Whole bunch of new EXP's April 1?
Apr 23, 2025 | 8:01 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Programs: Starwood Gold, Hilton Gold, Mariott Gold, AMEX Plat, US CP
Posts: 331
Whole bunch of new EXP's April 1?
I figured there would be less exp's come April 1. I must of been mistaken. Anyone notice a significant addition of exp's? I am now consistently 12 to 20 on the upgrade list as a exp. No wonder they miase this boarding change to have 1st class preboard, guessing a swell in the exp ranks.
Apr 23, 2025 | 8:06 am
#3
Join Date: Jul 2021
Location: Airport Lounges (Usually in ORD and LHR)
Programs: AA EXP 1MM, AY Gold, QR Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 3,708
I figured there would be less exp's come April 1. I must of been mistaken. Anyone notice a significant addition of exp's? I am now consistently 12 to 20 on the upgrade list as a exp. No wonder they miase this boarding change to have 1st class preboard, guessing a swell in the exp ranks.
As an EXP the lowest I've been this year is #4 (on an A318).
Apr 23, 2025 | 8:43 am
#5
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: NYC/LA
Programs: DL DM, UA Silver, Marriott Titanium/LTP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 9,780
I was really surprised AA didn't increase elite qualification requirements for 2025- 2026, although with the current economic uncertainty, I have a feeling the current levels may now stay in place for the next few years.
From both flying and credit card spend, EXP remains easier to attain than Diamond on DL and 1K on UA. (Significantly easier if we're just looking at flying.)
From both flying and credit card spend, EXP remains easier to attain than Diamond on DL and 1K on UA. (Significantly easier if we're just looking at flying.)
Apr 23, 2025 | 8:55 am
#6
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Indianapolis
Posts: 702
I figured there would be less exp's come April 1. I must of been mistaken. Anyone notice a significant addition of exp's? I am now consistently 12 to 20 on the upgrade list as a exp. No wonder they miase this boarding change to have 1st class preboard, guessing a swell in the exp ranks.
Look for Executive Diamond (or such) next year. JMHO
Apr 23, 2025 | 9:06 am
#7
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: AA Executive Platinum/Million Miler, Marriott Titanium Elite-Lifetime, Hilton Gold
Posts: 3,876
I think this has more to do with AA selling upgrades than a swelling of the ranks. My non-status coworkers are all now almost always in first -- they just pay to upgrade. Friends, too. On a 738 with 16 F seats, if all but 1-2 are sold today whereas a few years ago they'd be mostly upgrades, I'm not surprised to see EPs 10+ on the upgrade waiting list.
Apr 23, 2025 | 9:31 am
#8
Join Date: Mar 2018
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP. Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,341
I think this has more to do with AA selling upgrades than a swelling of the ranks. My non-status coworkers are all now almost always in first -- they just pay to upgrade. Friends, too. On a 738 with 16 F seats, if all but 1-2 are sold today whereas a few years ago they'd be mostly upgrades, I'm not surprised to see EPs 10+ on the upgrade waiting list.
Apr 23, 2025 | 9:32 am
#9
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AA EXP, IC Amb
Posts: 6,012
I think this has more to do with AA selling upgrades than a swelling of the ranks. My non-status coworkers are all now almost always in first -- they just pay to upgrade. Friends, too. On a 738 with 16 F seats, if all but 1-2 are sold today whereas a few years ago they'd be mostly upgrades, I'm not surprised to see EPs 10+ on the upgrade waiting list.
Apr 23, 2025 | 10:01 am
#10
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Dallas, TX
Programs: AA EXP, WN A-List, Hilton Diamond, RIP Kimpton
Posts: 888
I've had 4 AA flights since April 1 and have been between 8th and 11th on the upgrade list every time. Routes were DFW-SAV and DFW-DEN. My rolling LPs would've increased YoY. I finished the 24/25 earning year at 369k LPs compared to 300k the prior year. I also had 43k in LPs post in the final 7 days of March.
When I was 11th on the first flight it struck me as odd but I chalked it up to weather in DFW cancelling some flights the 1-2 prior days. When the next 3 flights were no better than 8th it too had me curious if another year of the new LP program + a likely uptick in pax pivoting away from WN in the DFW area (myself included) added to the numbers.
Not a huge concern really as I'm content with MCE for my domestic flights...but curious to see if the trend continues throughout the year.
When I was 11th on the first flight it struck me as odd but I chalked it up to weather in DFW cancelling some flights the 1-2 prior days. When the next 3 flights were no better than 8th it too had me curious if another year of the new LP program + a likely uptick in pax pivoting away from WN in the DFW area (myself included) added to the numbers.
Not a huge concern really as I'm content with MCE for my domestic flights...but curious to see if the trend continues throughout the year.
Apr 23, 2025 | 1:46 pm
#12
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: PHL
Programs: AA EXP MM, HHonors Lifetime Diamond, Marriott Lifetime Ti, UA Silver
Posts: 5,202
I think this has more to do with AA selling upgrades than a swelling of the ranks. My non-status coworkers are all now almost always in first -- they just pay to upgrade. Friends, too. On a 738 with 16 F seats, if all but 1-2 are sold today whereas a few years ago they'd be mostly upgrades, I'm not surprised to see EPs 10+ on the upgrade waiting list.
Apr 23, 2025 | 6:13 pm
#13
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: SoCal,
Programs: BAC Gold, AA EXP
Posts: 937
I think this has more to do with AA selling upgrades than a swelling of the ranks. My non-status coworkers are all now almost always in first -- they just pay to upgrade. Friends, too. On a 738 with 16 F seats, if all but 1-2 are sold today whereas a few years ago they'd be mostly upgrades, I'm not surprised to see EPs 10+ on the upgrade waiting list.
Apr 23, 2025 | 7:15 pm
#14
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: CLT
Programs: AA Executive Platinum, Hilton Diamond, Lifetime Admirals Club member
Posts: 473
Im ExP and regularly 5-10 on the upgrade list.
Its hard to fathom that 10% of their pax are in their top status tier. Seems like it would be more exclusive.
Its hard to fathom that 10% of their pax are in their top status tier. Seems like it would be more exclusive.
Apr 23, 2025 | 7:21 pm
#15
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 102,617
Remember that high tier elites fly much more often. You can't just look at the percentage of FF members who are top tier and assume that something like that fraction will be on a flight or on the upgrade list. The distributions are very skewed, with a surprisingly large number of segments being flown by high tier elites compared to the total number of passengers or even elite passengers of all tiers.