Dec 17, 2017, 12:15 pm

FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides

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
1. Concierge Key
  - Executive Platinum
    - Platinum Pro
      Platinum
      Gold
- Upgrade type
  1. Miles and copay award upgrades and systemwide upgrades (SWU)
    - 500 mile upgrades on purchased tickets
      500 mile upgrades on upgrade eligible awards)
  - Elite qualifying dollars in the past 12 months
    - Booking class
      - Time of request"

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)

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Nov 26, 2018, 7:36 am

#766

Finsup72

Join Date: Dec 2016

Programs: AA EXP

Posts: 214

Quote:

Originally Posted by dwugson

Can anyone with Expert Flyer assess my chances of a miles + cash upgrade on AA 106 12/21. Currently in economy and waitlisted for an upgrade. Am platinum pro but only $13 K EQD this year. Thanks.

That flight is currently showing J7 C0 with 17 open seats in business class. It's still a ways out but I'd probably guess your upgrade will clear as business travel on a Friday night into a holiday week is very light.

Nov 26, 2018, 8:43 am

#767

dwugson

Join Date: Jul 2013

Programs: AA MM, AA EXP; OW Emerald, EK silver

Posts: 928

Thanks Finsup! shall keep my fingers crossed.

Nov 27, 2018, 5:06 am

#768

bse118

Original Poster

Join Date: Dec 2010

Location: DEN

Programs: AA EXP, AA Million Miles, Hilton Diamond

Posts: 2,586

Quote:

Originally Posted by bse118

Another flight. Another SWU clearing well in advance.

AA46, the late ORD-LHR, for the Sunday after Thanksgiving. Y-->J on a 788.

(admittedly the Sunday after Thanksgiving might be a bit abnormal day for 'typical' business travel)

So flew this flight now (posting this from the QF lounge at LHR)

Originally booked OMA-ORD-LHR-LUX on Nov 25 with the SWU cleared months in advance.

Afternoon of departure cancelled due to snow in ORD. Nothing available that day.

Auto-rebooked on the same flights through ORD the next day Nov 26 - upgrades maintained.

Called in and moved myself to OMA-DFW-LHR-LUX on Nov 26 via AA78 - upgrades maintained. (And C space was showing for AA78 at ~30 hours before departure.

Good thing I moved - the OMA-ORD flights were cancelled on Nov 26 as well.

Still have not missed a Y-->J SWU or BXP3 longhaul request during my several years as EXP.

Nov 27, 2018, 8:26 am

#769

enviroian

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Nov 2003

Location: Wesley Chapel, FL

Programs: American Airlines

Posts: 30,005

Quote:

Originally Posted by bse118

Still have not missed a Y-->J SWU or BXP3 longhaul request during my several years as EXP.

Nov 27, 2018, 1:21 pm

#770

AATrout

Join Date: Aug 2011

Location: DCA | DEN

Programs: AA EXP/2.9mm | Marriott LT Titanium 1.6k nights | NEXUS

Posts: 981

Bleak

And not the first shutout out of DFW. 16 of 41 today on the list for AA2351 DFW-DCA.

At 17k EQD.

Another reason why DEN-DCA via CLT even as a dump airport is the new preferred route. Never any upgrade fails. Right behind it is via ORD.

Trying this bonehead itinerary is entirely on me, as I know better.

Edit: make that 21 of 46. 😧

Nov 27, 2018, 1:24 pm

#771

ComplexAnalysis

Join Date: Dec 2012

Location: WAS/NYC/LON

Programs: AA EXP, HH DIA, Hyatt DIA

Posts: 286

Quote:

Originally Posted by AATrout

Trying this bonehead itinerary is entirely on me, as I know better.

Outside of winter travel, I would much prefer through ORD as you would get a usually decent hot meal on the ORD-DCA leg and I imagine it would be the quickest door-to-door!

Nov 27, 2018, 4:05 pm

#772

dkc192

Join Date: May 2007

Programs: UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist

Posts: 5,451

Quote:

Originally Posted by AATrout

Wow, that's rough, especially for a Tuesday. DFW-BOS is another one that can be incredibly hard to upgrade at the wrong times. I was 23 out of 40-something as a 15k EQD EXP on the evening of Presidents' Day this year. Similar to you, I also saw a 40-something list on a Wednesday in mid-October, but thankfully I was in paid F that time.

That said, I've also cleared a couple of Friday noontime BOS-DFW flights at the gate, so, YMMV greatly it seems.

Nov 27, 2018, 4:38 pm

#773

HLCinCOU

Join Date: Jan 2017

Location: COU

Programs: AA EXP, Bonvoy Ambassador, Hertz PC

Posts: 499

One 2019-01-31 expiring SWU left; waitlisted on MSY-DFW-LIM on 2019-01-24. Right now J7 R6 D2 I0 with exactly 7 open on the seat map (plus two blocked) on the 757. We shall see...the return is LATAM where I can't use them (or upgrade any other way at all) so if this one misses I suppose I'll be giving it away.

Nov 27, 2018, 7:05 pm

#774

AATrout

Join Date: Aug 2011

Location: DCA | DEN

Programs: AA EXP/2.9mm | Marriott LT Titanium 1.6k nights | NEXUS

Posts: 981

Quote:

Originally Posted by dkc192

I think this was residual Turkey Day return traffic that surged 2 more days after the supposed big Sunday travel day. This time of year isn’t exactly heavy business in and out of DC. Probable that a number of non-biz travelers “bought-up” to enjoy the ride. Still, out of 16, that would account for perhaps half?

Wasn’t aware of a DFW effect from the WX in the Midwest, including diverts, but when I went thru there on Saturday night from FRA the place was totally packed. Possibly some folks were heading to the east coast, were affected, rerouted and had priority. DCA isn’t the best for heading further north, but when I got in tonight @1915, DCA was also really packed.

At least Metro was up and running...

Nov 28, 2018, 11:28 am

#775

PHLondoner

Join Date: Feb 2014

Location: PHL, LHR

Posts: 219

Upcoming trip PHL - LAX - Friday, February 1st on the A332 (flight 698 leaves pHL at 3:35). I put in for a Miles/Copay upgrade for a family of 3 - I presently don't have any status. Right now first is showing as 4 seats out of 20 booked. Any snowball chance in hell we can all clear?

Nov 29, 2018, 7:02 am

#776

tylerdurden4543

Join Date: Aug 2008

Location: HND

Programs: AA EXP, UA 1K

Posts: 1,230

Can someone tell me if this is normal?

I have two passengers on one PNR. NRT-DFW-MIA. I requested to use two SWUs to upgrade only NRT-DFW for both passengers because the DFW-MIA is already booked full in first. When checking the res online, I get a "standby" menu. It shows my original flights in economy with the same seats as originally booked. But when I click the "standby flight" it lists NRT-DFW in economy (with originally booked seats) and right below it has the same NRT-DFW flight but with business listed and the seats listed are the two economy seats we have DFW-MIA. Seems pretty weird...

Nov 29, 2018, 8:01 am

#777

JJeffrey

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Feb 2001

Location: RDU <|> MMX

Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS

Posts: 12,469

Quote:

Originally Posted by tylerdurden4543

I have a trip to LHR waitlisted for SWUs in a few weeks which is showing the exact same thing when I pull up the reservation online. I even called AA because it looked so strange, they assured me the SWU requests were set up correctly and nothing was out of the ordinary, etc.

Nov 29, 2018, 8:19 am

#778

kjm12898

Join Date: Jul 2017

Location: NYC/BOS

Programs: AA Platinum, Marriott Bonvoy Gold

Posts: 54

Quote:

Originally Posted by tylerdurden4543

I have seen this when waitlisting a BXP1 (Business Extra Award) and for a connecting flight when one leg was confirmed in first, but other one was waitlisted. I wouldn't worry.