Fewer upgrades this year for EXP?
May 23, 2019, 3:49 pm
#31
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: DEN
Programs: AA EXP, AA Million Miles, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,586
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.
May 23, 2019, 4:41 pm
#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.
May 23, 2019, 5:23 pm
#33
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: KHOU/KIAH
Programs: AA EXP | Marriott Bonvoy Titanium| Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 11,244
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.
May 23, 2019, 5:34 pm
#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.
May 23, 2019, 6:30 pm
#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: 17,482
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.
May 23, 2019, 7:07 pm
#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.
May 23, 2019, 8:21 pm
#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?
May 23, 2019, 9:52 pm
#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.
May 23, 2019, 10:17 pm
#39
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: SFOSJCOAK
Programs: AA-EXP & 1MM+, AS, MR-LTT, HH Gold
Posts: 7,581
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
May 23, 2019, 10:20 pm
#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.
May 23, 2019, 10:26 pm
#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.
May 23, 2019, 10:56 pm
#42
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: KHOU/KIAH
Programs: AA EXP | Marriott Bonvoy Titanium| Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 11,244
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.
May 24, 2019, 1:08 am
#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.
May 24, 2019, 1:57 am
#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.