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)
Jun 1, 2018, 11:59 am
#286
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: FL, USA
Programs: AA Plat, Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Diamond, IHG Plat, Marriot Gold
Posts: 1,666
in first or in general? I flew this route two years ago, PHX-KOA (kona?) in economy and it wasn't bad. MCE seats though. but no food which I though was absurd.
Jun 1, 2018, 1:01 pm
#287
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: KHOU/KIAH
Programs: AA EXP | Marriott Bonvoy Titanium| Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 11,249
In summary, not worth the upgrade. The delta between F and Y on these 752s is not worth the price paid. At all.
Jun 1, 2018, 1:24 pm
#288
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: FL, USA
Programs: AA Plat, Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Diamond, IHG Plat, Marriot Gold
Posts: 1,666
It is basically an old LUS bird with no power, no IFE. In F, I felt it was a total ripoff, especially given LAX has the nice LAA 321s and DFW has the 772s (which are by far the best).
In summary, not worth the upgrade. The delta between F and Y on these 752s is not worth the price paid. At all.
In summary, not worth the upgrade. The delta between F and Y on these 752s is not worth the price paid. At all.
Jun 1, 2018, 1:27 pm
#289
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: KHOU/KIAH
Programs: AA EXP | Marriott Bonvoy Titanium| Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 11,249
Ok thanks for the info, I will keep that in mind when selecting itineraries as well. What plane is that from PHX? Granted I must be in the minority or maybe cuz it was my first eve flight up front but from LIM-MIA was the 767 and i thought that was just fine LOL (but again from what I read I am in the minority and in all fairness I haven't experienced any other First class product)
DFW has the 777 with lay flat seats. I highly recommend this route.
Jun 1, 2018, 6:12 pm
#290
Join Date: Jun 2011
Programs: United Premier Platinum
Posts: 638
Booked DFW-HKG departing mid-August on a Saturday, my first time on this route. I immediately requested a Y -> J Miles + copay upgrade.
I’ve heard about how difficult it is to be upgraded on this flight, and know from experience that Saturday is a bad day for J upgrades on TPACs. OTOH, most of my NRT/HND upgrade requests this year have cleared between 3-6 weeks prior to departure.
What are my ballpark chances of this leg clearing either several weeks out or at the gate?
I am an EXP, but barely made the EQD cutoff.
I’ve heard about how difficult it is to be upgraded on this flight, and know from experience that Saturday is a bad day for J upgrades on TPACs. OTOH, most of my NRT/HND upgrade requests this year have cleared between 3-6 weeks prior to departure.
What are my ballpark chances of this leg clearing either several weeks out or at the gate?
I am an EXP, but barely made the EQD cutoff.
Jun 1, 2018, 6:34 pm
#291
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: SLC
Programs: AA EXP, Marriott Plat
Posts: 616
Booked DFW-HKG departing mid-August on a Saturday, my first time on this route. I immediately requested a Y -> J Miles + copay upgrade.
I’ve heard about how difficult it is to be upgraded on this flight, and know from experience that Saturday is a bad day for J upgrades on TPACs. OTOH, most of my NRT/HND upgrade requests this year have cleared between 3-6 weeks prior to departure.
What are my ballpark chances of this leg clearing either several weeks out or at the gate?
I am an EXP, but barely made the EQD cutoff.
I’ve heard about how difficult it is to be upgraded on this flight, and know from experience that Saturday is a bad day for J upgrades on TPACs. OTOH, most of my NRT/HND upgrade requests this year have cleared between 3-6 weeks prior to departure.
What are my ballpark chances of this leg clearing either several weeks out or at the gate?
I am an EXP, but barely made the EQD cutoff.
I flew last Tuesday on a paid J LAX to HKG- went out with three empty J seats. I suspect LAX-HKG may be a bit easier upgrade than DFW-HKG.
Jun 1, 2018, 7:59 pm
#293
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: KHOU/KIAH
Programs: AA EXP | Marriott Bonvoy Titanium| Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 11,249
Jun 1, 2018, 9:06 pm
#294
Join Date: Jun 2011
Programs: United Premier Platinum
Posts: 638
That’s what I meant. All 4 of my SWU redemptions this year cleared with advance C inventory, though not for the HKG route.
Jun 2, 2018, 9:55 am
#295
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 532
Upgrade Success from MCI, DCA, and MIA
Do any Platinums or Platinum Pros have any experience with how frequently they get upgraded on these routes:
DCA-MIA
DCA-ORD
DCA-DFW
IAD-DFW
MIA-TGU
MIA-STI
MCI-DCA
MCI-CLT
MCI-MIA
DCA-MIA
DCA-ORD
DCA-DFW
IAD-DFW
MIA-TGU
MIA-STI
MCI-DCA
MCI-CLT
MCI-MIA
Jun 2, 2018, 12:00 pm
#296
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: DCA
Programs: AA Gold, HH Diamond, UA Silver
Posts: 1,366
Don’t hold your breath. As a plat flying in/out of dca and iad regularly, i have not been upgraded on any of the routes you list this year, though I always request the upgrade. Last year as EXP, I flew dca to/from dfw a number of tImes, and never received an upgrade; on one trip back from dfw, I was number 17 on the upgrade list.
Jun 2, 2018, 1:43 pm
#297
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: DCA/IAD
Programs: AA EXP; 1W Emerald; HHonors Diamond; Marriott Gold; UA dirt
Posts: 7,816
Agree and disagree with last poster. I've upgraded three out of four in the last 12 months and have upgraded MCI last time I did it.
However, prime time ORD flights are tough. I upgraded ORD three weeks ago as a Plat - a noon flight. I missed upgrading ORD-DCA on the return on a prime time dinner flight - was #1 on the list.
I do ten to upgrade MIA - in the early morning and late evening flights. This is an elite heavy route as its hub-hub and you get a lot of cruisers who pay for F. Prime time upgrades for plats are tough.
DFW is hit and miss. Ive had success and I;ve been way back on the list.
However, prime time ORD flights are tough. I upgraded ORD three weeks ago as a Plat - a noon flight. I missed upgrading ORD-DCA on the return on a prime time dinner flight - was #1 on the list.
I do ten to upgrade MIA - in the early morning and late evening flights. This is an elite heavy route as its hub-hub and you get a lot of cruisers who pay for F. Prime time upgrades for plats are tough.
DFW is hit and miss. Ive had success and I;ve been way back on the list.
Jun 3, 2018, 12:52 am
#299
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: SLC
Programs: AA EXP, Marriott Plat
Posts: 616
Jun 3, 2018, 3:49 pm
#300
Join Date: Jan 2018
Posts: 230
I’ve applied to use a couple of my 500 mile upgrades on my CLT-DFW tomorrow, and I’m on the list with 1 seat left in F.
I don’t fancy my chances as gold with $7K EQD over the last 12 months.
Same goes for the return on Tuesday. Got to try though, haven’t you?
I don’t fancy my chances as gold with $7K EQD over the last 12 months.
Same goes for the return on Tuesday. Got to try though, haven’t you?