500 mile upgrades worthless? have 40 never been able to use any
Mar 17, 2018, 12:59 pm
#16
Join Date: Aug 2012
Programs: AA PLT, SPG Gold
Posts: 2,405
What are you talking about? As long as you only want to redeem for routes lile OKC-ORD on a Saturday morning, they're super useful!
But on a more serious note, we've basically entirely given up on getting any meaningful use out of them. Between aggressive F pricing and smaller premium cabins (and PPRO for more competition), sticker upgrades are basically non-existent these days.
But on a more serious note, we've basically entirely given up on getting any meaningful use out of them. Between aggressive F pricing and smaller premium cabins (and PPRO for more competition), sticker upgrades are basically non-existent these days.
Mar 17, 2018, 1:04 pm
#17
Join Date: Feb 2018
Programs: AA Gold; SPG Gold; Marriott Gold; Hilton Gold
Posts: 40
I'm a lowly (lifetime) gold and have been decently impressed with what I've been able to get over the years with the 500 mile stickers. Granted, my home airport is not a hub. I am consistently upgraded on the flights under 500 miles for free, and have had good luck on others. In December I was upgraded to F to LIH on a connection out of LAX when there were 2 seats available and NO customers but me requesting upgrades, I was shocked myself. Last year I connected to LAX and was upgraded to J on the 77W to MIA. Several domestic upgrades in F, usually if I decide to connect in PHX I get best chance of upgrade but worst equipment. At the end of the day it really is a craps shoot. Some years are better than others, some days are better than others, you never really know.
Mar 17, 2018, 1:16 pm
#18
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: USA
Programs: Chase Sapphire Reserve, WFBF
Posts: 1,573
I'm a lowly (lifetime) gold and have been decently impressed with what I've been able to get over the years with the 500 mile stickers. Granted, my home airport is not a hub. I am consistently upgraded on the flights under 500 miles for free, and have had good luck on others. In December I was upgraded to F to LIH on a connection out of LAX when there were 2 seats available and NO customers but me requesting upgrades, I was shocked myself. Last year I connected to LAX and was upgraded to J on the 77W to MIA. Several domestic upgrades in F, usually if I decide to connect in PHX I get best chance of upgrade but worst equipment. At the end of the day it really is a craps shoot. Some years are better than others, some days are better than others, you never really know.
Mar 17, 2018, 1:31 pm
#19
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: LAX
Programs: AAdvantage EXPLAT, Hilton Diamond, SPG/Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum, Citi Exec MC, Amex Plat
Posts: 1,443
I have 21 currently, I’ve only ever bought 1 in my life (after an upgrade confirmed and I was short 1 sticker). I used to use them up pretty quickly when I flew mostly domestic, but last year, when I made EXP, I made EXP by flying a lot of CX PE LAX-HKG-SIN/SYD routes (piles and piles of EQMs and EQDs), so in one trip, I’d easily earn 8-12 stickers and ran up a huge pile. The few domestic flights I tried before making PRO, I didn’t have any success. After making PRO/EXP, get a lot of domestic upgrades, but those are now free! Only way to really burn them down is to use them on a companion, which is almost never for me.
I guess I can take comfort in the fact that I never paid for the 21 I have, so I’m not wasting any money.
Mar 17, 2018, 1:45 pm
#20
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: San Diego
Programs: Plat Pro AAdvantage, but defected to BAEC
Posts: 1,222
I used to be rather reluctant to "spend" say 3 stickers for an 1100+ mile upgrade and would keep them for legs that were 1400-1500 mile sectors. My upgrade success as a plat was so low, that I now opt to request the upgrade no matter the segment length in the hope that at least something will clear. I'm 0-4 this year and my next business trip is SAN-DFW-SAN, so I'm expecting to be 0 for 6 after that trip.
Mar 17, 2018, 3:47 pm
#21
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Austin, TX - AUS
Programs: AA Platinum, Hilton, Hyatt, IHG, Marriott
Posts: 1,625
As Gold, I cleared 50% upgrades. As Platinum, I cleared 80% - I was able to use stickers almost as quickly as I earned them. Things changed starting in 2015: with AA selling more F seats in advance, more elites, and shrinking F cabins I tend to see the F cabin mostly full by T-24. I now book F when I actually want to fly F, so my sticker count continues to increase - 24 as of now.
Here's an idea: allow upgrades to Premium Economy using stickers, if seats are available.
Here's an idea: allow upgrades to Premium Economy using stickers, if seats are available.
Mar 17, 2018, 4:42 pm
#22
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: LAX
Programs: AAdvantage EXPLAT, Hilton Diamond, SPG/Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum, Citi Exec MC, Amex Plat
Posts: 1,443
As Gold, I cleared 50% upgrades. As Platinum, I cleared 80% - I was able to use stickers almost as quickly as I earned them. Things changed starting in 2015: with AA selling more F seats in advance, more elites, and shrinking F cabins I tend to see the F cabin mostly full by T-24. I now book F when I actually want to fly F, so my sticker count continues to increase - 24 as of now.
Here's an idea: allow upgrades to Premium Economy using stickers, if seats are available.
Here's an idea: allow upgrades to Premium Economy using stickers, if seats are available.
Consider AA said they were seeing an average of $400 buy up from Y to W, I think allowing stickers from Y to PE and opening up stickers to non-elites (in any fare class), could be a quiet way for AA to rake in some extra revenue (and not have to give miles for the extra revenue, and not give out the extra 50% EQMs than if someone just bought up).
Mar 17, 2018, 10:08 pm
#23
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: YYF/YLW
Programs: AA, DL, AS, VA, WS Silver
Posts: 5,951
AA can’t win. They have the sticker system instead of complimentary upgrades (now except for Plat Pro, EXP, and <500 mile flights), and some complain about the lack of complimentary upgrades. But st the same time people accrue so many that upgrades are effectively complimentary but rare for lower elites, just like DL. If you have a large stash (as I do, but I really can’t use them since I haven’t been an AA elite for several years!), just think of AA’s system as effectively no different than DL’s: unlimited complimentary space-available upgrades, but space is rarely available.