AA Flyer

I have been very fortunate over the last number of years to have been Executive Platinum. Additionally I have been very lucky in getting my upgrades. However, due to a forthcoming change in my business, I expect, in 2018, to be bumped down to Platinum Pro.

Having been EXP over these years I have not paid attention to what kind of success rate for upgrades, a Platinum member would have.

If you have any experience on getting upgrades and being Platinum perhaps you can let me know. I realize this may be hard to quantify, as there are a number of contributing factors. But even if you have anecdotal evidence.... that might help me get an idea of what my future travel might look like. IE: Typically what number on upgrade list does the earliest date stamped Platinum end up as? Assuming that the fist Platinum member is listed after 2or 3 EXP's... what might be the % of scoring an upgrade?

thanks for any insight that you have and care to share.

swag

I'd argue that upgrade % is dependent even more on day and time and route than it is by status.

I'm currently PLT, and flying the wrong routes. My most common trips are the consultant-heavy trips from DFW to DCA/IAD, leaving Sunday evening and returning Thursday evening; as well as hub-to-hub trips DFW-CLT. In both cases, I usually buy and request the upgrade about 3 weeks out. On these routes, I'm probably 10%, at best. Generally, I seem to be between #5 and #12 on the list out of 20-40 names. And it's not just earlier PLTs ahead of me, it's common to have EXPs in coach.

On my occasional midweek trip or non-DFW flight, I'm probably 50%.

I first got PLT sometime around 2006, and my upgrade rate was similarly poor. I remember my upgrade balance soaring from maybe 6 to over 30. When my business travel ceased and I dropped back to GLD, my upgrade success actually imporved, since I was no longer flying the business routes, and my balance pretty quickly dropped back doen to maybe 3.

MiamiAirport Formerly NY George

I would think hub flyers like me would see a smaller percentage. Even as EXP I'm probably 75% out of MIA.

whatupbovice

My travel patterns fortunately have me avoiding peak days and times generally so not sure how helpful this will be, but I've missed 2 upgrades out of 30 sectors (that were either <500 mi or on which I used stickers to request an upgrade) this year as a Plat.

This includes flying into and out of DCA as my home airport and several shuttle flights. I typically book 2-3 months in advance and was among the top 5 on the waitlist on those 2 sectors I didn't clear. And of course, I avoid DFW like the plague.

arlflyer

Low. AA has right-sized its fleets, its cabins, and its schedules. They want to sell F.

Degerminator

It's highly dependent on route and time.

Plat. I do the typical work travel, Monday morning to Thursday afternoon between ORD and PHL. 0% upgrade rate. I've got 56 500 mile stickers which I've only ever been able to use on vacation - never on my typical travel schedule.

dciolli

As a PLT out of LAX, I get upgraded about 10% of the time. I don't think I've ever been upgraded between LAX-ORD when we go visit my wife's family every couple of months.

I occasionally get upgraded on the less traveled routes. Some that recently come to mind are LIH-LAX on a Wednesday and MSY-DFW on a Sunday morning.

IADCAflyer

Highly route and time dependent. I'm about 75% this year, but a lot of them are short haul flights out of DCA: DCA-DAY, DCA-CHS, DCA-LGA. On "real" stage routes, I'm not doing so hot (DCA-DFW, DFW-BOS, etc.). I am usually at the top of the upgrade list without clearing.

Where I have cleared DFW-DCA and the like is usually an evening flight with no meal service (cookies and snack basket only).

AAEmpireState

NYC-based PLT here, and I'm at around 90% this year, but again, very route/timing specific. For weekend or mid-week flights, and to non-AA hubs (e.g., LGA-ATL) (all leisure), I've been clearing right at the 72-hour mark.

k1052

Pretty rare these days with mostly hub to hub travel and reduced schedules to my other destinations unless flying at odd times with low demand. Otherwise upgrades lists of 30+ are not uncommon. I don't have much incentive to reach for EXP again since even my husband who has had it for years more than me and does loads of international barely cracks the top 5 anymore on my hub to hub flights when he's with me. First is usually full or only has a seat or two free anyway.

I've found myself using DL and VX more over the last year and a half.

UltraSean

I guess it depends on the routes pretty much. When I was Plat earlier this year I was never lucky on LAX/SFO/DFW/JFK flights, whereas always got upgraded elsewhere.

josmul123

See signature. ;-)

I mostly travel on off-peak days/times, but sometimes I get surprises on a business trip.

MiamiAirport Formerly NY George

As an EXP I see upgrades all over the map. Normally MIA/CLT clears at T-100 for me but the mid day flight tomorrow (Wednesday) F is showing sold out. I would imagine its hard to pinpoint what to really expect in upgrade success anymore. I remember back in my mid 2000s PLT days I rarely missed an upgrade. However, then AA was flying 24F 757s and 16F MD80s.

SpammersAreScum

So far I'm 2/2 on separate trips. One was DFW-TPA, the other TPA-MIA. For differing reasons, I didn't end up flying either segment, though.

sdix

SJC to anywhere snout 50/50

DFW-CRP 100%