Feb 16, 2020, 9:16 am
Last edit by: JDiver
PLEASE SEE link for 2022 thread.
Chances of Upgrade Request Clearing (Be aware of upgrade priority changes enacted 20 May 2017)
"New Upgrade Priority as of 20 May 2017
(Upgrades were prioritized by elite status and then time of request until 20 May 2017)
Elite status
Upgrade type
Then, by
See Upgrade Priority Changes to Status, Rolling 365 Day EQD Spend May 20 2017
Link to Gary Leff, View From the Wing 16 May 2017
Link to 2019 archived thread (We’ve refilled this thread for 2020-21 because of the relatively low volume of posts due to Covid-19’s effect on travel, and the usefulness of having relevant experiences in some volume for readers. — Moderator)
Chances of Upgrade Request Clearing (Be aware of upgrade priority changes enacted 20 May 2017)
"New Upgrade Priority as of 20 May 2017
(Upgrades were prioritized by elite status and then time of request until 20 May 2017)
Elite status
- Concierge Key
- Executive Platinum
- Platinum Pro
- Platinum
- Gold
Upgrade type
- Miles and copay award upgrades and systemwide upgrades (SWU)
- 500 mile upgrades on purchased tickets
- 500 mile upgrades on upgrade eligible awards)
Then, by
- Elite qualifying dollars in the past 12 months (rolling)
- Booking class
- Time of request
See Upgrade Priority Changes to Status, Rolling 365 Day EQD Spend May 20 2017
Link to Gary Leff, View From the Wing 16 May 2017
Link to 2019 archived thread (We’ve refilled this thread for 2020-21 because of the relatively low volume of posts due to Covid-19’s effect on travel, and the usefulness of having relevant experiences in some volume for readers. — Moderator)
ARCHIVE: Chances of Upgrade Clearing and Availability (2020-21 master thread)
Feb 18, 2020, 4:22 am
#46
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Roswell, GA
Programs: AA EXP 2.8m,Lifetime PLT, Hilton Diamond, IHG PlLT, SPG Gold
Posts: 3,191
I have had great luck clearing SWU this year.. 4/4 (well my wife is traveling too.
Jan ATL t0 ZUH.. cleared at booking
April ATL to LHR cleared at booking..
glad I used up my SWU early... wife still has 4 with the option to choose 2 more , and I can choose another 4 from the bonus offered from last year
Mu wife and I are thinking about doing more long weekend trips to Europe at this point, if we can continue to clear at booking.. not going to bother if its wait listed
Jan ATL t0 ZUH.. cleared at booking
April ATL to LHR cleared at booking..
glad I used up my SWU early... wife still has 4 with the option to choose 2 more , and I can choose another 4 from the bonus offered from last year
Mu wife and I are thinking about doing more long weekend trips to Europe at this point, if we can continue to clear at booking.. not going to bother if its wait listed
Feb 18, 2020, 9:13 am
#47
Join Date: Mar 2019
Programs: Marriott Plat, AA Plat
Posts: 122
Hi I'm new to using 500 mile upgrades. Trying to apply 4 to DFW to YVR, but no upgrade was confirmed at 24 hour check-in. Is there any way to tell the chances...call AA? Just trying to get rid of them really, as I don't have many use cases. If the 4 aren't likely to register for this leg, I'd use 3 for the first leg of my trip. Thanks in advance.
Feb 18, 2020, 9:44 am
#48
Join Date: Mar 2015
Programs: AA EXP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 394
Hi I'm new to using 500 mile upgrades. Trying to apply 4 to DFW to YVR, but no upgrade was confirmed at 24 hour check-in. Is there any way to tell the chances...call AA? Just trying to get rid of them really, as I don't have many use cases. If the 4 aren't likely to register for this leg, I'd use 3 for the first leg of my trip. Thanks in advance.
You can check expert flyer to see how many J seats are left.
Feb 18, 2020, 10:25 am
#49
Join Date: Jul 1999
Programs: AA 1MM/Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,215
As a low EQD EXP, am 11/15 so far this year.
- have missed on CLT-SFO and return (was 8/42 on the airport lost on the return)
- also missed CLT-EWR and return, but generally clear in and out of NY outside of Monday AM/Thurs PM.
- cleared JFK-SFO and return at 100 hours
- cleared 2x JFK-LHR and return using SWUs at time of booking for summer travel. Looked to be pretty good availability in general. Know it’s not the best use of SWUs, but like not having to play the waiting game with other, longer routes.
- have missed on CLT-SFO and return (was 8/42 on the airport lost on the return)
- also missed CLT-EWR and return, but generally clear in and out of NY outside of Monday AM/Thurs PM.
- cleared JFK-SFO and return at 100 hours
- cleared 2x JFK-LHR and return using SWUs at time of booking for summer travel. Looked to be pretty good availability in general. Know it’s not the best use of SWUs, but like not having to play the waiting game with other, longer routes.
Feb 18, 2020, 2:29 pm
#51
FlyerTalk Evangelist, Ambassador: World of Hyatt
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: NJ
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Fairmont Lifetime Plat, UA Silver, dirt elsewhere
Posts: 46,919
What coach fare codes can be upgraded to first? I'm looking at either PHL-LAX or LAX-HNL.
Feb 18, 2020, 7:26 pm
#52
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 12,466
https://www.aa.com/i18n/aadvantage-p...with-miles.jsp
Feb 19, 2020, 1:53 pm
#53
FlyerTalk Evangelist, Ambassador: World of Hyatt
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: NJ
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Fairmont Lifetime Plat, UA Silver, dirt elsewhere
Posts: 46,919
Not surprisingly the aa.com page on upgrades lays this info out pretty well...
https://www.aa.com/i18n/aadvantage-p...with-miles.jsp
https://www.aa.com/i18n/aadvantage-p...with-miles.jsp
Feb 19, 2020, 2:11 pm
#54
Suspended
Join Date: May 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: DL Diamond, AAdvantage EXP, Hyatt Explorist, HHonors Diamond, Avis First
Posts: 7,344
LAX-JFK on a mileage ticket and my UPG cleared shortly after booking lol. Only 12,500 miles too.
Feb 20, 2020, 10:59 am
#55
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Washington DC Metro Area
Programs: A: PP, LTG/1.5M | UA: SLV | Bonvoy LTTi | IHG PLT| Avis PC | Nat'l Emerald Club EE
Posts: 1,067
Not surprisingly the aa.com page on upgrades lays this info out pretty well...
https://www.aa.com/i18n/aadvantage-p...with-miles.jsp
https://www.aa.com/i18n/aadvantage-p...with-miles.jsp
Feb 26, 2020, 7:46 pm
#57
Join Date: Mar 2016
Programs: AA-EXP
Posts: 615
#3 for 0 seats in F today for a flight to GSO (?!). I can’t even score an upgrade on a mid week afternoon flight to GSO on an RJ!
Feb 26, 2020, 8:18 pm
#58
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Wesley Chapel, FL
Programs: American Airlines
Posts: 30,005
I was already upgraded from gso-clt tomorrow for my connection flight home. I did secure an exit row today but it was 13F so a non reclining row. Oh well.
Feb 28, 2020, 12:33 pm
#59
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: SoCal
Programs: AA EXP, HHonors LTDia, Marriott Plat
Posts: 639
Thursday YYZ-CLT on a 319 and I was 11 of 30 as an EXP. So 25% of the economy pax are trying to get one of the 8 up front. 
Feb 28, 2020, 12:36 pm
#60
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Wesley Chapel, FL
Programs: American Airlines
Posts: 30,005
Cleared yesterday for today’s 2:39 pm flight dfw/dtw.
Yay!
Yay!