Upgrade Offers on App (and on website)
 

Seeing an upgrade offer of $49 on AA App, while the difference between what I paid and the current first class fare is $250+

I was under the impression that these offers were just upsells of the difference between the price paid and current first class fare. Are these offers now a way to sell upgrades that would otherwise go to elite members (a la UA)? Thanks in advance.

Was this right before departure or well in advance?

Four days prior to departure

Yes, there are newer kinds of upgrades sold now. Look for whatever terms or fine print it offers up, but this kind likely books into full J and earns 3x EQM but you don’t earn EQD on the upgrade fee.

Silly question regarding upgrade offers here. On my flights purchased directly from AA, I will see upgrade offers when viewing the trip through the app. When I purchase AA flights using amextravel.com , I am never presented with upgrade offers using the same viewing process in the app. I am still granted the ability to pick preferred and MCE seats. I still clear upgrades at my window and at the gate. But, I just never see an upgrade offer. Is this one of the caveats to using an OTA when booking with AA? None of my fares are BE or award flights of that helps.

I was a little pissed-and I know how upgrades work-I was being offered a paid upgrade inside my complimentary upgrade window BWI-CLT yesterday/today. Oh well short flight. I rolled the dice. Still waiting.

Yea… rolling the dice here myself. Was offered upgrade in app ~$678. Passed.

offer went away once inside window until today now. Mere ~36 hrs before departure. Price now is $550.

I noticed this as well for an upcoming Shuttle flight, offering $75 in the app vs. the fare difference which was much higher. I took it.

Hey!! I just got upgrade it!! First Class. CLT to FLL. 24 hours in advance.

And the Revenue Management peeps are working it! Just peaked at reservations for tomorrow’s flight 29 hrs from now and the app is offering upgrade for $385 at the moment. Wonder what non-elites are being offered! lol

may have peaked to snatch it, but the “disclaimer” notice piqued my interest even more.

it indicates that “additional fees” may be needed to upgrade on additional flights. I have one connection outbound and a nonstop return. Hmmmm???!!!

so by offering all these pay upgrades, is AA saying that passengers waiting for a upgrade, either free or using stickers have been cleared.?

Not in my experience. I see the offers while I have an upgrade pending. Clearly AA wants to try to sell these seats first then give out upgrades (usually around T4 to T-24 or at the gate) to those seats that do not sell.

Nope. Still waiting on EXP upgrade with a $49 offer to upgrade (the fare difference between what I paid and what F is currently selling for is $250+). I hope this is not the new normal. Offering the upsell (fare difference) was one thing and fine, but this is quite another.

not true indeed. In fact since my post earlier today, I was upgraded on connection out of DFW on 787. But Revenue Management is still holding on to the same five seats that have been available for the past two days.

I opted to just check-in two hours ago and now I’m on the waitlist. Peaked at the flight into DFW via a dummy booking at F/J is no longer available.

Let’s see how this turns out now. T-18 hrs. lol

I went on AA app and I went into it. I got upgrade it again! From FLL to CLT. First Class.