Jan 14, 2024, 11:43 am
Last edit by: JY1024
When upgrade space becomes available, the available seats are given in order of tier, type of upgrade and rolling 12 month loyalty point count. In cases of a tie breaker, then the booking code and time of upgrade request are considered.
The process applies to flights eligible for complimentary upgrades (domestic, Caribbean, Mexico) as well as flights offering upgrades using only instruments.
Elite status
1. Loyalty Points earned in prior 12 months at the time the upgrade is processed.
2. Booking class
3. Time of request
https://www.aa.com/i18n/aadvantage-p...y-upgrades.jsp
What order are upgrades confirmed?
As soon as your upgrade window opens, we'll attempt to confirm in this order:
General observations have been flights TO a hub, even with multiple seats open/for sale J7+, will not be upgraded until closer to T-27.
Link to 2020-2021 archived thread.
Link to the 2023 archived thread.
For previous changes, see Upgrade Priority Changes to Status, Rolling 365 Day EQD Spend May 20 2017
Link to Gary Leff, View From the Wing 16 May 2017
The process applies to flights eligible for complimentary upgrades (domestic, Caribbean, Mexico) as well as flights offering upgrades using only instruments.
Elite status
- Concierge Key
- Executive Platinum
- Platinum Pro
- Platinum
- Gold
- Instrument based upgrade: Mileage upgrade award(with or without copay), systemwide upgrade (SWU) and business Extra upgrades (BXP1/BXP3) available to any AA customer with or without elite status for any AA flight in the world based on availability
- Complimentary upgrades on purchased tickets within North America for AAdvantage elite members and one flying companion
- Complimentary upgrades on award tickets within North America for AAdvantage elite members and one flying companion
1. Loyalty Points earned in prior 12 months at the time the upgrade is processed.
2. Booking class
3. Time of request
https://www.aa.com/i18n/aadvantage-p...y-upgrades.jsp
What order are upgrades confirmed?
As soon as your upgrade window opens, we'll attempt to confirm in this order:
- AAdvantage status level (ConciergeKey members are first, followed by AAdvantage Executive Platinum, AAdvantage Platinum Pro, AAdvantage Platinum and then AAdvantage Gold members)
- Upgrades on purchased tickets first, followed by upgrades on award tickets
- 12-month rolling Loyalty Points
General observations have been flights TO a hub, even with multiple seats open/for sale J7+, will not be upgraded until closer to T-27.
Link to 2020-2021 archived thread.
Link to the 2023 archived thread.
For previous changes, see Upgrade Priority Changes to Status, Rolling 365 Day EQD Spend May 20 2017
Link to Gary Leff, View From the Wing 16 May 2017
Chance of Upgrade Clearing and Availability (2024 Master Thread)
May 13, 2024, 11:32 pm
#436
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 12,703
May 14, 2024, 10:24 pm
#437
Join Date: Jan 2010
Programs: Hilton (Lifetime Diamond), Marriott (Lifetime Gold); IHG (Diamond); Hyatt (Globalist)
Posts: 71
This was booked and upgrade confirmed for a flight that is 9 days out, fyi.
May 15, 2024, 8:33 pm
#438
Join Date: May 2019
Programs: AA
Posts: 356
~ 500k EP traveling with companion
Saturday Morning PHL-DFW on the 787: #5 & #6 on a 60-person deep upgrade list, no clears
Sunday Night DFW-MKE: #3 & #4, four cleared at gate - three seats open and one no-show
Wednesday Evening MKE-PHL: #1 & #2, cleared about 10 hours out and one cleared at the gate
Saturday Morning PHL-DFW on the 787: #5 & #6 on a 60-person deep upgrade list, no clears
Sunday Night DFW-MKE: #3 & #4, four cleared at gate - three seats open and one no-show
Wednesday Evening MKE-PHL: #1 & #2, cleared about 10 hours out and one cleared at the gate
May 22, 2024, 6:39 pm
#440
Join Date: Jun 2015
Programs: HH Lifetime Diamond; AA EXP / 2MM Lifetime Platinum; Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 75
I was able to clear on JFK-LHR on AA 100 on May 4th a few days out (3-4 days) with SWU. I do not recall seeing anyone clearing at the gate but it was pretty easy to clear a few days out with C space visible in expertflyer
May 22, 2024, 11:31 pm
#442
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Boston, MA
Programs: AA 1MM CK, DL Plat, Hilton Diamond, Bonvoy Ambassador (RIP SPG), BAEC Gold
Posts: 1,299
Recent flights from the past two weeks:
All flights had 20-25 (30+ for Dallas) on the list with maybe 1 clearing. The app upgrades also made no sense for any of these flights, which could partially be why the cabins were wide open.
Legacy shuttle flights are looking good for next week
- BOS-PHL (738) cleared at the window on a Monday evening.
- PHL-BOS (319) cleared at the window.
- BNA-PHL (319) paid the fare difference (way less than the app upgrade) as it was J1 a week out and Y seats were not good. Thursday evening.
- PHL-BOS (321) also up-fared. The flight went out with a lengthy list, but one open seat (things were getting hectic with IROPS).
- BOS-DFW (321) cleared at the window for the 2nd to last flight out on Monday evening. J was wide open until the platinum window.
- DFW-BOS (321) also cleared at the window.
All flights had 20-25 (30+ for Dallas) on the list with maybe 1 clearing. The app upgrades also made no sense for any of these flights, which could partially be why the cabins were wide open.
Legacy shuttle flights are looking good for next week
May 28, 2024, 8:28 am
#444
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Long Island, NY
Programs: AA EXP, Hyatt Explorist, Marriott Gold
Posts: 757
LAX-JFK on 5/27: was #4 on the upgrade to J with 1 seat available (EXP, ~250k LP).
Meanwhile, 5 seats in F were available and noticed at least 2 AA employees in plain clothes in those seats (cleared from stand-by to F). But that's another topic.
Meanwhile, 5 seats in F were available and noticed at least 2 AA employees in plain clothes in those seats (cleared from stand-by to F). But that's another topic.
May 28, 2024, 9:19 am
#445
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: PHX & AGP
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Gold
Posts: 11,584
I believe the policy is those seats are not upgraded able, so how is that another topic?
May 28, 2024, 12:17 pm
#446
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: PHL
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 658
May 28, 2024, 2:02 pm
#447
Join Date: May 2010
Location: DFW Area
Programs: AA ConciergeKey; Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 411
- DFW to CLT (5/22) - cleared at 100 hour mark
- CLT to SXM (5/22) - No. 1 on list - no one cleared (was a 319 with 8 FC seats - yuck) - my wife and I were sitting in different rows in coach and after takeoff (completely unprompted), a senior FA made someone else move a row back (out of a bulkhead row) so we could sit together (I apologized to the guy, but I don't think he accepted it)
- SXM to MIA (5/26) - No.1 on list - no one cleared
- MIA to DFW (5/26) - No.1 on list - FC showed full, but right before door closed, they came offer me one seat (I declined as my wife and I did not want to split up - yes, of course I offered it to her, but if I won't take it, she won't either)
Were 35-40 people on the upgrade list in each instance.
CK - unknown what my 12 month rolling LPs are
- CLT to SXM (5/22) - No. 1 on list - no one cleared (was a 319 with 8 FC seats - yuck) - my wife and I were sitting in different rows in coach and after takeoff (completely unprompted), a senior FA made someone else move a row back (out of a bulkhead row) so we could sit together (I apologized to the guy, but I don't think he accepted it)
- SXM to MIA (5/26) - No.1 on list - no one cleared
- MIA to DFW (5/26) - No.1 on list - FC showed full, but right before door closed, they came offer me one seat (I declined as my wife and I did not want to split up - yes, of course I offered it to her, but if I won't take it, she won't either)
Were 35-40 people on the upgrade list in each instance.
CK - unknown what my 12 month rolling LPs are
May 28, 2024, 4:54 pm
#448
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: PHX & AGP
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Gold
Posts: 11,584
May 30, 2024, 10:03 am
#449
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: USA
Programs: AA-EXP; UA-Silver; Bonvoy-Titanium
Posts: 477
Upgrades for Non-EXP/PP
Given all the (imo) mediocre data points for EXPs lately, some with very high LPs, are Gold or Platinum elites upgrading at all anymore? It would be interesting to see someone speak to what the 2023 year as a Platinum was like.
May 30, 2024, 6:42 pm
#450
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: PHX & AGP
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Gold
Posts: 11,584
It happens but rarely, being a lifetime PLT I'm happy with my MCE seat at booking