Upgrades to clear 40 minutes prior to flight depart North America airports (3/22),
Mar 1, 2022, 3:12 pm
#16
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Hawaii & Texas
Programs: AA ExPlat / LT Plat / 3MM, Delta Plat, Bonvoy LT Titanium, HH Diamond
Posts: 1,109
Yesterday, I was upgraded on a AUS-DFW flight after I had already boarded. Was pleasantly surprised when I received an App notification that my wallet had a seat change. By the time the gate agent came on board to tell me, I had already moved.
Mar 2, 2022, 9:01 am
#17
Join Date: Feb 2022
Programs: AAdvantage
Posts: 949
IME if there's an open seat it's up to the GA on when they will clear it. If I'm number one on the list I usually go up to the podium around T-50 and ask. 90% of the time I walk away with a BP. On occasion I'm told to wait (usually to around T-40 to even T-30-after I've usually boarded). No show/misconnect is different. In that case usually after I've boarded and on occasion when I'm boarding the GA tells me to hold off boarding for a few minutes. Sounds like possibly the first scenario will require the GA now to wait until T-40.
Mar 2, 2022, 10:41 am
#18
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: AUS
Programs: AA Exec Platinum/MM, DL Gold/MM, Hilton Diamond, Accor Platinum, Hertz Presidents Circle
Posts: 6,970
My biggest concern with this automation is what if you're traveling as a pair and there is only one seat left?
The current system would skip the pair and go to the next person on the list. Safe to assume it would automatically skip the pair in this case as well?
Have had multiple occasions where my wife and I were traveling together and one of us got the last upgrade. We are happy to split up in that case.
The current system would skip the pair and go to the next person on the list. Safe to assume it would automatically skip the pair in this case as well?
Have had multiple occasions where my wife and I were traveling together and one of us got the last upgrade. We are happy to split up in that case.
IME if there's an open seat it's up to the GA on when they will clear it. If I'm number one on the list I usually go up to the podium around T-50 and ask. 90% of the time I walk away with a BP. On occasion I'm told to wait (usually to around T-40 to even T-30-after I've usually boarded). No show/misconnect is different. In that case usually after I've boarded and on occasion when I'm boarding the GA tells me to hold off boarding for a few minutes. Sounds like possibly the first scenario will require the GA now to wait until T-40.
Mar 2, 2022, 4:16 pm
#19
Join Date: Feb 2022
Programs: AAdvantage
Posts: 949
Mar 2, 2022, 4:22 pm
#20
Join Date: Aug 2021
Location: USA
Programs: American Airlines (Executive Platinum), Hyatt (Globalist), Hilton (Diamond), IHG (Diamond)
Posts: 2,917
Mar 3, 2022, 1:37 pm
#21
Join Date: Mar 2016
Programs: AA-EXP
Posts: 615
Is everyone assuming this statement means ALL upgrades will wait until T-40 minutes? I may have on my rose colored glasses, but I think it means only the upgrades that are not processed at the upgrade windows, and make it to the airport list. It would be a HUGE downgrade to not get upgraded early....because as it is now I sometimes have a couple of seats to choose from (on the rare occasions I am upgraded at T-100 hours).
Mar 8, 2022, 10:34 am
#23
Used to be 'g_leyser'
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Brandon Johnson International Airport (expect delays)
Programs: AA PlatPro, HH Gold, Bonvoy Gold, IHG Plat, Reno Air MEGA Platinum
Posts: 10,036
IME if there's an open seat it's up to the GA on when they will clear it. If I'm number one on the list I usually go up to the podium around T-50 and ask. 90% of the time I walk away with a BP. On occasion I'm told to wait (usually to around T-40 to even T-30-after I've usually boarded). No show/misconnect is different. In that case usually after I've boarded and on occasion when I'm boarding the GA tells me to hold off boarding for a few minutes. Sounds like possibly the first scenario will require the GA now to wait until T-40.
My concern is that now the GA will say "sorry, the computer does it, I can't help you."
I guess you could split the PNR, but that comes with other issues as well.
Mar 8, 2022, 11:38 am
#24
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: AA Executive Platinum/Million Miler, Marriott Titanium Elite-Lifetime, Hilton Gold
Posts: 3,201
Personally, when it comes to upgrades, I support any automation that reduces the discretion of agents outside of IRROPS. Back in the day, NW added system controls (this was like 20 years ago on NW) that prevented agents from processing upgrades, thereby eliminating their ability to process upgrades out of order. Whenever I didn't get upgraded on NW, I never felt cheated. Whenever I didn't get upgraded on US, I always felt like maybe I should have called or pestered an agent. I much preferred the NW method.