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)
Oct 4, 2019, 6:31 am
#886
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: DEN
Programs: AA EXP, AA Million Miles, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,586
This week's flights:
DEN-CLT, Sunday morning, A321, Cleared at 100 hours
CLT-DCA, Sunday early afternoon, A320, Cleared at 100 hours
DCA-ORD, Thursday noon, 738, Cleared at 100 hours
ORD-DEN, Thursday afternoon, 738, cleared at ~30 hours
Maybe $19K rolling EQD? Not sure, don't track it.
DEN-CLT, Sunday morning, A321, Cleared at 100 hours
CLT-DCA, Sunday early afternoon, A320, Cleared at 100 hours
DCA-ORD, Thursday noon, 738, Cleared at 100 hours
ORD-DEN, Thursday afternoon, 738, cleared at ~30 hours
Maybe $19K rolling EQD? Not sure, don't track it.
Oct 4, 2019, 3:25 pm
#887
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Finland
Posts: 27
Sure enough did not get it, first leg RIC-ORD got cancelled 
After longish phone calls settled on RIC-PHL-LHR-HEL with downgrade to economy (ORD-LHR was W code in PE.) Requested upgrades and to my surprise got one for PHL-LHR. The bad thing is that cost was 25k points + $350 instead of just 15k points.
Need to request refund for fare difference and mention the difference in upgrade price too. But if no more surprises pretty decent outcome in the end.
After longish phone calls settled on RIC-PHL-LHR-HEL with downgrade to economy (ORD-LHR was W code in PE.) Requested upgrades and to my surprise got one for PHL-LHR. The bad thing is that cost was 25k points + $350 instead of just 15k points.
Need to request refund for fare difference and mention the difference in upgrade price too. But if no more surprises pretty decent outcome in the end.
Oct 4, 2019, 8:03 pm
#888
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Finland
Posts: 27
Spoke too soon, just deplaned after having a glass of bubbly drink. Captain announced that we have a fuel leak so no-go
Just heard announcement that another plane will be used for replacement, will be interesting to see if I get to keep my business class seat.
Edit: lost my business seat so second downgrade for the same day. In fact I don't even have a seat at all at the moment, replacement is a smaller plane and they're waiting for volunteers who'd be willing to travel tomorrow I think I heard them offer $725 but not at all sure.
Edit 2: so many mixed signals, I now have my boarding pass with seat 1A. Unreal.
Just heard announcement that another plane will be used for replacement, will be interesting to see if I get to keep my business class seat.
Edit: lost my business seat so second downgrade for the same day. In fact I don't even have a seat at all at the moment, replacement is a smaller plane and they're waiting for volunteers who'd be willing to travel tomorrow I think I heard them offer $725 but not at all sure.
Edit 2: so many mixed signals, I now have my boarding pass with seat 1A. Unreal.
Last edited by mellimies; Oct 4, 2019 at 9:59 pm Reason: downgrade :(
Oct 8, 2019, 7:29 am
#889
Join Date: Jan 2013
Programs: Marriott LT Plat, Hyatt Globalist, AA Plat
Posts: 199
This seems like an obvious question but I haven't been able to find an answer--apologies in advance if I missed it.
I'm fairly newly Plat Pro, have a flight this weekend with a companion without status. If I don't request an upgrade for him (using 500 mile upgrades) then will my upgrade still process? Or do they keep both of us together in economy?
Thanks!
I'm fairly newly Plat Pro, have a flight this weekend with a companion without status. If I don't request an upgrade for him (using 500 mile upgrades) then will my upgrade still process? Or do they keep both of us together in economy?
Thanks!
Oct 8, 2019, 7:30 pm
#890
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 29
I have a miles+copay upgrade waitlisted for AA193 departing 10/16. Up until this afternoon, I was able to see the upgrade request on the AA mobile app but the upgrade button has since disappeared. Does this mean I’ve been taken off the list, or a glitch on the app? How will I know whether the upgrade request went through or not?
TIA!!
TIA!!
Oct 8, 2019, 8:43 pm
#891
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: NYC
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 1,372
I have a miles+copay upgrade waitlisted for AA193 departing 10/16. Up until this afternoon, I was able to see the upgrade request on the AA mobile app but the upgrade button has since disappeared. Does this mean I’ve been taken off the list, or a glitch on the app? How will I know whether the upgrade request went through or not?
TIA!!
TIA!!
Oct 9, 2019, 11:09 am
#893
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: TPA/DFW/K15
Programs: AA EXP, Mar AMB, HH LT DIA
Posts: 1,653
This seems like an obvious question but I haven't been able to find an answer--apologies in advance if I missed it.
I'm fairly newly Plat Pro, have a flight this weekend with a companion without status. If I don't request an upgrade for him (using 500 mile upgrades) then will my upgrade still process? Or do they keep both of us together in economy?
Thanks!
I'm fairly newly Plat Pro, have a flight this weekend with a companion without status. If I don't request an upgrade for him (using 500 mile upgrades) then will my upgrade still process? Or do they keep both of us together in economy?
Thanks!
Oct 9, 2019, 11:31 am
#894
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: STL/ORD/MCI/SAN
Programs: AA CK MM, AC SE100K, BA Gold, UA 1K, DL Plat, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 1,989
Getting ready to board 2240 to SEA. I wonder why #1 & 2 got stiffed?
i think the bigger story here is that you’re #5 as EXP on a Wednesday afternoon flight. Those are pretty dismal odds.
Oct 9, 2019, 12:00 pm
#895
Join Date: Jan 2013
Programs: Marriott LT Plat, Hyatt Globalist, AA Plat
Posts: 199
Oct 9, 2019, 1:32 pm
#896
Join Date: Mar 2016
Programs: AA-EXP
Posts: 618
Getting ready to board 2240 to SEA. I wonder why #1 & 2 got stiffed?
Oct 9, 2019, 2:12 pm
#897
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: Palm Beach/ New England
Programs: AA EXP 3MM, DL GM, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 4,382
Yep, which is why I leave the Admirals Club at T-50 if I haven't cleared. Sometimes the club agent will call the gate, but sometimes they won't. I've even experienced the AC agent speaking with a gate agent who has said, yes I will be clearing upgrades but ONLY for those at the gate. If he's not here, he won't get the upgrade. The AC agents know this is incorrect, but they aren't willing to cross an obstinate gate agent.
Oct 9, 2019, 3:02 pm
#898
Join Date: Mar 2016
Programs: AA-EXP
Posts: 618
Yep, which is why I leave the Admirals Club at T-50 if I haven't cleared. Sometimes the club agent will call the gate, but sometimes they won't. I've even experienced the AC agent speaking with a gate agent who has said, yes I will be clearing upgrades but ONLY for those at the gate. If he's not here, he won't get the upgrade. The AC agents know this is incorrect, but they aren't willing to cross an obstinate gate agent.
Personally i think they should process the upgrades in order (regardless of whether the person is there at the gate), then only adjust if the upgraded person does not board.
Oct 10, 2019, 1:49 pm
#899
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Wesley Chapel, FL
Programs: American Airlines
Posts: 30,044
Oct 10, 2019, 10:13 pm
#900
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: DFW - North Texas
Programs: AAdvantage Platinum, Marriot Bonvoy Lifetime Platinum/2022 Titanium
Posts: 960
Haven't sniffed a sticker upgrade as a Gold in years. Some new changes at work have me flying a DFW-PHL-ILM-DFW trip. And lo and behold my ILM-DFW upgrade came through at T-24 on the dot. First time in F on the ERJ175.