Dec 17, 2017, 12:15 pm
Last edit by: aztimm
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
- Platinum
- Platinum Pro
- Executive Platinum
- Upgrade type
- Miles and copay award upgrades and systemwide upgrades (SWU)
- 500 mile upgrades on purchased tickets
- 500 mile upgrades on upgrade eligible awards)
- 500 mile upgrades on purchased tickets
- Elite qualifying dollars in the past 12 months
- Booking class
- Time of request"
- Booking class
- Miles and copay award upgrades and systemwide upgrades (SWU)
- Concierge Key
See Upgrade Priority Changes to Status, Rolling 365 Day EQD Spend May 20 2017
Link to Gary Leff, View From the Wing 16 May 2017
Updated 17 Dec 2017 by aztimm
Chances of Upgrade Clearing and Availability (2018 master thread)
Jan 13, 2018, 5:48 pm
#31
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: San Francisco
Programs: AA EXP; Marriott BonVoy Titanium Elite, Marriott LT Plat.
Posts: 1,717
This is probably your best bet. ExpertFlyer.com Help Desk Thread
When you say for intra-US flights.... are you looking to use a SWU/miles-copay? If so, yes, it is C for Y to J and A from J to F. About a year ago, AA standardized their fare buckets.. so while it is called FIRST domestically, and BUSINESS internationally (for 2 class flights), they both use J for full fare, C for upgrade and U for milesaver awards.
When you say for intra-US flights.... are you looking to use a SWU/miles-copay? If so, yes, it is C for Y to J and A from J to F. About a year ago, AA standardized their fare buckets.. so while it is called FIRST domestically, and BUSINESS internationally (for 2 class flights), they both use J for full fare, C for upgrade and U for milesaver awards.
Thank you... As I navigate through EF and make my way, this info helps. I have two separate trips that are nearly back-to-back (Intl then US-Dom). Thus, if the 2 SWU applied for the Intl legs do not clear, I plan to switch to the US-Dom flights accordingly. Tricky part is I return from Intl inbound leg approx. 2 days before departing on domestic outbound leg. Plan is to switch SWU's to the domestic trips as needed.
Thanks again for your info.
Jan 14, 2018, 5:44 pm
#32
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Phoenix/Columbus
Programs: Delta Silver Medallion, United Gold, US Airways silver
Posts: 1,717
Upgraded last night on AA 204 (PHL => AMS (AA 1985) & PHX => PHL at the gate. No meal choices, but happy to be up front!
Jan 15, 2018, 11:14 am
#33
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: SNA/LAX, PHL
Programs: AA Gold, AS MVP, WN A-List, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Exp, Hertz PC
Posts: 449
[removed]
Last edited by jacobguo; Jan 16, 2018 at 9:01 am
Jan 15, 2018, 11:42 am
#34
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: PHX & AGP
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Gold
Posts: 11,447
Jan 15, 2018, 1:40 pm
#35
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: San Francisco
Programs: AA EXP; Marriott BonVoy Titanium Elite, Marriott LT Plat.
Posts: 1,717
SWU cleared today LAX-HKG for flight in two days. SWU for returning flight, HKG-LAX that departs in 8 days, cleared two days ago.
Wow... That's some advance clearing window indeed for the returning flight.
Wow... That's some advance clearing window indeed for the returning flight.
Jan 15, 2018, 3:48 pm
#36
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: The KUL city
Programs: AA Lifetime Plat, TK Elite+
Posts: 2,661
JFK-LAX on a Tuesday late morning cleared about T-48h (UDU)
LAX-LHR on a Tuesday evening cleared about T-5d (SWU)
LAX-LHR on a Tuesday evening cleared about T-5d (SWU)
Jan 16, 2018, 5:58 pm
#37
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: San Francisco
Programs: AA EXP; Marriott BonVoy Titanium Elite, Marriott LT Plat.
Posts: 1,717
LAX-SFO on a Monday evening cleared T-6d (complimentary)
Jan 16, 2018, 9:21 pm
#38
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,526
I'm not familiar with actual chances, but I'll give you the research and what little I know of it.
1/17 is a Wednesday, so it shouldn't be all that busy with business travelers who tend to clump at the beginning and end of weekdays.
ALB-CLT 8:00AM J4 D3 I2 Y7 with 4 of 12 seats still open on seating chart
CLT-DFW 11:45AM J7 D7 I4 Y7 with 8 of 16 seats still open on seating chart
DFW-GJT 2:40PM J7 D7 I7 Y7 with 11 of 12 seats still open on seating chart
From other posts I've read on here, I is one of most important indicators, because those are how many seats they are actively TRYING to sell.
Only 4 seats left on the first flight so I'd have a hard time chiming in there. Uneducated guess is that your CLT-DFW looks best. DFW is a hard upgrade because it's so busy but lots of open seats and I7.
1/17 is a Wednesday, so it shouldn't be all that busy with business travelers who tend to clump at the beginning and end of weekdays.
ALB-CLT 8:00AM J4 D3 I2 Y7 with 4 of 12 seats still open on seating chart
CLT-DFW 11:45AM J7 D7 I4 Y7 with 8 of 16 seats still open on seating chart
DFW-GJT 2:40PM J7 D7 I7 Y7 with 11 of 12 seats still open on seating chart
From other posts I've read on here, I is one of most important indicators, because those are how many seats they are actively TRYING to sell.
Only 4 seats left on the first flight so I'd have a hard time chiming in there. Uneducated guess is that your CLT-DFW looks best. DFW is a hard upgrade because it's so busy but lots of open seats and I7.
Jan 17, 2018, 5:09 pm
#39
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: DFW
Programs: AAdvantage EXP, HHonors Gold, Marriott Rewards Lifetime Gold Elite
Posts: 14
I am a new EXP ( just made EXP Oct 2017). As a result, I was not aware of all of the tricks of redeeming SWU's. I booked an open jaw trip DFW-HKG and NRT-DFW to correspond to dates of a cruise in March. I requested SWU's for myself and spouse(also EXP Oct 2017). The DFW-HKG is on AA125 on 03/17/18 (Saturday departure)--since learned that is a difficult SWU. Been on the Upgrade list for months, still C0. The good news is that the NRT-DFW leg cleared in December. After this experience, I look for flights with C or A availability so the SWU's can clear at booking. I know that this is not always feasible for many trips.
I am still hoping that the AA125 SWU will clear, however, I know that DFW has a lot of AA EXP's.^
I am still hoping that the AA125 SWU will clear, however, I know that DFW has a lot of AA EXP's.^
Jan 17, 2018, 7:36 pm
#41
Join Date: Jun 2015
Programs: HH Lifetime Diamond; AA EXP / 2MM Lifetime Platnum; Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 73
AA 193 LAX HKG
1/16/18 flight
saw about 6 people on the upgrade list. i did not see how many cleared but expert flyer showed 2 empty J seats and 1 empty F seat available a couple hours before the flight
Twas a packed flight
1/16/18 flight
saw about 6 people on the upgrade list. i did not see how many cleared but expert flyer showed 2 empty J seats and 1 empty F seat available a couple hours before the flight
Twas a packed flight
Jan 17, 2018, 11:16 pm
#42
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: San Francisco
Programs: AA EXP; Marriott BonVoy Titanium Elite, Marriott LT Plat.
Posts: 1,717
AA 193 LAX HKG
seven people on upgrade list and no J seat available. And only 4 F seats remain unoccupied according the FE at the moment.
Just about 40 mins ago there were 4 J seat s available with seven on the waitlist. Maybe the system is playing catch-up
Looking forward to a restful flight ahead of me.
seven people on upgrade list and no J seat available. And only 4 F seats remain unoccupied according the FE at the moment.
Just about 40 mins ago there were 4 J seat s available with seven on the waitlist. Maybe the system is playing catch-up
Looking forward to a restful flight ahead of me.
Jan 18, 2018, 7:05 am
#43
Join Date: Dec 2016
Posts: 1,485
If it means anything, my flight to MAD and back out of JFK for 2 was cleared at booking. JFK-BCN also had availability at booking. Looks like it's pretty easy to use SWUs to Continental Europe during winter season.
Jan 18, 2018, 7:42 am
#44
Join Date: Nov 2015
Programs: AA EXP, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 53
My flight on the 787 from ORD-DFW for our family of 3 cleared at T-100... was very surprised! Granted, it was on a Sunday night - but color me impressed anyways.
Jan 18, 2018, 1:38 pm
#45
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Kansas City, USA
Programs: AA Gold, Delta Platinum, Marriott Titanium, IHG Plat, AVIS Preferred, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,066
My limited stats so far this year have been acceptable as a PLAT PRO:
MCI-ORD (Sunday afternoon 1/7) cleared at T-72
ORD-ATL (Wednesday evening 1/10) cleared at T-72
ATL-CLT (Thursday evening 1/11) didn't clear - #17 on upgrade list
CLT-MCI (Thursday evening 1/11) cleared at T-48
MCI-ORD (Sunday afternoon 1/7) cleared at T-72
ORD-ATL (Wednesday evening 1/10) cleared at T-72
ATL-CLT (Thursday evening 1/11) didn't clear - #17 on upgrade list
CLT-MCI (Thursday evening 1/11) cleared at T-48
