ARCHIVE: 2016 Sticker" / 500-mile & EXP "UDU" Complimentary Upgrade Policy / FAQ
Mar 25, 2016, 8:26 am
#211
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: SFO
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 5,270
Maybe someday you'll accidentally achieve elite status again. Not much else you can do. 
Mar 25, 2016, 9:17 am
#212
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: St. Louis, MO, USA
Programs: AA PPro, Mariott Gold Elite, Lowly kettle across every other loyalty program.
Posts: 778
They took away the full Y fare exception for non-elites.
Mar 25, 2016, 9:59 am
#213
Community Director Emerita
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Anywhere warm
Posts: 33,755
We haven't been able to convert them to miles for years. That was taken away with no notice. I know of nothing that you can do with them. I've had a lot of 500 mile UGs sitting in my account for years.
Mar 25, 2016, 10:17 am
#214
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
Mar 25, 2016, 10:32 am
#215
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: St. Louis, MO, USA
Programs: AA PPro, Mariott Gold Elite, Lowly kettle across every other loyalty program.
Posts: 778
Mar 25, 2016, 7:26 pm
#216
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: MSN
Programs: AA, BAEC Gold
Posts: 3,933
A few years ago I purchased three 500 mile UG's and they have been sitting in my account ever since. I did attempt to use them once but the gate agent informed me that I wasn't eligible because I no longer had elite status.
Since I don't intend on being loyal to any airline or alliance in the foreseeable future, what can I do with these UG's?
Since I don't intend on being loyal to any airline or alliance in the foreseeable future, what can I do with these UG's?
Mar 25, 2016, 11:18 pm
#217
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: BUR
Programs: AA, DL Platinum, AS, AF/KL, UA, VS, HA, Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold, Hertz Presidents Circle
Posts: 1,788
Obsessed FTer: Oh that's too bad... Hey, we're in the upgrade window. Did it come through?
Innocent flyer: Aren't you concerned about my sister's emotional state right now?
Obsessed FTer: Uh, yeah, sure. Poor dog. So are we sitting in first?
Innocent flyer: Did you become friends with me just so you might get to use your expired 500 mile stickers for the next time you travel?
Obsessed FTer: Uhhhh...
Innocent fler: 1. You can't use them. 2. We didn't get the upgrade - Dallas to JFK? Are you kidding me? 3. Get out of my house. 4. Get a job.
Mar 25, 2016, 11:45 pm
#218
Suspended
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Tampa, FL
Programs: AA EXP; UA Silver; Marriott Platinum Premier; Hilton Gold; Hyatt Platinum; National Executive Elite
Posts: 156
Innocent flyer: My sister called and said her dog died.
Obsessed FTer: Oh that's too bad... Hey, we're in the upgrade window. Did it come through?
Innocent flyer: Aren't you concerned about my sister's emotional state right now?
Obsessed FTer: Uh, yeah, sure. Poor dog. So are we sitting in first?
Innocent flyer: Did you become friends with me just so you might get to use your expired 500 mile stickers for the next time you travel?
Obsessed FTer: Uhhhh...
Innocent fler: 1. You can't use them. 2. We didn't get the upgrade - Dallas to JFK? Are you kidding me? 3. Get out of my house. 4. Get a job.
Obsessed FTer: Oh that's too bad... Hey, we're in the upgrade window. Did it come through?
Innocent flyer: Aren't you concerned about my sister's emotional state right now?
Obsessed FTer: Uh, yeah, sure. Poor dog. So are we sitting in first?
Innocent flyer: Did you become friends with me just so you might get to use your expired 500 mile stickers for the next time you travel?
Obsessed FTer: Uhhhh...
Innocent fler: 1. You can't use them. 2. We didn't get the upgrade - Dallas to JFK? Are you kidding me? 3. Get out of my house. 4. Get a job.
Mar 25, 2016, 11:59 pm
#219
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Atherton, CA
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP; Owner, Green Bay Packers
Posts: 21,690
You may just have to stick 'em.
Mar 27, 2016, 7:02 pm
#220
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: BNA and FLL
Programs: National Executive Elite, IHG Diamond Elite, Hilton Gold, SW A List, Marriott Gold
Posts: 964
500 mile upgrade not processed, seats available
I'm less than 72 hours out from my flight and there are 7 F seats still open (767) but my upgrade has not yet processed (I'm Platinum). Are there certain situations where they don't auto process at the 72 hour mark?
Mar 27, 2016, 7:07 pm
#221
Join Date: Oct 2012
Programs: AA EXP, PriorityClub Gold, SPG Gold, Hertz Gold fivestar
Posts: 486
Depends on whether they still think they can sell the seats. What is the date and flight number?
Mar 27, 2016, 7:13 pm
#222
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: BNA and FLL
Programs: National Executive Elite, IHG Diamond Elite, Hilton Gold, SW A List, Marriott Gold
Posts: 964
Mar 27, 2016, 7:18 pm
#223
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Dallas, TX
Programs: AA EXP 3MM; LH FT (*A Silver); Marriott Rewards Platinum Elite; Starwood Corporate Preferred
Posts: 782
Hub to hub....depending on market plenty of people paying for F. Wouldn't be surprised if this wasn't upgraded until the gate.
Mar 27, 2016, 7:35 pm
#224
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: South Florida
Programs: AA LTG (EXP), Hilton Silver (Dia), Marriott LTP (PP), SPG LTG (P) > MPG LTPP
Posts: 11,329
1. Possible for an F seat to be sold but unassigned. Seat maps show assigned seats.
2. AA must release upgrade inventory before upgrades get processed. Although we expect them to do this before our status windows open, many times they just don't.
Mar 27, 2016, 7:38 pm
#225
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Atlanta, GA
Programs: AAdvantage Platinum; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 239