Ugh, I hate those. I had one recently somewhere between 500 and 550... I didn't request the upgrade because I have a dwindling supply of stickers and didn't find the flight long enough to be worth it. The flight was packed and I was hoping for a cabin roll but no dice. The flight did go out with empty F seats even after the GA moved up employees and even a military member in uniform. I certainly don't begrudge those folks a free upgrade but it's weird that if the flight was <10% shorter AA would have also upgraded me. Oh well...

I would tend to think that GAs will op up any commuters and employees before PLTs or GLDs.

+1
Flew #2683 SFO-DFW 11/28-Used a SWU to upgrade. Flight left with 4 crew in uniform in F, and and an empty F seat.

(SARCASM OM) I am sooooooooooooooooooooo glad I burned a mostly worthless SWU.) SARCASM OFF

Does anyone on this board think someone from AA "might" have let me know I could have still gotten the upgrade as EXP, without using SWU?.

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If you have a high EQD it's probably to clear as an EXP but at least you put your SWU to good use.

Did you even show up on the upgrade list? Did your SWU clear at booking? :eek::eek::D:D

why did you request to use a swu on a flight like this? In most cases, if a swu will clear on a domestic flight, an exp upgrade will also clear.

I take your point. Wanted a "big' seat to sleep after spending day with mom.

I take your point.

I have never seen this happen on UA, but then again UA comps elites for UGs and almost always fills the domestic F cabin. However, when an E- passenger tries to auto-upgrade themselves to E+, the FA simply brings over the payment device and asks for the miscreants credit card :o. That generally produces an auto downgrade back to the original seat.
("I am surprised that AA FAs don't do the same thing).

Just wondering...when did your upgrade clear?

23 hours ahead

Back when I was Platinum, I requested an upgrade on SFO-PHX.

Number 2 on the list for 2 seats.

They didn't upgrade anyone due to weight and balance. Never heard of that on a 320, but fine.

While the door was still open, the captain made an announcement that he needed everyone in their assigned seats for takeoff, but you were free to move after. I asked a FA if they could do the upgrades once we were airborne. She went to talk to the captain and GA.

New announcement: "Actually, we're going to need you in your assigned seats for the duration of the flight."

They gave me the first class snack basket and free drinks, so it wasn't horrible. But that was my first and last year with status on AA. It's one thing to be 10th for 1 seat. It's quite another to skip over upgrades for dubious reasons (the guy beside me in the bulkhead had his seat assigned at the gate, so I really don't buy the W&B explanation - if there was too much weight at the front to move me up 4 rows, they'd give out rear seats at the gate, not front-row seats).