May 22, 2017, 6:21 am
Last edit by: JDiver
Chances of Upgrade Request Clearing
NOTE: Be aware of recent (20 May 2017) upgrade priority changes.
"New Upgrade Priority as of 20 May 2017
(Upgrades were prioritized by elite status and then time of request until 20 May 2017)
- Elite status
- Concierge Key
- Executive Platinum
- Platinum Pro
- Platinum
- Gold
- Upgrade type
- Miles and copay award upgrades and systemwide upgrades (SWU)
- 500 mile upgrades on purchased tickets
- 500 mile upgrades on upgrade eligible awards)
- Elite qualifying dollars in the past 12 months
- Booking class
- Time of request"
See Upgrade Priority Changes to Status, Rolling 365 Day EQD Spend May 20 2017
U]Link[/U] to Gary Leff, View From the Wing 16 May 2017
Updated 22 May 2017 by JDiver
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2017 Chances of Upgrade Clearing and Availability (consolidated)
Oct 5, 2017, 11:14 am
#676
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: PVD, BOS
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 1,664
The cabin looked fairly full in the weeks leading up to the trip, so I was very surprised to clear upgrades on both flights.
Oct 5, 2017, 12:24 pm
#677
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Bay Area, CA
Posts: 9
On 10/28, 24 of 30 MCE seats have been selected, so seemingly quite full.
I appreciate the help!!
Oct 5, 2017, 1:37 pm
#678
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: ORD (formerly SAN)
Programs: Hilton Diamond; IHG Platinum; Bonvoy Gold; AA Platinum Pro and United Premier Silver (DH = AA EXP)
Posts: 1,929
And prep myself for hanging out in Y if necessary (ugh). We cleared DFW-HKG on the way there, so we're happy about that (knock on wood that we don't lose those seats somehow). We typically book biz outright, but sale fares never dipped below $3k (our typical threshold for ORD-HKG w/ max 1 connex) this year (at least not when we were tracking) so we're flying Y and hoping for upgrades to clear.
Oct 6, 2017, 10:52 am
#679
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Bay Area, CA
Posts: 9
F5 A4 J5 R4 D3 I1 Y0 B0 H0 K0 M0 L0 G0 V0 S0 N0 Q0 O0 E0
Worth noting, I did have to call AA to get it done...it had not auto cleared yet even though I was on the upgrade list.
Fingers crossed for the return clearing!
Oct 6, 2017, 11:27 am
#680
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: DCA/IAD/WAS
Programs: MAR AMB, WOH Explorist, AA EXP, UA 2P
Posts: 2,138
I think I'm in good shape here but figured I'd ask (though yesterday the return was J7 I4 with 10 empty seats, grr).
11/15 PHL-FCO
J7 R7 D7 I7 Y7 B0 H7 K7 M7 L7 G7 V7 S7 N7 Q7 O7 E7
11/19 FCO-PHL
J6 R4 D5 I3 Y7 B0 H7 K7 M7 L7 G7 V7 S7 N7 Q7 O7 E7
11/15 PHL-FCO
J7 R7 D7 I7 Y7 B0 H7 K7 M7 L7 G7 V7 S7 N7 Q7 O7 E7
11/19 FCO-PHL
J6 R4 D5 I3 Y7 B0 H7 K7 M7 L7 G7 V7 S7 N7 Q7 O7 E7
Oct 6, 2017, 4:52 pm
#681
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: NYC
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 1,372
Anyone have any experience with AA 95 MAD-JFK? I'm waitlisted with a SWU for 10/23, but in the past week it's gone from J7 to J2. Is this usually a full flight in J? I figured a Monday in October would be a good chance for the SWU to clear, but maybe I was wrong?
Oct 6, 2017, 6:56 pm
#682
Join Date: Dec 2012
Programs: AAdvantage Executive Platinum (3 Million Miler), IHG Spire Royal Amdassador
Posts: 282
Flying DFW>NRT, flt 61, tomorrow 7 Oct. Been waitlisted for SWU since April. At T-27, I received the Expert Flyer Notification that C class opened up (3 seats available for upgrade with a total of 6 seats open in biz). Called EXP desk within minutes and although it hadn't automatically cleared yet, the agent was able to process the upgrade. Yay! But still don't like sweating it out for 6 months... We'll see what happens on the return next Saturday, 14 Oct, flt 60!
Oct 6, 2017, 7:00 pm
#683
Join Date: Dec 2012
Programs: AAdvantage Executive Platinum (3 Million Miler), IHG Spire Royal Amdassador
Posts: 282
I had my sister (with no status) waitlisted for SWU on FCO>PHL on 9/21. She cleared T-40 with J3.
Oct 6, 2017, 7:38 pm
#684
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: DCA/IAD/WAS
Programs: MAR AMB, WOH Explorist, AA EXP, UA 2P
Posts: 2,138
Oct 8, 2017, 4:55 am
#685
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 989
Hey guys, need some expert advice. Long story short, I have JFK-LAX-HKG upgrade for 2 passengers. The LAX-HKG segment cleared, but I only have one SWU. I assume that I must split the record in order to process one with SWU and the other with miles and cash. However, I don't want to do that until the first segment clears also, so that my daughter would inherit my EXP status on the priority list. Can I wait until the gate to pay for the upgrade portion that is miles and cash? What other options may I have? Thanks in advance!
Oct 11, 2017, 7:12 pm
#686
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 989
Hi guys, I need some help figuring out if I have been upgraded or not. I applied a SWU for JFK-LAX-HKG. The LAX-HKG had already been upgraded. A couple of days ago, the JFK-LAX segment shows requested. Today, it shows confirmed. But it lists two flights, one says original flight and the other says standby flight. Both shows upgrade confirmed and in business, but one shows seats 12C and 12A, while the other shows 3A and 3D. However, I cannot change seats and when I call in, the phone reps tell me that I am still waitlisted for that segment. Please look at the below screenshots and let me know what you think. Am I still waitlisted and the website showing SWU confirmed is just an IT glitch? Thanks
Oct 11, 2017, 7:23 pm
#687
Join Date: Feb 2014
Programs: AA, United, Alaska, Virgin America
Posts: 15
Unfortunately that is how AA shows your situation - they don’t have a way of showing it correctly and since the long haul cleared, your upgrade is confirmed. They don’t do married segments anymore either so your chances for the transcontinental are only increased by the fact that you are on an SWU.
Hi guys, I need some help figuring out if I have been upgraded or not. I applied a SWU for JFK-LAX-HKG. The LAX-HKG had already been upgraded. A couple of days ago, the JFK-LAX segment shows requested. Today, it shows confirmed. But it lists two flights, one says original flight and the other says standby flight. Both shows upgrade confirmed and in business, but one shows seats 12C and 12A, while the other shows 3A and 3D. However, I cannot change seats and when I call in, the phone reps tell me that I am still waitlisted for that segment. Please look at the below screenshots and let me know what you think. Am I still waitlisted and the website showing SWU confirmed is just an IT glitch? Thanks
Oct 11, 2017, 7:54 pm
#688
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 989
Unfortunately that is how AA shows your situation - they don’t have a way of showing it correctly and since the long haul cleared, your upgrade is confirmed. They don’t do married segments anymore either so your chances for the transcontinental are only increased by the fact that you are on an SWU.
Oct 11, 2017, 8:07 pm
#689
Join Date: Feb 2014
Programs: AA, United, Alaska, Virgin America
Posts: 15
My experience with how they display a waitlisted reservation for SWUs online has shown that it can flop back and forth between what you see now and what you saw. I’ve been fooled and had my hopes up many times due to this, and then call to no avail. That transcon leg is actually harder to get a pre-confirmed upgrade on than the long haul, IMHO. It doesn’t hurt to call and try to force the agent to make a formal request to revenue, but that is hard in itself. I probably tried 20 times on the phone with the EXP desk on an SFO - JFK SWU. I flew in coach that night after 8 months on the waitlist. Also if it comes down to the gate you might be able to sweet talk further priority due to it being on a connection.
Oct 11, 2017, 8:27 pm
#690
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 989
My experience with how they display a waitlisted reservation for SWUs online has shown that it can flop back and forth between what you see now and what you saw. I’ve been fooled and had my hopes up many times due to this, and then call to no avail. That transcon leg is actually harder to get a pre-confirmed upgrade on than the long haul, IMHO. It doesn’t hurt to call and try to force the agent to make a formal request to revenue, but that is hard in itself. I probably tried 20 times on the phone with the EXP desk on an SFO - JFK SWU. I flew in coach that night after 8 months on the waitlist. Also if it comes down to the gate you might be able to sweet talk further priority due to it being on a connection.