Flights with Confirmable SWUs at Booking
Jan 5, 2020, 3:59 pm
#20
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Valencia, Spain
Posts: 806
Recently I became EXP again and it seems that C space for upgrades with SWUs are a lot tighter than before. What international long-haul routes (any date and any route) have you seen confirmable upgrade space on recently? Ideally mid-February, early May, late June, or late August, but I'm extremely flexible as the upgrades expire next year; I just want to book something now and be done with it. Thanks!
Jan 5, 2020, 7:14 pm
#21
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: WAS/NYC/LON
Programs: AA EXP, HH DIA, Hyatt DIA
Posts: 286
Also from my experience, day of week has a large effect on finding confirmable availability. (e.g. Thurs/Fri nights to Europe are much harder than earlier in the week).
In addition to ExpertFlyer, I find logging into my account and just searching on aa.com to be good enough for SWU space if you have a reasonably small constraint for dates/locations.
In addition to ExpertFlyer, I find logging into my account and just searching on aa.com to be good enough for SWU space if you have a reasonably small constraint for dates/locations.
Jan 6, 2020, 8:22 am
#22
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: DCA
Programs: DL DM, AA EXP, various hotel
Posts: 2,227
LHR tends to be ( surprisingly) a bright stop for C availability IME. I don't remember the last time I couldn't find C on at least one LHR flight from one hub (the morning ORD flight is a good one to check). JFK also tends to have a fair amount of space.
Jan 6, 2020, 8:24 am
#23
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Wesley Chapel, FL
Programs: American Airlines
Posts: 30,013
Agree. The least amount of availability appears to be lax and dfw, with the early morning ORD and JFK flights available. I see C space on the new BOS route too.
Jan 6, 2020, 10:33 am
#24
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: KHOU/KIAH
Programs: AA EXP | Marriott Bonvoy Titanium| Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 11,247
Anecdotal evidence here, obviously, but it does seem like there is more C space than there has been in the last 2-3 years.^
Jan 8, 2020, 2:32 pm
#25
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Stilllwater OK (SWO)
Programs: AAdvantage ExecPlat, World of Hyatt Globalist, plain "member" of Marriott, IHG, enterprise, etc.
Posts: 1,848
I did. And I just used two of them. Decided with the free status and SWUs to go to a conference in Singapore this Sept that I was eyeing anyways but was relunctant to go due to the trip length and timing, but was surprised to find instantly upgradable (after calling in anyways) Y-J upgrades for my outbound on my day of choice, and on the return if I stayed a couple extra days. (upgrades are on DFW-HND and HND-DFW legs on 77Ws).
Maybe I got lucky, but this was way easier to get value out of compared to finding domestic coach award tickets worth more than a cent per mile.
Maybe I got lucky, but this was way easier to get value out of compared to finding domestic coach award tickets worth more than a cent per mile.
Jan 8, 2020, 11:50 pm
#27
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: San Francisco
Programs: AA EXP; Marriott BonVoy Titanium Elite, Marriott LT Plat.
Posts: 1,717
Just snagged full ride from SFO-HKG in J for sub-$700. Will be there for Chinese NY weekend infact. Hell Yea!!
Few more C fares available Jan 21st & 22nd with returns on 27th and 28th.
Was just about to offer my last two expiring SWUs too. Then work chimed my late this afternoon with instructions to get to HKG before the end of the month!! Nailed it!!
Few more C fares available Jan 21st & 22nd with returns on 27th and 28th.
Was just about to offer my last two expiring SWUs too. Then work chimed my late this afternoon with instructions to get to HKG before the end of the month!! Nailed it!!