Upgrades getting harder?
Dec 2, 2014, 7:29 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Palo Alto, CA & Naples, FL
Programs: AA Exec Platinum
Posts: 35
Upgrades getting harder?
I've been a CP for 2 years now and have always had a high success rate getting upgraded on US metal.... until about a month ago.
I've noticed lately that I haven't been getting upgraded that often (I've flown in the back for 5 segs out of SFO in the last month / month and a half) and was curious if it was just a case of bad luck or if others were experiencing a lower upgrade rate recently....?
I've noticed lately that I haven't been getting upgraded that often (I've flown in the back for 5 segs out of SFO in the last month / month and a half) and was curious if it was just a case of bad luck or if others were experiencing a lower upgrade rate recently....?
Dec 2, 2014, 9:10 pm
#2
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Sun Prairie, WI
Programs: AA Executive Platinum, HH Diamond, National Executive
Posts: 1,786
Haven't seen anything unusual on my end.
Dec 2, 2014, 11:02 pm
#3
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: SOF
Programs: A3 Gold, IHG Platinum, Marriott Silver
Posts: 849
I haven't noticed anything unusual. As a Silver becoming Gold I only missed one upgrade - BOS-PHX but have been upgraded on every other US-operated flight and I'm definitely not Chairman. So, either a lot of paid First Class out of SFO or a lot of Chairmans or a combination of both.
Dec 3, 2014, 4:14 am
#4
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: PHL
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, AA Gold, FB Gold, ITA Volare Executive
Posts: 3,294
I haven't noticed anything unusual. As a Silver becoming Gold I only missed one upgrade - BOS-PHX but have been upgraded on every other US-operated flight and I'm definitely not Chairman. So, either a lot of paid First Class out of SFO or a lot of Chairmans or a combination of both.
(I'm sorry. I couldn't resist. I'm still at the wrong stage of the grieving process for the loss of the US FF program.)
Dec 3, 2014, 7:15 am
#6
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: PHL
Programs: AA EXP, Marriott Lifetime Plat, SPG Plat, AMEX Plat, Hertz PC, Travels too Much Platinum
Posts: 3,290
SFO can be hard some days of the week even for CPs except on the SFO-PHX flights - it sometimes sells out F before the upgrade window even opens.
Dec 3, 2014, 7:20 am
#7
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
1. The sticker system works well for many as it means that you are competing against fewer people on many routes. Those who fly TCON's are unlikely to burn a sticker on a short segment while those who fly short segments will.
2. Whether any one individual sees fewer UG's is not significant. But, the carriers' own reporting suggests that with an improved economy, more paid F and less capacity, there are simply fewer seats available for the freebies.
That may be a bitter pill to swallow, but with only three legacy carriers, there is simply less need to give the product away and there are many who would prefer to see the product improved and are willing to pay for that.
2. Whether any one individual sees fewer UG's is not significant. But, the carriers' own reporting suggests that with an improved economy, more paid F and less capacity, there are simply fewer seats available for the freebies.
That may be a bitter pill to swallow, but with only three legacy carriers, there is simply less need to give the product away and there are many who would prefer to see the product improved and are willing to pay for that.
Dec 3, 2014, 7:43 am
#8
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: PHX these days
Programs: US Chairman, M&M FTL
Posts: 222
That's irrelevant if you are Chairman though (and the OP is) - you do not compete with the lower levels unless if you buy very late and clearing had started and you do not use stickers...
Dec 3, 2014, 7:50 am
#9
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: PHL
Programs: US CP/AA EXP, HHonors Diamond, Marriott PLT, National Exec Elite, Avis 1st
Posts: 490
If anything I seem to be clearing earlier and more often lately. However, the one exception where I haven't been upgraded lately is out of SFO, so it may have to do with the market.
Dec 3, 2014, 9:06 am
#10
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: PHL / SFO
Programs: free agent
Posts: 797
The only upgrades I have missed all year have been PHL-PHX. I think I've missed 4 of them out of about 10.
As hginPHL says, if anything, they seem to have been clearing earlier than "normal" (T-7 rather than T-4).
As hginPHL says, if anything, they seem to have been clearing earlier than "normal" (T-7 rather than T-4).
Dec 3, 2014, 10:57 am
#11
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: PHL
Programs: AA Executive Platinum; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,662
I have also been getting my transcontinental upgrades at T-7 consistently.
Dec 3, 2014, 12:11 pm
#12
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Mesa, AZ
Programs: AA Ex Plat, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Silver
Posts: 638
I'm flying ORD - PHX tomorrow and F was sold out before the 7 days it seemed. Also my PHX-MKE flight out Monday was a no go for upgrade for me too. I attribute that to people using miles to get back from Thanksgiving though.
Dec 3, 2014, 5:00 pm
#13
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Sun Prairie, WI
Programs: AA Executive Platinum, HH Diamond, National Executive
Posts: 1,786
I'm on the PHX to MKE AM flight this coming Monday and I was upgraded at t-7.
Dec 3, 2014, 6:52 pm
#14
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: USA
Programs: Chase Sapphire Reserve, WFBF
Posts: 1,573
Nope, they're not. As Silver just turning Gold I haven't missed an upgrade in a while... even on mainline.
Dec 4, 2014, 12:49 am
#15
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: SFO
Programs: WFBF
Posts: 963
Only thing I haven't cleared recently is a PHX-CLT coming up on Monday. And I doubt that one's going to clear, since it looks like only the bulkhead row is open and they're still trying to sell it.