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)
Aug 30, 2018 | 6:11 pm
#526
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 15,200
For the return, AMS-PHL is C4, so if you wanted to switch you could confirm the upgrades immediately. Depending on fares you could possibly downgrade that from PE to normal economy to offset some/all of the change fee.
Aug 30, 2018 | 9:43 pm
#527
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: PHX
Programs: AA EXP, Hyatt Something-ist, Bombay Sapphire
Posts: 69
Incoming flight was MIA-LAX which would explain why it was there. Also to note, 9 FC seats went out empty on Wednesday night (AA144), outbound (AA2205) on Monday upgrade cleared at T100.
Aug 31, 2018 | 5:37 am
#528
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: FL, USA
Programs: AA Plat, Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Diamond, IHG Plat, Marriot Gold
Posts: 1,675
I got the same green trim amenity kit on my Monday night flight LAX-HNL. I found it stowed in the seatback pocket next to the chocolate chip cookies. Incoming flight was MIA-LAX which would explain why it was there. Also to note, 9 FC seats went out empty on Wednesday night (AA144), outbound (AA2205) on Monday upgrade cleared at T100.
Incoming flight was MIA-LAX which would explain why it was there. Also to note, 9 FC seats went out empty on Wednesday night (AA144), outbound (AA2205) on Monday upgrade cleared at T100.
Aug 31, 2018 | 8:11 am
#529
Join Date: Dec 2016
Posts: 1,485
Question here. I have a flight out from JFK to MXP on Sep 8 and I've put myself on the copay + miles upgrade list. I'm 8 days out from flying. There looks to still be 21 seats open still (including 1 blocked seat). When do they typically start releasing seats for upgrades? I can see that milesaver for business is not available.
Aug 31, 2018 | 8:15 am
#530
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
PHL-CDG is down to J2 and AMS-DFW is J3, so on the surface your chances don't look great. That said, a Saturday flight on a holiday weekend isn't likely to have lots of last minute paid business travel, so I wouldn't give up yet.
For the return, AMS-PHL is C4, so if you wanted to switch you could confirm the upgrades immediately. Depending on fares you could possibly downgrade that from PE to normal economy to offset some/all of the change fee.
For the return, AMS-PHL is C4, so if you wanted to switch you could confirm the upgrades immediately. Depending on fares you could possibly downgrade that from PE to normal economy to offset some/all of the change fee.
Last edited by ORDPLATAA; Aug 31, 2018 at 8:25 am
Aug 31, 2018 | 8:24 am
#531
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 15,200
Question here. I have a flight out from JFK to MXP on Sep 8 and I've put myself on the copay + miles upgrade list. I'm 8 days out from flying. There looks to still be 21 seats open still (including 1 blocked seat). When do they typically start releasing seats for upgrades? I can see that milesaver for business is not available.
Aug 31, 2018 | 11:08 am
#532
Join Date: Dec 2016
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 214
Push them hard on this or HUCA. I remember countless times during IRROPS where I saw J1 on EF (in real time, not via email alert) and the agent said "no, I don't see availability. It's all sold out." I found they are often looking at the wrong date, wrong flight, wrong airport, etc. Sometimes they are searching LGA instead of JFK, or vice-versa, they are searching your return flight instead of your outbound, etc. Once you clarify the specifics, they finally see it. If you see real-time availability on EF and your agent is not processing the award or ticket, I'd recommend calling back with another agent.
Aug 31, 2018 | 11:59 am
#533
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: PHX
Programs: AA EXP, Hyatt Something-ist, Bombay Sapphire
Posts: 69
Aug 31, 2018 | 12:57 pm
#534
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: ALC
Programs: AA PP, DL PLT, Bonvoy LT Titanium, HH LT Diamond, National Executive Elite
Posts: 13,371
Question here. I have a flight out from JFK to MXP on Sep 8 and I've put myself on the copay + miles upgrade list. I'm 8 days out from flying. There looks to still be 21 seats open still (including 1 blocked seat). When do they typically start releasing seats for upgrades? I can see that milesaver for business is not available.
Aug 31, 2018 | 5:15 pm
#535
Join Date: May 2017
Location: LAX
Programs: AA EXP, SPG Amb
Posts: 38
Was surprised to find C7 and A6 (if I remember correctly) a day or two out on AA135 LHR-LAX this afternoon. Since I was on a business fare that didn't require a copay, I sprung for the miles upgrade to F and am certainly enjoying my flight in 2A. I had assumed this was a busier route and didn't expect that much upgrade availability.
Aug 31, 2018 | 5:42 pm
#536
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: ALC
Programs: AA PP, DL PLT, Bonvoy LT Titanium, HH LT Diamond, National Executive Elite
Posts: 13,371
Was surprised to find C7 and A6 (if I remember correctly) a day or two out on AA135 LHR-LAX this afternoon. Since I was on a business fare that didn't require a copay, I sprung for the miles upgrade to F and am certainly enjoying my flight in 2A. I had assumed this was a busier route and didn't expect that much upgrade availability.
Aug 31, 2018 | 6:36 pm
#537
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 15,200
Was surprised to find C7 and A6 (if I remember correctly) a day or two out on AA135 LHR-LAX this afternoon. Since I was on a business fare that didn't require a copay, I sprung for the miles upgrade to F and am certainly enjoying my flight in 2A. I had assumed this was a busier route and didn't expect that much upgrade availability.
Sep 1, 2018 | 1:41 am
#540
Join Date: Jun 2009
Programs: AA EXP. HH DIAMOND.
Posts: 258
Award UG
I'm a bit confused as to the order and scanned a few pages of this thread. Can someone clarify the prioroty: As an EXP does an award ticket get upgraded after all paid tickets (Exp Pp... Gold) or after the Exp paid tickets? If the former it seems quite rare.