Somebody probably same-day changed onto your flight.

3/1 ORD-MIA #4 at 300LPs

Same story as every week. No seats. No upgrades. Guess I could’ve purchased that $146 offer a week ago, but then what’s the point of EXP.

Well, what is your answer to your own question? I mean lack of upgrades isn't exactly a new phenomena.

If you believe:

1. upgrades are "the point of EXP" and...
2. You don't routinely receive them then...

why do you keep chasing EXP?

Regards

That’s typically my MO. Putting aside the ability to sell upgrades / tickets, they should keep ~2 seats held back for upgrades until just before boarding to allow for IRROPS or flight changes.

Why so you can get those seats?

Sometimes. Same day confirmed is also a benefit of EXP.

It is nice to have the flexibility, but more so with IRROPS is where it really matters to have a seat free if delays arise.

EXP 250K LP

BUR-DFW 3/28 on the list. 1 open seat. 1 cleared. But I had 8D so all good.
DFW-EWR 5 seats open in J. I was the only one who cleared at T-27. 4 seats open until T-4. 3 more cleared. 1 cleared at the gate. 7 remained on the list.

Recent experience Saturday AM MIA/DFW 788 upgrade offer came down to $146 a few days before flight, took the offer, upgrade list rolling multiple pages no one cleared, DFW/PHX paid $140 321neo no one cleared, PHX/MRY CR700 paid $65 waste of money no one on the upgrade list and one seat open. MRY/PHX paid $65 CR700 seemingly no one cleared, PHX/SAN 321 ceo 8 people cleared at T-40. SAN/PHX 321 ceo paid $54 no one cleared. PHX/LAX paid $54 738 long list no one cleared. Interestingly, LAX/MIA 321neo upgrade offer remained above $700 to upgrade window and then upgraded at T-100. Still very long list, endless pages, think one person was cleared onboard.

Hi All, I have a general question on System Wides and timing. Flying from LAX to SYD as an Ex Plat in late April. Will be booking main cabin, but have a Systemwide I want to put in for. Does it matter WHEN I put the system wide in? I think I had read in another part of the forum that when you put in for a systemwide, any upgrade offers go away. So I am tempted to book, see what the upgrade offers are, and if they are not doable, then put in a systemwide closer to the trip. But does putting it in closer to my flight reduce my chances of the systemwide in anyway?

Hmmm easy: AA is looking to maximize its profits and with only 1 seat left, there is a good change that they can sell someone an upgrade or get someone to outright pay the F rate at the last minute.

F rate
 

so noob question but what is the significance of F fare? Does buying a fully refundable fare increase chances of upgrade? How do you buy F class- does it have a specific product name when you’re searching revenue flights?

Agreed. To add to the mystery is why wasn't I presented an offer to purchase the upgrade.... Not only for this flight, but any flight. (happened again last night)

In the context of that post and most others here on FT, when someone says "buy F" or "I was in F" or anything else related to "F" they are just referring to first class in general, not necessarily the fully refundable most flexible most expensive F booking code.

Fare class used to make a difference in the past but not anymore. Upgrades are now prioritized by loyalty point activity within the previous 12 months to the flight, so for example, in my case, if there is only 1 first class seat and two competing Concierge Key members, the one who has the most amount of loyalty points would get it.

There are multiple fare buckets for domestic first class (J, C, I, etc.). Sometimes, AA makes available the cheapest first class fare bucket at the last minute and that can make it easier for someone to book that very last seat and then ultimately the first class cabin will be sold out.

I think the crux of it here the last few months is that you'll need to pay up going DFW <-> Hub.

Not surprised the upgrade lists are getting Delta like given, I assume, the influx of 'Cambodian' Elites.