How much of an advantage is Executive Platinum at O'Hare
Jan 23, 2023, 12:24 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 4
How much of an advantage is Executive Platinum at O'Hare
Deciding how much to spend to hit AAdvantage Executive Platinum. How much more likely to get upgrades on flights out of O'Hare w/ Executive Platinum vs Platinum Pro? Mainly take flights from Chicago->MCO.
Jan 23, 2023, 12:30 pm
#2
Used to be 'g_leyser'
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Brandon Johnson International Airport (expect delays)
Programs: AA PlatPro, HH Gold, Bonvoy Gold, IHG Plat, Reno Air MEGA Platinum
Posts: 10,039
It's difficult to generalize. I'm an ORD based flyer, and personally I wouldn't spend much of anything to move to EXP if I was only flying domestic.
Are you flying ORD-MCO on Mondays and returning Thursdays? That will be a harder upgrade than say Tuesdays or Wednesdays.
And how many trips are you flying per year? If it's weekly, it's one thing, if it's a couple of times per month, that's another.
Are you flying ORD-MCO on Mondays and returning Thursdays? That will be a harder upgrade than say Tuesdays or Wednesdays.
And how many trips are you flying per year? If it's weekly, it's one thing, if it's a couple of times per month, that's another.
Jan 23, 2023, 8:51 pm
#4
Used to be 'g_leyser'
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Brandon Johnson International Airport (expect delays)
Programs: AA PlatPro, HH Gold, Bonvoy Gold, IHG Plat, Reno Air MEGA Platinum
Posts: 10,039
Just my opinion, but I think you should have a halfway decent upgrade percentage as PlatPro with that schedule. Especially the Tuesday flights. There will be exceptions, like Spring Break and big conferences, but I wouldn't spend money to make EXP for that flying pattern.
YMMV.
YMMV.
Jan 27, 2023, 11:50 am
#6
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Between ORD and MKE
Programs: AA ExecPlat; UA 1K
Posts: 147
She has been getting upgraded back and forth to ORD between 50 and 75 percent of the time. I only get upgraded on my own about 15 percent of the time (small sample since I just hit PlatPro recently). I have missed by one or two spots on the upgrade list a lot on ORD flights. She and a companion got upgraded at the 100-hour window on ORD-LAX and PHX-ORD already this month, I came close but did not clear either time. I would think MCO is probably similar.
The only other data point I can share is that I have been regularly receiving offers to upgrade (usually for $205 one way even when the fare difference is $500-600) when I have a separate reservation. As an EXP, she does not get those offers, even when she's on the same flight at the same fare as me. So if you're willing to buy up you might want to stay at PlatPro, if you're looking only for free upgrades I would push my way into EXP if you're at all close.