Elite business class upgrade success (master list)
Sep 25, 2009, 4:55 am
#16
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 517
Wierd situation.
Myself + Companion upgraded on FL70 FLL-ATL (545AM) per my online reservation seat assignment.
However, we got stalled in TSA and we missed the flight by *2* minutes (they pushed back 10 minutes before departure).
Ended up giving money to Southwest to make our meetings, as where we were going would have forced us to abandon the trip if we stayed with FL.
Myself + Companion upgraded on FL70 FLL-ATL (545AM) per my online reservation seat assignment.
However, we got stalled in TSA and we missed the flight by *2* minutes (they pushed back 10 minutes before departure).
Ended up giving money to Southwest to make our meetings, as where we were going would have forced us to abandon the trip if we stayed with FL.
Sep 28, 2009, 8:09 am
#17
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: BWI (Annapolis) & PWM (Bailey Island)
Programs: AA LT Gold (MM), WN A-List, Fairmont L/T Plat, HH Diamond
Posts: 884
Request that those submitting upgrade results w/ PNR (same or different) info, I'm not sure if this has any significance or issues when upgrading the companion, but perhaps we can correlate.
Sep 28, 2009, 10:00 am
#18
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 2,412
I believe the companion must be traveling on the same pnr to receive the free upgrade.
Sep 28, 2009, 7:31 pm
#19
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Atlanta, GA - AirTran Elite #1 FF * Delta Diamond Medallion * Starwood Platinum * PriorityClub Gold * Hilton Diamond
Posts: 672
Upgrades Since Last Month
Sep 25, 2009 New York, NY - LaGuardia (LGA) Atlanta, GA (ATL)
Sep 14, 2009 Atlanta, GA (ATL) New York, NY - LaGuardia (LGA)
Sep 08, 2009 Atlanta, GA (ATL) Houston-Hobby, TX (HOU)
Aug 16, 2009 Los Angeles, CA (LAX) Atlanta, GA (ATL) with companion
Aug 14, 2009 Atlanta, GA (ATL) Los Angeles, CA (LAX) with companion
Sep 14, 2009 Atlanta, GA (ATL) New York, NY - LaGuardia (LGA)
Sep 08, 2009 Atlanta, GA (ATL) Houston-Hobby, TX (HOU)
Aug 16, 2009 Los Angeles, CA (LAX) Atlanta, GA (ATL) with companion
Aug 14, 2009 Atlanta, GA (ATL) Los Angeles, CA (LAX) with companion
Oct 2, 2009, 4:40 pm
#20
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Westchester Co, NY or Rio Grande Valley, TX or ???
Programs: BAEC G, WN A-, Hyatt G, HH G, MAR T, Hz PC, was [UA2P, FL A+Elite, BD G]
Posts: 2,271
Today's flight #327 LGA-MKE: Successful upgrade!
I also just discovered an interesting quirk of the FL website. If you look at your booked flight more than one hour before the flight, you can access the seat map for your flight. As long as you don't close that window, you can refresh the seat map even after the flight has begun (via gogo).
For today's flight, at T - 1:05 the map showed 4 available biz class seats. At T - 0:40 I got my upgrade; a few minutes later I refreshed the seat map and it showed my seat as now occupied. Just prior to boarding, the seat map showed only two empty seats in biz class. On board, I noticed that only one biz class seat was empty; refreshing the seat map showed the same.
I also just discovered an interesting quirk of the FL website. If you look at your booked flight more than one hour before the flight, you can access the seat map for your flight. As long as you don't close that window, you can refresh the seat map even after the flight has begun (via gogo).
For today's flight, at T - 1:05 the map showed 4 available biz class seats. At T - 0:40 I got my upgrade; a few minutes later I refreshed the seat map and it showed my seat as now occupied. Just prior to boarding, the seat map showed only two empty seats in biz class. On board, I noticed that only one biz class seat was empty; refreshing the seat map showed the same.
Oct 2, 2009, 6:58 pm
#21
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: BWI (Annapolis) & PWM (Bailey Island)
Programs: AA LT Gold (MM), WN A-List, Fairmont L/T Plat, HH Diamond
Posts: 884
Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry8320/4.5.0.110 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/102)
Go figure I see this post 2 hours after I renewed my KVS subscription. Good to know I'm in Y tomorrow AM! 
Originally Posted by HPN-HRL
Today's flight #327 LGA-MKE: Successful upgrade!
I also just discovered an interesting quirk of the FL website. If you look at your booked flight more than one hour before the flight, you can access the seat map for your flight. As long as you don't close that window, you can refresh the seat map even after the flight has begun (via gogo).
For today's flight, at T - 1:05 the map showed 4 available biz class seats. At T - 0:40 I got my upgrade; a few minutes later I refreshed the seat map and it showed my seat as now occupied. Just prior to boarding, the seat map showed only two empty seats in biz class. On board, I noticed that only one biz class seat was empty; refreshing the seat map showed the same.
I also just discovered an interesting quirk of the FL website. If you look at your booked flight more than one hour before the flight, you can access the seat map for your flight. As long as you don't close that window, you can refresh the seat map even after the flight has begun (via gogo).
For today's flight, at T - 1:05 the map showed 4 available biz class seats. At T - 0:40 I got my upgrade; a few minutes later I refreshed the seat map and it showed my seat as now occupied. Just prior to boarding, the seat map showed only two empty seats in biz class. On board, I noticed that only one biz class seat was empty; refreshing the seat map showed the same.
Oct 5, 2009, 7:21 am
#22
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Westchester Co, NY or Rio Grande Valley, TX or ???
Programs: BAEC G, WN A-, Hyatt G, HH G, MAR T, Hz PC, was [UA2P, FL A+Elite, BD G]
Posts: 2,271
Morning flight MKE-LGA on Sunday 4 October: successful upgrade!
The plane was less than half full - I sat next to a NRSA who said that the next flight that day was full, with a few standbys on the list 24 hours before the flight.
The plane was less than half full - I sat next to a NRSA who said that the next flight that day was full, with a few standbys on the list 24 hours before the flight.
Oct 9, 2009, 7:29 am
#23
Join Date: Sep 2001
Programs: Alaska Tanzanite 100K
Posts: 3,858
Didn't make it Wednesday MCO-PIT, flight was completely full, thought it was strange they were still selling Y seats @ $99 a few hours prior.
Didn't make the 1st PIT-ATL flight but did capture it on my ATL-RDU flight (95), saw the manifest and there were 10 or so Elites on the list. Thankfully I was the 2nd one to ask for an upgrade and got my seat preference.
Buddy @ FL said its safer to always ask at the gate podium at the 40 minute mark for the upgrade, as the gal in MCO did put Non-revs in Business while I was still in the exit row.
Didn't make the 1st PIT-ATL flight but did capture it on my ATL-RDU flight (95), saw the manifest and there were 10 or so Elites on the list. Thankfully I was the 2nd one to ask for an upgrade and got my seat preference.
Buddy @ FL said its safer to always ask at the gate podium at the 40 minute mark for the upgrade, as the gal in MCO did put Non-revs in Business while I was still in the exit row.
Oct 9, 2009, 10:27 am
#24
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 2,412
There are cases where I have approached the podium at the 40-minute mark and they already filled the elite ups that had requested it. Other times, I ask ahead of the 40-min mark and am told I'll have to come back up at 40 minutes before. Still other times, I go up and ask, and they have already processed my upgrade and hand me the boarding pass.
So, it's best to ask as early as possible to see what they say.
Oct 9, 2009, 11:03 am
#25
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: MKE
Posts: 66
I took a week off from NW/Delta and flew FL this week.
10/5/09 342 MKE to SFO - Checked at the gate 40 minutes prior to departure; no BC available.
10/9/09 343 SFO to MKE - Called the elite line at 12:01am EDT to do the 4 credit upgrade and was told that BC was full.
I am now convinced that my FL travels are best served by short-haul routes where most PAX are too cheap to pay the $49 upgrade fee.
Oct 9, 2009, 1:33 pm
#26
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Westchester Co, NY or Rio Grande Valley, TX or ???
Programs: BAEC G, WN A-, Hyatt G, HH G, MAR T, Hz PC, was [UA2P, FL A+Elite, BD G]
Posts: 2,271
I'm curious - where (which airports) have you had the upgrade processed prior to your request, and do you have a sense of the upgrade priority?
I took a week off from NW/Delta and flew FL this week.
10/5/09 342 MKE to SFO - Checked at the gate 40 minutes prior to departure; no BC available.
10/9/09 343 SFO to MKE - Called the elite line at 12:01am EDT to do the 4 credit upgrade and was told that BC was full.
I am now convinced that my FL travels are best served by short-haul routes where most PAX are too cheap to pay the $49 upgrade fee.
I took a week off from NW/Delta and flew FL this week.
10/5/09 342 MKE to SFO - Checked at the gate 40 minutes prior to departure; no BC available.
10/9/09 343 SFO to MKE - Called the elite line at 12:01am EDT to do the 4 credit upgrade and was told that BC was full.
I am now convinced that my FL travels are best served by short-haul routes where most PAX are too cheap to pay the $49 upgrade fee.
Replying to Newsmanhoss, I usually walk up to the podium ~45 minutes before boarding to ask when they will be ready to process complementary upgrades. Sometimes I get "come back in 5 minutes", sometimes they are already full, and sometimes they process me right then.
Oct 9, 2009, 1:49 pm
#27
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Westchester Co, NY or Rio Grande Valley, TX or ???
Programs: BAEC G, WN A-, Hyatt G, HH G, MAR T, Hz PC, was [UA2P, FL A+Elite, BD G]
Posts: 2,271
A suggestion for this thread
Sorry to reply to myself, but I keep forgetting to bring this up.
I think it would help those of us trying to predict whether to "gamble" on a complementary upgrade (vs. paying cash or credits) if our posts to this thread would include whether or not Biz class was full on their flight. If I find out from this thread that MKE-LGA often has empty seats in Biz class, I will be more tempted to hope for a complementary upgrade. OTOH, the reports here that MKE-LAS never have free upgrades tells me to plan to pay for biz class on that route.
Does this make sense? If not, don't be afraid to say so!
I think it would help those of us trying to predict whether to "gamble" on a complementary upgrade (vs. paying cash or credits) if our posts to this thread would include whether or not Biz class was full on their flight. If I find out from this thread that MKE-LGA often has empty seats in Biz class, I will be more tempted to hope for a complementary upgrade. OTOH, the reports here that MKE-LAS never have free upgrades tells me to plan to pay for biz class on that route.
Does this make sense? If not, don't be afraid to say so!
Oct 9, 2009, 3:17 pm
#28
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 2,412
Sorry to reply to myself, but I keep forgetting to bring this up.
I think it would help those of us trying to predict whether to "gamble" on a complementary upgrade (vs. paying cash or credits) if our posts to this thread would include whether or not Biz class was full on their flight. If I find out from this thread that MKE-LGA often has empty seats in Biz class, I will be more tempted to hope for a complementary upgrade. OTOH, the reports here that MKE-LAS never have free upgrades tells me to plan to pay for biz class on that route.
Does this make sense? If not, don't be afraid to say so!
I think it would help those of us trying to predict whether to "gamble" on a complementary upgrade (vs. paying cash or credits) if our posts to this thread would include whether or not Biz class was full on their flight. If I find out from this thread that MKE-LGA often has empty seats in Biz class, I will be more tempted to hope for a complementary upgrade. OTOH, the reports here that MKE-LAS never have free upgrades tells me to plan to pay for biz class on that route.
Does this make sense? If not, don't be afraid to say so!
Oct 9, 2009, 3:23 pm
#29
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 2,412
I'm curious - where (which airports) have you had the upgrade processed prior to your request, and do you have a sense of the upgrade priority?
I took a week off from NW/Delta and flew FL this week.
10/5/09 342 MKE to SFO - Checked at the gate 40 minutes prior to departure; no BC available.
10/9/09 343 SFO to MKE - Called the elite line at 12:01am EDT to do the 4 credit upgrade and was told that BC was full.
I am now convinced that my FL travels are best served by short-haul routes where most PAX are too cheap to pay the $49 upgrade fee.
I took a week off from NW/Delta and flew FL this week.
10/5/09 342 MKE to SFO - Checked at the gate 40 minutes prior to departure; no BC available.
10/9/09 343 SFO to MKE - Called the elite line at 12:01am EDT to do the 4 credit upgrade and was told that BC was full.
I am now convinced that my FL travels are best served by short-haul routes where most PAX are too cheap to pay the $49 upgrade fee.
As for where my elite-ups were processed before I even approached the podium, I don't recall for sure, but I think it happened at MSP, BOS and maybe DEN. Maybe once at MKE, but I dno't know for sure. Remember that all of this is anecdotal, and it there are a lot of variable that determine how it's done...including who is working the gate, how full the flight is, etc.
One other incident...I was at checking in at the counter (at BOS I believe) and the counter agent disputed that FL even offered comp space-available biz class for elites. Apparently she must never work the gate or was not informed of the policy, which started dang near a year ago if I remember correctly. Weird, because I ended up flying in Biz free that day.
Oct 10, 2009, 7:11 pm
#30
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: ATL
Programs: Marriott Platinum, Delta Kryptonium Medallion, National Executive
Posts: 1,889
I'll Play Along...
RDU-ATL - Sunday, September 13 - successful - gate agent upgraded without request, flight (including BC) full
ATL-FNT - Tuesday, September 22 - successful - submitted request to gate agent 40 mins prior - seats throughout (including BC) vacant
FNT-ATL - Wednesday, September 23 - unsuccessful - flew standby and was fortunate to get a coach seat, much less BC
ATL-FNT - Monday, October 5 - unsuccessful - submitted request to gate agent 40 mins prior and was told all the upgrades had already been given out, BC was full but main cabin was about 60% capacity, ended up in an exit row with a vacant seat next to me
FNT-ATL - Friday, October 9 - successful - flew standby and was also able to get upgraded about 1 hour prior to boarding. BC was full but the main cabin looked to be less than 50%
I'll be back on the ATL-FNT-ATL next week and I'll let you know what happens there. But I share in the frustration over when you should request the upgrade, particularly after getting beaten out on October 5th. I called the A+ Elite line and the agent told me to approach the gate agent ASAP and that the list is not limited to 40-minutes prior to boarding, despite what I've read on the FL website. Seems that will be my MO from now on. All in all, I've been pretty satisfied with the program.
ATL-FNT - Tuesday, September 22 - successful - submitted request to gate agent 40 mins prior - seats throughout (including BC) vacant
FNT-ATL - Wednesday, September 23 - unsuccessful - flew standby and was fortunate to get a coach seat, much less BC
ATL-FNT - Monday, October 5 - unsuccessful - submitted request to gate agent 40 mins prior and was told all the upgrades had already been given out, BC was full but main cabin was about 60% capacity, ended up in an exit row with a vacant seat next to me
FNT-ATL - Friday, October 9 - successful - flew standby and was also able to get upgraded about 1 hour prior to boarding. BC was full but the main cabin looked to be less than 50%
I'll be back on the ATL-FNT-ATL next week and I'll let you know what happens there. But I share in the frustration over when you should request the upgrade, particularly after getting beaten out on October 5th. I called the A+ Elite line and the agent told me to approach the gate agent ASAP and that the list is not limited to 40-minutes prior to boarding, despite what I've read on the FL website. Seems that will be my MO from now on. All in all, I've been pretty satisfied with the program.