anandrag

Last 3 flights into ORD have not been upgraded as an EXP. Others have been upgraded but not me. Don't understand. 2 of flights were booked months in advance so can't imagine everyone else had requested upgrades earlier.
Could it be fare basis? Thought that wasn't criteria anymore?

BSBD

1. More people buying F. F fares are low relative to Y fares.

2. It's the time of year when people start using their award miles. I've requalified, so I don't need to spend money to earn status. I can use the miles I've accumulated, so I do - either for F awards, or for miles-based upgrades to F.

rjw242

3. People burning SWUs that they don't expect to use otherwise.

anandrag

Unlikely people using that for ORD-LGA sector. Also, understand that instrument (SWU vs sticker) didn't matter and it was time of request.

In terms of people buying F, I see other people getting upgraded so that's not whole answer

rjw242

SWUs trump all sticker or complimentary EXP upgrades.

They're also good for up to 3 segments. So perhaps nobody's using them on ORD-LGA, but plenty of people might be using them on LAX-ORD-LGA, DEN-ORD-LGA, ...

anandrag

Maybe on multi sector journey.
Thought wiki said instrument doesn't matter anymore in new AA structure

rjw242

SWUs and miles/copay upgrades are equivalent in principle. But a non-status member upgrading with miles/copay will beat an EXP trying for a complimentary upgrade.

badjuju

That's what I'm wondering. Just made EXP on Tuesday and my flights today did not get upgraded.

ETA: I'm EXP on flight today and number 15 on upgrade list!

Seriously, why bother!

bse118

4. Late in the year, more EXPs around the later you get in the year, theoretically speaking.

OP, don't discount the number of people booking flights months in advance.

Upgrades are highly YMMV. I cleared sticker upgrades on 2 of my 3 eligible flights this week (DEN-DFW, IAH-PHX) and think I would have cleared the 3rd but for a ticketing snafu that caused the request to be dropped.

anandrag

I'm just annoyed that 4-5 others seem to get upgrade and I'm left as number 1 or 2 on list. As EXP didn't expect would miss that many upgrades on short sectors like ORD-LGA and vice versa

tomj888

I was at DFW yesterday and saw people on the bottom of the waitlist get upgraded over people at the top. Not sure if that was because they volunteered to pay or use an upgrade instrument. Didn't have the presence of mind to ask. As for me, I've been paying for F this year. Versus years past its quite reasonable cost wise. That way I"m guaranteed a seat in the front. Also, been very lucky, I've flown the 788 the last few trips. Very nice plane. F is very very very cramped. I would not be happy on that flight to Shanghai. But for a domestic run, great plane.
So in sum, I think people paying is one way complimentary upgrades are not as frequent. I think time of year and people burning thru SWU's as well.

May OP have better luck next time or pick routings where the likelihood of upgrades is higher.

fly747first

Very likely there were CKs and other EXPs ahead of you.

fly747first

You do realize this is both an elite and business heavy route, lots of EXPs and CKs on these flights regularly, many on high fares too.

Thumper

I think we are in one of the most unique "perfect storm" settings for upgrades that we have seen in years.

Yup, more people buying first
Yup, people burning SWU
Yup, end of year with newly minted EXPs

and lastly, thousands of USAir elites also joining into the system.

If you combine those factors with the airports mentioned - DFW, LGA, and others of that ilk (AA elite centers), it is not unusual to see the upgrade list well into the thirties.

I recently had a case where I bought the ticket 8 weeks out (BDL DFW) and I was fourth on the upgrade list.

Annoying for now, but this too shall pass.

rjw242

Your new status might not have been reflected in the reservation. Often you have to call AA and have them manually "refresh" your existing reservations for the new status to "take."