How long to wait for Upsell price to come down?
Feb 24, 2023, 4:24 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2023
Posts: 9
How long to wait for Upsell price to come down?
I am an Executive Platinum member. I have flights from DFW to LHR, FCO, OGG & HNL. I am trying to figure out the timing of how long to wait for the Upsell price to go down for an upgrade to Business class. Once I put an upgrade request with SWU, Business Extra Upgrade or Miles & Money the upsell offers stop. How far out before my flight should I wait before requesting the upgrade?
Feb 24, 2023, 5:00 pm
#2
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: AA Executive Platinum/Million Miler, Marriott Titanium Elite-Lifetime, Hilton Gold
Posts: 3,212
What amount of upsell prices are you seeing? And when are you traveling? Depending on those factors, the prices you're getting now might be the best you're going to get. It really depends.
Last edited by USFlyerUS; Feb 24, 2023 at 5:09 pm
Feb 24, 2023, 6:19 pm
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2023
Posts: 9
3300 to FCO, 2400 from LHR, 1100 from HNL but that was only for premium economy. FCO and LHR are May and HNL is July.
Feb 24, 2023, 10:25 pm
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Bye Delta
Programs: AA EXP, HH Diamond, IHG Plat, Hyatt Plat, Marriott Plat, Nat'l Exec Elite, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 16,276
There's no clear and easy answer here. The upsell offers may come down or they may never come down. Holding off on requesting SWU upgrades means you might miss out on clearing a waitlisted upgrade. You could possibly set up an ExpertFlyer alert to watch for C space, and not apply SWUs until you get an alert that it can be immediately confirmed, keeping an eye on the upsell offers in the interim... but it's still possible that even if SWU space is released, you never get an alert because it goes to other people already on the waitlist who you might have been ahead of if you just requested the SWU upgrade now. Decide what you want to gamble on.
Feb 25, 2023, 8:11 am
#6
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: NYC
Programs: AA Executive Platinum, DL Silver, IHG Diamond Elite, Marriot Gold, HHonors Gold
Posts: 73
Feb 25, 2023, 8:17 am
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2023
Posts: 9
The prices seem really high. I already have premium economy on every leg except back from HNL. I’m willing to pay $1000 each way but that would be the max. I’m struggling with when to put in the request. I would hate to miss an upgrade that became available but if I put in a request then I don’t see upsells. I have an expert flyer alert setup. In checking different forums there doesn’t seem to be a definitive answer to this dilemma.
Feb 25, 2023, 11:00 am
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Bye Delta
Programs: AA EXP, HH Diamond, IHG Plat, Hyatt Plat, Marriott Plat, Nat'l Exec Elite, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 16,276
Feb 25, 2023, 1:55 pm
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: PHL, NYC
Programs: AA PLT, DL SLV, UA SLV, MR LTT, HH DIA
Posts: 10,071
You could watch the inventory of J in expertflyer. As people begin buying those seats, the upsell offer will be even less likely to move. I think an SWU is worth saving $1000 (the max you said you'd pay) on some of those routes. But only a few people probably know the algorithm that determines those upsell prices and they aren't likely here on FT, and if they are they're not going to give us an answer.
Feb 25, 2023, 4:58 pm
#14
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Isle of Man/East Palo Alto
Programs: AA - CK/Airpass
Posts: 1,046
Upsell is almost always exorbitant out of DFW.
You probably could get a cheaper routing in paid J for some of those fares if you’re willing to be creative with your routing.
You probably could get a cheaper routing in paid J for some of those fares if you’re willing to be creative with your routing.
Feb 25, 2023, 8:15 pm
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: NYC
Posts: 27,237
I’m assuming these are just fare difference up-fares and not LFBUs / discounted upgrades? If so there’s nothing preventing you from doing one regardless of whether the offer shows online or in the app. Just keep an eye on J fares and call if the difference comes down to something acceptable.