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ARCHIVE: Chances of Upgrade Clearing and Availability (2019 master thread)

Old Jan 6, 2019, 6:09 pm
FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides
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
  1. Concierge Key
  2. Executive Platinum
  3. Platinum Pro
  4. Platinum
  5. Gold

Upgrade type
  1. Miles and copay award upgrades and systemwide upgrades (SWU)
  2. 500 mile upgrades on purchased tickets
  3. 500 mile upgrades on upgrade eligible awards)

Then, by
  1. Elite qualifying dollars in the past 12 months (rolling)
  2. Booking class
  3. 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




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ARCHIVE: Chances of Upgrade Clearing and Availability (2019 master thread)

Old Nov 8, 2019, 10:28 am
  #1036  
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Programs: AA EXP, Marriott Titanium, UA Silver, Hertz Presidents Club
Posts: 280
Thank you .. if I read the availability it tells me only 1 seat is open .. oh well
GRR_Flier is offline  
Old Nov 8, 2019, 11:32 am
  #1037  
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Central Mass
Programs: Independent
Posts: 4,828
Originally Posted by GRR_Flier
Thank you .. if I read the availability it tells me only 1 seat is open .. oh well
Quick peak at the seat map (yes I know it is a bit unreliable) only shows D7 as unassigned.
Cloudship is offline  
Old Nov 8, 2019, 5:51 pm
  #1038  
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: San Francisco
Programs: AA EXP; Marriott BonVoy Titanium Elite, Marriott LT Plat.
Posts: 1,717
OK... Have a question that perhaps has been debated in the past regarding upgrading using SWU.

So... It's been my experience a few times that the EXP CS agents, as well as I, have discovered that there's C space available for the domestic portion of my trip but it's recommended that I use the SWU for just the Int. portion of my trip... Yea,,, I get it... Use my EXP status to get the upgrade on domestic leg.... Cool indeed... But....

I'm just curious with the "behind the scene" stuff. Does one's SWU " affect the standing one has on the upgrade list?

For example, would a CK/EXP applying a SWU for their Intl leg get them priority on the upgrade list for the domestic leg above CK/EXP's bases on EQD's?
Zacnlinc is offline  
Old Nov 8, 2019, 8:23 pm
  #1039  
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: San Francisco
Programs: AA EXP; Marriott BonVoy Titanium Elite, Marriott LT Plat.
Posts: 1,717
Originally Posted by GRR_Flier
Thank you .. if I read the availability it tells me only 1 seat is open .. oh well
Correct... But I'm still a little "confused" after speaking with my travel agent.

True that there's only one seat available in J despite AA offering to sell a J seat in "J and I" class as well as offering an "R" class seat too... Guessing it's "first come... first served" in this regard. My TA thoughts were if one wanted higher status for the seat, a call to AA was required as all she was able to confirm an I class ticket. No way was it was possible for her to get the J class other than calling in herself.
Zacnlinc is offline  
Old Nov 9, 2019, 10:23 am
  #1040  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 12,361
Originally Posted by Zacnlinc
OK... Have a question that perhaps has been debated in the past regarding upgrading using SWU.

So... It's been my experience a few times that the EXP CS agents, as well as I, have discovered that there's C space available for the domestic portion of my trip but it's recommended that I use the SWU for just the Int. portion of my trip... Yea,,, I get it... Use my EXP status to get the upgrade on domestic leg.... Cool indeed... But....

I'm just curious with the "behind the scene" stuff. Does one's SWU " affect the standing one has on the upgrade list?

For example, would a CK/EXP applying a SWU for their Intl leg get them priority on the upgrade list for the domestic leg above CK/EXP's bases on EQD's?
No, the fact that you have a waitlisted SWU on an int'l segment has no bearing on your waitlist position for any domestic segments where you're also waitlisted for a sticker uograde.
Zacnlinc likes this.
JJeffrey is offline  
Old Nov 11, 2019, 1:41 pm
  #1041  
 
Join Date: Aug 2018
Posts: 3
Originally Posted by JJeffrey
No, the fact that you have a waitlisted SWU on an int'l segment has no bearing on your waitlist position for any domestic segments where you're also waitlisted for a sticker uograde.
Let's say the SWU on the int'l segment clears a few days before the flight and you are now committed to using the SWU. It would be great if that bumped you ahead of sticker upgrades on your domestic connections.
Zacnlinc likes this.
ait109 is offline  
Old Nov 11, 2019, 2:25 pm
  #1042  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Wesley Chapel, FL
Programs: American Airlines
Posts: 29,760
15/51 for 1 J seat on a 788 to phx today.
enviroian is online now  
Old Nov 11, 2019, 5:39 pm
  #1043  
 
Join Date: Oct 2016
Programs: AA
Posts: 74
Flying AA193 on 12/1 in business (D). I requested the upgrade to F by using a BXP3. Any chance this clears? Will it clear with any advanced notice? Im a PPRO if it makes a difference.

Also, in Y on 12/1 AA2663. Used a BXP1 to upgrade. Chances of that clearing?

TIA
robinsondg is offline  
Old Nov 11, 2019, 7:11 pm
  #1044  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 12,361
Originally Posted by robinsondg
Flying AA193 on 12/1 in business (D). I requested the upgrade to F by using a BXP3. Any chance this clears? Will it clear with any advanced notice? Im a PPRO if it makes a difference.

Also, in Y on 12/1 AA2663. Used a BXP1 to upgrade. Chances of that clearing?

TIA
What route is AA193 and AA2663? I do not have every single AA flight number memorized. What does the flight load look like from ExpertFlyer in business and first? Most of us are happy to provide guidance however it is helpful if you can at least provide basic details rather than make us do all the legwork for you.
JJeffrey is offline  
Old Nov 11, 2019, 8:17 pm
  #1045  
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Programs: AY+ Plat, Marriott Plat, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 2,846
Originally Posted by robinsondg
Flying AA193 on 12/1 in business (D). I requested the upgrade to F by using a BXP3. Any chance this clears? Will it clear with any advanced notice? Im a PPRO if it makes a difference.

Also, in Y on 12/1 AA2663. Used a BXP1 to upgrade. Chances of that clearing?

TIA
I think your chances of clearing on AA 193 are likely higher than your chances of clearing on AA 2663. I would have said that an F upgrade on AA 193 would be a pretty sure bet, but it looks like there's only 3/8 seats left (I still think it's unlikely all 3 seats will be sold, but you never know). You should have priority over those trying to use complimentary/sticker upgrades on AA 2663, but it's the Sunday after Thanksgiving...
flyingeph12 is offline  
Old Nov 13, 2019, 7:37 pm
  #1046  
 
Join Date: Nov 2019
Location: BNA, GGT, MDZ, MAD
Programs: AA Plat
Posts: 1
Success! just cleared 2 upgrades with miles on AA740 PHL-MAD, at T-25hrs (although I'm Plat) It was J4/C0 for a while, went to J4/C1 earlier today on EF, then dropped to J3/C0 when we cleared.
A weird system but we get results..
piedmontkid is offline  
Old Nov 13, 2019, 8:16 pm
  #1047  
 
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Hoboken, NJ
Programs: AA Gold
Posts: 194
Was #24/31 on AA2443 Tuesday afternoon. 2 cleared.

DFW-LGA

Almost 9k rolling EQDs.
BOSishome is offline  
Old Nov 15, 2019, 7:12 am
  #1048  
 
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: SE Wisconsin
Programs: AA EXP, Hilton Diamond for Life
Posts: 337
Flying 10:25 pm tonight ORD-LHR. Just checked my reservation (T-14 hours) and was surprised to find that my SWU cleared. Now I have to choose between 7d and 3h on the 789.
Beachfun71 is offline  
Old Nov 15, 2019, 1:50 pm
  #1049  
 
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: SE Wisconsin
Programs: AA EXP, Hilton Diamond for Life
Posts: 337
Not a bad day... upgraded all three legs;

JAX - CLT
CLT - ORD
ORD - LHR
Beachfun71 is offline  
Old Nov 15, 2019, 2:22 pm
  #1050  
 
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Valley of the Sun, AZ, USA
Programs: AA Platinum, HHonors Diamond
Posts: 494
So I just purchased a multi city ticket in Concur all ticketed on BA:

PHX-LHR on AA - Discounted PE
LHR-DXB on BA - Discounted PE
DXB-PHX all on BA - Full fare PE

Any way to upgrade any of this with AA miles? I called twice and got 2 different answers.
FlyinMike is offline  

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