Dec 17, 2017, 12:15 pm
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)
Dec 3, 2018, 11:08 am
#781
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Wesley Chapel, FL
Programs: American Airlines
Posts: 30,005
Dec 3, 2018, 2:06 pm
#782
Join Date: May 2007
Programs: UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 5,451
No, EXP complimentary upgrades come out of R, which is invisible. C is used for instrument-supported upgrades, including SWUs and miles+copay upgrades.
Dec 3, 2018, 3:06 pm
#783
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Manhattan Beach, California
Programs: BMI Diamond Club Gold forever
Posts: 6,367
Interesting, the upgrade came through right away and the C bucket ticked down from 1 to 0. I have bought many R class fares over the years, they are discounted business class although international. Are you saying that for domestic purposes the R bucket is something different?
Dec 3, 2018, 4:53 pm
#784
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: JFK
Programs: AA Executive Platinum, Marriott Platinum Elite, Hilton Gold
Posts: 29
Fly 193
I have been waitlisted for flt 193 leaving 12/4 for a about a month or so. Got the alert from EF that there was C availability. Agent initially said I was still waitlisted, but I asked him to check C availability and he said he could clear my SWU.
Im still waitlisted for the flight back (126 HKG-DFW) which still has tons of inventory, so we will see what happens!
Looking forward to checking out the LAX Flagship First lounge tomorrow!
Im still waitlisted for the flight back (126 HKG-DFW) which still has tons of inventory, so we will see what happens!
Looking forward to checking out the LAX Flagship First lounge tomorrow!
Dec 3, 2018, 5:12 pm
#785
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Live: IWI; Work: DCA/Everywhere; Play: LAS/SJU/MLE
Programs: AA EXP, DL PM, Hyatt Glob, Marriott Ambassador/LTP, Nat'l Exec Elite, LEYE Gold
Posts: 6,670
Interesting, the upgrade came through right away and the C bucket ticked down from 1 to 0. I have bought many R class fares over the years, they are discounted business class although international. Are you saying that for domestic purposes the R bucket is something different?
It makes sense that you'd get the upgrade. In my experience, it's very often the case that if C>0 & you're within the upgrade window, then R>0. I will say that closer in, say within 24 hours of departure, I'll see C availability (say, J2C1) when it doesn't seem plausible that I'll clear the upgrade. In those cases, if it's a long enough flight, I may set a reminder for myself to check the upgrade list 4 hours out, and burn a BXP1 for a C seat if it looks like I won't clear.
Dec 3, 2018, 5:37 pm
#786
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: The FT AA forum, until it no longer wants me.
Programs: CK or bust
Posts: 1,913
Interesting, the upgrade came through right away and the C bucket ticked down from 1 to 0. I have bought many R class fares over the years, they are discounted business class although international. Are you saying that for domestic purposes the R bucket is something different?
Dec 3, 2018, 5:38 pm
#787
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: The FT AA forum, until it no longer wants me.
Programs: CK or bust
Posts: 1,913
Dec 3, 2018, 8:59 pm
#788
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: KHOU/KIAH
Programs: AA EXP | Marriott Bonvoy Titanium| Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 11,245
Eyeing DFW-LHR in Jan. Which flight do you think has the best shot of a SWU? AA 20, 80, 50 or 78?
All seem wide open now.
All seem wide open now.
Dec 3, 2018, 9:29 pm
#789
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: WAS/NYC/LON
Programs: AA EXP, HH DIA, Hyatt DIA
Posts: 286
I would imagine AA20 should have the best odds by far: 77W has much more premium space compared to 772 and the mid-afternoon departure time is less business heavy.
Dec 3, 2018, 9:33 pm
#790
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: KHOU/KIAH
Programs: AA EXP | Marriott Bonvoy Titanium| Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 11,245
Back when there were 3 flights, the earliest one (AA 50) seemed to be the hardest upgrade to clear. The night flight was easier IIRC.
Dec 3, 2018, 11:38 pm
#791
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Manhattan Beach, California
Programs: BMI Diamond Club Gold forever
Posts: 6,367
it’s the second most expensive fare class under full J. In almost every market for international flights the AA fare hierarchy ia I, D, R, J. Most people only fly in I, for me our corporate rates give a healthy discount on R and J so i often fly those. Just do an EF search constrained to business class and AA and you see the hierarchy. Or if you dont have an eF subscription then search ITA with the restrictor F bc=r and you wil see them.
Dec 4, 2018, 1:41 am
#792
Join Date: Jan 2012
Programs: AY+ Plat, Marriott Plat, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 2,846
it’s the second most expensive fare class under full J. In almost every market for international flights the AA fare hierarchy ia I, D, R, J. Most people only fly in I, for me our corporate rates give a healthy discount on R and J so i often fly those. Just do an EF search constrained to business class and AA and you see the hierarchy. Or if you dont have an eF subscription then search ITA with the restrictor F bc=r and you wil see them.
Dec 4, 2018, 6:10 am
#793
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: DTW / SJC
Programs: AA EXP, DL DM, Marriott Titanium, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 764
AA364 (DFW-SJC) yesterday, was 10 of 31 as EXP with ~$17K rolling EQDs.
#1 on the list was a CK (GA read out the names of the 3 CKs).
No one cleared.
#1 on the list was a CK (GA read out the names of the 3 CKs).
No one cleared.
Dec 4, 2018, 8:38 am
#794
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: SoCal
Programs: AA EXP, HHonors LTDia, Marriott Plat
Posts: 639
Sunday LAX-DFW on a 789 - I was 5 of 62 (27k EQD) and I don't think anyone cleared.
DFW-IND cleared at t-23, as usual.
DFW-IND cleared at t-23, as usual.
Dec 4, 2018, 8:47 am
#795
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Wesley Chapel, FL
Programs: American Airlines
Posts: 30,005