SWU Strategy
Apr 8, 2024, 8:38 pm
#121
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2002
Location: NC
Programs: AAConciergeKey/2MM, DL DM/2 MM, UA Gold,Hilton Diamond, IHG Plat, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 12,072
If you pre-order a meal from the website, does that mean you will be skipped over for the upgrade using a system wide? I’m confirmed in business and on the waitlist for first from Sydney. I don’t want to hurt my chances.
Apr 8, 2024, 8:47 pm
#122
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: AA Executive Platinum/Million Miler, Marriott Titanium Elite-Lifetime, Hilton Gold
Posts: 3,378
No. There is no link between the two that I've ever heard of.
Apr 8, 2024, 8:49 pm
#123
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: PHL
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 738
If the upgrade clears, you should go back and pre-order a meal from F. I’ve been upgraded from J to F before and did not re-order my pre-order, and that is what was catered for me in F. F was fairly empty, so I was still able to select a different F meal. It may not matter much - F usually only has 1 additional entree than J.
Apr 12, 2024, 8:34 am
#124
Join Date: Jul 2023
Programs: AA Executive Platinum
Posts: 2
Hi all,
First time posting, so apologize if I am posting in the wrong forum-
I'm trying to make sense of why I was able to get a SWU via phone but did not see it on EF:
Flight: JFK-> FCO AA 246 6/6/24 shows 0 C inventory on EF (J 7) , I was calling American for an unrelated issue and asked whether there were SWU on this flight and they confirmed there was. Upgraded from MC to Business
Are my search queries off?
Search parameters: AA, nonstop, exclude code shares, show C inventory
As of background, I am EXP 230K and had 1 SWU. SWU also doesn't show up in the AA search when I look for flights either.
First time posting, so apologize if I am posting in the wrong forum-
I'm trying to make sense of why I was able to get a SWU via phone but did not see it on EF:
Flight: JFK-> FCO AA 246 6/6/24 shows 0 C inventory on EF (J 7) , I was calling American for an unrelated issue and asked whether there were SWU on this flight and they confirmed there was. Upgraded from MC to Business
Are my search queries off?
Search parameters: AA, nonstop, exclude code shares, show C inventory
As of background, I am EXP 230K and had 1 SWU. SWU also doesn't show up in the AA search when I look for flights either.
Apr 12, 2024, 8:55 am
#125
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 12,875
Hi all,
First time posting, so apologize if I am posting in the wrong forum-
I'm trying to make sense of why I was able to get a SWU via phone but did not see it on EF:
Flight: JFK-> FCO AA 246 6/6/24 shows 0 C inventory on EF (J 7) , I was calling American for an unrelated issue and asked whether there were SWU on this flight and they confirmed there was. Upgraded from MC to Business
Are my search queries off?
Search parameters: AA, nonstop, exclude code shares, show C inventory
As of background, I am EXP 230K and had 1 SWU. SWU also doesn't show up in the AA search when I look for flights either.
First time posting, so apologize if I am posting in the wrong forum-
I'm trying to make sense of why I was able to get a SWU via phone but did not see it on EF:
Flight: JFK-> FCO AA 246 6/6/24 shows 0 C inventory on EF (J 7) , I was calling American for an unrelated issue and asked whether there were SWU on this flight and they confirmed there was. Upgraded from MC to Business
Are my search queries off?
Search parameters: AA, nonstop, exclude code shares, show C inventory
As of background, I am EXP 230K and had 1 SWU. SWU also doesn't show up in the AA search when I look for flights either.
Apr 12, 2024, 9:05 am
#126
Join Date: Jul 2023
Programs: AA Executive Platinum
Posts: 2
Welcome to FT. While it is rare, there have been some cases where an EXP agent is able to confirm a SWU upgrade even though EF and/or aa.com may show C0. I've had it happen once or twice over the years. So most likely nothing to do with your searches, don't overthink it, just enjoy grabbing the upgrade.
Apr 12, 2024, 4:46 pm
#127
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: DCA/IAD/WAS
Programs: MAR AMB, WOH Explorist, AA EXP, UA 2P
Posts: 2,143
Apr 18, 2024, 6:42 am
#129
Join Date: Jul 2021
Location: Airport Lounges (Usually in ORD and LHR)
Programs: AA EXP 1MM, UA 1K, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,559
Upgrades are only valid on individual published-fare tickets. Upgrades are not applicable to AAdvantage® travel awards; any free ticket; military or other government fares; opaque fares; infant tickets (including INF50 fares) or purchased extra seats
May 2, 2024, 9:06 am
#130
Join Date: Mar 2024
Posts: 9
Can you use SWU to waitlist on multiple flights
my question is if I have multiple transcon trips coming up, and I only have 2 SWUs left, can I waitlist on multiple flights with the same SWUs and let whatever clears first clear?
If that leg clears in advance remember to call right away to apply the SWU to the domestic leg(s). Often they will clear right away, but at least you'll get the priority on the airport waitlist.
Personally I'm not convinced that if you waitlist the entire thing that the domestic legs could clear before the international leg. It didn't used to work that way.
Personally I'm not convinced that if you waitlist the entire thing that the domestic legs could clear before the international leg. It didn't used to work that way.
May 2, 2024, 1:35 pm
#131
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: PHL
Programs: AA Executive Platinum; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,673
May 2, 2024, 7:00 pm
#132
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: SoCal to the rest of the world...
Programs: AA EXP with lots of BA. UA 2MM Lifetime Plat - No longer chase hotel loyalty
Posts: 6,701
Last 2 upgrades for me has the SWU clearing and EF NEVER sending a C=1 alert - so it does happen - not sure if the sweep does an upgrade pass quick and completes it before publishing C inventory
May 3, 2024, 3:43 pm
#133
Join Date: Mar 2022
Location: LHR, RDU
Posts: 89
Hello FT. Just wanted to confirm something here please. My soon-to-be wife and I will be flying down to Cancun on our honeymoon in a little over 2 weeks. We're heading down to Mexico and then spending a week+ in Japan! 
We're very excited.
My question is about SWU's. If I am able to find a friend who can give 2 system-wide upgrades for our AA fare from RDU down to Cancun (which we paid for / is not an award flight), would 2 SWU's allow us to upgrade from Economy to J class? I searched on AA's website and there is award availability on the flight within business class to upgrade.
Thanks in advance!
We're very excited.My question is about SWU's. If I am able to find a friend who can give 2 system-wide upgrades for our AA fare from RDU down to Cancun (which we paid for / is not an award flight), would 2 SWU's allow us to upgrade from Economy to J class? I searched on AA's website and there is award availability on the flight within business class to upgrade.
Thanks in advance!
May 3, 2024, 6:59 pm
#134
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: AA, UA, Marriott
Posts: 1,316
Hello FT. Just wanted to confirm something here please. My soon-to-be wife and I will be flying down to Cancun on our honeymoon in a little over 2 weeks. We're heading down to Mexico and then spending a week+ in Japan! We're very excited.
My question is about SWU's. If I am able to find a friend who can give 2 system-wide upgrades for our AA fare from RDU down to Cancun (which we paid for / is not an award flight), would 2 SWU's allow us to upgrade from Economy to J class? I searched on AA's website and there is award availability on the flight within business class to upgrade.
Thanks in advance!
We're very excited.My question is about SWU's. If I am able to find a friend who can give 2 system-wide upgrades for our AA fare from RDU down to Cancun (which we paid for / is not an award flight), would 2 SWU's allow us to upgrade from Economy to J class? I searched on AA's website and there is award availability on the flight within business class to upgrade.
Thanks in advance!
How are you determining "there is award availability on the flight within business class to upgrade"? If you are just seeing AA selling a seat in business with miles, that does not indicate you can clear a SWU; that means there is just a J seat for sale.
Do you have a full one-way ticket all on AA that goes something like RDU-CUN-DFW-NRT? If this trip is one ticket, then a single SWU may cover the entire one-way direction, from RDU-CUN-DFW-NRT. I don't think SWUs have a layover/stopover limitation, as long it's all one ticket in a one-way direction and up to 3 segments. Now that is a value proposition that might spur a friend to donate
or someone from FT might even give you one if you could pull off the upgrade on all segments!
May 4, 2024, 5:06 am
#135
Join Date: Mar 2022
Location: LHR, RDU
Posts: 89
Yes. You also don't need a friend - you can request a mileage upgrade for 15k miles + $75 per ticket which operates the same as a SWU would.
How are you determining "there is award availability on the flight within business class to upgrade"? If you are just seeing AA selling a seat in business with miles, that does not indicate you can clear a SWU; that means there is just a J seat for sale.
Do you have a full one-way ticket all on AA that goes something like RDU-CUN-DFW-NRT? If this trip is one ticket, then a single SWU may cover the entire one-way direction, from RDU-CUN-DFW-NRT. I don't think SWUs have a layover/stopover limitation, as long it's all one ticket in a one-way direction and up to 3 segments. Now that is a value proposition that might spur a friend to donate or someone from FT might even give you one if you could pull off the upgrade on all segments!
How are you determining "there is award availability on the flight within business class to upgrade"? If you are just seeing AA selling a seat in business with miles, that does not indicate you can clear a SWU; that means there is just a J seat for sale.
Do you have a full one-way ticket all on AA that goes something like RDU-CUN-DFW-NRT? If this trip is one ticket, then a single SWU may cover the entire one-way direction, from RDU-CUN-DFW-NRT. I don't think SWUs have a layover/stopover limitation, as long it's all one ticket in a one-way direction and up to 3 segments. Now that is a value proposition that might spur a friend to donate
or someone from FT might even give you one if you could pull off the upgrade on all segments!And yes, I was just looking on the AA website on that date and saw J class available to book with cash or miles, so thought that would mean that an upgrade would clear. Appreciate your clarification.
No, I wish! And that would be amazing to secure a SWU for that massive itinerary. Unfortunately it's just an AA flight from RDU (via MIA) to CUN. Then DL flight to LAX for a few days and a UA flight over to NRT, so we're flying on all the alliances