Systemwide Upgrades- Odds of Getting Upgraded and More Info
Aug 5, 2019, 7:31 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2018
Posts: 20
Systemwide Upgrades- Odds of Getting Upgraded and More Info
Hello All,
I am flying this Friday on AA47, LHR-ORD on American'w 787-9. A family member who is Executive pplatinum had a SWU to use and he gave it to me, he called American to use his systemwide upgrade on my flight. The phone agents did so, but I see no indication in my AAdvantage account online to see if I was signed up for the upgrade, is it supposed to be written somewhere on the website? Furthermore, does anyone know how long before the flight to expect clearance for the upgrade (assuming I won't be put on the airport waitlist, if I actually get the upgrade)- 72 hours before the flight? 48 hours before the flight? will I get a call or message from American that I got the upgrade?
I was also wondering what the odds of getting the upgrade are, I signed up for it about three weeks before the flight, throught an Executive Platinum card. Does anyone know how to check how many business class seats are not occupied yet, so I can know what the odds for an upgrade are?
How can I check how many seats left on flight?
If anyone has a way to check II'l be glad to know how many free seats there are on my flight (AA 47, August 9th)
Thanks for kindly reading. Waiting for answers!
I am flying this Friday on AA47, LHR-ORD on American'w 787-9. A family member who is Executive pplatinum had a SWU to use and he gave it to me, he called American to use his systemwide upgrade on my flight. The phone agents did so, but I see no indication in my AAdvantage account online to see if I was signed up for the upgrade, is it supposed to be written somewhere on the website? Furthermore, does anyone know how long before the flight to expect clearance for the upgrade (assuming I won't be put on the airport waitlist, if I actually get the upgrade)- 72 hours before the flight? 48 hours before the flight? will I get a call or message from American that I got the upgrade?
I was also wondering what the odds of getting the upgrade are, I signed up for it about three weeks before the flight, throught an Executive Platinum card. Does anyone know how to check how many business class seats are not occupied yet, so I can know what the odds for an upgrade are?
How can I check how many seats left on flight?
If anyone has a way to check II'l be glad to know how many free seats there are on my flight (AA 47, August 9th)
Thanks for kindly reading. Waiting for answers!
Last edited by IsraeliFlyer; Aug 5, 2019 at 8:13 am
Aug 5, 2019, 7:52 am
#2
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Gatwick, UK
Programs: UA *G, BA Silver
Posts: 1,673
AA47 is a Chicago flight, not Dallas – so you had better check your booking 
Anyway AA47 is currently J2, with 8 seats unassigned. I would regard this as a low probability for upgrade (5% or so), and certainly highly unlikely to happen before you are boarding, or even after boarding.
If you want to se how many seats are unassigned in J, just look on aa.com – start the process of booking a one-way in J and then look at the seat map.
Anyway AA47 is currently J2, with 8 seats unassigned. I would regard this as a low probability for upgrade (5% or so), and certainly highly unlikely to happen before you are boarding, or even after boarding.
If you want to se how many seats are unassigned in J, just look on aa.com – start the process of booking a one-way in J and then look at the seat map.
Aug 5, 2019, 7:53 am
#3
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Hello All,
I am flying this Friday on AA47, LHR-DFW on American'w 787-9. A family member who is Executive pplatinum had a SWU to use and he gave it to me, he called American to use his systemwide upgrade on my flight. The phone agents did so, but I see no indication in my AAdvantage account online to see if I was signed up for the upgrade, is it supposed to be written somewhere on the website? Furthermore, does anyone know how long before the flight to expect clearance for the upgrade (assuming I won't be put on the airport waitlist, if I actually get the upgrade)- 72 hours before the flight? 48 hours before the flight? will I get a call or message from American that I got the upgrade?
I was also wondering what the odds of getting the upgrade are, I signed up for it about three weeks before the flight, throught an Executive Platinum card. Does anyone know how to check how many business class seats are not occupied yet, so I can know what the odds for an upgrade are?
How can I check how many seats left on flight?
If anyone has a way to check II'l be glad to know how many free seats there are on my flight (AA 47, August 8th)
Thanks for kindly reading. Waiting for answers!
I am flying this Friday on AA47, LHR-DFW on American'w 787-9. A family member who is Executive pplatinum had a SWU to use and he gave it to me, he called American to use his systemwide upgrade on my flight. The phone agents did so, but I see no indication in my AAdvantage account online to see if I was signed up for the upgrade, is it supposed to be written somewhere on the website? Furthermore, does anyone know how long before the flight to expect clearance for the upgrade (assuming I won't be put on the airport waitlist, if I actually get the upgrade)- 72 hours before the flight? 48 hours before the flight? will I get a call or message from American that I got the upgrade?
I was also wondering what the odds of getting the upgrade are, I signed up for it about three weeks before the flight, throught an Executive Platinum card. Does anyone know how to check how many business class seats are not occupied yet, so I can know what the odds for an upgrade are?
How can I check how many seats left on flight?
If anyone has a way to check II'l be glad to know how many free seats there are on my flight (AA 47, August 8th)
Thanks for kindly reading. Waiting for answers!
Also, AA47 is LHR-ORD (not DFW), and Aug 8 is Thurs (not Fri). But assuming you do mean AA47 on 8/8 then your chances are not very good. It's down to J2 (2 seats left for sale in business).
Here are the dedicated threads for this type of question for future reference:
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/amer...er-thread.html
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/amer...er-thread.html
Aug 5, 2019, 7:54 am
#4
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Aug 5, 2019, 8:07 am
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2018
Posts: 20
Yes, it obviously is LHR-ORD. Thanks for the information.
However, if these two seats remain available and I am on the top of the upgrade list, is it possible for me to get the upgrade?
What is the best way to check how many seats are available for the flight? How did people find out that it is J2?
However, if these two seats remain available and I am on the top of the upgrade list, is it possible for me to get the upgrade?
What is the best way to check how many seats are available for the flight? How did people find out that it is J2?
Last edited by JDiver; Aug 5, 2019 at 9:31 am Reason: Merge consecutive posts
Aug 5, 2019, 8:11 am
#6
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: DFW
Programs: AA EXP - Marriott LT Platinum - National Exec Elite
Posts: 1,112
Aug 5, 2019, 8:12 am
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2018
Posts: 20
AA typically doesn't release upgrade space on a flight like this until around 24-48 hrs. before the flight. You will sometimes get an email notification however most of us on here just check your reservation at aa.com frequently in the days before the flight. If you happen to get an error message that's usually a good sign, call AA.
Also, AA47 is LHR-ORD (not DFW), and Aug 8 is Thurs (not Fri). But assuming you do mean AA47 on 8/8 then your chances are not very good. It's down to J2 (2 seats left for sale in business).
Here are the dedicated threads for this type of question for future reference:
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/amer...er-thread.html
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/amer...er-thread.html
Also, AA47 is LHR-ORD (not DFW), and Aug 8 is Thurs (not Fri). But assuming you do mean AA47 on 8/8 then your chances are not very good. It's down to J2 (2 seats left for sale in business).
Here are the dedicated threads for this type of question for future reference:
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/amer...er-thread.html
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/amer...er-thread.html
Aug 5, 2019, 8:18 am
#8
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Keep in mind that the waitlist is sorted by status then rolling EQD, so if you don't have any status then you will be below any other pax with status. This is based off your status, not the status of the person that is giving you the SWU. On a flight like LHR-ORD, I'd say it's highly unlikely that you would be at the top (i.e. no other pax with status on the waitlist) but you never know.
AA47 on Friday 8/9 looks about the same, J2, only 2 seats left for sale in business.
Aug 5, 2019, 8:27 am
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2018
Posts: 20
Yes, if there are still 2 seats left and you're at the top of the list then you'll get the upgrade whenever AA decides to release the space.
Keep in mind that the waitlist is sorted by status then rolling EQD, so if you don't have any status then you will be below any other pax with status. This is based off your status, not the status of the person that is giving you the SWU. On a flight like LHR-ORD, I'd say it's highly unlikely that you would be at the top (i.e. no other pax with status on the waitlist) but you never know.
AA47 on Friday 8/9 looks about the same, J2, only 2 seats left for sale in business.
Keep in mind that the waitlist is sorted by status then rolling EQD, so if you don't have any status then you will be below any other pax with status. This is based off your status, not the status of the person that is giving you the SWU. On a flight like LHR-ORD, I'd say it's highly unlikely that you would be at the top (i.e. no other pax with status on the waitlist) but you never know.
AA47 on Friday 8/9 looks about the same, J2, only 2 seats left for sale in business.
Aug 5, 2019, 8:31 am
#11
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: RDU
Posts: 2,263
Based on the other feedback here, sounds like it's very low odds at this point. That said, you never know as people do change flights and people do misconnect, but if you are the lucky winner, it will almost definitely not happen until right before the flight at the gate.
The best source of info is Expertflyer, but you need a paid subscription to access data like this. You can sign up for a free trial as well.
Aug 5, 2019, 9:12 am
#12
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Yes. This is how it works.
Based on the other feedback here, sounds like it's very low odds at this point. That said, you never know as people do change flights and people do misconnect, but if you are the lucky winner, it will almost definitely not happen until right before the flight at the gate.
The best source of info is Expertflyer, but you need a paid subscription to access data like this. You can sign up for a free trial as well.
Based on the other feedback here, sounds like it's very low odds at this point. That said, you never know as people do change flights and people do misconnect, but if you are the lucky winner, it will almost definitely not happen until right before the flight at the gate.
The best source of info is Expertflyer, but you need a paid subscription to access data like this. You can sign up for a free trial as well.
Aug 5, 2019, 9:14 am
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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There is C space open right now on Thursday on LHR-JFK and LHR-RDU and on Friday on 2 of the LHR-JFK flights, so if you could somehow change your flights and make a connection to ORD work then you could confirm the upgrade now.
Aug 5, 2019, 9:33 am
#14
Moderator: American AAdvantage
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Yes, it obviously is LHR-ORD. Thanks for the information.
However, if these two seats remain available and I am on the top of the upgrade list, is it possible for me to get the upgrade?
What is the best way to check how many seats are available for the flight? How did people find out that it is J2?
However, if these two seats remain available and I am on the top of the upgrade list, is it possible for me to get the upgrade?
What is the best way to check how many seats are available for the flight? How did people find out that it is J2?
Aug 5, 2019, 9:47 am
#15
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Gatwick, UK
Programs: UA *G, BA Silver
Posts: 1,673
Why would one not do it this way? You don't even need to login to look at flight availability and seats – you certainly don't need to go anywhere close to actually booking anything.
But for someone without an expert flyer subscription, or even someone with one, this is by far the easiest to browse seat availability across multiple flights.
But for someone without an expert flyer subscription, or even someone with one, this is by far the easiest to browse seat availability across multiple flights.