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)
Apr 18, 2018 | 8:43 pm
#211
Join Date: May 2007
Programs: UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 8,120
I was once #23 as an EXP on DFW - BOS on a Monday evening after a long weekend.
Apr 18, 2018 | 8:56 pm
#212
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: ALC
Programs: AA PP, DL PLT, Bonvoy LT Titanium, HH LT Diamond, National Executive Elite
Posts: 13,370
It's been a long time since I was elite, but I recently qualified to Platinum and wondering about my chances in general on a particular route of DFW-BDL. I don't have specific dates in mind yet, but just wondering if that's generally a route that I could hope to upgrade on with a companion. I have high EQD for a Plat (about 12K right now) but don't know if that's a heavily traveled route by EXPs/PPs such that my EQD won't even be a factor. Appreciate any advice.
Apr 18, 2018 | 11:11 pm
#213
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: DFW
Programs: AAdvantage EXP, HHonors Gold, Marriott Rewards Lifetime Gold Elite
Posts: 14
2018 SWU's
Update on my SWU for Flt 125 (DFW - HKG) on Saturday, 3/17/18. My wife and I ended up being #10 & 11 on the Airport Upgrade List. None cleared. F & J went out full.
Was glad that our SWU's cleared well in advance(3 months) for the return leg. AA 60 (NRT - DFW). Only have 3 more international flights booked for the remainder of 2018. They are in purchased J class (2 cabin equipment). Now trying to determine what flights to use my remaining SWU's on. Most of my domestic flights are short haul (less than 1,000 miles), however, I hate to see them expire in January 2019. I want to use them.
Any suggestions?
Was glad that our SWU's cleared well in advance(3 months) for the return leg. AA 60 (NRT - DFW). Only have 3 more international flights booked for the remainder of 2018. They are in purchased J class (2 cabin equipment). Now trying to determine what flights to use my remaining SWU's on. Most of my domestic flights are short haul (less than 1,000 miles), however, I hate to see them expire in January 2019. I want to use them.
Any suggestions?
Apr 19, 2018 | 3:49 pm
#214
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: DFW
Programs: AA EXP, SPG AMB, AS MVP Gold 75K, UA Silver, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 4
My SWUs (Y to J) on JFK-LHR and MAD-JFK cleared for both my wife and I. Almost 5 weeks ahead of trip 
Pretty happy right now.
Pretty happy right now.
Apr 22, 2018 | 8:47 am
#215
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: DEN
Programs: AA EXP, AA Million Miles, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,926
Cleared Y-J SWU DEN-DFW-GRU for a Monday in May just now. Noticed it was showing available on the website, called in, and applied the SWU.
That makes all 4 of my 2017-earned SWUs used - all clearing either at booking or weeks ahead of the flight; and continues my record of never having missed an SWU during my time as EXP.
That makes all 4 of my 2017-earned SWUs used - all clearing either at booking or weeks ahead of the flight; and continues my record of never having missed an SWU during my time as EXP.
Apr 23, 2018 | 7:12 pm
#216
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: DCA
Programs: AA EXP; BoNVoY Plat LTP
Posts: 1,990
I am still waiting for upgrade space for my SWUs to open on MIA-MXP this Thursday, a flight that is listed on EF as J7 and appears to have possibly 15 seats on the seat map. Any way to make this happen sooner?
Apr 24, 2018 | 12:05 pm
#217
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Roswell, GA
Programs: AA EXP 2.9MM.. Hilton Diamond, IHG ambassador, other hotel programmes got status
Posts: 3,454
My swu cleared J to F for atl
to lhr via dfw departing July 13
returning the next week
to lhr via dfw departing July 13
returning the next week
Apr 24, 2018 | 12:28 pm
#218
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 15,197
No idea what AA is thinking on this flight
but it's obvious they're holding space on it till the last minute. There was tons of other C space open much further in advance this week on a variety of TATL flights that were way more full in business than this one.
Apr 24, 2018 | 12:48 pm
#219
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: DCA
Programs: AA EXP; BoNVoY Plat LTP
Posts: 1,990
I'm on MIA-MXP tomorrow (Apr 25) and C space finally opened up this morning (Apr 24) around 9am MIA time. This flight was completely wide open (seatmap only 25% full in business and 7's across the board on EF).
No idea what AA is thinking on this flight but it's obvious they're holding space on it till the last minute. There was tons of other C space open much further in advance this week on a variety of TATL flights that were way more full in business than this one.
No idea what AA is thinking on this flight
but it's obvious they're holding space on it till the last minute. There was tons of other C space open much further in advance this week on a variety of TATL flights that were way more full in business than this one.
Apr 25, 2018 | 6:49 am
#220
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: DCA
Programs: AA EXP; BoNVoY Plat LTP
Posts: 1,990
I'm on MIA-MXP tomorrow (Apr 25) and C space finally opened up this morning (Apr 24) around 9am MIA time. This flight was completely wide open (seatmap only 25% full in business and 7's across the board on EF).
No idea what AA is thinking on this flight but it's obvious they're holding space on it till the last minute. There was tons of other C space open much further in advance this week on a variety of TATL flights that were way more full in business than this one.
No idea what AA is thinking on this flight
but it's obvious they're holding space on it till the last minute. There was tons of other C space open much further in advance this week on a variety of TATL flights that were way more full in business than this one.
Apr 25, 2018 | 8:03 am
#221
Join Date: Mar 2015
Programs: AA EXP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 395
LHR-ORD May 12th, one seat in J left 
odds are not looking good!
odds are not looking good!
Apr 25, 2018 | 8:38 am
#222
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: KHOU/KIAH
Programs: AA EXP | Marriott LT Plat | Hyatt Explorist
Posts: 13,301
Not SWU related but am 100% this year (9 out of 9) on complimentary upgrades for EXP on Award tickets.
pleasantly surprised.
pleasantly surprised.
Apr 25, 2018 | 8:42 am
#223
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Chicago, IL
Programs: AA EXP (LT Plat 2MM), Marriott Plat, IHG Plat, HHonors Diamond, Hyatt Plat, SPG Plat75, UA1K
Posts: 1,270
SWU Clearing PHL-CDG/AMS-DFW
Booked 9/1 PHL-CDG and the 9/9 AMS-DFW. Two of us ticketed in PE. I am an EXP but will have a low rolling dollar amount at the time of the trip. Looks like the outbound is J7 with 12 seats unassigned on the seatmap (and yes I know that isn't a totally accurate indicator). The return AMS-DFW is J7 with 27 seats unassigned in J.
Apr 25, 2018 | 10:00 am
#224
Join Date: May 2007
Programs: UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 8,120
Booked 9/1 PHL-CDG and the 9/9 AMS-DFW. Two of us ticketed in PE. I am an EXP but will have a low rolling dollar amount at the time of the trip. Looks like the outbound is J7 with 12 seats unassigned on the seatmap (and yes I know that isn't a totally accurate indicator). The return AMS-DFW is J7 with 27 seats unassigned in J.
Apr 26, 2018 | 9:53 pm
#225
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: DFW
Programs: AAdvantage EXP, HHonors Gold, Marriott Rewards Lifetime Gold Elite
Posts: 14
How far in advance are you fellow EXP's booking TATL's in order to get SWU's confirmed at the time of booking? I am particularly interested in DFW departures. I find it particularly difficult to find any flights that offer C space available at time of booking on any flights to cities that are serviced by 2 cabin aircraft. AA seems to be reducing the number of 3 cabin aircraft going to Europe.
Any comments are welcomed.
TIA
Any comments are welcomed.
TIA