with a Beach
Programs: Marriott Ambassador; AA EXP 3MM; AS MVP, Hilton Gold, CH-47/UH-60/C-23/C-130 VET
Posts: 5,234
Interesting experience on a Thanksgiving week trip as an EXP with 35-40k in annualized spend.
I bought my ticket around 10 days out and requested a SWU at the time of ticketing. When I bought, LAX-SYD was J6 with 11 seats unassigned and SYD-LAX was J6 with six seats unassigned. As J seats continued to dwindle, I was nervous but my SWU on both ends confirmed the day before departure. The plane was otherwise very full with W0/Y2-3.
I've been assuming that these seats are all selling because as an EXP with 35-40 in spend, I'm always at the top of the upgrade list except for the occasional CK or route like LAX-JFK. DFW-LGA, DFW-LAX. But. I ran into someone traveling as a non-rev while in town and we were looking at the data. Basically, there were already fourteen confirmed upgrades in J before me. When I was upgraded, there was one seat left in J and none when I the upgrade list was posted four hours out. Of the 14 confirmed upgrades, most were VIP2 (I think that's a SWU) and a couple were mileage.
So ... while we're all complaining, seems like AA is actually clearing a lot of SWU's since it is over half the seats on this flight. Maybe some of those were CK's or EXP's with higher spend but there was never 14 unassigned seats when I booked and requested my SWU. So, I think some lower spend EXP's are clearing more than 10 days out. It's really hard to fault AA when half the seats in biz are filled with SWU's. It also explains why they aren't flying the 773 to SYD.
Not sure those of us on FT are representative of the broader EXP crowd.
I bought my ticket around 10 days out and requested a SWU at the time of ticketing. When I bought, LAX-SYD was J6 with 11 seats unassigned and SYD-LAX was J6 with six seats unassigned. As J seats continued to dwindle, I was nervous but my SWU on both ends confirmed the day before departure. The plane was otherwise very full with W0/Y2-3.
I've been assuming that these seats are all selling because as an EXP with 35-40 in spend, I'm always at the top of the upgrade list except for the occasional CK or route like LAX-JFK. DFW-LGA, DFW-LAX. But. I ran into someone traveling as a non-rev while in town and we were looking at the data. Basically, there were already fourteen confirmed upgrades in J before me. When I was upgraded, there was one seat left in J and none when I the upgrade list was posted four hours out. Of the 14 confirmed upgrades, most were VIP2 (I think that's a SWU) and a couple were mileage.
So ... while we're all complaining, seems like AA is actually clearing a lot of SWU's since it is over half the seats on this flight. Maybe some of those were CK's or EXP's with higher spend but there was never 14 unassigned seats when I booked and requested my SWU. So, I think some lower spend EXP's are clearing more than 10 days out. It's really hard to fault AA when half the seats in biz are filled with SWU's. It also explains why they aren't flying the 773 to SYD.
Not sure those of us on FT are representative of the broader EXP crowd.
Nov 27, 2018, 4:21 am
#568
Ambassador: Alaska Airlines
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: BWI
Posts: 7,390
In my experience using SWUs and BXP1s (domestic) I rarely find C space at booking but I do notice that AA clears me from the waitlist in advance without even releasing C space. As in they clear the waitlist first and release C space if the waitlist is empty.
I know this is highly YMMV but I have had good luck getting upgraded in advance just not at booking.
I know this is highly YMMV but I have had good luck getting upgraded in advance just not at booking.
Nov 27, 2018, 7:50 am
#569
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: SLC/HEL/Anywhere with a Beach
Programs: Marriott Ambassador; AA EXP 3MM; AS MVP, Hilton Gold, CH-47/UH-60/C-23/C-130 VET
Posts: 5,234
exp's upgraded on domestic flights are VIP1. Mileage upgrades had a different code on the list I saw. Almost all of the list were vip2. Not sure what that is.
Nov 27, 2018, 7:58 am
#570
Join Date: Jan 2006
Programs: AA EXP, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 313
Concierge Keys using systemwide upgrades are VIP1. Executive Platinums using systemwide upgrades are VIP2.