Fewer upgrades this year for EXP?
#31
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: DEN
Programs: AA EXP, AA Million Miles, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,589
But that's kinda my point.
You personally having an 18% percent upgrade rate isn't the same as a sweeping statement that "upgrades are a thing of the past."
Just like me having a upgrade rate around 85% isn't the same as a sweeping statement that "upgrades are basically a given."
Upgrades are highly variable and YMMV.
#32
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: LAX
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold but PlatPro thanks to LPs
Posts: 4,439
"Start planning that dream trip with all the bonus miles you will earn..." Ha. Ha. Ha.
#33
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: KHOU/KIAH
Programs: AA EXP | Marriott Bonvoy Titanium| Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 11,289
I'm a bit of a airfare gambler though. My sisters wedding was on the other side of the planet and I booked my CX J flight 5 days before departure. I won't argue that I could get burned and end up paying through the nose, but I have done this several times and ended up well ahead overall.
I'm less unhappy about the issues using miles than listening to the announcement. Air rage inducing, they are.
#34
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: CLT
Programs: AA EP, AA AC
Posts: 4,268
Ok fair enough. Partner J/F then it is.
I'm a bit of a airfare gambler though. My sisters wedding was on the other side of the planet and I booked my CX J flight 5 days before departure. I won't argue that I could get burned and end up paying through the nose, but I have done this several times and ended up well ahead overall.
I'm less unhappy about the issues using miles than listening to the announcement. Air rage inducing, they are.
I'm a bit of a airfare gambler though. My sisters wedding was on the other side of the planet and I booked my CX J flight 5 days before departure. I won't argue that I could get burned and end up paying through the nose, but I have done this several times and ended up well ahead overall.
I'm less unhappy about the issues using miles than listening to the announcement. Air rage inducing, they are.
#35
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Wanting First. Buying First.
Programs: Lifetime Executive Diamond Platinum VIP with Braniff, Eastern, Midway, National & Pan Am
Posts: 17,501
For what it's worth, my upgrade percentage this year is 17% as a Plat. But only flights where I actually request a sticker upgrade are in the denominator. I buy F for longer flights and also sometimes use domestic award redemptions for shorter flights (pre-stealth devaluation, domestic awards occasionally offered excellent value relative to high close-in Y fares) so those aren't upgrade-eligible to begin with.
#36
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Austin, TX - AUS
Programs: AA Platinum, Hilton, Hyatt, IHG, Marriott
Posts: 1,625
Even back in the “Golden days”, upgrades were route and time dependent with elites reporting widely varying upgrade success. I’ve always felt upgrades were a way to fill unsold business seats (key word: unsold) as well as accommodate oversold economy cabins, and not something to count on. My mindset is, if I’m booking economy I expect to fly in economy. An upgrade is just a nice bonus.
On flights longer than 4 hours, I sometimes pay for business if the buy up is reasonable, especially if I can get the 1 seat section on an E170/175/190.
On flights longer than 4 hours, I sometimes pay for business if the buy up is reasonable, especially if I can get the 1 seat section on an E170/175/190.
#37
Suspended
Join Date: May 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: DL Diamond, AAdvantage EXP, Hyatt Explorist, HHonors Diamond, Avis First
Posts: 7,344
This is a dumb question but how does one buy up to premium cabin if you’ve had to book main cabin for work rules.
Ive never seen a buy-up offer/price, so call into EXP?
Ive never seen a buy-up offer/price, so call into EXP?
#38
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: PVD, BOS
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 1,664
You might be able to do a miles + copay upgrade with AA, but it’s possible your TA could prevent that too. Best to call AA to find out the specifics of your situation.
#39
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: SFOSJCOAK
Programs: AA-EXP & 1MM+, AS, MR-LTT, HH Gold
Posts: 7,587
I guess our flying patterns are different, and maybe I don't have the reference to the "golden era" of frequent upgrades like you do. I've only been EXP since 2016 and barely scraped by the last two years at just over $12k EQD (140k + EQM though). But I've had good success on both domestic and international systemwide upgrades. I almost always get upgraded on the A321T SFO-JFK, and also get upgraded on most domestic flights that don't touch DFW (but even a few that do). I've been op-up'd on PHL-LHR this year where my SWU wasn't even taken, with successful SWUs on CLT-LHR, LAX-LHR and HKG-LAX.
I am less than 50% UG on SFO-JFK-SFO A321T
#40
Join Date: Aug 2012
Programs: AA PLT, SPG Gold
Posts: 2,405
For us anyway, the 2x EQMs on paid discount F/J is a huge incentive. Last year we bought F tickets for our usual holiday trip, to help us requal for GLD. And this year we've only taken one trip (paid F to Hawaii), but that one trip alone has us well on our way to re-earning GLD. I know GLD isn't what it used to be but it sure is better than nothing. And if it's incentivizing us lowly GLDs to buy up, I imagine that's even more motivation for you EXPs.
#41
Suspended
Join Date: May 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: DL Diamond, AAdvantage EXP, Hyatt Explorist, HHonors Diamond, Avis First
Posts: 7,344
Purchased through your company’s TA? You’d have to call the TA to upfare the ticket. Generally, AA won’t do it for you.
You might be able to do a miles + copay upgrade with AA, but it’s possible your TA could prevent that too. Best to call AA to find out the specifics of your situation.
#42
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: KHOU/KIAH
Programs: AA EXP | Marriott Bonvoy Titanium| Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 11,289
Or if you need to ticket Y, then call AA to upfare. Unfortunately, it isn't available online, although it was discussed here that that functionality is coming soon.
#43
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: OC, CA
Programs: AA EXP, 2MM, HH Diamond
Posts: 832
You need to call AA to both change the ticket and to price it. Searching for the flights on the web and comparing coach to premium class prices is a good estimate but there can be some pricing variation.
#45
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: En Route
Programs: Many
Posts: 6,798
My data points, only missed upgrades this year (some with extenuating circumstances):
1. LGA-PBI (Was #1 on the list and 1 seat was available, but I was traveling with gf so I declined the upgrade)
2. PBI-LGA (Was #1 on the list and 1 seat was available, but I was traveling with gf so I declined the upgrade)
3. LGA-PBI (Was #1 on the list and 1 seat was available, but I was traveling with gf so I declined the upgrade)
4. PBI-LGA (Was #1 on the list, NO seats opened, no one was upgraded)
5. Cleared both of EWR-ORD-MSY but my EWR-ORD flight went tech. I got onto an EWR-CLT flight after EXP desk rerouted me almost as the door closed and obviously couldn't clear onto the EWR-CLT leg.
6. CLT-MSY continuation of that reroute. F was full by the time EXP rerouted me to those flights.
7. PBI-LGA (Was #1 on the list going to the airport, ended up #2 or 3, no one cleared)
So really, if not for IRROPS or traveling with a no status companion, I would have only missed two PBI-LGA flights. Not bad considering it's a regional jet route and F mostly sells out to paid customers on that route, nothing you can do if people are willing to pay for it.
1. LGA-PBI (Was #1 on the list and 1 seat was available, but I was traveling with gf so I declined the upgrade)
2. PBI-LGA (Was #1 on the list and 1 seat was available, but I was traveling with gf so I declined the upgrade)
3. LGA-PBI (Was #1 on the list and 1 seat was available, but I was traveling with gf so I declined the upgrade)
4. PBI-LGA (Was #1 on the list, NO seats opened, no one was upgraded)
5. Cleared both of EWR-ORD-MSY but my EWR-ORD flight went tech. I got onto an EWR-CLT flight after EXP desk rerouted me almost as the door closed and obviously couldn't clear onto the EWR-CLT leg.
6. CLT-MSY continuation of that reroute. F was full by the time EXP rerouted me to those flights.
7. PBI-LGA (Was #1 on the list going to the airport, ended up #2 or 3, no one cleared)
So really, if not for IRROPS or traveling with a no status companion, I would have only missed two PBI-LGA flights. Not bad considering it's a regional jet route and F mostly sells out to paid customers on that route, nothing you can do if people are willing to pay for it.