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)
#916
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Wesley Chapel, FL
Programs: American Airlines
Posts: 30,036
I've been looking at SFO-CDG flights for 2019 in March, May, June, late August---my usual flight dates, more or less. AA is showing only stuff like SFO-LAX upgrades as available now. Couldn't find a single international upgrade available at booking, except for a couple of CDG-PHL in Jan. Is anyone else having this problem? I would
like to book and be done now, especially since a couple of friends have offered me their expiring SWU's, as well.
like to book and be done now, especially since a couple of friends have offered me their expiring SWU's, as well.
#917
Join Date: Jan 2012
Programs: AY+ Plat, Marriott Plat, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 2,846
I've been looking at SFO-CDG flights for 2019 in March, May, June, late August---my usual flight dates, more or less. AA is showing only stuff like SFO-LAX upgrades as available now. Couldn't find a single international upgrade available at booking, except for a couple of CDG-PHL in Jan. Is anyone else having this problem? I would
like to book and be done now, especially since a couple of friends have offered me their expiring SWU's, as well.
like to book and be done now, especially since a couple of friends have offered me their expiring SWU's, as well.
Edit: Oh my goodness, there's even C space on the return!
Last edited by flyingeph12; Dec 26, 2018 at 10:12 pm
#918
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: DC
Programs: AA PPRO, HH Diamond, National EE
Posts: 603
I cleared the DFW-BWI at the gate on 12/28. $4k rolling EQD. Never expected to clear out of DFW as a platinum but I’ve been having great luck lately. I really feel like the people who never clear any flights are only flying DFW-LAX or some other extremely busy route.
#919
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 12,494
I cleared the DFW-BWI at the gate on 12/28. $4k rolling EQD. Never expected to clear out of DFW as a platinum but I’ve been having great luck lately. I really feel like the people who never clear any flights are only flying DFW-LAX or some other extremely busy route.
#920
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: MIA
Programs: AA EXP 3.8MM AC; UA Silver; Hyatt Globalist; Honors Diamond; Bonvoy LT TTM
Posts: 336
I'm still waiting to clear LHR-LAX for Jan. 1. There are 20 seats, and now inside 72 hrs. I guess at this point, their new formula is clearing us at 30 hrs out, even when it's very open.
#921
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: DFW
Programs: AAdvantage EXP, HHonors Gold, Marriott Rewards Lifetime Gold Elite
Posts: 14
I am flying on AA997 DFW - EZE on Friday, 4 Jan 2019. I am EXP with approx. $17K EQD's. I have been waitlisted with SWU's for over 8 months. I am also flying SCL - DFW on 20 Jan, however, J is full and that equip is a 789. J cabin looks to have a lot of availability on 4 Jan for the AA 997 flight as of now. However, I am well aware of how quickly this can change. As I have had SWU's not clear earlier this year on DFW-HKG. and 3 other domestic flights did not clear as well for upgrades.
Hoping for my 2 SWU's to clear for myself and spouse. (we are both AA EXP's). SWU;s requested both directions, however, fear only hope is the 997 flight on 4 Jan (772 equip.).
Any thoughts appreciated.
Hoping for my 2 SWU's to clear for myself and spouse. (we are both AA EXP's). SWU;s requested both directions, however, fear only hope is the 997 flight on 4 Jan (772 equip.).
Any thoughts appreciated.
#922
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Vail, CO
Programs: AA EXP/1mm, Marriott Titanium/LT Gold, UA Silver
Posts: 626
I am staring at J3 on PVG-LAX on 1/1 and starting to get nervous...
#923
Join Date: Dec 2018
Programs: AA PLAT, SPG PLAT
Posts: 6
I am flying on AA997 DFW - EZE on Friday, 4 Jan 2019. I am EXP with approx. $17K EQD's. I have been waitlisted with SWU's for over 8 months. I am also flying SCL - DFW on 20 Jan, however, J is full and that equip is a 789. J cabin looks to have a lot of availability on 4 Jan for the AA 997 flight as of now. However, I am well aware of how quickly this can change. As I have had SWU's not clear earlier this year on DFW-HKG. and 3 other domestic flights did not clear as well for upgrades.
Hoping for my 2 SWU's to clear for myself and spouse. (we are both AA EXP's). SWU;s requested both directions, however, fear only hope is the 997 flight on 4 Jan (772 equip.).
Any thoughts appreciated.
Hoping for my 2 SWU's to clear for myself and spouse. (we are both AA EXP's). SWU;s requested both directions, however, fear only hope is the 997 flight on 4 Jan (772 equip.).
Any thoughts appreciated.
The seats are not as comfy as for example in the 788 but it's still great to be able to lay down and arrive rested considering it's a red-eye flight.
Fingers crossed your SWU will clear. If you have never been to BA, try to leave the plane asap and go through customs as there are multiple international flights landing at the same time and sometimes it can take up to an hour.
#924
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 12,494
#925
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: MIA
Programs: AA EXP 3.8MM AC; UA Silver; Hyatt Globalist; Honors Diamond; Bonvoy LT TTM
Posts: 336
For others traveling TATL and using SWUs over the holidays, are you also getting cleared around 30 hrs out when there are 7+ seats in J? I'm now at 37 hrs out, still 20 seats in J, and still waiting for LHR>LAX Jan. 1.
Last edited by bcm0830; Dec 30, 2018 at 3:16 pm
#926
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: AUS
Programs: AA Exec Platinum/MM, DL Gold/MM, Hilton Diamond, Accor Platinum, Hertz Presidents Circle
Posts: 6,978
Just booked a vacation for wife and I in April 2019 for the following segments. Want to use SWUs on the flights marked with asterisks below:
DEN-PHL
PHL-FCO*
FCO-ORD*
ORD-DEN
Nothing showing available at booking for SWUs on those legs, and EF has 0 C available (although seat map shows 16 biz seats unoccupied/unblocked on both long haul segments).
Anyone had any luck with getting SWUs cleared on either of those legs (for two people)? If so, how soon? And I have yet to call EXP desk to request the upgrades on those flight segments as I just bought the tix and they've yet to be "ticketed". As soon as they are, I plan to contact and request to be put on waitlist.
DEN-PHL
PHL-FCO*
FCO-ORD*
ORD-DEN
Nothing showing available at booking for SWUs on those legs, and EF has 0 C available (although seat map shows 16 biz seats unoccupied/unblocked on both long haul segments).
Anyone had any luck with getting SWUs cleared on either of those legs (for two people)? If so, how soon? And I have yet to call EXP desk to request the upgrades on those flight segments as I just bought the tix and they've yet to be "ticketed". As soon as they are, I plan to contact and request to be put on waitlist.
On the positive side, DFW-FCO will be running by then, which may relieve some of the overall demand pressure to FCO and improve your chances. That's a complete guess, however.
When I first made EXP about 9 years ago we not only got more SWUs (8) but they were frequently confirmable in advance. That is all a distant memory. Now we get 4 and often find them hard to use even on domestic flights.
#927
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: MIA
Programs: AA EXP 3.8MM AC; UA Silver; Hyatt Globalist; Honors Diamond; Bonvoy LT TTM
Posts: 336
Update...my UG cleared sometime between 1a and 8a overnight, so ~30 hours out.
#928
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Vail, CO
Programs: AA EXP/1mm, Marriott Titanium/LT Gold, UA Silver
Posts: 626
Data point - now down to J1 on my flight 1/1 PVG-LAX. 30k EQD EXP. Basically have resigned myself to be ready to have a late one tonight not expecting to get it so can sleep regardless on way home. Have bulkhead PE at least so soften the blow
#929
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 12,494
Looking at your flight, it is down to J1, however it's down to Y1 as well and the business seatmap still shows lots of open seats. Since it's New Year's Day, I'd say there's a decent chance that Y is just oversold, have had scenarios like this happen several times over the years. I'd be willing to bet you'll have a nice surprise over the next 12 hrs, fingers crossed!
#930
Join Date: Jul 2016
Posts: 222
Looking at your flight, it is down to J1, however it's down to Y1 as well and the business seatmap still shows lots of open seats. Since it's New Year's Day, I'd say there's a decent chance that Y is just oversold, have had scenarios like this happen several times over the years. I'd be willing to bet you'll have a nice surprise over the next 12 hrs, fingers crossed!
Generally speaking seat maps are not a reliable indication of true cabin sell numbers but in these cases they are indicative. The other better indication that both J and W space has been held back is that J=R=D=I (which is 1 at the time of this post) and that W=P (which is 4). Generally J business inventory will be a little higher than D and almost always more than I. But when they restrict J to provide an oversell buffer than they are more likely to be equal as the airline is willing to sell business seats at a discount because it's really not their last seat. Same analysis for premium economy applies. W normally will be more than P.
My guess is that this flight is oversold in economy by at least 10 passengers and perhaps as much as 20 or more. I would guess that they have held an additional 4-6 J seats and 8-10 W seats. Just guesses but I have been doing this a while and worked in the industry.