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)
#196
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: San Francisco
Programs: AA EXP; Marriott BonVoy Titanium Elite, Marriott LT Plat.
Posts: 1,717
Awesome!! Will be on the lookout for PE on for my May+ trips to HKG!! Nice!! Booking the April trip in 24-48 hrs.
#197
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 3
What are the chances of me getting upgrade to J on AA 719 fco to phl may 28 if I requested my upgrade back in feb. btw I have no status. My guess is not a chance in hell. There are 6 seats in J open but they are only selling 1 on their website.
#198
Join Date: May 2007
Programs: UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 5,451
Your guess is an accurate one.
#199
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: San Francisco
Programs: AA EXP; Marriott BonVoy Titanium Elite, Marriott LT Plat.
Posts: 1,717
Confirming PE seating on LAX-HKG-LAX route. Booked flight today and PE is being sold as MCE. Outbound in two weeks and returning first week of May. Nice!!
#200
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Long Island, NY
Programs: AA EXP, Hyatt Explorist, Marriott Gold
Posts: 732
LAX-HKG
Cleared SWU Y->J for upcoming flight AA 193 LAX-HKG next month (about 3 weeks in advance). EXP with about $17K in spending in 2017.
I had selected that date as the J cabin looked fairly empty at booking.
However, I did not receive any alert from EF (as I understand that EF does not continuously monitor "C" fare bucket for upgrades).
I had selected that date as the J cabin looked fairly empty at booking.
However, I did not receive any alert from EF (as I understand that EF does not continuously monitor "C" fare bucket for upgrades).
Last edited by zip10001; Apr 12, 2018 at 5:59 pm
#201
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 91
Cleared SWUs today for PE->J on AA 48 DFW-CDG on 4/17 and the return on AA 49 on 4/26.
As is often the case, my record went into "Couldn't display" mode. Fortunately the EXP desk is much more proactive in fixing that than the the regular desk was when I did mileage upgrades as platinum.
As is often the case, my record went into "Couldn't display" mode. Fortunately the EXP desk is much more proactive in fixing that than the the regular desk was when I did mileage upgrades as platinum.
#202
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: DAC, KTM, JFK, PBI
Programs: Qatar Platinum, One World Emerald, IHG Platinum Elite
Posts: 98
Hello all, new to the AA boards. I am Qatar Plat, OWE and am flying NRT-ORD-NRT in Economy (seats are booked in M, K) soon and am wondering, as a non AAdvantage Member, am I completely out of the running for an upgrade, or if I could still make a request as OWE. I have only ever flown AA domestically in the US and I have been told that I show up as AA Exec Plat, but I know its not exactly the same and that I wouldn't have SWU. Any insights on what I'd be eligible for or what I could do in terms of a Y- J upgrade would be great. As a non-AA OWE, if seats remain (although I doubt it for ORD-NRT), where would I fall in the pecking order for an op-up? (or are the chances basically nil?) And finally, I would assume I wouldn't be able to use QR miles right? Thanks in advance!
#203
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 12,466
Hello all, new to the AA boards. I am Qatar Plat, OWE and am flying NRT-ORD-NRT in Economy (seats are booked in M, K) soon and am wondering, as a non AAdvantage Member, am I completely out of the running for an upgrade, or if I could still make a request as OWE. I have only ever flown AA domestically in the US and I have been told that I show up as AA Exec Plat, but I know its not exactly the same and that I wouldn't have SWU. Any insights on what I'd be eligible for or what I could do in terms of a Y- J upgrade would be great. As a non-AA OWE, if seats remain (although I doubt it for ORD-NRT), where would I fall in the pecking order for an op-up? (or are the chances basically nil?) And finally, I would assume I wouldn't be able to use QR miles right? Thanks in advance!
Without a SWU, the only way you can request an upgrade is with AA miles and copay, 25k + $350 each way. You're correct that you can't use QR miles to upgrade on AA.
The only other possible option is a LFBU kiosk upgrade, which are basically upgrade offers for cash if there are still business seats open on the day of departure (after all upgrade requests have cleared). If space is open, these are typically offered when you check in online or at an airport kiosk, although in the past at NRT I have seen signs offering this in the Admirals Club as well.
#204
Join Date: Jul 2009
Programs: AA EXP, Marriott Titanium Elite, Hilton Gold
Posts: 64
UPGs aren't as easy as they used to be!
He was at about 14K EQD's last year. This week he was number 2 on the waitlist LAX-JFK. Number 9 and 10 were upgraded from Business to First after boarding, no one else. AA says "business went out full" but won't say what happened to those 2 business seats. I suspect non-rev as he said several did not board when groups 1-4 boarded. He was number 5 coming back JFK-LAX, one got upgraded.
But that's a pretty typical pattern for this year. He's anywhere from 2 to 5 on the list and 0 to 2 people get upgraded, but not him. So I think he is in the right spot on the list for his EQDs.
It is really discouraging though. He's even been talking about just not wanting to do his job anymore.
The year is 25% over. 18 domestic flights, 3 upgrades. 19.9% of the way to qualifying again as an EXP on EQD's, 30.7% on EQM's. This will be his 11th year as an EXP if he does requal.
But that's a pretty typical pattern for this year. He's anywhere from 2 to 5 on the list and 0 to 2 people get upgraded, but not him. So I think he is in the right spot on the list for his EQDs.
It is really discouraging though. He's even been talking about just not wanting to do his job anymore.
The year is 25% over. 18 domestic flights, 3 upgrades. 19.9% of the way to qualifying again as an EXP on EQD's, 30.7% on EQM's. This will be his 11th year as an EXP if he does requal.
This sums up my experience to a T. I'm 3 for 13 this year (am DFW based, but flying to non-hub cities in most cases and many times on slower days of travel, Wed afternoons, Saturdays, etc). Used to hit 75-80% (was LGA/JFK based), now end up 2-5 on the list in most cases and have been as low as 10-15. My bigger frustration is lack of interest by in-flight staff in any thank you/recognition for EXP. Used to be very nice and offer to help me as they can (occasionally would give me full bottle of water, etc). Yesterday "No fresh food on plane!" was answer when I inquired about the cheese plate...and they seem annoyed I asked. I wonder if the flight attendants are as frustrated with the "New American" as the travelers. Will likely settle for PP next year as same day flight changes are the only real thing of value anymore. SWUs that used to once be useful are now down to 4...and nearly impossible to use except for DFW to Abilene type routes!
#205
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Chicago
Programs: American ExPlat SPG Plat
Posts: 21
2 SWUs cleared for me and my wife for our flight NRT-ORD 4/7 roughly a few days in advance. Never received an email from AA. Alas it was my first time using SWUs, I was just happy they cleared. FWIW about $18k spent over the past 12 months.
#206
Join Date: Mar 2015
Programs: AA EXP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 394
My ORD-CDG just cleared yesterday for outbound flight on 5/3.
#207
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: USA
Programs: IHG/Spire Amb., Hilton/Diamond, SPG/Gold, Marriott/Gold, AA/Plat, Southwest/CP
Posts: 270
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.
#208
Join Date: Jul 2009
Programs: AA EXP, Marriott Titanium Elite, Hilton Gold
Posts: 64
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.
#209
Join Date: Dec 2016
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 214
With all due respect, you shouldn't even think about comparing BOS vs. BDL. Granted DFW is always tough for upgrades, but you'll have a much better success rate flying to smaller, lower-demand airports (e.g. BDL) as opposed to one of the toughest elite-upgrade routes (e.g. BOS-DFW, AUS-DFW, LGA-DFW, etc.). The upgrade will likely still be tough as you're still down a bit on the totem pole but I can't comment on that specific route given I've never flow in or out of BDL.
#210
Suspended
Join Date: May 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: DL Diamond, AAdvantage EXP, Hyatt Explorist, HHonors Diamond, Avis First
Posts: 7,344
i had planned a last minute weekend trip to san juan and every single one of the 4 UPGs cleared at window and then today the entire island was hit with a power blackout lasting up to 36 hours, so i cancelled