9/5 EYW-MIA e175 cleared at window
MIA-DTW 738 cleared at window
9/24 DTW-PHL crj700 cleared at window
PHL-EYW a319 cleared t-24
9/26 EYW-CLT a319 didnt clear. 1/8 for no seats
CLT-DTW crj900 cleared at window
10/1 DTW-PHL crj700 cleared at window
PHL-EYW a319 cleared t-48
10/3 EYW-CLT a319 no upgrade. 1/12 for no seats
CLT-DTW crj900 cleared at window
10/14 DTW-DFW 738 cleared at window
10/16 DFW-DTW no upgrade 738 3/20 for no seats
EP 175k Lps

Went 1 for 4 on upgrades my most recent trip. Worst ratio I've had since pre-COVID times. Eek.
10/11: PHX to DCA, 1150(ish)pm flight. #3 of 10; 1 upgraded at the gate
10/12: DCA to PIT, 940(ish)am flight. Upgraded at T-48, 8 were on the upgrade list, 1 upgraded
10/18: PIT to DFW, 500(ish)pm flight. #9 of 18; 1 upgraded at the gate
10/18: DFW to PHX, 800(ish)pm flight. #23 of 36; 2 upgraded at the gate

Got upgrades for Mrs & me at T 10 (days!). This was because is was on the wait list for using miles (15K) & pay ($75) after having never been upgraded between CMH & PHX or having only 1 seat and either declining the upgrade or separating our PNRs. This is a route that we fly often. Just converted our remaining trips to this and am enjoying the peace of mind that we will be sitting up front (for a change) on our flight back to AZ.

I have a flight from SNA-ORD for a week from Saturday (10/29) before hopping on an ORD-NRT ANA F flight. 737 Max 8, 10 F seats still open, but no love on an upgrade yet. Come on AA!

The buy up on app offers will dwindle all those seats to zero.

has that become a thing now? I haven't flown much AA domestic in the last couple years

Are you waitlisted for a miles/copay upgrade I take it? You're still about 3-4 days away from the EXP comp upgrade window opening up.

Just the regular EXP upgrade request. Looking my confirmed upgrade history, it looks like of the flights I've been upgraded early over the years, the most has been 4 days out is the most soonest I've been upgraded. I guess I should be a bit more patient.

100 hours out for EXP.

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...6558932732.png

Yes. I'm EXP and regularly see 10 seats up front dwindle to 1-2 and then I'm usually 1-3 on the upgrade list.

If the buy-up to an revenue first class ticket is reasonable, I'll do it. Lately I've seen them anywhere between $91-$161 which is cheaper than upgrading with miles!

Ah yeah, completely forgot about the 100 hour thing, I'm out of practice these days.

This week's flights:

DEN-ORD, 738, Sunday morning: did not clear, was 5 of 35 at boarding (rare for me to not clear this flight, but it was parents weekend at CU-Boulder which might have had something to do with it.)

ORD-DCA, 738, Sunday early afternoon: cleared at around 30 hours prior to departure

DCA-CLT, 738, Friday mid-morning: had not cleared at around 12 hours before departure when I changed to different flights

CLT-DEN, A321, Friday noontime: cleared at 100 hours, but I didn't end flying this flight

DCA-LGA, E75, Friday 4pm: cleared 40 minutes prior to departure (after I changed to this flight about 16 hours prior to departure

LGA-OMA, E75, Friday 6pm: cleared immediately after booking, about 18 hours prior to departure

EXP, somewhere just under 200k LPs.

My advice: don't count on complimentary upgrades, but don't listen to those who claim they never happen.

OAJ-CLT
CLT-PNS
PNS-CLT

Cleared all at 72 hours out. PPro

This thread has been super eye opening. I’m a newly minted Platinum Pro, based out of LAX and BUR. My most common destinations next year are JFK/NYC, MCO, DTW, and LHR. Sometimes I‘ll go to PHX and DFW.

Previously, the highest level I’ve ever achieved was PLT. Expected and received very few upgrades (ended up with more unused stickers than I’d care to admit, that contributed to me reaching PPro). I was hoping that PPro might finally help but looks hit and miss.

In my situation, do you think EXP is significantly better than PPRO? I actually could choose to do a bit of traveling in the next few months and there’s a path for me to hit EXP (if I include a couple of stays in the BookAAHotels program). Edited to clarify: I know I won‘t receive Elite Choice rewards in this case, so I‘d be doing this mostly for the upgrades and other benefits.

Is the upgrade difference enough that you would go for it? Any insights appreciated!

a lot depends on where you fly from, where you usually fly to, if you have opportunities to pick your flight times, etc.

out of ORD I can change my flight times and almost always guarantee an UG but I like the times I choose for many other reasons.