Empty First Class Seats
 

Good Morning All,
If after the upgrade list has been exhausted and there are still empty seats in first class, will American typically upgrade elite members based on proper ranking order without having to burn 500 mile upgrades or will they simply let the flight go out with empty seats in F?

They'll fill in any non-revs, but they aren't going to roll up economy passengers (without using upgrade instruments) unless economy is oversold.

F will go out with empty seats

sorry... no...

Indeed interesting. Thanks all, much appreciated!

B

If AA upgraded PLTs and GLDs into empty F seats there would be far less incentive to buy stickers at $40 per 500 miles.

It's all about the $ at AA.

I had been on domestic flights with empty F seats (but not lately). Best time to find a flight with empty F seats is last flight on a Saturday night. You might also get one on an RJ that has 12 F seats at off peak times.

With most flights full, non-rev'ers know the flights that are not going to be full (in coach or F) so they choose these flights.

Makes since. My two home airports (virtually the same distance from each other) have RJ aircraft and I am usually consistently upgraded with the 500 mile complimentary into DFW. When leaving JAX heading home on a Friday, its hit or miss. Didn't want to end up burning or buying stickers if I didn't necessary need to but it looks like that's want AA wants you to, understandably so...

cash is king for cheapo-Parker. Remember, he'll never lose money again.

This.

The last sensible thing to do is to sell UG's via sticker and then do them for free for the same people.

OPUP's to prevent an overbooked Y cabin from oversell are a different story, but that's the case on international flights where there are no freebies either.

And this is for non elites as well. I believe typically it will be higher than $40 per 500 miles. Years back I remember LUS selling upgrades at the gate.

It's a for-profit business run for the benefit of its shareholders. Bashing the CEO by name is a popular FT thing, but not in the real world, where generating revenue is a good thing.

Not to mention the use of stickers for GLDs and PLTs came from the LAA side of the business, or pre-Parker.

I once had a situation where I got upgraded without asking, then found they had taken stickers from my account. They replaced them. Another time they were oversold in Y but undersold in F, so as a lowly gold I got a complimentary opup (domestic). In the LUS days they would backfill all the elites but still go out with F not full if there weren't enough elites on the flight.

in the pre-Parker era, I had it happen twice on int'l fights, but I wouldn't count on it happening now.

I was OPUP in May as a Plat (3 month promotion with my employer), when they needed my Y seat for a family to be able to sit together. I just smiled and thanked the GA. She smiled back and thanked me for my business. I don't expect this to happen again for at least another decade.

I know that I was making a joke.

Jeez uptight folks!

This is the sensible way that AA does it. Unlike United, which will sell upgrades at check in at constantly changing low prices (FT term is TODs - Tens of Dollars), when there is a long list on the upgrade list.

I flew a non-premium transcon this weekend (upgraded at booking using 15K + 75) and there were two empty seats, so I guess I would have cleared with 500s anyway. Who knew.

I was op-upped pretty often when I was Gold, but you won't be upgraded if the flight isn't overbooked.

The flight will go out with empty first class seats. I've flown a flight (obviously, over a decade ago) with 15 empty first class seats and my butt in the 16th. Needless to say, I got amazing service and had wonderful conversations with all of the FAs on the plane.

--woodstock

Years back I was flying a late night CLT/MIA flight and the only one in F. A bunch of young guys offered the F FA cash $$ to sit in F. She politely declined but could have made a little bit of money.

I never knew you had that option at booking. Good to know. ^

Yes you can upgrade with a combination of cash and miles and will clear before any complimentary upgrades. I assume miles/co pay clear like elite upgrades-status and then rolling 12 month spend. IIRC it includes up to three segments. A good deal for transcons when you might not want to pay the upgrade lottery, particularly if you aren't EXP. I'm debating for a SFO/PHX/MIA trip I have in January.

Non revs will be put in First. You will not be upgraded.

MCO-PHL went out 9/16 in F the other morning.

As a person who flies non-rev occasionally, the flights that have lots of empty F seats are the ones I try to get on(as you pointed out). But I have seen a couple off peak flights that went out with really light loads in F.

I have seen on a RIC to DFW flight (last year) after no one left on the upgrade list, GA upgraded a very young couple that was just married and when an active service member boarded early, they immediately gave him the last F seat. Wondefrul gesture to build brand loyalty.

I also had the "free" upgrade but they took stickers out and I had to complain to get them back.

Like you Often1, I wonder what all of these people that complain about a for-profit business actually charging money for a product do for a living. I'm guessing whatever business they are in, they do not freely give away their product. If you do run your business that way, please let me know and I will take 3 of w/e it is you sell. For free of course. Delivered. You pay postage as well.

Sometimes being "nice" can build loyalty directly and/or through word of mouth.:)

My recent DFW-MKE 6:55am departure went out 11/16.

United used to have stickers -- e-500s. Now United has theoretically unlimited free upgrades, which rarely rarely happen. I wish United went back to the sticker system like American has.

Are there any PLTs or GLDs that actually buy stickers? I had no idea!

I actually like the sticker system. As an AA PLT member from Ohio, I've gotten the vast number of my flights upgraded. I even got a rare award upgrade with a non-elite companion when economy was oversold -- got to the gate and the agent had already upgraded me.

Compare that with flying on Delta. For some reason just about everyone in SW Ohio is still a loyal Delta flyer, which means Diamond or Medallion status is necessary for free upgrades. Was just on a flight back to CVG two weeks ago and 2/3rds of the plane must have been on the upgrade list.

FYI-I have spent 40+ years in Financial Sales. 100% Commission. In my world clients are KING. They are the key to my success and income.

In today's airline industry, clients/customers/passengers are nothing more than self loading cargo. I understand for profit, and embrace it. But, coming from a client centric industry, I scratch my head when I look at the airline industry.

My second leg just cleared. RJ Aircraft, CRJ-700 back home. 500 Mile Comp upgrade. Flight fairly empty though, which is normal for my area on that flight. Still waiting on my JAX-DFW flight. 3 open seats according to ET, wish I could see the upgrade list prior to T-4.