Upgrades to clear 40 minutes prior to flight depart North America airports (3/22),
Feb 28, 2022, 11:31 am
#1
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
Upgrades to clear 40 minutes prior to flight depart North America airports (3/22),
in the fine print:
From the fine print on the newer upgrade rules:
If this is accurate, upgrades won’t rely on Gate Agents clearing (or not clearing - lists at the gate. Please share your experiences and discuss.
From the fine print on the newer upgrade rules:
You'll continue to be added to the airport upgrade list if your upgrade request hasn’t cleared before check-in. We’re beginning to roll out an enhanced upgrade experience in 2022 for status members at the airport: Upgrades will automatically clear 40 minutes before your flight departure if seats are available. This will apply to all airports within North America. Once your upgrade clears, you’ll be notified on the app or on the gate monitor.
Feb 28, 2022, 11:47 am
#2
Join Date: Aug 2021
Location: USA
Programs: American Airlines (Executive Platinum), Hyatt (Globalist), Hilton (Diamond), IHG (Diamond)
Posts: 2,917
If it's really out of the GAs' hands now, we'll need a new term for "upgrade cleared while in line" or "upgrade cleared while walking down the bridge."
Feb 28, 2022, 1:51 pm
#4
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: PHL
Programs: AA ExP, Marriott Amb, National EAE, Hilton Diamond, SPG Plat (RIP), US CP (RIP)
Posts: 2,379
Wonder the impact of clearing 40 minutes from departure will have on ticketed First IRROPS. Wouldn’t this result in a 10 minute loss for re-accommodation efforts?
Feb 28, 2022, 2:38 pm
#5
Join Date: Nov 2019
Posts: 153
Maybe I’m wrong, but the way I read this is that it will only automatically clear in the case where there are seats open in F/J at 40 mins out. So, in the case that someone has not checked in or if the seat has gone unsold.
There will still be a manual clearance period after that automatic clearance though. This is when they will clear based on no-shows.
The wording isn’t super clear about this, but there is clearly going to still be some manual clearance, and this is the only way I’d imagine that would work:
There will still be a manual clearance period after that automatic clearance though. This is when they will clear based on no-shows.
The wording isn’t super clear about this, but there is clearly going to still be some manual clearance, and this is the only way I’d imagine that would work:
Be sure you’ve checked in early so you’re on the upgrade list. If you aren’t on the list before the automatic clearance, you’ll be prioritized after the airport upgrade list has cleared.
Feb 28, 2022, 8:25 pm
#8
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: AUS
Programs: AA Exec Platinum/MM, DL Gold/MM, Hilton Diamond, Accor Platinum, Hertz Presidents Circle
Posts: 6,976
The T-40 automation doesn't make this any more or less likely. I don't think it will make much difference overall. Most clear about that time now. Just as well to take it out of the GAs hands, and good for them as it gives them one less thing to do. There will still be the same discretion wrt to late connectors.
Most of the time there is no more than one F seat to fill at the gate anyway.
Most of the time there is no more than one F seat to fill at the gate anyway.
Feb 28, 2022, 8:30 pm
#9
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: CLT
Programs: AA Executive Platinum, Hilton Diamond, Lifetime Admirals Club member
Posts: 419
40 minutes sounded great until I realized it was 40 minutes before departure, not 40 min before boarding. So yeah, right as they finish the preboards. I guess it's nice to not have it up to the whim of the GA as to when to start any upgrades....
Feb 28, 2022, 8:44 pm
#10
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: SFO, CLT
Programs: AA Bonsai EXP (2.9 MM), AS MVPG
Posts: 1,395
The T-40 automation doesn't make this any more or less likely. I don't think it will make much difference overall. Most clear about that time now. Just as well to take it out of the GAs hands, and good for them as it gives them one less thing to do. There will still be the same discretion wrt to late connectors.
Most of the time there is no more than one F seat to fill at the gate anyway.
Most of the time there is no more than one F seat to fill at the gate anyway.
Feb 28, 2022, 9:52 pm
#11
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 407
As for the 40 minutes, not a great idea. I think this policy is based on wanting to sell same-day upgrades. If so, not very well thought out.
Last edited by AADFW; Feb 28, 2022 at 9:56 pm Reason: grammar
Feb 28, 2022, 10:42 pm
#13
Join Date: Aug 2021
Location: USA
Programs: American Airlines (Executive Platinum), Hyatt (Globalist), Hilton (Diamond), IHG (Diamond)
Posts: 2,917
What do you mean? Seems perfectly designed for selling same-day and even at-the-gate upgrades. They're giving themselves every possible minute.
Mar 1, 2022, 10:16 am
#15
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: 10,037
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.