International Upgrade Advice (ORD/CLT/PHL-LHR)
Jan 21, 2020, 1:51 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2020
Posts: 2
International Upgrade Advice (ORD/CLT/PHL-LHR)
Hi All,
I rarely travel internationally but am getting ready to book a trip to Europe. I am Platinum and am aware of how international upgrades work with the waitlist. That said, does anybody have advice on how to have a high chance of success securing an upgrade from Economy to Business?
I’m traveling IND-London (technically could go to any Oneworld hub) and would probably go through ORD unless a better option exists.
I’ve thought about looking into Expert Flyer for first class seat availability. Beyond that, I’m not sure if there’s anything else I should be doing.
Thanks in advance for any help!
I rarely travel internationally but am getting ready to book a trip to Europe. I am Platinum and am aware of how international upgrades work with the waitlist. That said, does anybody have advice on how to have a high chance of success securing an upgrade from Economy to Business?
I’m traveling IND-London (technically could go to any Oneworld hub) and would probably go through ORD unless a better option exists.
I’ve thought about looking into Expert Flyer for first class seat availability. Beyond that, I’m not sure if there’s anything else I should be doing.
Thanks in advance for any help!
Jan 21, 2020, 1:55 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2012
Location: MCO
Programs: AA, B6, DL, EK, EY, QR, SQ, UA, Amex Plat, Marriott Tit, HHonors Gold
Posts: 12,809
Hi All,
I rarely travel internationally but am getting ready to book a trip to Europe. I am Platinum and am aware of how international upgrades work with the waitlist. That said, does anybody have advice on how to have a high chance of success securing an upgrade from Economy to Business?
I’m traveling IND-London (technically could go to any Oneworld hub) and would probably go through ORD unless a better option exists.
I’ve thought about looking into Expert Flyer for first class seat availability. Beyond that, I’m not sure if there’s anything else I should be doing.
Thanks in advance for any help!
I rarely travel internationally but am getting ready to book a trip to Europe. I am Platinum and am aware of how international upgrades work with the waitlist. That said, does anybody have advice on how to have a high chance of success securing an upgrade from Economy to Business?
I’m traveling IND-London (technically could go to any Oneworld hub) and would probably go through ORD unless a better option exists.
I’ve thought about looking into Expert Flyer for first class seat availability. Beyond that, I’m not sure if there’s anything else I should be doing.
Thanks in advance for any help!
Are you doing a miles + copay upgrade?
Jan 21, 2020, 2:00 pm
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 12,481
Hi All,
I rarely travel internationally but am getting ready to book a trip to Europe. I am Platinum and am aware of how international upgrades work with the waitlist. That said, does anybody have advice on how to have a high chance of success securing an upgrade from Economy to Business?
I’m traveling IND-London (technically could go to any Oneworld hub) and would probably go through ORD unless a better option exists.
I’ve thought about looking into Expert Flyer for first class seat availability. Beyond that, I’m not sure if there’s anything else I should be doing.
Thanks in advance for any help!
I rarely travel internationally but am getting ready to book a trip to Europe. I am Platinum and am aware of how international upgrades work with the waitlist. That said, does anybody have advice on how to have a high chance of success securing an upgrade from Economy to Business?
I’m traveling IND-London (technically could go to any Oneworld hub) and would probably go through ORD unless a better option exists.
I’ve thought about looking into Expert Flyer for first class seat availability. Beyond that, I’m not sure if there’s anything else I should be doing.
Thanks in advance for any help!
There is also a dedicated thread for this type of question just a few posts down on the main page, where I'm guessing this will get moved to...
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/amer...er-thread.html
Jan 21, 2020, 2:33 pm
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: KHOU/KIAH
Programs: AA EXP | Marriott Bonvoy Titanium| Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 11,247
I would go DFW. 77W has 52J, 772 has 37J, which is more than the a332 and 788 with 20.
The later DFW-LHR flights tend to be easier upgrades in my experience.
The later DFW-LHR flights tend to be easier upgrades in my experience.
Jan 21, 2020, 3:04 pm
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2020
Posts: 2
OK - thanks!
Last edited by JY1024; Jan 21, 2020 at 4:02 pm Reason: merged consecutive posts
Jan 21, 2020, 5:31 pm
#6
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 1,159
That must be a typo for "high chances", but since you advise upfaring don't you mean "low chances", i.e., you think clearing an upgrade is unlikely?
Jan 21, 2020, 5:37 pm
#7
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 1,159
You mean business class availability. Note that EF can show not just "seats" but all the buckets including upgrade space (C) and discount paid business (I). So if C happens to be available on a flight of interest, you can jump on it, and otherwise you can use I as an indicator of how fully AA expects to sell the cabin (more I now suggests a better chance of C eventually being released).
Jan 21, 2020, 6:00 pm
#8
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Join Date: Aug 2014
Programs: Top Tier with all 3 alliances
Posts: 11,668
Thee upgrade to London is probably a waste of money at 25k miles and $350, for such a short flight, I suggest you take the morning/day flight from ORD (if at a comparable price) and spend a night at an LHR hotel to rest for $50.
Jan 21, 2020, 6:14 pm
#9
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Join Date: May 2012
Location: MCO
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Without knowing the date/time of the flight it’s pretty difficult to determine the probability of clearing a mileage upgrade.
Jan 21, 2020, 6:23 pm
#10
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 1,159
The highest probability of securing an upgrade to J from Y would be to upfare into J and not play the mileage upgrade odds. By waiting for a mileage upgrade to clear the waitlist one risks J being extremely expensive to upfare close in if it looks like the mileage upgrade will not clear. With that said OP indicated they were not interested in upgrading by paying the fare difference so they likely are okay with flying in Y should the mileage upgrade not clear.
Without knowing the date/time of the flight it’s pretty difficult to determine the probability of clearing a mileage upgrade.
Without knowing the date/time of the flight it’s pretty difficult to determine the probability of clearing a mileage upgrade.
Jan 21, 2020, 6:52 pm
#11
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Join Date: May 2012
Location: MCO
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Posts: 12,809
Okay, sounds like you consider an upfare as a type of upgrade whereas I consider them as distinct. So I take it you were saying "To ensure high chances of securing an upgrade I would suggest calling to pay the fare difference." Now I think I understand what you meant.
I could see others thinking of ‘upgrades’ as being specifically an exchange of instruments, miles, or complimentary.
Jan 21, 2020, 7:13 pm
#12
Join Date: May 2008
Location: PHL (kinda, no airport is really close)
Programs: AA Exp, but not sure for how long. Enterprise Platinum woo-hoo!
Posts: 4,550
[QUOTE=cmd320;31978462]High changes of securing an upgrade I would suggest calling to pay the fare difference.
I think he was being a little tongue-in-cheek - basically saying if you really want to fly in J, buy a J ticket.
I haven't looked at that route, but when I was shopping for a round-trip to Italy from PHL, Y was $1500 and J was $3500. I think $1000 in each direction isn't bad. (I used SWU's.)
I think he was being a little tongue-in-cheek - basically saying if you really want to fly in J, buy a J ticket.
I haven't looked at that route, but when I was shopping for a round-trip to Italy from PHL, Y was $1500 and J was $3500. I think $1000 in each direction isn't bad. (I used SWU's.)
Jan 21, 2020, 7:14 pm
#13
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: JFK/LGA
Programs: AA EXP/5 MM, BA Blue Bayou, HH LT Diamond
Posts: 5,827
Get an EF membership and look for flights with C availability at booking. Also use it to identify the most underbooked flights in business class that will provide the best chance of an upgrade if you need to book the Y ticket now.
Get an EF membership.and use it to monitor your flights to see if C availability opens open- and the pounce on it.
If this fails prepare a sacrifice and pray to the upgrade gods.
Get an EF membership.and use it to monitor your flights to see if C availability opens open- and the pounce on it.
If this fails prepare a sacrifice and pray to the upgrade gods.
