American Airlines Upgrades Employee before Elite
#76
Moderator: Travel Safety/Security, Travel Tools, California, Los Angeles; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2009
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The publicly available upgrade lists, whether on the gate display or in the app do not distinguish between Y>J and J>F upgrades; they are listed by upgrade priority, not by cabin. To tell Y>J vs. J>F upgrades, you need access to the priority list in Sabre or Jetnet (the employees' portal).
#77
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: AA, UA, Marriott
Posts: 1,487
The publicly available upgrade lists, whether on the gate display or in the app do not distinguish between Y>J and J>F upgrades; they are listed by upgrade priority, not by cabin. To tell Y>J vs. J>F upgrades, you need access to the priority list in Sabre or Jetnet (the employees' portal).
#78
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: SFO/LAX/SAN/LAS/DFW/JFK/LGA/EWR/MIA
Posts: 1,073
oh i see. so basically, all behaviors, tools and strategies associated to battlefield upgrades and being laser eye of your surroundings + EFlyer. makes sense. i was thinking there were other GDS tools i didnt have access to providing more in depth info.
#79
Moderator: Travel Safety/Security, Travel Tools, California, Los Angeles; FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Posts: 21,390
#80
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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#81
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: NYC, SEA
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Originally Posted by GundamWing01
oh i see. so basically, all behaviors, tools and strategies associated to battlefield upgrades and being laser eye of your surroundings + EFlyer. makes sense. i was thinking there were other GDS tools i didnt have access to providing more in depth info.
(Which leads me to...)
There is a lot of garbage said on this forum about "non-rev" travel.
The evidence here usually seems to be:
. . .
- assuming the upgraded person was a non-rev because of a myriad of silly reasons (they were friendly with the GA . . . ).
(This one in particular reaches ridiculous lengths)
-refusing to accept alternate explanations:
. . .
Not that it does not happen. But most of the anecdotal experience here is based on wrong assumptions and falsely conclude that there is monkey-business. Of course, the ones reporting that a non-rev took their upgrade seat are always 100% sure of it and won't even try to consider other scenarios. Be it (shrugs).
The evidence here usually seems to be:
. . .
- assuming the upgraded person was a non-rev because of a myriad of silly reasons (they were friendly with the GA . . . ).
(This one in particular reaches ridiculous lengths)
-refusing to accept alternate explanations:
. . .
Not that it does not happen. But most of the anecdotal experience here is based on wrong assumptions and falsely conclude that there is monkey-business. Of course, the ones reporting that a non-rev took their upgrade seat are always 100% sure of it and won't even try to consider other scenarios. Be it (shrugs).
#82
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: SFO/LAX/SAN/LAS/DFW/JFK/LGA/EWR/MIA
Posts: 1,073
I'm not sure whether this bit was in reference to my post, but to the extent it was: (1) the reason that I prefaced my report with "evidently" was that I can't be 100% sure of what happened, and for that matter I made no claim whatsoever that this person was a nonrev - I have no idea if that's the case (and while the thread title references nonrevs, the underlying shena issue is similar); (2) I am happy to accept alternative explanations should a more plausible one be proffered (n.b. more plausible, not "in theory, this rube goldberg series of lightning-strike coincidences could have maybe led to that outcome"); and (c) I am not aware of any scenario in which one of two parties on the same PNR should be upgraded while the other is not - they can split the PNR, but we did not do that, so it seems something was done outside of the ordinary course of dealing, whether that was "monkey-business" or not.
#83
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Los Angeles
Programs: AA LT Gold
Posts: 3,712
Yeah, I can't speak for others but I don't personally have access to anything special other than the resources you noted.
(Which leads me to...)
I'm not sure whether this bit was in reference to my post, but to the extent it was: (1) the reason that I prefaced my report with "evidently" was that I can't be 100% sure of what happened, and for that matter I made no claim whatsoever that this person was a nonrev - I have no idea if that's the case (and while the thread title references nonrevs, the underlying shena issue is similar); (2) I am happy to accept alternative explanations should a more plausible one be proffered (n.b. more plausible, not "in theory, this rube goldberg series of lightning-strike coincidences could have maybe led to that outcome"); and (c) I am not aware of any scenario in which one of two parties on the same PNR should be upgraded while the other is not - they can split the PNR, but we did not do that, so it seems something was done outside of the ordinary course of dealing, whether that was "monkey-business" or not.
(Which leads me to...)
I'm not sure whether this bit was in reference to my post, but to the extent it was: (1) the reason that I prefaced my report with "evidently" was that I can't be 100% sure of what happened, and for that matter I made no claim whatsoever that this person was a nonrev - I have no idea if that's the case (and while the thread title references nonrevs, the underlying shena issue is similar); (2) I am happy to accept alternative explanations should a more plausible one be proffered (n.b. more plausible, not "in theory, this rube goldberg series of lightning-strike coincidences could have maybe led to that outcome"); and (c) I am not aware of any scenario in which one of two parties on the same PNR should be upgraded while the other is not - they can split the PNR, but we did not do that, so it seems something was done outside of the ordinary course of dealing, whether that was "monkey-business" or not.
1st. I provide my anecdotal experience. On a MAD-DFW flight, my SWU upgrade was confirmed while I was on the air (GRX-MAD), my husband (same PNR) was not upgraded but until I was already lining up to board the plane. He excitedly came to join me for boarding. So, for some reason, it can happen (same PNR one gets upgraded, the other doesn't).
Then, you have not provided the information about the upgrade list. When your wife boarded the plane, what was her position on the upgrade list? Please note, it does not matter what the GA said. what matters is the actual position of your wife on the upgrade list. Did you take a pic? If it was #1, then something fishy may have happened (or not). If not, then who knows...we would need more data.
Last edited by carlosdca; Oct 6, 2022 at 4:53 pm
#84
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: NYC, SEA
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Ok. Let's analyze this. On the same PNR (MIA-JFK) you were upgraded, your wife wasn't. Your wife sat in economy. Before departure, an agent came to the Y cabin to escort someone else to the front, who allegedly is a non-rev. Allegedly, your wife should have got the seat up front, not the other person.
1st. I provide my anecdotal experience. On a MAD-DFW flight, my SWU upgrade was confirmed while I was on the air (GRX-MAD), my husband (same PNR) was not upgraded but until I was already lining up to board the plane. He excitedly came to join me for boarding. So, for some reason, it can happen (same PNR one gets upgraded, the other doesn't).
Then, you have not provided the information about the upgrade list. When your wife boarded the plane, what was her position on the upgrade list? Please note, it does not matter what the GA said. what matters is the actual position of your wife on the upgrade list. Did you take a pic? If it was #1, then something fishy may have happened (or not). If not, then who knows...we would need more data.
1st. I provide my anecdotal experience. On a MAD-DFW flight, my SWU upgrade was confirmed while I was on the air (GRX-MAD), my husband (same PNR) was not upgraded but until I was already lining up to board the plane. He excitedly came to join me for boarding. So, for some reason, it can happen (same PNR one gets upgraded, the other doesn't).
Then, you have not provided the information about the upgrade list. When your wife boarded the plane, what was her position on the upgrade list? Please note, it does not matter what the GA said. what matters is the actual position of your wife on the upgrade list. Did you take a pic? If it was #1, then something fishy may have happened (or not). If not, then who knows...we would need more data.
This is all wrong.
First, as specifically and clearly stated in the post you're quoting, I have not the slightest clue whether this person was a nonrev, nor did I ever make any claim or "allegation" to that effect whatsoever. None. I don't know and don't pretend to. Second, as expressly noted at the very beginning of my initial post, this was a complimentary upgrade. Instrument upgrades (and anecdotes involving the same) implicate a different set of rules and practices many of which are not applicable. Third, as noted in the initial post, we were on the same PNR (so until I was upgraded she was right after me as is necessarily the case with 1 companion on the same PNR for complimentary upgrades). As (once again) further expressly stated already, the GA printed the upgrade list without her on it. Since you asked, a pic is attached; and again as already noted the FA showed me the printed list which matched what you see on the app here, though when I requested to take a pic of the paper list the FA said she was not permitted to allow pax to do that - I didn't press the issue, because again, this was the same list that I screenshotted here.
I have no clue what the GA did so as to disappear my wife from the upgrade list; but if I were to guess (and yes, unlike the factual information in my other posts, this is a guess based on available information, please try not to whine about it), I would suspect that she decided that she wanted her friend upgraded, saved the last seat for him by splitting our PNR without any consent or authorization (something we've never done or had any interest in doing), and then neglected to link our itineraries such that my wife would have inherited my status and upgrade priority, thereby causing my nonstatus wife to drop off the upgrade list, and then proceeded to process the upgrade for her friend.
![](https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.flyertalk.com-vbulletin/940x2000/screenshot_20220905_205933_american_airlines_f45e922aae36c3882a56471db39f3f082b6490f1.jpg)
#85
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Los Angeles
Programs: AA LT Gold
Posts: 3,712
No.
This is all wrong.
First, as specifically and clearly stated in the post you're quoting, I have not the slightest clue whether this person was a nonrev, nor did I ever make any claim or "allegation" to that effect whatsoever. None. I don't know and don't pretend to. Second, as expressly noted at the very beginning of my initial post, this was a complimentary upgrade. Instrument upgrades (and anecdotes involving the same) implicate a different set of rules and practices many of which are not applicable. Third, as noted in the initial post, we were on the same PNR (so until I was upgraded she was right after me as is necessarily the case with 1 companion on the same PNR for complimentary upgrades). As (once again) further expressly stated already, the GA printed the upgrade list without her on it. Since you asked, a pic is attached; and again as already noted the FA showed me the printed list which matched what you see on the app here, though when I requested to take a pic of the paper list the FA said she was not permitted to allow pax to do that - I didn't press the issue, because again, this was the same list that I screenshotted here.
I have no clue what the GA did so as to disappear my wife from the upgrade list; but if I were to guess (and yes, unlike the factual information in my other posts, this is a guess based on available information, please try not to whine about it), I would suspect that she decided that she wanted her friend upgraded, saved the last seat for him by splitting our PNR without any consent or authorization (something we've never done or had any interest in doing), and then neglected to link our itineraries such that my wife would have inherited my status and upgrade priority, thereby causing my nonstatus wife to drop off the upgrade list, and then proceeded to process the upgrade for her friend.
![](https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.flyertalk.com-vbulletin/940x2000/screenshot_20220905_205933_american_airlines_f45e922aae36c3882a56471db39f3f082b6490f1.jpg)
This is all wrong.
First, as specifically and clearly stated in the post you're quoting, I have not the slightest clue whether this person was a nonrev, nor did I ever make any claim or "allegation" to that effect whatsoever. None. I don't know and don't pretend to. Second, as expressly noted at the very beginning of my initial post, this was a complimentary upgrade. Instrument upgrades (and anecdotes involving the same) implicate a different set of rules and practices many of which are not applicable. Third, as noted in the initial post, we were on the same PNR (so until I was upgraded she was right after me as is necessarily the case with 1 companion on the same PNR for complimentary upgrades). As (once again) further expressly stated already, the GA printed the upgrade list without her on it. Since you asked, a pic is attached; and again as already noted the FA showed me the printed list which matched what you see on the app here, though when I requested to take a pic of the paper list the FA said she was not permitted to allow pax to do that - I didn't press the issue, because again, this was the same list that I screenshotted here.
I have no clue what the GA did so as to disappear my wife from the upgrade list; but if I were to guess (and yes, unlike the factual information in my other posts, this is a guess based on available information, please try not to whine about it), I would suspect that she decided that she wanted her friend upgraded, saved the last seat for him by splitting our PNR without any consent or authorization (something we've never done or had any interest in doing), and then neglected to link our itineraries such that my wife would have inherited my status and upgrade priority, thereby causing my nonstatus wife to drop off the upgrade list, and then proceeded to process the upgrade for her friend.
![](https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.flyertalk.com-vbulletin/940x2000/screenshot_20220905_205933_american_airlines_f45e922aae36c3882a56471db39f3f082b6490f1.jpg)
But, if your wife got dumped, why didn't the GA dump all the others on the upgrade list to favor the alleged friend??
Do you know if "WES A." the one of the top of the list that had not been upgraded was actually the friend of the GA? So a seat opened up and WES. A. was upgraded?
#86
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: NYC, SEA
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Gotcha. So what happened here is that your wife got dumped from the upgrade list and that's your main issue.
But, if your wife got dumped, why didn't the GA dump all the others on the upgrade list to favor the alleged friend??
Do you know if "WES A." the one of the top of the list that had not been upgraded was actually the friend of the GA? So a seat opened up and WES. A. was upgraded?
But, if your wife got dumped, why didn't the GA dump all the others on the upgrade list to favor the alleged friend??
Do you know if "WES A." the one of the top of the list that had not been upgraded was actually the friend of the GA? So a seat opened up and WES. A. was upgraded?
#87
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Los Angeles
Programs: AA LT Gold
Posts: 3,712
This is the upgrade list as shown after the boarding door closed; it seems that it was Geo., M. who I saw get upgraded to the open seat though it's not entirely clear to me whether a pax upgraded onboard shows up as cleared on the app or as next-up for clearing. But there was only one seat remaining after I cleared, so my assumption is that it must have been Geo. M. In any event, the guy who was upgraded was the same guy I saw in intimate conversation with the GA before boarding, though of course I can't be certain whether his name was Geo. M or Wes. A (or someone else entirely).
Again, the problem here is that your wife is not showing up on the upgrade list, as per your screenshot. Wasn't it the case that if there were two people on same PNR and only one seat open, then you two are skipped in favor of the next single person on the list?
Last edited by carlosdca; Oct 6, 2022 at 8:33 pm
#88
Join Date: Jan 2000
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Posts: 8,789
Here is one where I am certain the agent pulled a fast one.
Just prior to the pandemic, my wife and I were flying CDG to PHL. I was an EP at the time and was using Systemwide Upgrades to move from Y to C.
There were two open seats and we were 1 and 2 on the list.
We had checked-in ground side and checked bags. They knew we were there.
Security queues were awful, but we were at the gate before our group was even called for boarding. I approached the gate agents and was told us we weren't at the gate when they called our names so our upgrades went to the next on the list.
The "next on the list" were two non-revs. We were not upgraded.
How do I KNOW that is what happened? My wife works for AA. She pulled it up on Jetnet.
Yes, game playing happens.
Just prior to the pandemic, my wife and I were flying CDG to PHL. I was an EP at the time and was using Systemwide Upgrades to move from Y to C.
There were two open seats and we were 1 and 2 on the list.
We had checked-in ground side and checked bags. They knew we were there.
Security queues were awful, but we were at the gate before our group was even called for boarding. I approached the gate agents and was told us we weren't at the gate when they called our names so our upgrades went to the next on the list.
The "next on the list" were two non-revs. We were not upgraded.
How do I KNOW that is what happened? My wife works for AA. She pulled it up on Jetnet.
Yes, game playing happens.
#89
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Wesley Chapel, FL
Programs: American Airlines
Posts: 30,637
Here is one where I am certain the agent pulled a fast one.
Just prior to the pandemic, my wife and I were flying CDG to PHL. I was an EP at the time and was using Systemwide Upgrades to move from Y to C.
There were two open seats and we were 1 and 2 on the list.
We had checked-in ground side and checked bags. They knew we were there.
Security queues were awful, but we were at the gate before our group was even called for boarding. I approached the gate agents and was told us we weren't at the gate when they called our names so our upgrades went to the next on the list.
The "next on the list" were two non-revs. We were not upgraded.
How do I KNOW that is what happened? My wife works for AA. She pulled it up on Jetnet.
Yes, game playing happens.
Just prior to the pandemic, my wife and I were flying CDG to PHL. I was an EP at the time and was using Systemwide Upgrades to move from Y to C.
There were two open seats and we were 1 and 2 on the list.
We had checked-in ground side and checked bags. They knew we were there.
Security queues were awful, but we were at the gate before our group was even called for boarding. I approached the gate agents and was told us we weren't at the gate when they called our names so our upgrades went to the next on the list.
The "next on the list" were two non-revs. We were not upgraded.
How do I KNOW that is what happened? My wife works for AA. She pulled it up on Jetnet.
Yes, game playing happens.
#90
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: NYC, SEA
Programs: Hyatt Glob, Marriott Titanium, AA EXP, DL PM, AS 100k (fake), B6 M3 (fake), BA Gold (fake), UA FO.
Posts: 794