flying_geek

I know there is a thread on complimentary Y->PE upgrades - but I am hoping the mods can leave this here for a few days before merging. I am trying to collect enough data to put a table together that might shed some light on what is happening.

I am looking at incidences from the last 6 months - if you have been upgraded (international flights only - not talking about seated in PE seats on a domestic flight), please replay with:

Your status level, Number of people in locator, revenue/award ticket, route, month, did everyone on locator get upgraded, were you listed for SWU, when/where was the upgrade offered (App, kiosk, gate etc...), did you ask for it? Was it AA flight number or partner, what ticket stock (which airline issued the ticket)

I would also be interested in any known incidences where there was available PE space for sale and you did not get upgraded.

Having an urge to figure this out.

enviroian

Actually technically I don't know. I have booked Y tickets on PE heavies and have been able to immediately select a PE seat upon ticket purchase.

flying_geek

OK - a new scenario - on international flights?

enviroian

no domestic (dfw-mia and dfw-ord)

Zacnlinc

Status level: EXP
# on locator: 1
Ticket Type: revenue
Route: LHR-LAX
Month: Oct '22
Upgrades Offer: No J full (no upgrades processed before I boarded)
Were you listed for SWU: Yes - #1
When/where was the upgrade offered: Onboard - declined as there were center seats only and I was seated Window Exit

PHL

I think the OP is looking for data on flights where PE is sold as its own class of service. On domestic routes like you mention, I believe those PE seats are classified as MCE which any elite above Gold can pick at time of booking.

flying_geek

Correct - actual PE as a class - not just the seat. I

shd9

If you said yes they will pull your SWU, upgrade you to C class, and 'downgrade' you to a PE seat. And then you have to email AA for a couple of back and forth to get the SWU back. Glad you didn't bite on that.

For OP, I think PE upgrades are offered to EXPs on the LFBU system (at least pre-pandemic). Asking at the gate seems to yield some success too. But if you are waitlisted using SWU, be careful

flying_geek

well, trhe reason I am trying to get a bigger sample size is because I want to try to figure it out. I was SWU waitlisted once, got offered PE, took it, had a boarding pass that said "business" and a PE seat - but no SWU was pulled. I have also just seen it on online check in. I am trying to figure out when it happens by collecting more data points. I should edit my initial post - I guess if AA or partner flight number would also be interesting

flying_geek

guess we can close this. The mystery of when Y->PE upgrades occur continues

brenc3

Last week JFK-MAD, was upgraded Y->PE right before boarding. AA revenue ticket. I just got a seat change notification and AC agent said it was an op-up. I'm EXP but had no SWU pending. I actually declined it because I was traveling with others on a different PNR and we all had bulkhead seats together. So someone else got it.

355F1

Status level: EXP
# on locator: 2
Ticket Type: revenue
Route: PHL-CDG
Month: Nov 2022
Upgrades Offer: No J full (no upgrades processed before I boarded)
Were you listed for SWU: Yes - #1 & 2
When/where was the upgrade offered: I had to fight for it. Gate agent said they don't upgrade EXPs for free to PE, then he upgraded five of the pilot's family to PE seats in front of me..... so I went to the gate next door for another fight who had a very senior agent and he came over and made it happen.

enviroian

Wow. What a specimen.

Good for you to going to another agent. Did you happen to catch any reaction to the agent who upped the pilot's family to PE?

355F1

I do not exaggerate this when I say it......the agent literally looked like someone who works as a TSA agent.....someone who does the bare minimum, disheveled, no personality, and barely spoke.....somehow he was running an international departure alone....and looked relatively annoyed when the other agent came over to get us moved up.

I have only flown through PHL twice and I just hate that airport so much. I am so grateful that almost ALL of my international flights are ex-PHX or LAX.

deac83

Status level: EXP
# on locator: 1
Ticket Type: revenue
Route: PHL-DUB
Month: Sep 2022
Upgrades Offer: No
Were you listed for SWU: no I was out of SWU
When/where was the upgrade offered: Trip was DFW-PHL-DUB, nothing in AA DFW club, in PHL AA club I asked in general about a comp upgrade, he said he could comp me to PE. FWIW, I was traveling with Mrs. Deac83 but on separate tickets (because I gave her my last SWU )