Chance of Upgrade Clearing and Availability (2023 Master Thread)
 

Woohoo! SAV-CLT and CLT-BOS cleared at T-48 for tomorrow.

Hopefully the start of a good 2023:

1/5/23 CMH-PHL upgraded at T-100
1/5/23 PHL-LAX still waiting (have PE on 787-8)

Disappointed in upgrade status
 

I’m executive platinum and flying out on Saturday. At this time they are still trying to sell me upgrades when it’s less than 100 hours before the flight. So I assume they are still trying to sell upgrades or first class seats to others. You work all year to get EXP and it gets you nothing. Very disappointed.

What AA really wants are people that get EXP status primarily through charging like crazy on a co-branded status thereby not spending too much time on one of their airplanes. The new "first class" for EXPs is getting MCE free.

I think you're taking it a bit far. Upgrades are a privilege, not an entitlement. I have frequently not gotten upgraded at T-100. In fact, I would guess that I'm upgraded at the gate maybe 20% of the time. Then again, three weeks ago I messed up and was going to miss my 4PM departure (and upgrade) but I was able to rebook on a 7PM flight and got upgraded there. (And by a pure stroke of luck, met someone I know at the game who was in the same row as me - and even more serendipitous, I didn't even have to ask to swap seats to sit next to him, because the oridinal 5C and 5D were apparently a couple who were quite happy to find that 5F was open.)

AA593 PHX-DEN going out with 1 open F seat, on an A320.

I'm sorry for you disappointment. Chasing FF status to enter the rewards lottery is a very poor investment of time and money.

I have three SWU's expiring in October. I know of course I need to ticket by that time but I didn't realize the SWU has to clear by it's expiration date or it will not be valid. I wasn't aware of this. Say for example I book a ticket today for Christmas travel to LHR. The SWU needs to clear by October or it's null and void. This is what AA twitter told me.

Yes it has been like this for years now, hence all the rush last summer at the end of July to book trips with SWU's that were expiring on 7/31.

As long as one segment clears then the SWU is pulled and attached to your PNR and won't go away after the expiration date. So even if you can't find confirmed space on the longhaul flight, you can always use the SWU on the domestic connecting flight then waitlist the longhaul to keep the SWU 'alive'.

Just over 200K LP. Today, TUS/PHX A319 number one, no seats. PHX/MIA 772 number three 1 seat available. Not looking good. At least I have PE on the second flight.

Good info thanks for clarifying.

MIA-GRU miles+copay upgrade cleared 2 weeks before trip for 2 of us.

Connecting PHL-MIA did not clear - unsurprisingly - and when I asked to be waitlisted they told me I was already on the complimentary upgrade list. I explained that since MIA-GRU cleared, I would like to be waitlisted as a miles+copay waitlist since that takes priority over the standard complimentary upgrades. Agent told me they couldn't add me to that list since my other leg cleared. I pushed back and asked her to check with supervisor since the miles+copay upgrade award includes up to 3 legs, and if one of them isn't available I should be waitlisted with the correct priority. She came back and informed me that I was upgraded all the way through. Checked my rez and it was all set. Note: PHL-MIA did *NOT* have "C" upgrade inventory when I called/was on the phone with her, so there must have been an override by a supervisor. Nice way to star the new year on a long trip like this one. :D

Another 24 hours have gone by. There are now 5 seats available, and all it shows on my reservation is that upgrade is requested. But they are still trying to sell seats in First. Being that my home airport only has limited nonstop flights usually to hubs, should I be looking at Delta or United to do a status match and switch loyalty? Or are they just as bad? I normally fly enough to get elite status, but to get to Executive Platinum level, it is helped by spending on the AA credit card. I have a United card but do not use it as much in order not to split and then get less miles/points on each. Ido not have a Delta card and try to stay away from Delta as they usually ask a ridiculous amount of miles for a free Business class international flight, and I just used up all of my Amex Platinum points for a May trip. Advice is welcome. Thank you.

This is the future. Aggressively monetizing the premium cabin with any open seats going to upgrades. Given some of the high dollar spend between cc and flying a low spend EXP will see fewer and fewer upgrades. People are going to have to get used to either paying for First or happy in an MCE seat. MCE is becoming the new "F" for PLTs, PP, and EXPs.

Upgrade clearing as usual.

ORD-OMA, E75, Wednesday afternoon, cleared at 100 hours

Just over 200k LPs, web saver award ticket.

Nothing much to write home about after coming off of NRT-ORD in JL First earlier today. ;)