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)
#706
Join Date: Nov 2013
Programs: AAdvantage EXP, Honors Diamond
Posts: 32
A few data points (LAX-HKG, HKG-LAX, IAD-LAX)
A few data points on Systemwide Upgrades/500 Mile Upgrades that cleared in the last week. I have to say, in each case (despite being on the wait list as an Executive Platinum), "C" inventory opened up but the upgrades did not automatically clear from the waitlist. I had to call AA to manually process the upgrades, which makes me concerned that non-status members can jump to claim "C" space regardless of their position in the waitlist for a SWU or mileage redemption. At any rate, all segments cleared by proactively monitoring availability:
LAX-HKG AA193 (4 "C" spaces opened 36 hours prior to departure, with J7+ available for purchase and seat map of approx. 18 seats open) - SWU for myself + non-status companion cleared upon calling AA
HKG-LAX AA192 (4 "C" spaces opened exactly 1 week prior to departure, with J7+ available for purchase and seat map of approx. 20 seats open) - SWU for myself + non-status companion cleared upon calling AA
IAD-LAX AA1339 (1 "C" space opened 5 days prior to departure, with J7+ available for purchase) - SWU for non-status companion cleared upon calling AA
IAD-LAX AA1339 (complimentary 500 mile upgrade cleared exactly 100 hours from departure, with J5 available for purchase)
LAX-HKG AA193 (4 "C" spaces opened 36 hours prior to departure, with J7+ available for purchase and seat map of approx. 18 seats open) - SWU for myself + non-status companion cleared upon calling AA
HKG-LAX AA192 (4 "C" spaces opened exactly 1 week prior to departure, with J7+ available for purchase and seat map of approx. 20 seats open) - SWU for myself + non-status companion cleared upon calling AA
IAD-LAX AA1339 (1 "C" space opened 5 days prior to departure, with J7+ available for purchase) - SWU for non-status companion cleared upon calling AA
IAD-LAX AA1339 (complimentary 500 mile upgrade cleared exactly 100 hours from departure, with J5 available for purchase)
#707
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Wesley Chapel, FL
Programs: American Airlines
Posts: 30,004
A few data points on Systemwide Upgrades/500 Mile Upgrades that cleared in the last week. I have to say, in each case (despite being on the wait list as an Executive Platinum), "C" inventory opened up but the upgrades did not automatically clear from the waitlist. I had to call AA to manually process the upgrades, which makes me concerned that non-status members can jump to claim "C" space regardless of their position in the waitlist for a SWU or mileage redemption. At any rate, all segments cleared by proactively monitoring availability:
LAX-HKG AA193 (4 "C" spaces opened 36 hours prior to departure, with J7+ available for purchase and seat map of approx. 18 seats open) - SWU for myself + non-status companion cleared upon calling AA
HKG-LAX AA192 (4 "C" spaces opened exactly 1 week prior to departure, with J7+ available for purchase and seat map of approx. 20 seats open) - SWU for myself + non-status companion cleared upon calling AA
IAD-LAX AA1339 (1 "C" space opened 5 days prior to departure, with J7+ available for purchase) - SWU for non-status companion cleared upon calling AA
IAD-LAX AA1339 (complimentary 500 mile upgrade cleared exactly 100 hours from departure, with J5 available for purchase)
LAX-HKG AA193 (4 "C" spaces opened 36 hours prior to departure, with J7+ available for purchase and seat map of approx. 18 seats open) - SWU for myself + non-status companion cleared upon calling AA
HKG-LAX AA192 (4 "C" spaces opened exactly 1 week prior to departure, with J7+ available for purchase and seat map of approx. 20 seats open) - SWU for myself + non-status companion cleared upon calling AA
IAD-LAX AA1339 (1 "C" space opened 5 days prior to departure, with J7+ available for purchase) - SWU for non-status companion cleared upon calling AA
IAD-LAX AA1339 (complimentary 500 mile upgrade cleared exactly 100 hours from departure, with J5 available for purchase)
#708
Join Date: May 2011
Location: DFW
Programs: AA EXP, LT Gold
Posts: 3,146
that is very concerning. So if a non status passenger has EF and their C alert goes off what is preventing them from calling and having it processed with miles? I don't think your SWU statement is applicable however because a non status passenger wouldn't have one in the first place (?).
However, I had a C alert EF email on 13 Oct for my waitlisted SWU on the 14th from LHR-DFW. I got the email about 2 hours after EF sent it. At that point, I called AA to see if I had cleared and they said I had not, and the C space was gone.
Maybe that was just a phantom C-alert from EF, or a glitch in the system. Who knows. I did end up getting the SWU cleared, however, about 8 hours later.
#709
Join Date: Nov 2013
Programs: AAdvantage EXP, Honors Diamond
Posts: 32
that is very concerning. So if a non status passenger has EF and their C alert goes off what is preventing them from calling and having it processed with miles? I don't think your SWU statement is applicable however because a non status passenger wouldn't have one in the first place (?).
To your question, I believe that non-status member could be using a SWU or a miles upgrade since SWU's can be gifted/applied to other reservations. In fact, for my IAD-LAX flight, the companion was listed as SWU while I waited for the complimentary 100-hour upgrade (he did not inherit status for SWU to clear).
#710
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: COU
Programs: AA EXP, Bonvoy Ambassador, Hertz PC
Posts: 499
It's speculative that this could or would happen, but it is not supposed to.
However, I had a C alert EF email on 13 Oct for my waitlisted SWU on the 14th from LHR-DFW. I got the email about 2 hours after EF sent it. At that point, I called AA to see if I had cleared and they said I had not, and the C space was gone.
Maybe that was just a phantom C-alert from EF, or a glitch in the system. Who knows. I did end up getting the SWU cleared, however, about 8 hours later.
However, I had a C alert EF email on 13 Oct for my waitlisted SWU on the 14th from LHR-DFW. I got the email about 2 hours after EF sent it. At that point, I called AA to see if I had cleared and they said I had not, and the C space was gone.
Maybe that was just a phantom C-alert from EF, or a glitch in the system. Who knows. I did end up getting the SWU cleared, however, about 8 hours later.
#711
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Chicago
Programs: AA- EXP UA - Silver SPG- PLT Marriott- PLT
Posts: 759
My guess is it was the C space opening up, then AA clearing people off the list into it. I got the EF notice that C opened up on my LAX-AKL, and by the time I looked maybe an hour after alert, I was already upgraded and EF showed C0. And that was a month before the flight (which is tomorrow!)
#712
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Vail, CO
Programs: AA EXP/1mm, Marriott Titanium/LT Gold, UA Silver
Posts: 626
Data Point - just cleared to J on LAX-PVG on 12.27. Nice surprise this far in advance
#713
Join Date: May 2007
Programs: UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 5,447
It's speculative that this could or would happen, but it is not supposed to.
However, I had a C alert EF email on 13 Oct for my waitlisted SWU on the 14th from LHR-DFW. I got the email about 2 hours after EF sent it. At that point, I called AA to see if I had cleared and they said I had not, and the C space was gone.
Maybe that was just a phantom C-alert from EF, or a glitch in the system. Who knows. I did end up getting the SWU cleared, however, about 8 hours later.
However, I had a C alert EF email on 13 Oct for my waitlisted SWU on the 14th from LHR-DFW. I got the email about 2 hours after EF sent it. At that point, I called AA to see if I had cleared and they said I had not, and the C space was gone.
Maybe that was just a phantom C-alert from EF, or a glitch in the system. Who knows. I did end up getting the SWU cleared, however, about 8 hours later.
#714
Join Date: May 2011
Location: DFW
Programs: AA EXP, LT Gold
Posts: 3,146
11:53am UTC.
When did the email come? I think I posted upthead here or elsewhere that EF sometimes does send phantom C alerts, almost always at midnight (local time in departure city) the day before departure (i.e. if your LHR-DFW was on 10/14, the phantom e-mail would've come around 12:01am BST on 10/13). I've been at my computer both times it's happened to me, so if there was any lag between me getting the alert and manually querying EF, it was 2 min at most. Unclear if this is a glitch with EF, the GDS, or elsewhere.
#715
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: COU
Programs: AA EXP, Bonvoy Ambassador, Hertz PC
Posts: 499
When did the email come? I think I posted upthead here or elsewhere that EF sometimes does send phantom C alerts, almost always at midnight (local time in departure city) the day before departure (i.e. if your LHR-DFW was on 10/14, the phantom e-mail would've come around 12:01am BST on 10/13). I've been at my computer both times it's happened to me, so if there was any lag between me getting the alert and manually querying EF, it was 2 min at most. Unclear if this is a glitch with EF, the GDS, or elsewhere.
#716
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: HND
Programs: AA EXP, UA 1K
Posts: 1,230
Hi everyone,
Considering making a change to upcoming trip to potentially improve upgrade chances and wanted to get the group's consensus. Of note: 5 passengers - wife with no status on one PNR will be miles + cash UG, me and 3 daughters will be SWU - I am EXP but have spent nothing on AA this year so will be bottom of EXP tier in terms of priority. Neither option currently showing U or C.
Current:
Saturday, Dec 15. NRT-DFW-MIA
NRT-DFW 176 on 772 J7D0I0, 24 seats open in J
DFW-MIA 2550 on 738 J1D0I0, 1 or 2 seats open in J so that's unlikely
New Option: For $175 a person, I could change to:
Friday, Dec 14. NRT-LAX-MIA
NRT-LAX 170 on 789 J7D7I7, 23 seats open in J
LAX-MIA 1217 on 32B J7D7I7, 11 seats open in J
So, do you think changing to the NRT-LAX-MIA improves upgrade chances enough to pay change fee? Total travel time between the two is similar, and there is upside to leaving Narita at night so kids sleep better and getting in a day earlier.
All in all, seems like a worthwhile change but anything you guys think I'm missing?
Considering making a change to upcoming trip to potentially improve upgrade chances and wanted to get the group's consensus. Of note: 5 passengers - wife with no status on one PNR will be miles + cash UG, me and 3 daughters will be SWU - I am EXP but have spent nothing on AA this year so will be bottom of EXP tier in terms of priority. Neither option currently showing U or C.
Current:
Saturday, Dec 15. NRT-DFW-MIA
NRT-DFW 176 on 772 J7D0I0, 24 seats open in J
DFW-MIA 2550 on 738 J1D0I0, 1 or 2 seats open in J so that's unlikely
New Option: For $175 a person, I could change to:
Friday, Dec 14. NRT-LAX-MIA
NRT-LAX 170 on 789 J7D7I7, 23 seats open in J
LAX-MIA 1217 on 32B J7D7I7, 11 seats open in J
So, do you think changing to the NRT-LAX-MIA improves upgrade chances enough to pay change fee? Total travel time between the two is similar, and there is upside to leaving Narita at night so kids sleep better and getting in a day earlier.
All in all, seems like a worthwhile change but anything you guys think I'm missing?
#717
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Austin, TX
Programs: AA EXP, Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 183
#718
Join Date: May 2011
Location: DFW
Programs: AA EXP, LT Gold
Posts: 3,146
Hi everyone,
Considering making a change to upcoming trip to potentially improve upgrade chances and wanted to get the group's consensus. Of note: 5 passengers - wife with no status on one PNR will be miles + cash UG, me and 3 daughters will be SWU - I am EXP but have spent nothing on AA this year so will be bottom of EXP tier in terms of priority. Neither option currently showing U or C.
Current:
Saturday, Dec 15. NRT-DFW-MIA
NRT-DFW 176 on 772 J7D0I0, 24 seats open in J
DFW-MIA 2550 on 738 J1D0I0, 1 or 2 seats open in J so that's unlikely
New Option: For $175 a person, I could change to:
Friday, Dec 14. NRT-LAX-MIA
NRT-LAX 170 on 789 J7D7I7, 23 seats open in J
LAX-MIA 1217 on 32B J7D7I7, 11 seats open in J
So, do you think changing to the NRT-LAX-MIA improves upgrade chances enough to pay change fee? Total travel time between the two is similar, and there is upside to leaving Narita at night so kids sleep better and getting in a day earlier.
All in all, seems like a worthwhile change but anything you guys think I'm missing?
Considering making a change to upcoming trip to potentially improve upgrade chances and wanted to get the group's consensus. Of note: 5 passengers - wife with no status on one PNR will be miles + cash UG, me and 3 daughters will be SWU - I am EXP but have spent nothing on AA this year so will be bottom of EXP tier in terms of priority. Neither option currently showing U or C.
Current:
Saturday, Dec 15. NRT-DFW-MIA
NRT-DFW 176 on 772 J7D0I0, 24 seats open in J
DFW-MIA 2550 on 738 J1D0I0, 1 or 2 seats open in J so that's unlikely
New Option: For $175 a person, I could change to:
Friday, Dec 14. NRT-LAX-MIA
NRT-LAX 170 on 789 J7D7I7, 23 seats open in J
LAX-MIA 1217 on 32B J7D7I7, 11 seats open in J
So, do you think changing to the NRT-LAX-MIA improves upgrade chances enough to pay change fee? Total travel time between the two is similar, and there is upside to leaving Narita at night so kids sleep better and getting in a day earlier.
All in all, seems like a worthwhile change but anything you guys think I'm missing?
I think a Saturday flight in December should be favorable for you all to upgrade to DFW with that many open J seats left, and AA not selling any "discount" biz fares on that specific flight right now.
#719
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 12,465
#720
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: SFOSJCOAK
Programs: AA-EXP & 1MM+, AS, MR-LTT, HH Gold
Posts: 7,579
Data point: LAX-PVG PE=>J
Currently $455 short on EQD but EQM sits at 120,500.
Past midnight 11/02/2018 (according AA EXP desk) we (2) were cleared from PE to J on LAX-PVG 3 weeks from flight date!
EF alerted me this morning at 8:30am; called AA EXP desk and was told UG cleared already! Up to now, I have not received any email from AA re UG. I was able to select seats and book meals!
Past midnight 11/02/2018 (according AA EXP desk) we (2) were cleared from PE to J on LAX-PVG 3 weeks from flight date!
EF alerted me this morning at 8:30am; called AA EXP desk and was told UG cleared already! Up to now, I have not received any email from AA re UG. I was able to select seats and book meals!