ORD-BOS and return routinely clears at the top of the hour, 24 hrs before departure.
So, a 2:40pm departure clears at 2:00pm; 3:55pm departure clears at 3:00pm.
Have gotten upgraded in 4 of 6 flights, so it depends on departure date/time... though I seem to have success with regional jets.
EXP, 140k LPs (currently on status pass challenge)

Exp 250k
today 3/4
DAB-CLT cleared t-24
CLT-DFW (772) 16/64 for 0 seats note at T-100 there were 15 seats open on the seat map
DFW-CLL cleared over night the night before 5pm flight

PPRO 150K LP

3/4 PIT - CLT: 4/21, 1 cleared
3/4 CLT - RSW: 12/27, 1 cleared


Flights were early AM Wed.

Saturday night TUL/ORD E175 so many open F seats a DL crew being deadheading to ORD were cleared in F.

EXP 250k LPs

AA 255 (JFK-LAX): was #5 on the upgrade list to J. I think 1 passenger cleared to F.

AA 274 (LAX-JFK): was #1 on the upgrade list to J. Cleared at the gate. #2 cleared too.

AA15 today JFK-SFO. There have been several F seats available for purchase for a few days. SWU finally cleared C to F this morning but only after a call to EXP desk.

Does calling the EXP desk help? Or why would you call them / do they actually look and tell you where you are on the list?

It use to work almost 100%. They’d call revenue mgt and have seats released.

Only works occasionally now. Flight going out with 3 empty in F

What do you ask them? Hey I'm flying and have applied my SWU and there are still seats being sold but I wanted to see if you could upgrade me?

Yep. Ask if they can "clear" the SWU request.

PPRO ~150K LP

3/11 PIT - ORD: Cleared T-3 hours, 4 on list, 1 cleared at gate
3/11 ORD - SFO: 8/17, 1 cleared
3/13 SFO - DFW (redeye): 13/24, 0 cleared
3/13 DFW - PIT 3/17, 1 cleared

Did not clear 3/9 DCA-LGA 350k EP, 1 person ahead of me did not clear either

interesting, I’ve never heard of doing this when c space isn’t there.

Is there a 2026 Master Thread for upgrades or are we just continuing on this 2025 thread?

PPRO
3/15: PHX-LAS: 4th on list of 13 for 4 seats. All 4 cleared at gate.
Another AA meltdown due to storm. I really wish my company would offer another, or change its preferred carrier.