Could you provide some more information on routes/days of week/times?

Upgrade strategy help
 

Can someone help me figure out a good approach for domestic upgrade chances for the two of us based on my shiny new LEXP status on March 1?

Background: Our domestic travel is almost entirely 2 people between ORD, PSP and BOS, usually with connections in PHX or DFW when flying to/from PSP. We also fly rt ORD-YYZ a couple of times each year, and usually one additional international destination which could be anywhere. Right now I have only 17,000 LP because I no longer fly enough, but I could probably get 100K in a year if I shifted credit card spend (at a cost, I currently get 2.625% on all charges.) My wife is Gold, we can maintain that if it's helpful to a strategy. I'm not certain but I think PSP may have a disproportionate number of people who will pay for F. We can make our travel plans many weeks or even months in advance, but we always want to be in BOS or YYZ over weekends for the kids. We always always choose flights that depart mid-late morning through late afternoon, depending on which direction we are flying, the final decision maker for which flights is whether we can get exit row aisle+center seats. I'm fine with carrying flight credits if plans change.

I've been reading about splitting UG requests, which is subtly different from splitting the PNR, right? And about resetting my wife's FF# to mine when we do that? I'm obviously a bit confused about that. Any explanation would be welcome, I'm ready to start planning April through summer flights.

Thanks!

ORD-DFW/PHX: forget about it
XXX-PSP: Unlikely, but possible
ORD-BOS: Depends on the aircraft, better chance on the 175
ORD-YYZ: Reasonable.

I don't think shifting spend will do much, you'll really need to push into 300k+ before your chances improve, imo

Thanks, I appreciate it

Anything to or from PSP forget about it. I have an upcoming PHX/PSP trip (CR7) and cash upgrades were over $400 and now the cabin in full. On the way back I actually sprang for a cash upgrade of $226 for PSP/PHX on an A320. I've never gotten an upgrade as an EXP to or from PSP.

This is wheels up to wheels down like 40 minutes tops, is this really worth the $226 upgrade?

It's not until you're stuck on the ground for several hours.

EXP

GSP-DFW Cleared T-48h
DFW-AUS 1st on WL
AUS-CLT Removed from WL due to flight change
CLT-GSP Removed from WL due to flight change

1/4 so far in 2025
Have a flight 3.5 days out CLT-MCO (with a no status companion) and they're still selling upgrades for $179

1/14/25 AA5254 HPN-DCA: Upgraded at T-100. I was one of 3 people on this flight after a 90 minute delay. Needless to say, no one on the list.

1/14/25 AA5396 DCA-BTR: Upgraded at T-104. 3 open in F, 9 people on the flight in Y.

Im 90 Day out from LHR flight. Seat map shows No Biz seats sold. (EF shows no C upgrades as well) Ive attached a SWU to ticket.
This is about as favorable conditions as I can imagine at this point.

Thoughts on clearing?

If I had bought the seat, it would only be about $1200 more so I know that sounds like Im being cheap but I basically waste SWU every year thru non-use so Im trying to get something "back" from AA for a chance....

Using a SWU on the LHR route is tough, everyone wants to go there, look at other places in Europe. The old saying is, purchase the seat you want.

I don't agree with this. LHR is an easy SWU clear on a lot of days. There's a lot of capacity - avoid Thursday flights and the early departure (e.g AA 20 on DFW-LHR) to maximize it.

What LHR flight? What day of the week? It's impossible to say much without more details. As Antarius said above LHR in general isn't that hard to clear but everything depends on the route and time and day of the week etc. Flying DFW-LHR on a Thursday or Friday will be infinitely tougher to clear than JFK-LHR on a Tuesday or Wednesday.

I just had SWUs clear about a month out for ORD-LHR and MXP-JFK. Not a lot of demand in February

LGA-RDU Tuesday morning after MLK holiday. T-100, MCE was empty except for myself, F is also wide open except for myself.

needless to say this is probably my first T-100 Upgrade in over a year