Upgrade Priority Question - Bizarre Encounter at Gate
 

I’m trying to understand the weird scenario I just experienced getting the last F seat on JFK-AUS this morning.

I checked in and was #1 on the list with 1 seat available. Things were looking good. About 20 minutes before boarding, I’m suddenly #3. Both of the names ahead of me had the same three letters for the last name, I presumed they were traveling together. I also noticed one of the two names (2nd one so likely companion) also on the list at #12. It could be a coincidence with another passenger with a similar last name and first initial, but I question that with what happened next.

Moments before boarding, they call my name and tell me the seat is mine. Meanwhile Group 1 boarding is called. As that’s happening, a lady runs over from the Group 1 queue and somewhat aggressively asks why she isn’t getting a complementary upgrade. The agent said, “You didn’t want to split up your party!” The lady refuted that she’d be happy to split up. At this point, I’m feeling like I’m out of luck.

Then the agent said, “Well you have to pay $75 fee to reticket since it’s a mileage upgrade request.” The lady said, “I want the complementary upgrade”. The agent said it wasn’t possible because it’s a miles request not a complementary request.

The lady didn’t want to pay so she boarded with Group 1. I got the seat.

So I’m thinking maybe she saw she was 12 on the list and asked an agent to put her in for a mileage upgrade and that carries higher priority than any status comp upgrade? She boarded with Group 1 so presumably she’s EP, it’s hard for me to believe there’s 10+ EPs behind me in queue to get her on #12.

If she wasn’t boarding Group 1 with an economy seat, I’d assume it was strictly a miles request, but unless she snuck in the wrong group, I’m scratching my head a bit.

Does of this make sense?

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...01ed546468.png
#2 and #12 might be the same person?
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...34cb603f70.png
Scenario

SWUs and mileage award upgrades take priority over complementary upgrades. See https://www.aa.com/i18n/aadvantage-p...ades.jsp#order.

There could easily have been 10+ EPs on the standby list. This is more common at DFW and other major hubs, but I've seen it nonetheless at other stations.

I routinely see 20+ EPs board with Group 1 on routes out of AUS or major DFW routes, but typically not on JFK ones which you somewhat pointed out. I also didn’t see a swath of people beyond the first class cabin board like I do on those flights. I only hit 210k LP last year so I’m not exactly cream of the crop EP in those cases.

Thanks for the link, that’s just for complementary. I found this link: https://www.aa.com/i18n/aadvantage-p...with-miles.jsp which basically confirms someone can spend 15k + $75. I’m guessing that was what was in play, I think she would’ve done 30K + $150 for both, but didn’t want to split up the party and pay and was trying to take her position 1 priority and get the comp/status upgrade. I’m glad the gate agent was playing by the rules.

The link I sent has the priority for all upgrade types. Here it is cut and pasted for simplicity (emphasis added):

You'll automatically be added to the airport upgrade standby list when you check in with American. Your priority at the airport is based on:

• Status level (AAdvantage ConciergeKey® members are first, followed by AAdvantage Executive Platinum®, AAdvantage Platinum Pro®, AAdvantage Platinum® and then AAdvantage Gold® members)
• Upgrade type in this order: (1 - Systemwide and mileage award upgrades*, 2 - Upgrades on purchased tickets, 3 - Upgrades on award tickets)
• 12-month rolling Loyalty Points

If the upgrade type and 12-month rolling Loyalty Point value are the same we’ll look at the booking code then date/time of the request to determine prioritization.

What's somewhat strange is you inherit your companion's status and priority, so I don't know why she wouldn't have been with her companion from the outset, unless she too has status, albeit with less 12-month rolling LPs, which I think requires agent intervention to get her on the right place in the priority list.

Thanks, I missed the second bullet, appreciate the highlight. Well #1 and #2 were together on the list, however, #12 was not adjacent to the other party, so that could’ve been coincidental with another passenger. Maybe they were on different locators and both put individual mileage requests in, and only one comp request for the status member, but you’d think #1 would be #12 and not #2. Do you know if you put in a mileage request while you already have a complementary request, do you show up on the airport list twice?

I believe you can only have one upgrade type at a time on request for a given flight.

That was sort of my assumption, so I guess the #12 was coincidental initials of another passenger. Thanks for all the clarifications.

They don't show it on the web site bullet point, but despite coming out of the same upgrade bucket (C), BXP1/BXP3 upgrades fall in line after SWU and mileage upgrade when the flight goes to airport control.

What’s BXP1 and BXP3? Is there a BXP2?

See https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/amer...er-thread.html.

AA Business Extra awards
https://www.businessextra.com

There is a BXP2 that is for upgrading from full fare to next cabin.

I think she was either 1 or 2, an EXP with fewer LPs than you

You were 1.
They asked for a mileage upgrade at the airport which bumped them up to 1 and 2, but said they didn’t want to split up.
With only 1 seat you (#3) get the upgrade.

Only 1 companion can inherit status for upgrades so #12 is either a coincidence or someone else in the party who had their own status, probably a gold.

Wait. Can TAs and GAs waitlist you for mileage upgrades? On UA, I've had agents refuse to rebook mileage awards (different beast than above I know) since "they don't handle that." I've always been directed to call mileageplus. I can't imagine trying to ask an agent to upgrade a revenue fare with miles in person. Has anyone done that? What was the result?

These need to be requested in advance:
https://www.aa.com/i18n/aadvantage-p...vel.jsp#making

Contact Reservations or visit an American Airlines Travel Center to request a mileage upgrade award.
You may request an upgrade when you book your trip or at any time before check-in.

Side question: Do "American Airlines Travel Centers" exist any more? This makes me think of the off airport ticket offices in cities. I guess it could be a service desk in the airport too?

Good to know thanks! But I don't understand why she would pay 75 at the gate? Don't you pay upfront in miles and cash, even for waitlisting?

Not sure what the agent meant by 'reticketing fee' being $75.. And no, she would not be able to process a points+copay upgrade at the gate anyway. After reading this thread multiple times, I'm not really sure what transpired. It seems evident that #1 and #2, through whatever upgrade means they used, were an all or none situation. #3 got the seat as a solo traveler. Then whomever requested the upgrade as a pair wants to change the request to send their companion back to coach while they still take the upgrade.

Am I the only one that finds even more juvenile delight in "B VER" than in "HAR,D" ?

I've upgraded from J to F on a 321T using miles by asking an agent in the AC before. It might have even been within 1hr of departure as it was an impulse buy as I was walking out of the FL to head to the gate.

- Perhaps, she asked for a mileage upgrade just minutes before the boarding and GA added her and another passenger on the upgrade list without collecting $75 copay for domestic mileage upgrade. This would explain why GA ask her to pay $75 for the seat as it was mileage upgrade.
Note that ticketing fee at the counter is $35 and it is waived for EP. The only other $75 fee is for the same day doemstic flight change (also waived for EP).

Speaking from experience, if you mile+copay, a manifest is printed at the gate which tells the agents which people to call to collect copay.

In this case, there were no seats and 20+ on the waitlist, why would they collect copay when at time of request they couldn’t ticket/book it? This was definitely a waitlist situation.

This was not the case. It was not an all or nothing. Maybe it was for them to pay $75x2, but she was adamant and aggressive to get the one seat herself and split with her companion. However, she was unwilling to do that for $75 + miles, she wanted it purely complementary but as stated, the gate agent said she couldn’t do that as clearly her complementary status threw her further down the pecking order.

LOL, I’ve always called myself “VERB”, never thought the reverse. Not sure I can un-see this now. Thanks pal!

Hmm I don't think that is true, because back in the days of 500 mile upgrades I had both a miles and copay upgrade and a sticker upgrade clear for the same flight. The C upgrade cleared a day or two before the R upgrade cleared day of (I was a lowly gold at the time).

Which then resulted in me having to call AA and ask for my stickers back since I already paid with the miles and copay.

There are several threads here with people saying this is true. I've never used miles to upgrade, so I have no first hand experience with this. Others on here definitely do, though.

I am confused by your post about two upgrades both clearing. I don't see how that would even happen.

The only thing I can think of is my C upgrade cleared before my R upgrade window began, its possible I was on the list twice but separately. AA's IT is fun, lol

No, you do not pay upfront to get on the wait list.

You only pay the copay after you've been chosen to be upgraded. In my experience it's one of the more frustrating processes because often upgrades clear these days only during boarding and they can't confirm you into the new seat until they've processed your payment, which requires the gate agent calling someone and waiting on-hold while boarding the plane. :rolleyes: This takes so long that I end up boarding after everyone else, just before the doors close. If by chance they can't process payment, my original seat is gone, so I guess I just end up in a bad middle seat or on the next flight? Fortunately that hasn't happened, but it consistently makes this one of the most stressful situations.

You're so good at this! This is one of those fun AA mysteries I'm often trying to figure out while traveling, and outside of FT, I only have a handful of friends who'd have any idea what I'm talking about.

How can I view the upgrade list? I'm new to ExPlat. My flight is tomorrow, and the system keeps telling me I am on the upgrade list, but that's all.

You can only view the upgrade list 12 hours prior to departure. At that point, when you open the app and go to the flight, you'll see an option to view the upgrade list (and standby list).

Thank you! That clears it up. Well, fingers crossed . . .