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)
#91
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: CLT
Programs: AA EXP, 2 Million Miler
Posts: 821
Do the available J seats accurately reflect all of the "empty" business seats, assuming the number is less than 7? I have been watching 1 route for a bit and there are always additional unoccupied business seats above the available J number. I assume the difference are confirmed passengers who simply have not yet selected a seat. Hoping for an upgrade but the available J seat number is dwindling. Yet there are several additional seats available on the seat map. Just wondering If AA ever holds back J seats shown as available?
#92
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: PHX & AGP
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Gold
Posts: 11,453
Does anyone have thoughts on the best chance of clearing an SWU on a flight to PEK? AA has flights from DFW, ORD, and LAX.
And secondly, would there be a better chance of clearing on a Thursday or Friday?
Travel will be in early/mid March.
I found a couple of return flights with upgrade availability now.
And secondly, would there be a better chance of clearing on a Thursday or Friday?
Travel will be in early/mid March.
I found a couple of return flights with upgrade availability now.
#93
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: KHOU/KIAH
Programs: AA EXP | Marriott Bonvoy Titanium| Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 11,236
Does anyone have thoughts on the best chance of clearing an SWU on a flight to PEK? AA has flights from DFW, ORD, and LAX.
And secondly, would there be a better chance of clearing on a Thursday or Friday?
Travel will be in early/mid March.
I found a couple of return flights with upgrade availability now.
And secondly, would there be a better chance of clearing on a Thursday or Friday?
Travel will be in early/mid March.
I found a couple of return flights with upgrade availability now.
#95
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Gatwick, UK
Programs: UA *G, BA Silver
Posts: 1,673
Does anyone have thoughts on the best chance of clearing an SWU on a flight to PEK? AA has flights from DFW, ORD, and LAX.
And secondly, would there be a better chance of clearing on a Thursday or Friday?
Travel will be in early/mid March.
I found a couple of return flights with upgrade availability now.
And secondly, would there be a better chance of clearing on a Thursday or Friday?
Travel will be in early/mid March.
I found a couple of return flights with upgrade availability now.
But you are also still 4 weeks out and most J bookings occur in the 1-3 weeks out time frame, so it could all change.
#96
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: DCA/IAD/WAS
Programs: MAR AMB, WOH Explorist, AA EXP, UA 2P
Posts: 2,138
I'm not convinced they haven't been blocking seats for sale on some routes (particularly those serviced by the A330). Quite consistently, I am seeing one more empty seat on the seatmap than what is available in J (when J < 7). I can't imagine that EVERY flight has one and only one person who hasn't selected a seat in J.
Of course, have no actual proof of this, but I find the seatmaps in J generally track very close if not exactly to actual load, though YMMV.
Of course, have no actual proof of this, but I find the seatmaps in J generally track very close if not exactly to actual load, though YMMV.
#97
Join Date: Aug 2017
Programs: AA PLT, IHG Spire
Posts: 550
Question for the crowd: As a gold elite, if I request a miles& copay upgrade for a itinerary with C inventory available on all legs would it clear immediately? Or are my odds of an upgrade similar to that with using 500 mile upgrades? The route I am looking at is YYZ-DFW-PHX-LAS on a weekend, but I doubt I would get the 500 mile upgrade as a gold on the DFW or PHX legs.
#98
Join Date: May 2007
Programs: UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 5,447
Question for the crowd: As a gold elite, if I request a miles& copay upgrade for a itinerary with C inventory available on all legs would it clear immediately? Or are my odds of an upgrade similar to that with using 500 mile upgrades? The route I am looking at is YYZ-DFW-PHX-LAS on a weekend, but I doubt I would get the 500 mile upgrade as a gold on the DFW or PHX legs.
#99
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: St. Croix, US Virgin Islands
Programs: AAdvantage PLT-Pro, Priority Club Plt, Hilton Gold, Hyatt
Posts: 130
I've recently had a problem with Miles/CoPay clearing. Frequently 3 (of 4 total roundtrip) will clear immediately (as I've checked with ExpertFlyer) and one will need to be waitlisted. The problem is that I sometimes am not on the UG list or others below me clear first. My thinking is that it's much easier for the Gate agent to clear a regular UG vs the a Miles/Copay which has to be reissued. Does that sound logical? Any way to improve the chances?
#100
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: PHX & AGP
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Gold
Posts: 11,453
Question for the crowd: As a gold elite, if I request a miles& copay upgrade for a itinerary with C inventory available on all legs would it clear immediately? Or are my odds of an upgrade similar to that with using 500 mile upgrades? The route I am looking at is YYZ-DFW-PHX-LAS on a weekend, but I doubt I would get the 500 mile upgrade as a gold on the DFW or PHX legs.
#101
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Gatwick, UK
Programs: UA *G, BA Silver
Posts: 1,673
This is not true, it won't clear immediately. There might be seats available but that doesn't mean AA will upgrade quickly. Remember it goes by status first and granted you are Gold, there might be PLT or PP ahead on the upgrade list. In regards to the DFW = PHX fight, anything is possible but I highly doubt you will get an upgrade. It doesn't hurt to try on the upgrades.
If you are not EXP and flying a popular route then Miles+ copay is probably the only way to snag an upgrade.
#102
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: PHX & AGP
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Gold
Posts: 11,453
I think you are the one in error - if C is available then upgrades will clear immediately (or at least as soon as you call in). If there were just seats available, but the flight was C0, then your argument would be more correct - but even then it is often the case that C is made available 12-48 hours before a flight, before X is made available and before it goes to gate control.
If you are not EXP and flying a popular route then Miles+ copay is probably the only way to snag an upgrade.
If you are not EXP and flying a popular route then Miles+ copay is probably the only way to snag an upgrade.
#103
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: SJC (AA PLT 2MM - Marriott LTT - Avis Preferred)
Posts: 2,028
would be interesting to hear back from the OP so he can explain if the correct bucket is available, just on a side note, I look at flights between YYZ - LAS, mid 600 for Y and 1,0xx for FC, not too sure if paying the upgrade fee and miles is a good choice of miles and co-pay.
#104
Join Date: May 2007
Programs: UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 5,447
I think you are the one in error - if C is available then upgrades will clear immediately (or at least as soon as you call in). If there were just seats available, but the flight was C0, then your argument would be more correct - but even then it is often the case that C is made available 12-48 hours before a flight, before X is made available and before it goes to gate control.
If you are not EXP and flying a popular route then Miles+ copay is probably the only way to snag an upgrade.
If you are not EXP and flying a popular route then Miles+ copay is probably the only way to snag an upgrade.
On the other hand, complimentary (for EXP and PRO) and 500-mile upgrades (for PLT and GLD) clear into R (formerly X) by a separate automated process, again prioritized primarily by status but less buggy than the one for C space. R can become available at any time inside of T-100, and pax are cleared into available R space in accordance to their upgrade windows (i.e. if R becomes available at T-72, only EXPs and PROs can clear into it, while PLTs and GLDs have to wait until T-48 and T-24, respectively).
#105
Join Date: Aug 2017
Programs: AA PLT, IHG Spire
Posts: 550
Thanks for the help everyone. I can confirm that the upgrade confirmed instantly on all three legs. I had checked expert flyer and all flights had C availability. I think it helps that the comp upgrades are only starting now, since my flight is this weekend so there is still plenty of space.
I managed to get a cheap q fare about 8 weeks ago so my flight was only $350 RT, and I paid for the base fare with a voucher I got from being bumped off a work travel flight. The $75 copay + 13.5k miles (after 10% rebate) is not bad for my total out of pocket airfare costs.
I think its worth the miles for almost 8 hrs in J rather than in Y. And a good way to start a vegas vacation, lol.
I only upgraded my outbound flights as I have a redeye home and I'll take my chances with sticker upgrades clearing.
I managed to get a cheap q fare about 8 weeks ago so my flight was only $350 RT, and I paid for the base fare with a voucher I got from being bumped off a work travel flight. The $75 copay + 13.5k miles (after 10% rebate) is not bad for my total out of pocket airfare costs.
I think its worth the miles for almost 8 hrs in J rather than in Y. And a good way to start a vegas vacation, lol.
I only upgraded my outbound flights as I have a redeye home and I'll take my chances with sticker upgrades clearing.