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)
#31
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: AA EXP >3 Million miles,HH Lifetime Diamond
Posts: 2,887
Flying Ord to bos on AA and on QR from Bos to Doha next week on AA biz award. I am on the waitlist for first on the AA flight. New to EXP this year, how does that waitlist work.. Does it matter that it's an award ticket ..i understand the exp spend hierarchy rules but how does the award factor in?
#32
Join Date: Jul 2016
Posts: 222
Flying Ord to bos on AA and on QR from Bos to Doha next week on AA biz award. I am on the waitlist for first on the AA flight. New to EXP this year, how does that waitlist work.. Does it matter that it's an award ticket ..i understand the exp spend hierarchy rules but how does the award factor in?
#33
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Hoboken, NJ
Programs: AA Gold
Posts: 194
Kind of a stupid question but does anyone fly the DFW-PBI/PBI-DFW route often?
How are my chances as a PLT on a weeknight?
I find that I often get UPG’ed on DFW-non-hub but have no chance on DFW-ORD or DFW-LGA...
Wasn’t sure how PBI is due to its relative proximity to MIA.
How are my chances as a PLT on a weeknight?
I find that I often get UPG’ed on DFW-non-hub but have no chance on DFW-ORD or DFW-LGA...
Wasn’t sure how PBI is due to its relative proximity to MIA.
#34
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Dallas
Programs: AA ExPlat, Marriott Ambassador, Hilton Gold, Hertz PC
Posts: 121
#35
Join Date: Dec 2016
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 214
Kind of a stupid question but does anyone fly the DFW-PBI/PBI-DFW route often?
How are my chances as a PLT on a weeknight?
I find that I often get UPG’ed on DFW-non-hub but have no chance on DFW-ORD or DFW-LGA...
Wasn’t sure how PBI is due to its relative proximity to MIA.
How are my chances as a PLT on a weeknight?
I find that I often get UPG’ed on DFW-non-hub but have no chance on DFW-ORD or DFW-LGA...
Wasn’t sure how PBI is due to its relative proximity to MIA.
#37
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Denver, CO
Programs: AA EXP, IHG Spire Elite
Posts: 72
Quick update - didn't get the email from ExpertFlyer that seats came open for our desired early-April flight from DEN-ORD-FCO, but checked in and forced a search on my agent and it showed available. Booked the flights, called EXP desk, and voila - 2 SWUs consumed for First on DEN-ORD and Business ORD-FCO (787-800). Wait listed for the return, but the outgoing was what we wanted most.
Excited is an understatement! Nothing like getting it confirmed at booking and not having to hope we get upgraded at T-100!
Excited is an understatement! Nothing like getting it confirmed at booking and not having to hope we get upgraded at T-100!
#38
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
Flying Ord to bos on AA and on QR from Bos to Doha next week on AA biz award. I am on the waitlist for first on the AA flight. New to EXP this year, how does that waitlist work.. Does it matter that it's an award ticket ..i understand the exp spend hierarchy rules but how does the award factor in?
Where you'll fall on the list for ORD-BOS as an EXP is highly dependent on day of the week and time. On elite-heavy flights, you may not clear at all. Other flights may not clear until the gate, and some lighter flights will actually clear at the window (100 hrs prior to departure). This can be tough to predict if you aren't familiar with the particular route, but that's my experience with most flights out of ORD to the northeast -- highly day/time dependent, just like many other potentially elite-heavy routes.
One other note (since you seem to have a business class award ticket, but I guess no business availability on the ORD-BOS segment?)...
In the past, these mixed award tickets have sometimes been handled as business class tickets where you're "awaiting a business class seat assignment." In other words, you paid the business class price, but got a coach seat, so I've had airport agents list me as "desired" for the premium cabin (e.g. DSR), which could potentially give you higher priority on the waitlist than even concierge keys requesting complimentary or instrument upgrades. However, I haven't attempted this recently, so with all the AAdvantage changes in the last year or two, including the transition from SABRE to Qik, I don't know whether you'll still be able to find an agent willing (or even able) to list you this way. Perhaps someone else with recent experience in this area could chime in as well.
#39
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
Kind of a stupid question but does anyone fly the DFW-PBI/PBI-DFW route often?
How are my chances as a PLT on a weeknight?
I find that I often get UPG’ed on DFW-non-hub but have no chance on DFW-ORD or DFW-LGA...
Wasn’t sure how PBI is due to its relative proximity to MIA.
How are my chances as a PLT on a weeknight?
I find that I often get UPG’ed on DFW-non-hub but have no chance on DFW-ORD or DFW-LGA...
Wasn’t sure how PBI is due to its relative proximity to MIA.
I'm not sure the proximity to MIA is particularly a factor -- it's just that PBI seems a bit like SNA in relation to LAX -- smaller airport which is likely more convenient/close to home for those who use it, and in these higher income areas, there is likely a fair number of paid J bookings.
#40
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 34
C / U Inventory DFW to Europe Summer 2019
I know AA has been very stingy with award and upgrade inventory lately. However I am seeing no business class saver availability at all for this Summer to Europe from DFW. I also was checking C inventory and it is also zeroed out. Am I missing something?
#41
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Chicago
Programs: AA- EXP UA - Silver SPG- PLT Marriott- PLT
Posts: 759
Assuming you're on the complimentary upgrade (500 mile upgrade) waitlist, you'll be lower on the list than all Concierge Keys and will also be behind all EXPs on revenue tickets. You'll be in front of other EXPs on award tickets if your 12 month rolling EQDs are higher than theirs (otherwise, they'll be ahead of you). You'll be ahead of all PLT PRO, PLT, GLDs, and non-status passengers.
Where you'll fall on the list for ORD-BOS as an EXP is highly dependent on day of the week and time. On elite-heavy flights, you may not clear at all. Other flights may not clear until the gate, and some lighter flights will actually clear at the window (100 hrs prior to departure). This can be tough to predict if you aren't familiar with the particular route, but that's my experience with most flights out of ORD to the northeast -- highly day/time dependent, just like many other potentially elite-heavy routes.
One other note (since you seem to have a business class award ticket, but I guess no business availability on the ORD-BOS segment?)...
In the past, these mixed award tickets have sometimes been handled as business class tickets where you're "awaiting a business class seat assignment." In other words, you paid the business class price, but got a coach seat, so I've had airport agents list me as "desired" for the premium cabin (e.g. DSR), which could potentially give you higher priority on the waitlist than even concierge keys requesting complimentary or instrument upgrades. However, I haven't attempted this recently, so with all the AAdvantage changes in the last year or two, including the transition from SABRE to Qik, I don't know whether you'll still be able to find an agent willing (or even able) to list you this way. Perhaps someone else with recent experience in this area could chime in as well.
Where you'll fall on the list for ORD-BOS as an EXP is highly dependent on day of the week and time. On elite-heavy flights, you may not clear at all. Other flights may not clear until the gate, and some lighter flights will actually clear at the window (100 hrs prior to departure). This can be tough to predict if you aren't familiar with the particular route, but that's my experience with most flights out of ORD to the northeast -- highly day/time dependent, just like many other potentially elite-heavy routes.
One other note (since you seem to have a business class award ticket, but I guess no business availability on the ORD-BOS segment?)...
In the past, these mixed award tickets have sometimes been handled as business class tickets where you're "awaiting a business class seat assignment." In other words, you paid the business class price, but got a coach seat, so I've had airport agents list me as "desired" for the premium cabin (e.g. DSR), which could potentially give you higher priority on the waitlist than even concierge keys requesting complimentary or instrument upgrades. However, I haven't attempted this recently, so with all the AAdvantage changes in the last year or two, including the transition from SABRE to Qik, I don't know whether you'll still be able to find an agent willing (or even able) to list you this way. Perhaps someone else with recent experience in this area could chime in as well.
#42
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: TX
Programs: AA: EXP MR: Ti
Posts: 495
These aren't nearly as tied as they used to be. Also... is the U space you're seeing on BA metal?
#44
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: AA EXP >3 Million miles,HH Lifetime Diamond
Posts: 2,887
#45
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: AA EXP >3 Million miles,HH Lifetime Diamond
Posts: 2,887
I tried to do this a couple of weeks ago - I had purchased a Business sAAver award, but the first segment was in coach. When I got to the FL, I asked if I should be listed higher for the upgrade for the first segment (I was #9 , and coded as an upgrade for an award ticket). The first agent had no idea what I was requesting, but the AAgent next to her agreed with me. They tried for about 10 minutes ( I left to get something to eat) to list me correctly. When I came back, the second AAgent said I was listed correctly. I didn't push it, since the flight was full, after 2 days of IRROPs. I didn't think I had any chance to clear, so let it go. So I'm not sure if it was a Qik or a Sabre issue, but know that in the past I've requested this, and been at the top of the list (and cleared).