May 16, 2017, 12:53 pm
Last edit by: Prospero
As of May 20, 2017 upgrade prioritization is:
Elite qualifying dollars* in the past 12 months
- Elite status
- Concierge Key
- Executive Platinum
- Platinum Pro
- Platinum
- Gold
- Upgrade type
- Miles and copay award upgrades and systemwide upgrades, Business Extra? (SWU)
- 500 mile upgrades on purchased tickets (including EXP complimentary UDU)
- 500 mile upgrades on upgrade eligible awards (including EXP complimentary UDU)
- BXP Business Extra upgrades
Elite qualifying dollars* in the past 12 months
- Booking class (in order, J, D, I, W, P, Y, H, K, M, L, V, G, S, N, Q, O, T)
Time of request
*Your 12-month Rolling EQD value is different from your Year-to-Date (YTD) EQDs, which is used to track your progress toward elite status. It includes your EQD earned from reaching qualifying spend thresholds on eligible AAdvantage® AviatorTM MasterCard® cards.
Link to EQD earning Help Desk thread on FlyerTalk.
No- or lower status companion and effect on upgrade position
WAIT LIST, SAME PNR: Prior to upgrade request going to airport list- SWU, Miles & Copay, Business Extra: lower status passenger "borrows" higher status. (BX is unsure, stated as least of priorities, likely to up D-24 only)
- 500 mile / UDU: lower status passenger "borrows" higher status
- Award travel: lower status passenger "borrows" higher status
- 500 mile / UDU: lower status passenger "borrows" higher status
WAIT LIST, SEPARATE PNR: Prior to upgrade request going to airport list- SWU, Miles & Copay: lower status passenger DOES NOT "borrow" higher status under any circumstance
- 500 mile / UDU: lower status passenger "borrows" higher status IF PNRs "linked"
- Business Extra upgrade instruments
- Award travel: lower status passenger "borrows" higher status IF PNRs "linked"
- Award travel: lower status passenger "borrows" higher status IF PNRs "linked"
- Business Extra upgrade instruments
- 500 mile / UDU: lower status passenger "borrows" higher status IF PNRs "linked"
AIRPORT LIST, SAME PNR:- SWU, Miles & Copay: lower status passenger "borrows" higher status. (BX is unsure, but is least of priorities, likely to up D-24 only)
- 500 mile / UDU: lower status passenger "borrows" higher status
- Business Extra upgrade instruments
- Award travel: lower status passenger "borrows" higher status
- Business Extra upgrade instruments
- 500 mile / UDU: lower status passenger "borrows" higher status
AIRPORT LIST, SEPARATE PNR:- SWU, Miles & Copay: lower status passenger DOES NOT "borrow" higher status under any circumstance
- 500 mile / UDU: lower status passenger "borrows" higher status IF PNRs "linked"
- Business Extra upgrade instruments
- Award travel: lower status passenger "borrows" higher status IF PNRs "linked"
- Business Extra upgrade instruments
- 500 mile / UDU: lower status passenger "borrows" higher status IF PNRs "linked"
NOTES:- Traveling companion 500 mile upgrades (even for those pax using UDU) "stickers" must pull from higher status passenger's account.
- Lower status passenger previously "borrowing" higher status may require human processing at the airport to re-establish "borrowed status" linkage
(Companion information thanks to DW)
- SWU, Miles & Copay, Business Extra: lower status passenger "borrows" higher status. (BX is unsure, stated as least of priorities, likely to up D-24 only)
Upgrade Priority: Status, Upgrade Type, Rolling 12 Month EQD Spend
Jun 9, 2018, 3:32 am
#391
Join Date: May 2017
Location: San Francisco
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 369
One comment, one question.
I sponsored a nonstatus friend on another PNR using my SWU at the airport and my friend inherited my status. I didn't even ask them to do it as I was curious what would happen without saying anything. If I'm reading the guide right I think it suggests they should not have inherited my status.
Do SWU, Miles and Copay, and BusinessExtra upgrades all share the same priority and thus order is determined by EQD within the same status tier? Same answer before airport control and after?
I sponsored a nonstatus friend on another PNR using my SWU at the airport and my friend inherited my status. I didn't even ask them to do it as I was curious what would happen without saying anything. If I'm reading the guide right I think it suggests they should not have inherited my status.
Do SWU, Miles and Copay, and BusinessExtra upgrades all share the same priority and thus order is determined by EQD within the same status tier? Same answer before airport control and after?
Jun 13, 2018, 10:59 am
#392
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: CLT
Programs: AA EXP; Avis PC; Hertz PC; Marriott LT Gold; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,133
I am traveling with two companions to Europe and back. I have SWU requests for the outbound and miles/copay for the return. The outbound is J0 so no hope of that clearing. Return is J7 and looks wide open (July 4 so hopefully light travel day between holiday and Wednesday). If I switch the outbound to miles/copay and return to SWU, my understanding is that nothing in my priority will change, except date of request which is very far down the list of tiebreakers so I’m not too concerned about it,
Is that accurate? I want to switch now as, since July 4 is so wide open, I don’t want that to process and then I get stuck with the SWUs, which I likely wont have another long haul to use them on this year.
Thanks!
Is that accurate? I want to switch now as, since July 4 is so wide open, I don’t want that to process and then I get stuck with the SWUs, which I likely wont have another long haul to use them on this year.
Thanks!
Jun 13, 2018, 11:03 am
#393
Join Date: May 2011
Location: DFW
Programs: AA EXP, LT Gold
Posts: 3,148
Previously, a switch in instruments would have reset your time stamp (sometimes an agent could preserve it). No longer relevant unless - as you said - it gets to a tie-breaker down on the hierarchy. Very unlikely.
Jul 6, 2018, 5:57 am
#394
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Charlotte
Programs: Hilton Diamond, Marriott Platinum Elite, AA Platinum Pro, Hertz Presidents
Posts: 1,214
Am I on top of the upgrade list?
Hello FT,
So I cleared the international portion of an upcoming trip (miles + fee), but not the domestic portion. I"m told I'm on the waitlist, just curious where I am on that hierarchy.
I've paid the $350 + 25K miles already. Am I above EXP with complimentary upgrade?
CLT-DFW-NRT this Monday.
So I cleared the international portion of an upcoming trip (miles + fee), but not the domestic portion. I"m told I'm on the waitlist, just curious where I am on that hierarchy.
I've paid the $350 + 25K miles already. Am I above EXP with complimentary upgrade?
CLT-DFW-NRT this Monday.
Jul 6, 2018, 6:08 am
#395
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Wesley Chapel, FL
Programs: American Airlines
Posts: 30,039
Hello FT,
So I cleared the international portion of an upcoming trip (miles + fee), but not the domestic portion. I"m told I'm on the waitlist, just curious where I am on that hierarchy.
I've paid the $350 + 25K miles already. Am I above EXP with complimentary upgrade?
CLT-DFW-NRT this Monday.
So I cleared the international portion of an upcoming trip (miles + fee), but not the domestic portion. I"m told I'm on the waitlist, just curious where I am on that hierarchy.
I've paid the $350 + 25K miles already. Am I above EXP with complimentary upgrade?
CLT-DFW-NRT this Monday.
the latter will matter all others being equal.
Jul 6, 2018, 6:43 am
#397
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Charlotte
Programs: Hilton Diamond, Marriott Platinum Elite, AA Platinum Pro, Hertz Presidents
Posts: 1,214
Apologies, I was not clear. My question is does my instrument, the miles plus fees, put me above others (EXP or otherwise using either complementary or 500 mile segment upgrades?
I need to upgrade my FT profile, as I"m not EXP this year. I am Plat-pro.
Oh, my mileage so far this year is about 40K miles.
I need to upgrade my FT profile, as I"m not EXP this year. I am Plat-pro.
Oh, my mileage so far this year is about 40K miles.
Jul 6, 2018, 6:50 am
#398
Join Date: Aug 2017
Programs: AA PLT, IHG Spire
Posts: 551
It goes Status Level, then Upgrade Instrument, then 12 month rolling EQD. So you are behind all the EXP unfortunately. Only way that Miles and copay sometimes jumps the list is the ability to instantly confirm before the EXP upgrade window assuming C space is available.
Jul 6, 2018, 6:59 am
#399
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Charlotte
Programs: Hilton Diamond, Marriott Platinum Elite, AA Platinum Pro, Hertz Presidents
Posts: 1,214
It goes Status Level, then Upgrade Instrument, then 12 month rolling EQD. So you are behind all the EXP unfortunately. Only way that Miles and copay sometimes jumps the list is the ability to instantly confirm before the EXP upgrade window assuming C space is available.
Jul 20, 2018, 9:28 am
#400
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: DEN
Programs: AA EXP, AA Million Miles, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,586
This question may be better asked in the Business Extra thread, not sure.
Trying to figure out where BXP3 instruments stand in the priority order. Are they treated the same as SWUs & Miles+money? Or do they "rank" after those?
Just booked a transpac roundtrip, no C space available, trying to decide upgrade strategy with one SWU and one BXP3. Of the two longhauls one looks much likely to clear than the other.
Trying to figure out where BXP3 instruments stand in the priority order. Are they treated the same as SWUs & Miles+money? Or do they "rank" after those?
Just booked a transpac roundtrip, no C space available, trying to decide upgrade strategy with one SWU and one BXP3. Of the two longhauls one looks much likely to clear than the other.
Nov 1, 2018, 1:40 pm
#402
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Champaign (CMI)
Programs: AA ExecPlat
Posts: 92
Hi Collective Wisdom:
I am just off the phone with ExecPlat (EXP) desk and the BusinessExtraa BE desk. I have a BXP3 and upcoming trips to Auckland and Shanghai In PE. I had one leg, AKL-LAX clear as EXP SWU. I tried, and failed, to have my BXP3 applied rather than my SWU. During two separate rounds of calls, I was told that the BXP3 and SWU "inventories" are not swappable. I was *also* told that my EXP status did *not* stick to my BXP3 upgrade list request meaning that if I chose to be on the BXP3 list, I would clear only after all other statuses clear (i.e., pretty much never). None of this seems right to me but two rounds of calls ended with the same conclusion.
The two units(EXP desk and BE desk) really did seem totally disjoint. Folks were nice but communications were painful and more than a little frustrating.
So, have things changed? If not, is there some official that I can point to about how status and upgrade instrument interact?
Cheers and thanks,
DocD
I am just off the phone with ExecPlat (EXP) desk and the BusinessExtraa BE desk. I have a BXP3 and upcoming trips to Auckland and Shanghai In PE. I had one leg, AKL-LAX clear as EXP SWU. I tried, and failed, to have my BXP3 applied rather than my SWU. During two separate rounds of calls, I was told that the BXP3 and SWU "inventories" are not swappable. I was *also* told that my EXP status did *not* stick to my BXP3 upgrade list request meaning that if I chose to be on the BXP3 list, I would clear only after all other statuses clear (i.e., pretty much never). None of this seems right to me but two rounds of calls ended with the same conclusion.
The two units(EXP desk and BE desk) really did seem totally disjoint. Folks were nice but communications were painful and more than a little frustrating.
So, have things changed? If not, is there some official that I can point to about how status and upgrade instrument interact?
Cheers and thanks,
DocD
Nov 1, 2018, 2:36 pm
#403
Join Date: Sep 2002
Posts: 544
EXP with 25K in EQD this year. I've been having trouble getting systemwides to clear this year even on what I think are off-peak flights. Is this the new normal?
What EQD is required these days to get regular upgrades? Do you have to be CK at this point? I'm ex-NYC on major routes. Systemwides that have cleared have been T-24.
What EQD is required these days to get regular upgrades? Do you have to be CK at this point? I'm ex-NYC on major routes. Systemwides that have cleared have been T-24.
Nov 1, 2018, 3:18 pm
#404
Join Date: May 2011
Location: DFW
Programs: AA EXP, LT Gold
Posts: 3,148
Hi Collective Wisdom:
I am just off the phone with ExecPlat (EXP) desk and the BusinessExtraa BE desk. I have a BXP3 and upcoming trips to Auckland and Shanghai In PE. I had one leg, AKL-LAX clear as EXP SWU. I tried, and failed, to have my BXP3 applied rather than my SWU. During two separate rounds of calls, I was told that the BXP3 and SWU "inventories" are not swappable. I was *also* told that my EXP status did *not* stick to my BXP3 upgrade list request meaning that if I chose to be on the BXP3 list, I would clear only after all other statuses clear (i.e., pretty much never). None of this seems right to me but two rounds of calls ended with the same conclusion.
The two units(EXP desk and BE desk) really did seem totally disjoint. Folks were nice but communications were painful and more than a little frustrating.
So, have things changed? If not, is there some official that I can point to about how status and upgrade instrument interact?
Cheers and thanks,
DocD
I am just off the phone with ExecPlat (EXP) desk and the BusinessExtraa BE desk. I have a BXP3 and upcoming trips to Auckland and Shanghai In PE. I had one leg, AKL-LAX clear as EXP SWU. I tried, and failed, to have my BXP3 applied rather than my SWU. During two separate rounds of calls, I was told that the BXP3 and SWU "inventories" are not swappable. I was *also* told that my EXP status did *not* stick to my BXP3 upgrade list request meaning that if I chose to be on the BXP3 list, I would clear only after all other statuses clear (i.e., pretty much never). None of this seems right to me but two rounds of calls ended with the same conclusion.
The two units(EXP desk and BE desk) really did seem totally disjoint. Folks were nice but communications were painful and more than a little frustrating.
So, have things changed? If not, is there some official that I can point to about how status and upgrade instrument interact?
Cheers and thanks,
DocD
1. BXP3 and SWU are identical in priority.
2. They can swap them. I did this earlier this year by putting a BXP3 in place of an SWU. It took a while on the call, but they got it done.
3. Your EXP status absolutely "sticks" to the BXP3. That's nonsense.
It's so lamentable that HUCA is the new normal with the EXP and Meeting Services lines... but you should just try again until you get an agent that knows their own policies.
Nov 1, 2018, 3:20 pm
#405
Join Date: May 2011
Location: DFW
Programs: AA EXP, LT Gold
Posts: 3,148
EXP with 25K in EQD this year. I've been having trouble getting systemwides to clear this year even on what I think are off-peak flights. Is this the new normal?
What EQD is required these days to get regular upgrades? Do you have to be CK at this point? I'm ex-NYC on major routes. Systemwides that have cleared have been T-24.
What EQD is required these days to get regular upgrades? Do you have to be CK at this point? I'm ex-NYC on major routes. Systemwides that have cleared have been T-24.
But the J cabins really are fuller than I've seen them in recent years. I'm DFW-based, so I'm not sure what NYC loads are like. I did, however, clear a couple SWU's to J on JFK-LHR earlier this year.