Where is the SWU available? (Are SWU usable / useful?)
Apr 20, 2019, 2:41 pm
#16
Join Date: May 2007
Location: London and Madrid
Programs: BA Gold, UA 2MM, Hyatt Globalist, Columbia Record & Tape Club Triple Diamond VIP
Posts: 580
In the past three years, I’ve not been able to use SWUs to book anything other than upgrades from J to F. Each year, I have between 3 and 5 SWUs that expire.
Near useless IME.
Near useless IME.
Apr 20, 2019, 3:31 pm
#17
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: KHOU/KIAH
Programs: AA EXP | Marriott Bonvoy Titanium| Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 11,241
I've missed 1 SWU out of like 40 in the last several years. And that was on a DFW-LHR flight that had 10 CK and 55 EXPs on board.
Apr 20, 2019, 6:04 pm
#19
Join Date: Jun 2011
Programs: United Premier Platinum
Posts: 638
If you’re like most people and can’t plan your vacation’s timing, length, and budget entirely around SWU availability, then book your flights on planes with large J cabins, aim for midweek flights, apply the SWUs to get on the waitlist, and hope for the best. Even adjusting down for the possibility the upgrade doesn’t clear, this is a much more valuable use of an SWU than blowing it on some midcon with guaranteed C availability.
You could also use EF to try and target specific flights with a large number of unsold J seats, but IME this is a fool’s errand given the number of last minute bookings and cancellations.
Apr 20, 2019, 10:29 pm
#20
Join Date: May 2007
Location: London and Madrid
Programs: BA Gold, UA 2MM, Hyatt Globalist, Columbia Record & Tape Club Triple Diamond VIP
Posts: 580
I do not gamble on clearing prior to booking, I’m not going to gamble on 12 hour trips. I choose BA first first AA unless there is easy, convenient F space that costs less than BA first.
AA SWUs are useless.
AA SWUs are useless.
Apr 20, 2019, 11:10 pm
#21
Join Date: May 2015
Location: WAS, SZX, HKG
Programs: AS MVP Gold 75K, CX Green
Posts: 735
I'd be curious if that just popped up in the last day or two or has been out there for weeks/months. Have you been tracking that flight? Last time I took it, with two non-status friends, availability literally opened at the gate and they got the last two seats with a pair of my systemwides.
The best route to asia might be the 2nd DFW-NRT flight, which during weekdays constantly sees C space
Apr 21, 2019, 7:04 am
#22
Join Date: Jun 2011
Programs: United Premier Platinum
Posts: 638
For someone like you who flies paid F everywhere, maybe they are. For the vast majority of people, SWUs can be quite valuable.
Apr 21, 2019, 7:16 am
#23
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: DEN
Programs: AA EXP, AA Million Miles, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,586
But by voluntarily eliminating a large part of the potential use of SWUs - it's hard to declare them useless writ large.
If your SWUs are truly useless to you - let me know, I've got several upcoming trips where it'd be nice to have SWUs to waitlist - considering I've only got one left in my account (since it looks like I'm about to suffer my first ever miss on an SWU tonight).
Apr 23, 2019, 12:49 am
#25
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: DEN
Programs: AA EXP, AA Million Miles, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,586
Nope. Finally missed one. Was bound to happen at some point.
AA193 on 4/22 - J was overbooked, no-one cleared at the gate.
I ended up in W (originally booked in regular Y), slept 11 of the 14.5 hours in flight, and am feeling remarkably good. Didn't want for my first SWU miss to be on a 15 hour transpac, but really not that bad in the end.
AA193 on 4/22 - J was overbooked, no-one cleared at the gate.
I ended up in W (originally booked in regular Y), slept 11 of the 14.5 hours in flight, and am feeling remarkably good. Didn't want for my first SWU miss to be on a 15 hour transpac, but really not that bad in the end.
Apr 27, 2019, 4:50 pm
#26
Join Date: May 2007
Location: London and Madrid
Programs: BA Gold, UA 2MM, Hyatt Globalist, Columbia Record & Tape Club Triple Diamond VIP
Posts: 580
It's certainly your prerogative to not want to waitlist. That's fine. And your decision to make. No judgement from me on that personal choice.
But by voluntarily eliminating a large part of the potential use of SWUs - it's hard to declare them useless writ large.
If your SWUs are truly useless to you - let me know, I've got several upcoming trips where it'd be nice to have SWUs to waitlist - considering I've only got one left in my account (since it looks like I'm about to suffer my first ever miss on an SWU tonight).
But by voluntarily eliminating a large part of the potential use of SWUs - it's hard to declare them useless writ large.
If your SWUs are truly useless to you - let me know, I've got several upcoming trips where it'd be nice to have SWUs to waitlist - considering I've only got one left in my account (since it looks like I'm about to suffer my first ever miss on an SWU tonight).
SWUs are useless. AA knows that to be the case, which is why they’ve all but eliminated confirmable upgrade space.
Apr 29, 2019, 3:28 pm
#27
Join Date: Dec 2005
Programs: AA-EXP, Flying Blue-Silver
Posts: 727
Apr 29, 2019, 5:37 pm
#28
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Wesley Chapel, FL
Programs: American Airlines
Posts: 30,003
Useless.
Apr 29, 2019, 9:07 pm
#29
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: AA EXP >3 Million miles,HH Lifetime Diamond
Posts: 2,887
Just booked Ord dfw nrt for Jan with confirmable upgrades for 3 at booking..the pnr was actually stored with the swu overnight and it was ticketed within 2 hours of purchase today. Even got first on Ord few for the three of us. I'm feeling like a pretty good use of swu.
Apr 29, 2019, 9:34 pm
#30
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: SLC/HEL/Anywhere with a Beach
Programs: Marriott Ambassador; AA EXP 3MM; AS MVP, Hilton Gold, CH-47/UH-60/C-23/C-130 VET
Posts: 5,234
I used all eight of my swu from 2018 ... Sydney, Buenos Aires, Santiago, Budapest. None clear that booking but they all cleared.