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 23, 2019, 7:41 am
#991
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Central Mass
Programs: Independent
Posts: 4,829
How are the upgrades JFK to LHR? I would imagine a pretty hard to get upgrade route? Right now I am not seeing any A or C available in Expert Flyer for the days I can travel.
Oct 23, 2019, 8:44 am
#992
Join Date: May 2004
Programs: DL Plat, AA Plat
Posts: 36
i just flew that route twice in the last month - and one had one available on the way there but I didnt take since I was flying with my fiance. The other one we were pretty far down the list. This was flying friday evening and we're both platinum
Oct 23, 2019, 11:10 am
#993
Join Date: Dec 2016
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 214
In my experience, it's completely hit or miss. There tends to be an empty upgrade list or 8+ people on the list. I flew this last week in J and it went out with at least 5 empty seats. I probably fly this RT 5-6 times per year, 80% in purchased J and 20% in W. My last 2 W flights I haven't cleared my SWUs, despite having $30k+ EQD. This is the only route I haven't cleared a SWU.
Oct 23, 2019, 11:20 am
#994
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 12,500
No, JFK-LHR is more on the easy side, especially if you can be flexible. But not surprising at all that you're not seeing any C space in advance. As with any AA longhaul flight, most everything depends on the day of the week and season. With ~4x daily flights you can be strategic.
Oct 23, 2019, 11:34 am
#995
Join Date: May 2004
Programs: DL Plat, AA Plat
Posts: 36
very true. For C space in the next three days, there is 3 available on the 615p flight, 7 on the 1045pm (this is usually the easiest to get) and nothing on the 715. There is no space tomorrow (thursday) and no space friday. On saturday there is 1, 1, 2, 5 on the 4 flgihts going out.
So it really is dependent upon the day/date. Obviously some things are openning up 24/48 hours before as well.
So it really is dependent upon the day/date. Obviously some things are openning up 24/48 hours before as well.
Oct 23, 2019, 11:48 am
#996
Suspended
Join Date: May 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: DL Diamond, AAdvantage EXP, Hyatt Explorist, HHonors Diamond, Avis First
Posts: 7,344
How long does it take for the SWU to be deducted? I cleared at the gate last week but my last SWU hasn’t been removed....maybe I got an Op Up?
Oct 24, 2019, 4:38 pm
#997
Join Date: Jan 2018
Posts: 230
Wondering if I can get some help from the various oracles on here.
I’ll be flying MIA-LHR in a couple of weeks in economy.
Am I right in thinking that a miles + copay goes from existing to next class of service, so on a 4 class 777-300, I’d move from Y-P? I’m already in MCE, so no real desire to spend $350 + 25K miles for P. But if I jumped to J, it’s a different story. J loads are currently light whilst P is pretty much full.
I’m flirting back to CLT on a 2 class A330, so have requested the upgrade from Y to J, which I’d be happy with as no real MCE on the A330 (I’m not wild on bulkheads).
I’ll be flying MIA-LHR in a couple of weeks in economy.
Am I right in thinking that a miles + copay goes from existing to next class of service, so on a 4 class 777-300, I’d move from Y-P? I’m already in MCE, so no real desire to spend $350 + 25K miles for P. But if I jumped to J, it’s a different story. J loads are currently light whilst P is pretty much full.
I’m flirting back to CLT on a 2 class A330, so have requested the upgrade from Y to J, which I’d be happy with as no real MCE on the A330 (I’m not wild on bulkheads).
Oct 24, 2019, 6:34 pm
#998
Join Date: Jan 2012
Programs: AY+ Plat, Marriott Plat, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 2,846
Wondering if I can get some help from the various oracles on here.
I’ll be flying MIA-LHR in a couple of weeks in economy.
Am I right in thinking that a miles + copay goes from existing to next class of service, so on a 4 class 777-300, I’d move from Y-P? I’m already in MCE, so no real desire to spend $350 + 25K miles for P. But if I jumped to J, it’s a different story. J loads are currently light whilst P is pretty much full.
I’m flirting back to CLT on a 2 class A330, so have requested the upgrade from Y to J, which I’d be happy with as no real MCE on the A330 (I’m not wild on bulkheads).
I’ll be flying MIA-LHR in a couple of weeks in economy.
Am I right in thinking that a miles + copay goes from existing to next class of service, so on a 4 class 777-300, I’d move from Y-P? I’m already in MCE, so no real desire to spend $350 + 25K miles for P. But if I jumped to J, it’s a different story. J loads are currently light whilst P is pretty much full.
I’m flirting back to CLT on a 2 class A330, so have requested the upgrade from Y to J, which I’d be happy with as no real MCE on the A330 (I’m not wild on bulkheads).
Oct 24, 2019, 8:01 pm
#1000
Join Date: Jan 2012
Programs: AY+ Plat, Marriott Plat, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 2,846
Oct 25, 2019, 3:08 pm
#1002
Join Date: Jan 2019
Programs: AA EXP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 40
Upgrade "rules" for flights booked less than 100 hrs before flight
HI. I have no experience with this situation and was curious what the deal is (I'm an EXP). I booked a flight from RDU-DFW-SLC and return that leaves in something like 80 hours. I missed the 100 hr upgrade window (looks like lots of business seats available). Are my odds of being upgraded reduced a lot because I missed that window? I assume all the other EXPs have been upgraded. Would I be "next" when the 72hr PP window hits or does it not work like that? I called AA and they said there would be multiple additional sweeps but I wanted to see if anyone had first hand experience. Thanks!
Oct 25, 2019, 3:45 pm
#1003
Join Date: Jan 2019
Programs: AA EXP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 40
HI. I have no experience with this situation and was curious what the deal is (I'm an EXP). I booked a flight from RDU-DFW-SLC and return that leaves in something like 80 hours. I missed the 100 hr upgrade window (looks like lots of business seats available). Are my odds of being upgraded reduced a lot because I missed that window? I assume all the other EXPs have been upgraded. Would I be "next" when the 72hr PP window hits or does it not work like that? I called AA and they said there would be multiple additional sweeps but I wanted to see if anyone had first hand experience. Thanks!
Oct 25, 2019, 6:27 pm
#1004
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 29
Flying HKG>LAX tomorrow on AA192. Currently at T-34 and EF is showing J7 but C1 (I need 2 seats). What are my chances of AA releasing more C space as we get closer to T-24?