If the upgrade doesn't clear in advance, is it possible to clear at the airport? Does there need to be C inventory at that time or just an empty business seat? Will AA let a flight go out with empty seats in the business cabin and waitlisted EXPs in the back? Just wondering what the protocol is if a waitlisted SWU doesn't clear in advance. Also is NRT-LAX a particularly difficult route to clear generally speaking? Thanks!

It's certainly possible to clear at the airport; in fact there are plenty of stories of people being seated in Y and then being re-seated in J, but I'm not sure how many of those are urban legend stuff. Once the counter closes the airport staff ought to have a good idea of who's waitlisted. Remember AA has a complicated ballet governing when whose upgrades clear, etc.

Will they fly with empty J seats and waitlisted EXPs in the back? I seriously doubt it. Again, I'm sure mistakes happen, of course.

LAX-NRT difficult? Obviously it depends on lots of circumstances - when in the week/year, etc., but I don't think it's particularly hard; I haven't had a problem, but I generally try to look in advance on EF or ask the EXP desk to see the odds before allowing myself to be waitlisted. Y over the Pacific is too high a price to pay for uncertainty.

Are you waiting for an UG to clear? When?

My family of 4 was seated in coach on a recent flight, and all 4 were moved up to 1st class shortly before departure. This was a domestic flight, and we were using AA anytime FF tickets.

YMMV.

<i>Are you waiting for an UG to clear? When?</i>

11/26 NRT-LAX. It's for my Dad. Assuming it hasn't cleared by the time he checks in, is there anything he needs to do or is it all automated? He'll actually be connecting from PVG-NRT on JL.

Unrelated but for future reference, am I correct that a SWU can be confirmed on a held reservation (provided there's A/C availability) before ticketing? This is different from a mileage upgrade which can only be confirmed at the time of ticketing with an agent or if purchased online, after the reservation changes from purchased to ticketed, right?

Just looked at the seatmap on EF - my guess (which with &yen;450 buys you a nasty Hello Kitty keychain) is that it ought to clear. In my experience NRT-LAX opens later than LAX-NRT. Presumably more late shoppers in Japan.

I'm not sure but I think so - as long as there's a PNR to tie it to.

Good to hear. I'll let him know, thanks! He's nervous, been a loooong time since he sat in Y

If it doesn't clear in advance, he will want to pay attention to the gate announcements and listen for his name to be called.

He cleared already. Thanks, all!

I have yet another SWU waitlist clearance question.

I had LAX-ORD (waitlist) ORD-FRA (confirmed) on an itinerary. This morning I woke up to an EF alert for A class on LAX-ORD. I checked the itinerary on aa.com which still showed the LAX-ORD segment in coach so called the EXP desk to get that segment cleared and the ticket reissued. I'm wondering why it didn't automatically clear (the agent really didn't have an answer either). Had I just not waited long enough (6 hours had elapsed between my call and when EF detected A)? Did the fact that ORD-FRA was already confirmed have something to do with it? I thought about the possibility that LAX-ORD was never actually waitlisted but the agent this morning confirmed that it was.

In any case, gotta love EF!

<i>Unrelated but for future reference, am I correct that a SWU can be confirmed on a held reservation (provided there's A/C availability) before ticketing?</i>

Oh and I can now confirm that this is possible. However it seems that the ability to purchase online goes away. Had to call back to ticket.