tfizzle

thanks for this. I still need to burn 2 SWU's by july 1 and was hoping for the outbound on this. there is J4 still and surprised it hasn't cleared. Could be folks using miles to buy up. 25,000 + $350 is kind of expensive for a 7 hr flight where I won't sleep. but better than losing the SWUs.

lightbulbs

Using miles to buy up is same inventory as your SWU with you likely having priority so nobody is getting your SWU waitlisted upgrades by doing miles and copay. My recent SWU experiences got processed within a day or two or departure so you just gotta be patient and hope the cabin doesn’t get fully booked.

tfizzle

I can report the that the Flagship peopled checked about upgrades for EXP to PE and she said there was no offer. That said, I cleared SWU at the gate.

gs7983

Flying LHR -> DFW this morning, booked in economy, I had the option in the app and at the counter to buy into PE at $107 (at the time, 6 open seats). Not part of this thread, but also 10+ open J seats and cost was ~$500.

cmsanbos

I recently stumbled upon a couple posters in the EXP thread who talked about the "unpublished benefit" of being upgraded from MC to PE on international flights - either by gate agents or AAngels at lounges.
Wanted to start a thread on this to gather datapoints and understand truly how common this "unpublished benefit" is.

Has this ever happened to you? What were the circumstances?

Source :Just made EXP / Executive Platinum! Resources, ask questions, brag (2021+) - Page 9 - FlyerTalk Forums - reference posts #120 and #121

JJeffrey

There are a few data points in the existing thread as well, but all in all this "benefit" continues to be completely YMMV it seems.

flying_geek

When they first launched PE - EXP (and possibly others) could get free Y->PE upgrades. Then I think that stopped. I was on three Y TATL flights last year - - and twice I ended up in PE. Once the gate agent called my name and asked if I preferred aisle in Y or middle in PE - once I just stayed in Y - and the third time during online check-in I was asked if I wanted to upgrade to PE for $0 (that was a basic economy fare).

What's the current policy - I didn't find anything official on PE upgrades. I am flying to London for a few hours next week and due to the same day return nature of the trip and crazy J fares - I ended up using points. One flight has an almost empty PE cabin (though award seats were fairly high priced in PE) - is there any hope for a PE upgrade?

Is there an official policy - or did I just get lucky somehow last year?

Raralith

Complimentary Y to PE upgrades for EXP on international flights still happen and are automatic. Just came back from an international flight, and there was a business, PE, and standby waitlist on the AA mobile app.

flying_geek

Revenue tickets only or awards as well?

coleslaw

Looking at a few 77W flights for tonight, I can only see First, Business and Standby wait lists.

What route did you see the PE waitlist for?

Raralith

Should be for award tickets as well, but I'd probably call to double check if you want to confirm you're on the waitlist at T-100. Specifically in my case, the CSR at the LAX Flagship Lounge confirmed that I got complimentary PE upgrade as an EXP with a paid ticket, and the system would automatically start working on it at T-100 hours.

HND-LAX on 787. In this flight, same 3 letter last name + first initial was on both J and PE waitlist so I'm assuming the same person was on both. J did not clear for this person but it did for PE.

JJeffrey

With the newest iteration of this benefit I believe that is key, in order to grab a comp Y to PE upgrade you must be waitlisted for a business upgrade (either SWU or miles/copay) and if that upgrade doesn't clear, then the GA's are ​​supposed to give you a comp upgrade to PE if there's space.

As with anything AA it seems some agents are familiar with the process, others are not, etc. If you are in this situation you also need to make doubly sure you don't get a bad GA who offers the upgrade to PE but still tries to pull a SWU.

Similar experience from late last year:

Will I get a Complimentary Upgrade from Y to W on tomorrow's flight as an EXP?

flying_geek

In January I got offered an upgrade to PE at $0 in the app during check in. It was a basic economy fare (MUC-CLT) and the first segment of the ticket. My wife and son were on the same flight and both got upgraded (separate - unlinked I assume - locator) - the SWUs came out of my account. I would have been fine with a Y seat for the day flight (had aisle in the first row) and did NOT list for an upgrade.

JJeffrey

Yea, that seems to just about sum up how inconsistent this whole process is. Sometimes you may get a $0 upgrade offer in the app, sometimes not, sometimes you need to waitlist a SWU and have it not clear, etc. etc.

MrJBoy

This might be off topic... but anyway I will take a HNL-PHX in m/c on 787-9 and it's BE award tickets.
As an EXP it says complementary upgrade requested.
The 787-9 has three classes, m/c, pe/c, and f/c.
Am I going to get either pe/c or f/c, or pe/c only if it's cleared?