Wow thanks for the data points. I guess I should look into buying UGs for my MIA flights going forward (if it’s worth it).

For me the white whale of UGs has always been PBI. Neither on US nor on AA have I ever scored a free UG in or out of there. I switched so FLL and the UGs began to flow.

I had to fly JFK to MIA in early March and initially booked the 11am 777-200 because I figured with the completely empty, 37 seat J cabin, mychances as a PPro were very good. This was about 3 weeks out. It was looking very good until about 10 days before the flight. I kid you not, in the span of 5 days, the cabin went from J30 to J0. I switched to the 12:30pm on an A321 and cleared into first at the window.

Well , I finally got an upgrade and its on a 737. My guess is everyone covets the lie flats on domestic routes so with the competitive upgrade prices , they now get taken quick. I’m wondering if AA executive staff take a few of these seats as well for emergency meetings in south beach 😚😇

I'm on a trip PHL-LAS-PHL. About a week and a half ago (I flew out yesterday) I got an email offering to sell me an upgrade, but I couldn't find a way to navigate to the buy-up. I gave up, and eventually did clear for a complimentary upgrade at the gate. (I think I'm going to change my name to "Red-#1 on the upgrade list-Top"). Now I get an offer to upgrade the return - but still no way to actually get to a screen that will let me. Not that I'm apt to do it, because the return is a Sunday night red-eye; I'll take my chances on the EXP complimentary upgrade.

Same thing here, posted a little bit above. Get an email but you open the link and all it does is take you to put your name in with the record locator but then you're just looking at the same screen you would be fi you looked at your res. in the app. Nothing I could do.. But I just got my first comp. upgrade and I'm so happy. On a LAX-JFK red eye. Never slept in the J seats, they look comfy. And food & a sundae... Gotta be the best value upgrade when comparing a $189 ticket now is in a seat selling for $1879. Good thing I wasnt able to open the email/find the paid upgrade.

I am curious and apologize if I missed this in a search. I reached Exec Platinum for the first time and collected 5 SWU's. I am flying SFO to JFK on Thursday this week and since I booked I was told, there wasn't a SWU upgrade available but I was on the list- They said these clear at the same time a miles upgrade request would happen.

yesterday, my partner and I were upgraded (he is tied to my ticket) and didn't use my SWE's.

The great news is I was upgraded based on the 100 window, but I am curious as to why they wouldn't collect an SWU to get it off the books.

generally, I haven’t seen the instrument pulled until the flight is taken. Could be wrong that somehow R bucket was opened and negated the SWU that is tied to C instrument upgrade bucket.

SWU's are pulled as soon as the upgrade is confirmed, not when the flight is flown.

But we've seen a few cases like this recently where it appears folks are somehow double waitlisted for both a SWU and the normal domestic comp upgrades. It doesn't make much sense why AA wouldn't release C space instead of R space, especially if people are on the waitlist. But if AA releases R space and you get a comp upgrade instead of burning a SWU, then great.

Yes, lie-flats on a red-eye are very sweet. Of course if you decide to stay awake to eat, you'll get less sleep. When I get a lie-flat on a red-eye, I try to go to sleep as soon as I can; I usually ask the FA to leave me a glass of club soda with ice, and if the desert is any good (and not frozen) I'll ask them to leave that too and I'll have it for breakfast.

This happened to me on an LAX-JFK flight. I am Platinum Pro, and I had a miles+copay upgrade waitlisted. I ended up clearing a complimentary upgrade and was never charged the miles or the copay.

Plat Pro 2500 LP
04/06/2023 AA 10
Cleared T-72

A lowly gold who hasn’t flown AA since before the pandemic:

3/30 ORD-SJD AA 1283 - cleared to J at the gate, was #1 of 3 for 1 seat.

4/4 SJD-ORD AA2636 - this was more like it. #11 out of 11 for 0 seats.

Anyone have thoughts on LAX-PHL upgrades? Looking like this may become a frequent route for me - currently Plat.

Totally depends. The list during the day is usually never less than 15-20, which could be a tough upgrade for a PLT. I'd check the waitlist of flights throughout the day to get a gauge on your chances.

4/6/23, AA631 CLT-PLS, 1 seat, list of 15. Cleared at gate. EXP