I am trying to book JFK-LAX-PHX. If you look at JFK-LAX on that day on EF, C = 0. However, if you search JFK-PHX with LAX as the connection point, it shows C = 7 on both legs. When I go on AA.com and search multi-city same day JFK-LAX, LAX-PHX it prices, but when I call AA they say there's no C JFK-LAX. Any way to get this to work?

EDIT:

When I search NYC to PHX on aa.com it also calls up the same JFK-LAX-PHX routing but says no SWU space. Why does EF say C = 7 and AA says C = 0?

You have to search each segment for true C availability.

Yea, this has been discussed ad nauseam but it still trips people up on a regular basis.

The C7 you see on JFK-LAX when searching JFK-PHX is completely bogus, forget you ever saw it. As Ian mentioned above the C0 you see when searching just JFK-LAX is the true availability. EF puts a warning at the top of the AA award and upgrade search page alerting everyone to this.

AA and ExpertFlyer "Expert Flyer" issues, questions (master thread)

I had this issue a couple of weeks ago and FT is not clear on this that I can see. Perhaps others can share a newer link if it is. EF isn't clear either. Not all C space is the same according to 2 EXP agents when I was trying to use some SWUs. Links and pasted info to short explanations below. What I learned was that you do a test booking, and the note in blue on the left below will say something like System wide upgrades available. Or SWU available. If you can find the routes you want, then put them on hold. Then Call the EXP line to check to see if indeed they are available. The agent will go to the rate desk to confirm, then come back and book it. So I tried to book AUS-PHL-ZRH, and return next April. I found SWU availability for PHL-ZRH and return, but nothing else with AUS involved. So I put that on hold and called the EXP line. They confirmed the availability with the rate desk, came back and I booked it. Then I nested that flight with travel AUS-PHL before and after on a separate PNR. The best part was PE was not available on the PHL ZRH flight so all i had to do was buy cheap Y and upgrade to J. bam... Also have done the nesting thing several times before without problems. Many times, your upgrade will not be confirmed in advance and it will require you to be placed on an airport list, which is automatic if it doesn’t clear prior.

This waitlist is ordered by status, followed by the type of upgrade, followed by rolling spend within the past 12 months on American or Oneworld partners.

Here’s the order of this list:

• VIP1 — ConciergeKey on a systemwide upgrade
• UPG2 — ConciergeKey on a complimentary upgrade
• UPGA2 — Concierge Key on an award ticket requesting a complimentary upgrade
• VIP2 — Executive Platinum on a systemwide upgrade
• UPG2 — Executive Platinum on a complimentary upgrade
• UPGA2 — Executive Platinum on an award ticket requesting a complimentary upgrade
• VIP3 — Platinum Pro on a systemwide upgrade
• UPG3 — Platinum Pro on a complimentary upgrade
• VIP4 — Platinum on a systemwide upgrade
• UPG4 — Platinum on a complimentary upgrade
• VIP5 — Gold on a systemwide upgrade
• UPG5 — Gold on a complimentary upgrade
• VIP — Any non-elite status member on a systemwide upgrade

As you can see, systemwide upgrades always take priority within each tier but do not take priority over lower elite levels. For example, a ConciergeKey on a complimentary upgrade always takes priority over an Executive Platinum on a systemwide upgrade.

There are several important things to note when trying to use a systemwide upgrade:

• You cannot use a systemwide upgrade online or through the app, as there is no functionality to do so. There is functionality for an Executive Platinum or ConciergeKey member to see if an upgrade is available to use, but there is no electronic method of applying it online.
• Using a systemwide upgrade requires speaking with an agent over the phone, as they will need to confirm if the upgrade is available to use and then actually re-ticket your reservation. Sometimes, you can ask the American Airlines social media team to apply an upgrade, especially if you happen to see upgrade space available when you are unable to call-in.

https://upgradedpoints.com/travel/ai...wide-upgrades/



https://viewfromthewing.com/american...ability-works/

Oh man, I thought I had unlocked ONE WEIRD TRICK to force open C-space on transcons. Sad!

Maybe try JFK-SNA-PHX and see if you can get C space.

I think there's a lot of confusion here:

1. Married segments do not hurt SWU availability. If you book AUS-PHL-ZRH on one PNR, you can still use your SWU on the PHL-ZRH if it's available, even if it's not available on one leg, and even if it's not available when you search the itinerary as a whole.

2. Married segments do not help SWU availability. This is what OP is asking about, and is very clear—you need each segment to show C space searched individually.

3. I've never heard of the website being wrong about individual segment availability–putting on hold then calling to book isn't really necessary. Just book it then call (or more easily, use twitter) to apply your upgrade. Edit to add: The agent isn't calling the rate desk to verify availability, they're calling to have the original price you paid stored so that they can reissue as an even exchange.

4. PE has nothing to do with SWUs. Even if your PHL to ZRH had PE available, you can still purchase a cheap Y ticket and upgrade.

Actually it is you that is wrong. 1. Have to make sure you are using the aaards and upgrades tab and 2. You can only look dragnet bu segment. I believe there is actually a warning on EF (web) about this.

I understand what you�re trying to explain, but your list is incorrect.

What's incorrect? Missing UPG1 and UPG1A for CKs?

-FlyerBeek

not my list