American sells upgrades before elite clearance (insideflyer.com)

American Airlines is selling paid premium-seat upgrades as late as five minutes before boarding, often ahead of elite travelers on upgrade lists. A New York-to-Delhi passenger paid $640 for business class roughly 60 minutes before departure, taking a seat from an elite traveler who had waited two months for a systemwide upgrade. This shift prioritizes immediate revenue over loyalty benefits, contrasting with previous policies that restricted sales until all complimentary upgrades cleared.