Jan 6, 2019, 6:09 pm
Last edit by: JDiver
Chances of Upgrade Request Clearing
NOTE: Be aware of recent (20 May 2017) upgrade priority changes."New Upgrade Priority as of 20 May 2017
(Upgrades were prioritized by elite status and then time of request until 20 May 2017)
Elite status
- Concierge Key
- Executive Platinum
- Platinum Pro
- Platinum
- Gold
Upgrade type
- Miles and copay award upgrades and systemwide upgrades (SWU)
- 500 mile upgrades on purchased tickets
- 500 mile upgrades on upgrade eligible awards)
Then, by
- Elite qualifying dollars in the past 12 months (rolling)
- Booking class
- Time of request
See Upgrade Priority Changes to Status, Rolling 365 Day EQD Spend May 20 2017
Link to Gary Leff, View From the Wing 16 May 2017
ARCHIVE: Chances of Upgrade Clearing and Availability (2019 master thread)
Jun 18, 2019, 8:37 pm
#646
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: AA EXP >3 Million miles,HH Lifetime Diamond
Posts: 2,887
My SO and I are both EXP, with low qualifying spend. Did not clear ORD-LAX in February, but cleared ORD-CLT-SAV and return in May on all four flights (1 EXP 1 Gold on these flights). Waiting on Thursday flight to YYZ and ORD-DCA next month. OTOH, Gold daughter cleared on LAX-HKG Y-J in Feb a few weeks out and on day of departure for Y-J PVG-LAX and we cleared ORD-NRT in Jan 2020 at time of booking last month for 3 of us. We've been able to use 5 of the 8 SWU's between the 2 of us for TPAC and are still trying to thread the needle to find a good use for the last three.
Jun 18, 2019, 8:41 pm
#647
Join Date: Mar 2016
Programs: AA-EXP
Posts: 618
Am I the only one that would like to see the "C availability" waitlists cleared in order of status instead of just whoever calls in first? If the AA system can work correctly for domestic upgrades, I'm not sure why it doesn't work for international. I don't fly international very much, but have been waitlisted for SWU's on 4 of 6 segments this year, with 2 of those 4 not clearing at all.
Jun 19, 2019, 10:36 pm
#648
Join Date: Jun 2019
Posts: 8
DFW to LHR miles+copay upgrade chances?
I’m new to trying to figure out the likelihood of an upgrade, and I’m hoping people with experience on the DFW LHR route might have insight. Flying out on 6/29, booked in January and requested miles + copay upgrade immediately, Plat with medium rolling EQDs. On EF I see C0 but J7+ and I7+; there seem to be open seats in the teens in business. Looking at same flight on 6/22, it’s all zeroed out. Does this mean they sell that many more seats the week right before or that high elites are getting their SWUs processed?
I am trying to figure out if I should just forget I requested the upgrade and plan to be in my coach seat or if I should keep up my somewhat obsessive checking for C openings. Thanks in advance for any insight from your experience!
I am trying to figure out if I should just forget I requested the upgrade and plan to be in my coach seat or if I should keep up my somewhat obsessive checking for C openings. Thanks in advance for any insight from your experience!
Jun 20, 2019, 1:23 am
#649
Join Date: Jan 2012
Programs: AY+ Plat, Marriott Plat, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 2,846
I’m new to trying to figure out the likelihood of an upgrade, and I’m hoping people with experience on the DFW LHR route might have insight. Flying out on 6/29, booked in January and requested miles + copay upgrade immediately, Plat with medium rolling EQDs. On EF I see C0 but J7+ and I7+; there seem to be open seats in the teens in business. Looking at same flight on 6/22, it’s all zeroed out. Does this mean they sell that many more seats the week right before or that high elites are getting their SWUs processed?
I am trying to figure out if I should just forget I requested the upgrade and plan to be in my coach seat or if I should keep up my somewhat obsessive checking for C openings. Thanks in advance for any insight from your experience!
I am trying to figure out if I should just forget I requested the upgrade and plan to be in my coach seat or if I should keep up my somewhat obsessive checking for C openings. Thanks in advance for any insight from your experience!
Jun 20, 2019, 5:29 am
#650
Join Date: Jun 2019
Posts: 8
In general, AA will open up C space around 2 to 3 days before the flight. DFW-LHR generally is a tougher upgrade, I'd say, but you have the benefit of flying right before the 4th of July holiday, so there might be less business demand (that said, I imagine the next couple of weeks will be especially busy in London, not the least of which is because Wimbledon starts on 1 July). In my experience, AA will usually leave one or two seats open for sale up until departure.
Jun 20, 2019, 5:43 am
#651
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 12,483
Given that your flight is less than 2 weeks away, still showing I7 and a decent number of seats left, I'd say your chances are actually pretty good. But, as mentioned above, on a route like DFW-LHR AA generally won't release any C space till about 24-48 hrs before.
Jun 20, 2019, 5:49 am
#652
Join Date: Jun 2019
Posts: 8
I certainly wouldn't give up hope. Flying 4th of July week will greatly help your chances as normal paid business travel drops off substantially. And Wimbledon is a busy time in London, sure, but it's a 2 week event and it's not as if throngs of American tourists are flying paid business class back and forth to watch tennis.
Given that your flight is less than 2 weeks away, still showing I7 and a decent number of seats left, I'd say your chances are actually pretty good. But, as mentioned above, on a route like DFW-LHR AA generally won't release any C space till about 24-48 hrs before.
Given that your flight is less than 2 weeks away, still showing I7 and a decent number of seats left, I'd say your chances are actually pretty good. But, as mentioned above, on a route like DFW-LHR AA generally won't release any C space till about 24-48 hrs before.
Jun 20, 2019, 9:54 am
#653
Join Date: Jan 2012
Programs: AY+ Plat, Marriott Plat, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 2,846
Sorry if my post was confusing. I wouldn't say you should give up hope yet. Although early July is a busy time in London, and DFW-LHR is a tough upgrade generally, the fact that you're traveling right before the 4th definitely helps. The fact that its J7 I7 with many open seats definitely means that there's hope. One other thing that might be indicative is how full MCE is, as that tends to indicate the number of elites (particularly EXP) who are hoping to upgrade. You might have a better idea around the middle of next week, as upgrades for EXPs and PPros ahead of you start clearing.
Jun 20, 2019, 10:27 am
#654
Join Date: Jun 2019
Posts: 8
Sorry if my post was confusing. I wouldn't say you should give up hope yet. Although early July is a busy time in London, and DFW-LHR is a tough upgrade generally, the fact that you're traveling right before the 4th definitely helps. The fact that its J7 I7 with many open seats definitely means that there's hope. One other thing that might be indicative is how full MCE is, as that tends to indicate the number of elites (particularly EXP) who are hoping to upgrade. You might have a better idea around the middle of next week, as upgrades for EXPs and PPros ahead of you start clearing.
Jun 20, 2019, 10:39 am
#655
Suspended
Join Date: May 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: DL Diamond, AAdvantage EXP, Hyatt Explorist, HHonors Diamond, Avis First
Posts: 7,344
I was 11 of 26 on ORD-LGA recently......good times.
Jun 20, 2019, 11:02 am
#656
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: Palm Beach/ New England
Programs: AA EXP 3MM, DL GM, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 4,382
Am I the only one that would like to see the "C availability" waitlists cleared in order of status instead of just whoever calls in first? If the AA system can work correctly for domestic upgrades, I'm not sure why it doesn't work for international. I don't fly international very much, but have been waitlisted for SWU's on 4 of 6 segments this year, with 2 of those 4 not clearing at all.
Jun 20, 2019, 11:59 am
#657
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Gatwick, UK
Programs: UA *G, BA Silver
Posts: 1,673
Upgrade cleared on the wrong flight!
I think I may just have missed an upgrade because I was waitlisted for the wrong flight. I was originally booked on 292 (12.30am LAX-JFK) and three weeks ago changed that to 28 (11pm the day before). My upgrade for 292 just cleared (T-38), even though I have no reservation on it and it turns out that I wasn't on the list for 28 at all (which is now J0). I definitely feel cheated (a little) but I'm not sure there is anything I could have done about it.
Anyone else had an experience as weird as this – the phone agent got my hopes up by telling me my upgrade had cleared, but then it took her 30 minutes with her help desk to work out why it wouldn't confirm. She said she'd never known this happen before.
Anyone else had an experience as weird as this – the phone agent got my hopes up by telling me my upgrade had cleared, but then it took her 30 minutes with her help desk to work out why it wouldn't confirm. She said she'd never known this happen before.
Jun 20, 2019, 7:32 pm
#658
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: San Diego
Programs: Plat Pro AAdvantage, but defected to BAEC
Posts: 1,222
Just back from my UK travels
LAX-LHR June 12, requested a miles + copay for my wife and I. Looking at the seat map at the time of booking, as an PPRO, I knew I had no chance. Ended up 15 and 16 out of 22 on the upgrade list with EF showing J2. #1 cleared at the gate. #2 was a battlefield upgrade.
LHR-LAX June 19. I would have bet money on this one clearing. A week out, EF showed J7, R7, D7, I7, W7, (even though the PE seatmap was completely full, so AA are expecting to roll the cabin) and there were 30+ seats open in J. About 7 days out, I see I0 (same for the later 135 flight), so I’m guessing that AA just pulled the cheaper bucket based on advanced purchase rule. 2-3 days before the flight, still no upgrade and no EF alert for C space. About 30 hrs before my flight (4:30AM) I’m awake and check the AA app. I see the “your flight has changed” message and sure enough, bringing up the seat map, shows the J cabin. I have a choice of 26 seats, so pick a middle pair. About 5 mins later, the EF alert for my seats in PE goes off (I figured that they would free up if I was upgraded, so I would know about the upgrade fairly quickly without having to constantly check AA).
Seats continue to to fill up during the day as other upgrades clear. Wake up next morning to head to the airport and the upgrade list is empty and there are about 15 seats still open. Get to the airport and see 1 person on the list and they have cleared. With about 2 hrs till departure, the EF C alert I had set up finally goes off. Flight departed with 12 empty seats in J and 2 in PE. I have absolutely no idea why AA would wait so long to process upgrades on an obviously very business light load and why they waited until just before departure to post C space availability.
LAX-LHR June 12, requested a miles + copay for my wife and I. Looking at the seat map at the time of booking, as an PPRO, I knew I had no chance. Ended up 15 and 16 out of 22 on the upgrade list with EF showing J2. #1 cleared at the gate. #2 was a battlefield upgrade.
LHR-LAX June 19. I would have bet money on this one clearing. A week out, EF showed J7, R7, D7, I7, W7, (even though the PE seatmap was completely full, so AA are expecting to roll the cabin) and there were 30+ seats open in J. About 7 days out, I see I0 (same for the later 135 flight), so I’m guessing that AA just pulled the cheaper bucket based on advanced purchase rule. 2-3 days before the flight, still no upgrade and no EF alert for C space. About 30 hrs before my flight (4:30AM) I’m awake and check the AA app. I see the “your flight has changed” message and sure enough, bringing up the seat map, shows the J cabin. I have a choice of 26 seats, so pick a middle pair. About 5 mins later, the EF alert for my seats in PE goes off (I figured that they would free up if I was upgraded, so I would know about the upgrade fairly quickly without having to constantly check AA).
Seats continue to to fill up during the day as other upgrades clear. Wake up next morning to head to the airport and the upgrade list is empty and there are about 15 seats still open. Get to the airport and see 1 person on the list and they have cleared. With about 2 hrs till departure, the EF C alert I had set up finally goes off. Flight departed with 12 empty seats in J and 2 in PE. I have absolutely no idea why AA would wait so long to process upgrades on an obviously very business light load and why they waited until just before departure to post C space availability.
Jun 25, 2019, 10:33 am
#659
Join Date: Oct 2018
Posts: 24
Similar deal on the return flight AA180 late Monday afternoon PEK-LAX. Cleared about an hour before boarding (J was sold out the week prior to the flight but AA appeared to have held a seat open).
Jun 25, 2019, 5:50 pm
#660
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Wanting First. Buying First.
Programs: Lifetime Executive Diamond Platinum VIP with Braniff, Eastern, Midway, National & Pan Am
Posts: 17,492
DFW-LAX isn't a particularly tough upgrade outside of key business hours. Across different markets, Thursday evening is generally heavier for business travel than Friday afternoon/evening. DFW-LAX has a lot of frequency and a ton of leisure demand too (including NK match fares). It's not the same kind of market as say DFW-ORD or DFW-CLT.