7/9/2025, AA79, LHR-DFW, SWU applied the night before for a J to F upgrade, #1 for 1 open, then the last seat got taken about 20 minutes before boarding, maybe next time

Curious who would be eligible to take it during this time...
Given you were #1 I assume a nonrev?

Could also be a same day change due to a missed connection or last minute booking (cash or miles assuming they are outside of the cutoff).

I'm thinking someone misconnected since it is Heathrow after all, wasn't a non rev because no standbys had been cleared yet at this point and Main was oversold. Standbys didn't get cleared until 4 people on the J list got upgraded to J.

If anyone wants to take a shot at this. I fly Between TUS and TPA twice a month recently. I am a very low LP (by these standards) Ex Plat. For the longer legs between TPA and DFW or PHX. Would you guess I connect in DFW or PHX for a better chance of an upgrade in your opinion.... Thanks Much!

All else being equal, my money would be on better upgrade chances via PHX.

RDU-LGA 12:30pm Friday

#1/10 on a Friday midday flight, that in the last year I have always cleared, 0 cleared and half the cabin was filled with families, price was $98 at T-28

07/20 - AA49 - CDG-DFW - #1 on the list…. 0 cleared.

On the upside, my JFK-BCN upgrades for the end of August cleared last night.

More flights, more upgrades:

LAX-PHX: A321, Saturday, ~430pm: Cleared at ~36 hours
PHX-DEN: A321, Saturday, ~7pm: Cleared at 100 hours. -- this flight went out with 8(!) empty seats in F

EXP, guessing 300k or so rolling LPs.

SFO-CLT Sunday morning - cleared at 100 hours - this was a nice surprise (7 am flight on a weekend but still)
CLT-HPN Thursday morning - #2 on list, 1 cleared
HPN-ORD Sunday morning - #3 on list, 1 cleared
ORD-SFO Sunday afternoon - #2 on list, 2 cleared

7/19 YYZ-DFW, was #3 on the list, 2 cleared. Was selling $152 upgrade the day before but decided to chance it and lost. My exit row window seat had an inop tray table, and moved forward to another exit row seat that the power outlets in the row were inop. A320 for the win!

Just for a data point.. 7/18 TUS-DFW we were #3 and 4 of 25 and 1 cleared. DFW-AMA cleared both 100 hours out. There was no one on the list left with 2 empty seats a D2 did not show up
7/20 AMA - DFW Cleared 100 hours out 1 on the wait list and one cleared and still left with an empty seat. DFW-TUS we started out 3 and 4 for 1 seat out of 24 but as we got close we ended up #5&6 out of 28 for 1 seat which cleared.

DFW/TUS very tough route to clear upgrades. F is often pretty cheap on that flight which I buy. TPA/DFW can also be a tough route for upgrades. Cash upgrades can be had for about $200.

I am going to try through PHX next week. I'd spend the 200 for that leg just not the $400 for the entire flight. Its not like you get much on the shorter TUS/DFW flight

I just booked the one way, next Thursday. they want $533 or 49K miles to upgrade to 1st on the app. I think Ill pass. It was only 25K in miles for the trip on the app. Plus it was only $400 more to buy first in the first place