Is checking for SWUs on AA.com broken
Feb 21, 2016 | 6:41 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2010
Programs: AA EXP (owe), BA Silver (ows), AB Silver (owr), WN A+/CP, IHG Spire AMB, Avis First
Posts: 1,426
Is checking for SWUs on AA.com broken
So in addition to checking on ExpertFlyer, if you log in to AA.com, it will usually show you flights you can immediately clear a SWU on if you do a search on the website.
However, this evening I looked at some GRU flights departing within the next 4 hours. For example, I looked at JFK-GRU AA 951, which has an upgrade list of 4, two unassigned seats in J, and EF is showing C0. Yet, the AA website is showing "Systemwide Upgrade>" next to this flight and the DFW flight even though there's clearly more people on the wait list than available J seats. (BTW, interestingly enough, LAX-GRU has 0 people on the wait list, 4 seats unassigned in J, but is NOT showing "Systemwide Upgrade>".)
Does this mean that the AA website is just completely useless for checking SWU availability? I always thought that the SWU indicator was based off of C availability. I guess I'd be pretty upset if I paid for the ticket thinking my SWU would immediately clear based on the AA website only to be told no availability...
However, this evening I looked at some GRU flights departing within the next 4 hours. For example, I looked at JFK-GRU AA 951, which has an upgrade list of 4, two unassigned seats in J, and EF is showing C0. Yet, the AA website is showing "Systemwide Upgrade>" next to this flight and the DFW flight even though there's clearly more people on the wait list than available J seats. (BTW, interestingly enough, LAX-GRU has 0 people on the wait list, 4 seats unassigned in J, but is NOT showing "Systemwide Upgrade>".)
Does this mean that the AA website is just completely useless for checking SWU availability? I always thought that the SWU indicator was based off of C availability. I guess I'd be pretty upset if I paid for the ticket thinking my SWU would immediately clear based on the AA website only to be told no availability...
Feb 21, 2016 | 6:52 pm
#2
Join Date: Jan 2005
Programs: AA-EXP, LATAM Gold+, BA-Blues
Posts: 736
You might have been seeing J -> F SWU availability... on the fare-selection page, there's no differentiation between "C" and "A." But normally, if you click on the bolded words "Systemwide Availability," a window should pop up that indicates from/to which class SWU space is actually available.
Feb 21, 2016 | 7:23 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2010
Programs: AA EXP (owe), BA Silver (ows), AB Silver (owr), WN A+/CP, IHG Spire AMB, Avis First
Posts: 1,426
You might have been seeing J -> F SWU availability... on the fare-selection page, there's no differentiation between "C" and "A." But normally, if you click on the bolded words "Systemwide Availability," a window should pop up that indicates from/to which class SWU space is actually available.