ARCHIVE: LFBU / DODU: Space-available, counter, kiosk, and online upgrade (consol)
#151
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Durham, NC (RDU/GSO/CLT)
Programs: AA EXP/MM, DL GM, UA Platinum, HH DIA, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Platinum, Marriott Titanium, Hertz PC
Posts: 33,857
A can mean A lot (hehe) of things. It's the Fare Class for paid upgrades, mileage upgrades and SWU upgrades as well as the fare class for YUP fares. What you're seeing is most likely YUP fares. Still, try at the airport, you may get lucky.
#152
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: STL
Programs: AA 2MM, AS MVP Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 12,966
I was on LAX-MIA today, and used 500 mile upgrades to get a seat in business. First ended up with several non-revs. I had checked-in online, but after landing, I wondered if I should have checked-in at the kiosk to see if it would have offered me an upgrade.
Anyway, just curious if this type of double-upgrade scenario ever happens.
Anyway, just curious if this type of double-upgrade scenario ever happens.
#153
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: NYLON - AA EXP 1MM, SPG Gold
Posts: 1,234
Just wondered if anyone has seen paid counter upgrades at NRT of late?
It has been a very long time since I have seen them...
It has been a very long time since I have seen them...
#154
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: SEATTLE, WA USA
Programs: UAL, AA, AS, CX
Posts: 1,973
Paid gate Upgrades on Award tickets?
I thought there was a thread discussing this somewhere?
Does AA offer paid upgrades when your first ticketed on an award flight? Say Y to J? Specifically on international flight? I'll be on a Y paid ticket but my flight partner will use an award ticket and I'm Plat. Thx
Does AA offer paid upgrades when your first ticketed on an award flight? Say Y to J? Specifically on international flight? I'll be on a Y paid ticket but my flight partner will use an award ticket and I'm Plat. Thx
#155
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: CTS
Programs: AA:1MM
Posts: 743
There have been kiosk upgrades made available to persons on award tickets in Y at points in the past. I personally have not experienced this, but others on the forum have.
#156
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 439
I think the thread you're looking for is
LFBU: Non-elite, space-available, counter and kiosk upgrades (consolidated)
LFBU: Non-elite, space-available, counter and kiosk upgrades (consolidated)
#157
Join Date: Apr 2005
Programs: Eurostar Carte Blanche, SBB-CFF-FFS GA-AG, SNCF Grand Voyageur LeClub
Posts: 7,836
Upgrade proposes at CKI kiosk - purchasable before?
I have a ticket MIA-MCO-MIA in M class. When I checked in at a self service kiosk for the outbound flight the kiosk proposed an upgrade to First Class for only 45 USD, an offer which I accepted without hesitation. That then put me in A class.
I wanted to know whether there is any possibility to purchase that kind of upgrade for such a modest amount of money before going to the airport? Or is it only sold at the airport at the moment of check-in?
I have no status or miles with AA which is why this is a highly welcomed way to have a boarding pass in F and the fast lane access that comes with it.
Thanks for any hints
I wanted to know whether there is any possibility to purchase that kind of upgrade for such a modest amount of money before going to the airport? Or is it only sold at the airport at the moment of check-in?
I have no status or miles with AA which is why this is a highly welcomed way to have a boarding pass in F and the fast lane access that comes with it.
Thanks for any hints
#158
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Programs: AA 1.5 MM Exec Plat, WN A-List, DL Silver, UA nonrev
Posts: 2,593
It's called "Load Factor Based Upgrades (LFBU)"
More reading here:
http://www.flyerguide.com/wiki/index.php/Upgrades_(AA)
(Note: Only sold at kiosk. If you had declined at the kiosk, the gate AAgents would not have been able to make the same offer)
More reading here:
http://www.flyerguide.com/wiki/index.php/Upgrades_(AA)
(Note: Only sold at kiosk. If you had declined at the kiosk, the gate AAgents would not have been able to make the same offer)
#159
Join Date: Apr 2005
Programs: Eurostar Carte Blanche, SBB-CFF-FFS GA-AG, SNCF Grand Voyageur LeClub
Posts: 7,836
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Thanks a lot. I am a newbie to AA so these hints are really appreciated.
One more question if I may: from when on are these upgrades made available? for instance, could I go to the airport the evening before departure (about 18-20 hours before departure) and get that upgrade from the kiosk? Or is it made available only shortly before departure?
Thanks
Thanks a lot. I am a newbie to AA so these hints are really appreciated.
One more question if I may: from when on are these upgrades made available? for instance, could I go to the airport the evening before departure (about 18-20 hours before departure) and get that upgrade from the kiosk? Or is it made available only shortly before departure?
Thanks
#160
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Programs: AA 1.5 MM Exec Plat, WN A-List, DL Silver, UA nonrev
Posts: 2,593
Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_2_1 like Mac OS X; fr-fr) AppleWebKit/533.17.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.0.2 Mobile/8C148a Safari/6533.18.5)
Thanks a lot. I am a newbie to AA so these hints are really appreciated.
One more question if I may: from when on are these upgrades made available? for instance, could I go to the airport the evening before departure (about 18-20 hours before departure) and get that upgrade from the kiosk? Or is it made available only shortly before departure?
Thanks
Thanks a lot. I am a newbie to AA so these hints are really appreciated.
One more question if I may: from when on are these upgrades made available? for instance, could I go to the airport the evening before departure (about 18-20 hours before departure) and get that upgrade from the kiosk? Or is it made available only shortly before departure?
Thanks
There is no set time that these are made available. AA has programmed an algorithm that takes into account many factors. As the title suggests, it's based on flight loads. As such, it's not a set time (if at all).
#161
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: DFW
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 1,590
I can confirm that I was offered LFBU on milesaver domestic award yesterday when checking in.
#162
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Southeastern WI
Programs: UA Gold, HHonors Diamond
Posts: 590
Kiosk upgrade
My wife and I are primarily UA travelers but we have an upcoming ORD to MBJ flight.
I am an AA platinum (match from UA 1k) and we are on award seats..
I read that sometimes the kiosks will do a pay for upgrade.... Is there anyway to see what the potential upgrade prices are, or can anyone even confirm that on award we'd even be eligible?
Should we not checkin online to get the opportunity?
Thx!!
I am an AA platinum (match from UA 1k) and we are on award seats..
I read that sometimes the kiosks will do a pay for upgrade.... Is there anyway to see what the potential upgrade prices are, or can anyone even confirm that on award we'd even be eligible?
Should we not checkin online to get the opportunity?
Thx!!
#163
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Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Benicia CA
Programs: Alaska MVP Gold 75K, AA 3.8MM, UA 1.1MM, enjoying the retired life
Posts: 31,849
Load Factor Based Upgrades (LFBU)
Domestic upgrades may sometimes be offered for purchase at check-in kiosks when enough premium seats are available to accommodate expected revenue passengers and elite upgrades. AA markets these as Confirmed Upgrades at a rate of $45 per 500-mile unit. These upgrades may be purchased by non-elites and by elites traveling on award tickets. International counter-purchased upgrades may also occasionally be available at some airports for limited flights. Several FlyerTalkers have reported upgrades being offered at kiosks for transatlantic flights at $500 and for transpacific flights at $650-750 ($1000 for an upgrade from J to F).
Domestic upgrades may sometimes be offered for purchase at check-in kiosks when enough premium seats are available to accommodate expected revenue passengers and elite upgrades. AA markets these as Confirmed Upgrades at a rate of $45 per 500-mile unit. These upgrades may be purchased by non-elites and by elites traveling on award tickets. International counter-purchased upgrades may also occasionally be available at some airports for limited flights. Several FlyerTalkers have reported upgrades being offered at kiosks for transatlantic flights at $500 and for transpacific flights at $650-750 ($1000 for an upgrade from J to F).
I don't do a lot of domestic award travel, but was offered an upgrade MIA-JFK when I checked in at the SFO kiosk (odd routing but only one with available seats). Perhaps someone with more experience with those can comment as to whether counter agents can offer them if you check in on-line.
#165
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Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: BOS
Programs: AA EXP, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 10,417
My wife and I are primarily UA travelers but we have an upcoming ORD to MBJ flight.
I am an AA platinum (match from UA 1k) and we are on award seats..
I read that sometimes the kiosks will do a pay for upgrade.... Is there anyway to see what the potential upgrade prices are, or can anyone even confirm that on award we'd even be eligible?
Should we not checkin online to get the opportunity?
Thx!!
I am an AA platinum (match from UA 1k) and we are on award seats..
I read that sometimes the kiosks will do a pay for upgrade.... Is there anyway to see what the potential upgrade prices are, or can anyone even confirm that on award we'd even be eligible?
Should we not checkin online to get the opportunity?
Thx!!
As mentioned by others, your only chance will be to check a kiosk to see if it offers you an upgrade opportunity. Good luck!
Your query has been merged with the existing consolidated thread on this topic. Thanks. /Moderator