MeVoy

bna: Just in case you did not see (or read) Post #8, SWU = System Wide Upgrade. Used to be called VIP, and I'm pretty sure most "old-timers" still call them that. [I realize that people sometimes just would like a quick & simple answer to a quick & simple question.]

jlsw7

My girlfriend and I have used about 20 SWUs between us for TATL travel. They have never once cleared at the time of booking, but have always cleared in the end, mostly between 10 and 3 days prior to travel.

1/4MM@20

Ive been EXP now for about 6 or 7 years and Ive never not had a SWU clear. I subscribe to expertflyer and do try to pick my flights accordingly but my work schedule means that this not always possible.

Ive had a few close calls (once at the gate LHR-JFK waiting for 2 seats on a flight that was full in J - in the end there were a couple of no shows, once on the actual aircraft on a JFK-ZRH). Often the upgrade wont clear till a few hours before departure on full flights - Ive had a fair few JFK-LHR Sunday evening flights like that, that arrive in time for Monday morn meetings.

I think overall, SWU are very, very likely to clear. If you are able to be show some flexibility and planning, it would be unlucky IMO for an SWU not to clear...

brp

Actually, not true. Even most of the old timers are calling them SWUs to be consistent with the AA terminology and avoid confusion.

Yet, we still call the domestic upgrades stickers. Go figure

Cheers.

Pizzaman

I've only been EXP for a few years, but I've had all my SWUs clear, including 3 for a JFK-FCO flight (and return) right around Easter.

JTK

All of mine have cleared the last six years. Mostly JFK-NRT r/t and JFK-LHR (lots of seats). Sometimes the JFK-NRT have cleared at the airport but most of the JFK-LHR have cleared well before. I even have has a friend with gold status clear JFK=LHR (both ways) and a plat clear DFW-NRT, but not on NRT-DFW.

ijgordon

Given today's economy, I think it would be very very rare for a business class cabin to completely sell out with paid fares, which is pretty much the only reason why a SWU wouldn't clear. But even a year or two ago at the peak of the market, I think instances of EXPs on SWUs not clearing were few and far between. Particularly today I imagine that if it were to happen it would be because a one-off event, like a flight cancellation.

That said, picking which flights are most likely to clear really depends on the route. For example, (paid) business (class) travel to/from Asia is heaviest on Saturday, but I imagine it's light to Europe and S. America.

Generally speaking, the more "I" inventory available on a flight, the more likely that upgrade space will be released, so you can use ExpertFlyer or even free inventory services like Seatcounter to help you pick flights.

mvoight

I disagree eith part of this. Do NOT use SeatCounter for this. It has had big issues with reporting AA availability. This has been mentioned on FT before.

brp

Good point. I'm guessing that zeroes across all inventory buckets will give a pretty warped view of what's going on

Cheers.

bnatraveler

Thanks for the help

seeyoo

Im travelling in Dec '09 and my ticket was Upgraded to business instantly as soon as Itnary created ( even before purchase ). My child ticket ( another Itenary same flights ) was wait listed ( under SWU ) though there several available seats in Business class. Should I do and ask them again to refresh my reservation ??.

travelismylife

How'd you buy a ticket for Dec. 2010?

billgrates3

Ditto for me, I've only been EXP for 2.5yrs, and have so far had 15 out of 15 SWUs clear, including several on the difficult to get LHR<->LAX runs. Probably 5 or 6 were confirmed at booking, the rest always cleared at least 24 hrs before departure.

When I was PLT, I had at least 9 out of 9 miles+copay upgrades clear >24hrs in advance as well. One time I had 2 upgrades (me and Mrs.G) clear at 4 hrs out, and i had to call an hour later to delay departure by a week.... what a mess to sort out the upgrades/miles/$$!! I had to pay the regular change fee PLUS an extra $125 expedite fee for <21-day upgrading.

bdemaria

You state that there are "several available seats in Business class" Is this information based on the seat map or is this based on a service that shows specific fare classes (i.e., Expertflyer)?

If there are several upgradeable seats available, then by all means call AA and get the child's seat upgraded.

If it just a matter of add'l seats for sale, then you can certainly call AA and ask to have an add'l upgrade seat made available for you. However, the privilege of "expanded award inventory" is for the EXP, and the child is on a different itinerary - so I doubt they will open up the seat right now.

seeyoo

Since I have to use unused credit from another ticket to buy they split my itenary into two. before they split Itenary was immediately upgraded. But after Split I was upgraded ( Im EXP ) and my child is staying Economy. CS never told me issues surrounding the Split of Itenaries as I was discussing with her SWU of 2 tickets Im purchasinig. If Child was on my Itenary Im sure she should have been Upgraded as well. I dont know if she ever be Upgraded before departure. My Outbound is in Dec '09.