Jan 2, 23, 3:53 pm
Last edit by: PHL
When upgrade space becomes available, the available seats are given in order of tier, type of upgrade and rolling 12 month loyalty point count. In cases of a tie breaker, then the booking code and time of upgrade request are considered.
The process applies to flights eligible for complimentary upgrades (domestic, Caribbean, Mexico) as well as flights offering upgrades using only instruments.
Elite status
1. Loyalty Points earned in prior 12 months at the time the upgrade is processed.
2. Booking class
3. Time of request
https://www.aa.com/i18n/aadvantage-p...y-upgrades.jsp
What order are upgrades confirmed?
As soon as your upgrade window opens, we'll attempt to confirm in this order:
Link to 2020-2021 archived thread.
For previous changes, see Upgrade Priority Changes to Status, Rolling 365 Day EQD Spend May 20 2017
Link to Gary Leff, View From the Wing 16 May 2017
The process applies to flights eligible for complimentary upgrades (domestic, Caribbean, Mexico) as well as flights offering upgrades using only instruments.
Elite status
- Concierge Key
- Executive Platinum
- Platinum Pro
- Platinum
- Gold
- Instrument based upgrade: Mileage upgrade award(with or without copay), systemwide upgrade (SWU) and business Extra upgrades (BXP1/BXP3) available to any AA customer with or without elite status for any AA flight in the world based on availability
- Complimentary upgrades on purchased tickets within North America for AAdvantage elite members and one flying companion
- Complimentary upgrades on award tickets within North America for AAdvantage elite members and one flying companion
1. Loyalty Points earned in prior 12 months at the time the upgrade is processed.
2. Booking class
3. Time of request
https://www.aa.com/i18n/aadvantage-p...y-upgrades.jsp
What order are upgrades confirmed?
As soon as your upgrade window opens, we'll attempt to confirm in this order:
- AAdvantage status level (ConciergeKey members are first, followed by AAdvantage Executive Platinum, AAdvantage Platinum Pro, AAdvantage Platinum and then AAdvantage Gold members)
- Upgrades on purchased tickets first, followed by upgrades on award tickets
- 12-month rolling Loyalty Points
Link to 2020-2021 archived thread.
For previous changes, see Upgrade Priority Changes to Status, Rolling 365 Day EQD Spend May 20 2017
Link to Gary Leff, View From the Wing 16 May 2017
Chance of Upgrade Clearing and Availability (2023 Master Thread)
Jan 2, 23, 8:44 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: New England
Programs: Delta Plat, United Gold, American Gold, Wyndham Gold, Hyatt Explorist, Marriott Gold, Hilton Silver
Posts: 5,490
Chance of Upgrade Clearing and Availability (2023 Master Thread)
Woohoo! SAV-CLT and CLT-BOS cleared at T-48 for tomorrow.
Jan 3, 23, 5:58 pm
#3
Join Date: Jan 2022
Location: Virginia Beach,VA/ Aventura,FL
Programs: American Advantage
Posts: 20
Disappointed in upgrade status
Im executive platinum and flying out on Saturday. At this time they are still trying to sell me upgrades when its 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.
Jan 3, 23, 6:15 pm
#4
Join Date: Feb 2022
Programs: AAdvantage
Posts: 825
Im executive platinum and flying out on Saturday. At this time they are still trying to sell me upgrades when its 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.
Jan 3, 23, 8:57 pm
#5
Join Date: May 2008
Location: PHL (kinda, no airport is really close)
Programs: AA Exp, but not sure for how long. Enterprise Platinum woo-hoo!
Posts: 4,524
Im executive platinum and flying out on Saturday. At this time they are still trying to sell me upgrades when its 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.
Jan 3, 23, 9:19 pm
#7
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: ORD-JFK-EZE-MAD
Programs: AA LT PLT 4mm / Free Agent / GE / Secret Handshake
Posts: 854
Im executive platinum and flying out on Saturday. At this time they are still trying to sell me upgrades when its 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.
Jan 4, 23, 9:34 am
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Wesley Chapel, FL
Programs: American Airlines
Posts: 29,037
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.
Jan 4, 23, 9:41 am
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 11,675
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.
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'.
Jan 4, 23, 10:24 am
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Wesley Chapel, FL
Programs: American Airlines
Posts: 29,037
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'.
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'.
Jan 4, 23, 11:41 am
#12
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: PHL, NYC
Programs: AA PLT, DL SLV, UA SLV, MR LTT, HH DIA
Posts: 9,940
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.
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.
Jan 4, 23, 1:30 pm
#13
Join Date: Jan 2022
Location: Virginia Beach,VA/ Aventura,FL
Programs: American Advantage
Posts: 20
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.
Jan 4, 23, 1:40 pm
#14
Join Date: Feb 2022
Programs: AAdvantage
Posts: 825
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.
Jan 4, 23, 2:08 pm
#15
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: DEN
Programs: AA EXP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,470
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.
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.
