May 6, 2018, 9:17 pm
AA Adds New Companion Upgrades Policy 5 May 2018
May 16, 2018, 8:47 am
#61
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Thousand Oaks, Ca., USA
Programs: AA Lifetime Plat; Bonvoy Titanium Lifetime Elite;Hyatt Globalist; HHonors Diamond; United Silver
Posts: 8,315
Doesn't make sense to force the 500 upgrades to be deducted by sponsor....
My guess is that AA gets to deplete the number of (temporarily stagnant) upper status member (Plat Pro and EXP) upgrades and then be forced to purchase 500 mile upgrades.
Just another underhand way to get a few extra $'s from their most frequent flyers.
Sad.... Please rethink this policy or at least allow us to earn 500 upgrades for use later... I know, I know... this will cost AA a bit of extra revenue......
My guess is that AA gets to deplete the number of (temporarily stagnant) upper status member (Plat Pro and EXP) upgrades and then be forced to purchase 500 mile upgrades.
Just another underhand way to get a few extra $'s from their most frequent flyers.
Sad.... Please rethink this policy or at least allow us to earn 500 upgrades for use later... I know, I know... this will cost AA a bit of extra revenue......
May 16, 2018, 1:06 pm
#62
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Vail, CO
Programs: AA EXP/1mm, Marriott Titanium/LT Gold, UA Silver
Posts: 626
Does anyone know if once you get to T-4 and the waitlist is published - can you call AA and apply miles+cash or an SWU as opposed to sticker upgrade to jump the list? Curious...
May 16, 2018, 4:17 pm
#63
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Austin
Programs: AA EXP +2MM- LT PLT! HH Diamond
Posts: 6,087
Different inventory, "X" for "stickers", "C" for SWU and Miles + co-pay. I've had AA make C available for me for domestic flights on occasion when I'm making an Int'l connection using a SWU, but YMMV..
May 16, 2018, 5:05 pm
#64
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: NYC
Posts: 27,234
It's only different inventory for upgrades cleared in advance, either directly or from the waitlist. For those cleared from the upgrade standby list (which is separate from the waitlist) by the gate agent, the inventory is effectively irrelevant. I do believe miles+copay/SWUs are prioritized ahead of stickers, though, so it should help.
May 16, 2018, 5:44 pm
#65
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: CLT
Programs: AA EXP; Avis PC; Hertz PC; Marriott LT Gold; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,133
Your best plan is to set an alert with Expert Flyer for C space opening. If you get an alert, call AA and clear all of your SWU's.
If no C space opens before it goes to airport control, then you should designate a companion on your itinerary to share your status and at least get 2/3 upgraded - hopefully.
If no C space opens before it goes to airport control, then you should designate a companion on your itinerary to share your status and at least get 2/3 upgraded - hopefully.
May 16, 2018, 8:07 pm
#66
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: New York, NY
Posts: 3,698
Yes, you can. It's a bit more complicated if you've already checked in, but it's definitely possible.
Jul 20, 2018, 9:58 am
#67
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Thousand Oaks, Ca., USA
Programs: AA Lifetime Plat; Bonvoy Titanium Lifetime Elite;Hyatt Globalist; HHonors Diamond; United Silver
Posts: 8,315
I assume this sponsoring can't happen at the gate when;
1) You are on separate PNRS
2) And you agree to split
3) And you get upgraded prior to gate control but companion doesn't.
(I assume Split/No Split didn't go away).
1) You are on separate PNRS
2) And you agree to split
3) And you get upgraded prior to gate control but companion doesn't.
(I assume Split/No Split didn't go away).
Jul 20, 2018, 11:47 am
#68
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: New York, NY
Posts: 3,698
Jul 20, 2018, 1:06 pm
#69
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2004
Location: DFW/DAL
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, AS MVPG, HH Diamond, NCL Platinum Plus, MSC Diamond
Posts: 21,422
I am still confused. Why can't they just keep them connected to start with so you don't have to ask an agent at the airport to reconnect them?
"Today, you and another elite status member can be prioritized together on the 500-mile upgrade waitlist. If the upgrade isn’t cleared before you get to the airport, you are prioritized based on individual status.
Now, you can ask an agent to reconnect you on the list at the airport. If available, the 500-mile upgrades will be deducted from the sponsor’s account."
"Today, you and another elite status member can be prioritized together on the 500-mile upgrade waitlist. If the upgrade isn’t cleared before you get to the airport, you are prioritized based on individual status.
Now, you can ask an agent to reconnect you on the list at the airport. If available, the 500-mile upgrades will be deducted from the sponsor’s account."
Jul 20, 2018, 10:56 pm
#70
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: CLT
Programs: AA EXP, 2 Million Miler
Posts: 821
I am still confused. Why can't they just keep them connected to start with so you don't have to ask an agent at the airport to reconnect them?
"Today, you and another elite status member can be prioritized together on the 500-mile upgrade waitlist. If the upgrade isn’t cleared before you get to the airport, you are prioritized based on individual status.
Now, you can ask an agent to reconnect you on the list at the airport. If available, the 500-mile upgrades will be deducted from the sponsor’s account."
"Today, you and another elite status member can be prioritized together on the 500-mile upgrade waitlist. If the upgrade isn’t cleared before you get to the airport, you are prioritized based on individual status.
Now, you can ask an agent to reconnect you on the list at the airport. If available, the 500-mile upgrades will be deducted from the sponsor’s account."
Sep 3, 2018, 2:05 pm
#71
Join Date: May 2011
Location: DFW
Programs: AA EXP, LT Gold
Posts: 3,148
Looking for some clarification here, as I'm wanting to attempt this in an unusual circumstance...
I'm flying HKG-DFW in paid J, but my colleague is in paid W. Do we have to be in the same cabin for he to inherit my status on the UGL? Or does that not matter? We're on different records, so per the rules on AA.com, there's no language about what cabin you are in (as the sponsor) and what cabin the recipient is in.
Anyone know for sure? Thx.
I'm flying HKG-DFW in paid J, but my colleague is in paid W. Do we have to be in the same cabin for he to inherit my status on the UGL? Or does that not matter? We're on different records, so per the rules on AA.com, there's no language about what cabin you are in (as the sponsor) and what cabin the recipient is in.
Anyone know for sure? Thx.
Sep 4, 2018, 9:48 am
#72
Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 170
I love that AA's solution to what should be simple IT changes, like letting one choose to be upgraded separately or letting you specify which account the stickers are deducted from, is to either make a phone call where they will likely mess things up or talk to a gate agent who will likely look at you like you've just sprouted a third eyeball.
I'm Plat Pro and my wife is Gold so this comes up every time we travel together via a nice email from AA that says "Unable to auto-request upgrade." The couple times I've tried to make it so I still get upgraded normally (we then flip a coin for the seat) it's been a total cluster.
I'm Plat Pro and my wife is Gold so this comes up every time we travel together via a nice email from AA that says "Unable to auto-request upgrade." The couple times I've tried to make it so I still get upgraded normally (we then flip a coin for the seat) it's been a total cluster.
Nov 17, 2018, 8:06 am
#73
Join Date: Jan 2015
Programs: Alaska Gold 75K, AA EXP, United 1K
Posts: 472
Advice on how to split records
traveling with EXP, no status companion, and no status infant with a paid seat to LHR. If flight is showing J3 and we are open to using SWUs trying to optimize best strategy. I think ids prefer to split the records 2 and 1 and waitlist both but would like the 2 to clear first if 2 seats open because I’m sure they won’t open 3 seats. Any advice on whether to split records EXP+ infant or SO+infant? Anyone know how the algo works in terms of what order three people who inherit the same status from EXP get listed in?
Nov 29, 2018, 9:37 pm
#74
Join Date: May 2017
Location: San Francisco
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 369
My companion and I are both EPs and have SWUs waitlisted for a flight. I have a higher 12mo rolling EQD rate than she does, so I asked that she is marked as my companion and I was told that it wasn’t possible to sponsor her priority but have the SWU come out of her account. Instead, the SWU would have to come out of my account. Is this true? It seems to contradict what’s on AA.com
Feb 24, 2019, 9:57 am
#75
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Palm Springs, CA
Programs: AA EXP / Marriott AMB & LT Titanium
Posts: 377
PLT spouse is on a separate PNR. I called EXP line to have spouse inherit my status for upgrade using 500 mile upgrades. AAgent told me she had to remove my spouse's FF # from my spouse's PNR in order for my spouse to inherit my EXP status and that after the flight we would need to request mileage credit. Does this sound right?