PHL-DEN Thursday evening, cleared at T-100

Platinum Pro. Have only had one flight in '23 where I didn't clear (LAS-CLT at the most popular time). Every other flight has been cleared right at the three days out mark, including ORD > LAX.

Why don't you just fly YVR-DFW RT on another airline in first or business on another airline? There's nothing aspirational about AA's YVR-DFW flight -- just regular recliners.

For North American flights, if you use miles and copay (I'm assuming you are referring to 15,000 miles per person, per one-way along with the $75 copay), they usually process that first before the 'complimentary' upgrades offered to elite status members. So you will be before other people who have status and don't use miles or SWUs as an upgrade instrument typically.

My suggestion would be still however to just book on a cheaper airline, discount economy, (or business if they offer lie flats such as on certain Air Canada routes), rather than to shell out so much money and miles for a 4 hour flight.

Thank you for the wise words. I appreciate it and will take your advice.

Upgraded to F as a Gold on an award ticket ATL-MIA-I did purchase a MCE seat so any thought if that has any impact?

Just a glitch in the matrix.

You weren't eligible for a complimentary upgrade, so perhaps this was an operational upgrade? Even so, it seems odd that a Gold -- on an award ticket, no less -- would have been selected.

Cmh-dfw May 31st?
 

Have a flight booked for 48 hours (roughly) from now. 11 out of 20 F seats open (which is typical for this flight at 72 hours). I fly this leg 1-2 times a month, always alone. Typically my upgrade happens at 72 hours. However, for this flight I have a companion. No AA number for him, first flight in many years. I am PP with 80k LP. I think the answer no, but would I not be clearing because of the companion? Still getting offers to upgrade on the app.

With that many still open in F it's unlikely that having a companion is affecting anything. Just AA being stingy and not releasing more space till closer in than you're used to.

We're also really getting into peak peak summer season now so it's possible AA may have tweaked their algorithms for releasing space compared to previous not as busy months.

And you will until every last seat in F is sold.

Platinum Pro, CLT-SDF (Louisville) on Thursday morning, upgrade just cleared for my companion and I ~ 72 hours out.

Got an instant confirmed upgrade for SAN-ORD-DCA trip last week as a Gold when I checked in (SAN-ORD confirmed right away and ORD-DCA cleared a couple hours later). Pretty surprised as I never got anything and I checked the waitlist later there are like more than 10 people there.
Not sure if it's because I checked in early enough (right about 24hrs before the flight) or I bought a more expensive fare class (G) than I usually did... Too bad the power outlet on 1F seat on SAN-ORD was not working.

Surprisingly upgraded on a PHX-DEN morning flight last week (Wed before Memorial Day weekend) as a Gold 18 hours before departure time. I had 7.1K LPs already during this qualification year, but don't know my rolling 12-month LP count (I was Platinum last year finishing with 32K LPs). There was still one seat left and I think about 10 or so on the waiting list by the time we boarded.

HI all, this is probably a dumb question but really just trying to learn how everything works. I am PP and have a reservation with my child on a flight which leaves Friday morning at 7. There are still 2 C seats available and I am just curious why we would not be clearing at this point (less than 72 hours out). I am fully aware it is not a big deal and only a 2 hour flight but more just trying to learn for the future and ensure I'm not missing a step. Thanks all!


https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...84390c6704.png

Upgrades on AA pull from different buckets.

C space is what you need if you're using a SWU or miles/copay upgrade. R space is what you need for the usual complimentary domestic upgrade. R space for these upgrades is not visible at ExpertFlyer.

So assuming you're just hoping for the complimentary domestic upgrade seeing C space is meaningless, other than for the fact that at a high level if AA has C space open then they're likely to release R at some point.

Your flight right now is J4, 4 seats left for sale up front, so AA may release one or two R seats for upgrades before Friday but the last 2 seats will most likely be held and not released for upgrades until the gate (or any folks that may take whatever buy-up upgrade offer AA is offering).