The American Airlines upgrade waitlist confused me the first time I dealt with it. I was flying cross-country and had requested an upgrade using miles, but my status just showed “waitlisted” for days. I finally called 844-734-0813, and the agent explained how the list is prioritized based on status, fare class, and request timing. They even told me when upgrades usually start clearing. Sure enough, my upgrade cleared at the gate about 30 minutes before boarding. Knowing how the waitlist works really eased my anxiety, and now I always call ahead if I have questions about upgrades or last-minute changes.