Just got this email from Expertflyer! For those who use actively expertflyer, this is a downside for us! Dear ELOY, American Airlines has informed us that as of tomorrow June 5th, AA will be removing the ability to view X & R upgrade inventory which will affect channels, including ExpertFlyer.com. Here is the official statement from American: American is now processing all upgrade requests through a single queue, ensuring upgrades are awarded in a manner that is fair and consistent for all of our AAdvantage customers. Customers may request upgrades when making their reservations, or at any point prior to travel by visiting My Reservations on AA.com. As such, starting tomorrow X & R classes will be removed from the AA Award & Upgrade search. In addition, any Active Flight Alert for X or R on an AA flight will be changed to Expired. Thank you for your understanding in this matter and continued support of ExpertFlyer.com -The ExpertFlyer.com Team Note: Click here to opt out of feature announcements or other general subscriber notices. Alternatively, simply log in, click on "My Account", and click on "Opt Out" on the General tab.
Just got an email from ExpertFlyer below: I personally never really used EF for viewing X/R classes, but I'm hoping this doesn't affect the C/A visibility for business/first (which I do view). I wonder if this is a sign they're going to provide upgrade list priority on the site natively? Still I find it unfortunate that we have less transparency.
You beat me posting this by mere seconds... Just one more piece of info AA is withholding from the public...
They mentioned at the MegaDO that this was coming to the AA app and I'm assuming would be available on AA.com, too. We will see though. I'm with you though, I never look for X or R. A, J, Z, and U is another story though. Those are secure for now, so I'll save my panic for another day.
I do hope that they maintain the A,J, Z and U inventory available as well. But this is a door for the continue changes!!!
Award inventory is available from other sources. For those who upgrade frequently, EF's ability to display X/R was very useful for last minute upgrades and flight changes on day of departure. The functionality will be missed.
I never said it was only available from EF, but that's what I use. It does have some utility as you mentin, but it all depends on how you travel. I still don't think this will have nearly the impact that losing the above mentioned inventories would.
I didn't often book on such short notice, but when I did I never bothered to look. I just requested the upgrades when booking and held the booking instead of paying for it. 95% of the time my upgrades would clear on the next screen, and I'd then book. Not scientific or exact but worked well enough for me instead of signing into EF.
The X/R inventory availibilty on EF was not much use me since I rarely fly on short notice. Cant help but feel that the changes are a direct result of the recent rash of bitching and moaning posts on Flyertalk lately about upgrades when in (or approaching) airport control. Some may remember the early days of EF when one coud see notes placed by AA CSRs In your PNR and the multitude of comments/complaints on FT had AA killing it in very short order ... discretion is always at a premium over there I hope but am not at all confident that the aformentioned mindset will not spread to MP.
I found this sentence more interesting. "American is now processing all upgrade requests through a single queue, ensuring upgrades are awarded in a manner that is fair and consistent for all of our AAdvantage customers. ". I'd really like to know more about that!
I'm here hoping that I will never have to use EF to figure out X or R class availability, because I want my upgrades to clear right at T-100
Another great question for Suzanne. I've already posted the question in regards to this change, and currently awaiting moderator review. Hope it will get picked as one of the questions for the chat session.
At one time, there were at least three different systems handling upgrades at different phases. Now, once an upgrade is requested, its priority stays intact.
If you have the ability to book your work travel through aa.com (sadly, I don't) then you can just put the booking on hold and see if the upgrade goes through before you purchase. If X/R inventory is available, a requested upgrade will clear immediately after putting the itinerary on hold.
On a related note, a DFW-SFO cleared at T-100 for me yesterday and I can't even recall the last time that happened. Might just be coincidence of course ...
This change only affects X/R, all other award an upgrade inventory classes will still be available. AA C upgrade inventory is only available via ExpertFlyer.com
Keep in mind that AA AAgents will be blocked from seeing X/R inventory within-100 hrs as well-- so most certainly not a deficiency of ExpertFlyer
Due to recent situation, flights I'd booked several months back and had cleared into X close to 100 hours before were cancelled or delayed, forcing me on to other flights. It was a real pain with no visibility into X by even the EXP agents! Sent from my iPod Touch using milepoint
