Thanks PA42. There is also another guy Steven in that same airport who is not talkative like Frederick and not as obviously friendly like Frederick, but he is just as proactive. He had my boarding pass ready one day even before I reached the counter as I was rearranging a couple of items in my soon to be checked in luggage 40-50 feet away from him. He quietly goes about his work, but seems to care. Not the only time I noticed top class attitude by him. He had my upgrade ready for me before I even asked for it on another visit. I know WN and FL operations seem to have merged here but the overall attitude by everyone seems good.
ATL-PBI Monday night July 23 9:10 pm departure . SUCCESS again.
Those increased BC prices sure are helping me achieve this high success rate to PBI. I think most leisure travelers figured out that it is better to pay $49 rather than checking in 2 bags(I see a lot of older passengers who do that to PBI). So increasing this BC only helps those of us who can either use credits or free upgrades. At this point, one has to pray for a miracle and hope WN slows down the integration.
Location: Westchester Co, NY or Rio Grande Valley, TX or ???
Programs: Hanging onto BAEC(G); HH(D); SPG(G for now); no longer UA M+, WN A-, FL A+ Elite, BD G
Posts: 1,282
ATL-HPN Sunday afternoon - Success! When I checked my bag I was told that only 1 Biz seat was taken; my upgraded BP had already been printed when i reached the podium at T-0:45. IIRC there were only 7 seats full in Biz.
Thursday 8/2 ATL-RDU on FL 1607 at 6:05PM, upgraded, along with 3-4 others. BC was full.
8 BC seats still remained in the seat map before heading to the airport, when I checked in at T-23 there were business class upgrades for sale for $69. Day of, when I went to print out my boarding pass, the upgrades were listed as sold out (and also listed as $49, weird). And the flight was sold out in coach and business class on the website for new tickets (although the flight before and after had both for sale).
Location: Westchester Co, NY or Rio Grande Valley, TX or ???
Programs: Hanging onto BAEC(G); HH(D); SPG(G for now); no longer UA M+, WN A-, FL A+ Elite, BD G
Posts: 1,282
This afternoon TPA-SJU: success! The flight had only 3 open seats, 2 of which were in Biz class. Biz class showed as empty at T-7 hours; I think I was the only complementary upgrade.
Also, on August 2nd I flew HPN-ATL-HOU on a Biz class award ticket; both legs had empty seats in Biz...
This afternoon TPA-SJU: success! The flight had only 3 open seats, 2 of which were in Biz class. Biz class showed as empty at T-7 hours; I think I was the only complementary upgrade.
Location: Westchester Co, NY or Rio Grande Valley, TX or ???
Programs: Hanging onto BAEC(G); HH(D); SPG(G for now); no longer UA M+, WN A-, FL A+ Elite, BD G
Posts: 1,282
Quote:
Originally Posted by PA42
Had a bit more in the back, few no shows.
Interesting - the seat map showed only 4 seats open (2 Biz + 2 Coach); I overheard an FA give a count of 134. So between us we have three different counts for that flight. Yours should be the most accurate, I wonder why both of mine differ...
Programs: My opinions are my own and not that of my employer(s)
Posts: 645
Quote:
Originally Posted by HPN-HRL
Interesting - the seat map showed only 4 seats open (2 Biz + 2 Coach); I overheard an FA give a count of 134. So between us we have three different counts for that flight. Yours should be the most accurate, I wonder why both of mine differ...
It is possible to board someone without a seat assignment. Headcount would be correct but seatmap won't show it. Both webcheck and kiosk will print BPs without seat assignment if nothing is available at the time. Row 10 is reserved for GA use and Exit carries a fee some won't pay. Later webcheck, counter or gate upgrades could free a seat... did you by chance have 18D before UG? A no-show or UG could have been responsible for 11E.
Location: Westchester Co, NY or Rio Grande Valley, TX or ???
Programs: Hanging onto BAEC(G); HH(D); SPG(G for now); no longer UA M+, WN A-, FL A+ Elite, BD G
Posts: 1,282
Quote:
Originally Posted by traveller001
... did you by chance have 18D before UG? A no-show or UG could have been responsible for 11E..
Yes, my prior seat was 18D; right after I got the upgrade the seat map showed the changes, but 11E was still shown as full (as it had all morning).
Back to the thread topic: Success on both my flights yesterday!
For SJU-ATL I checked at the gate ~T-1:20 to make sure that Biz class had not sold out (unlikely, as only 2 seats were full at T-4:00). At T-0:55 they called my name and gave me an upgrade (it looked like they were trying to seat a couple together using my vacated seat); another elite member came up asking about an upgrade and was told to wait - his UG cleared close to T-0:40. All of Biz class was full - there was 1 empty seat but it was given to a passenger whose original seat would not stay in the upright position.
ATL-HPN: my prior flight was a bit late getting in, so I didn't get to the counter until ~T-0:25. Fortunately, they had already upgraded me. The flight was 100% full (per the seat map - there might have been an empty seat in the back); all of row 1 was taken up by UMs - I don't know if any elites were prevented from being upgraded due to this.
It is possible to board someone without a seat assignment. Headcount would be correct but seatmap won't show it. Both webcheck and kiosk will print BPs without seat assignment if nothing is available at the time. Row 10 is reserved for GA use and Exit carries a fee some won't pay. Later webcheck, counter or gate upgrades could free a seat... did you by chance have 18D before UG? A no-show or UG could have been responsible for 11E.
Cant board anyone and lie to New Skies though, especially after the fact....unless someone is riding in the grey zone on a nonrev basis.
7/30 ATL-PBI 9:10pm flight EASY SUCCESS. 4 empty seats and that was only because one DELTA PLATINUM guy got an unsolicited upgrade after he made some comment that he was glad to switch to FL and was fed up with Delta. He was already seated in coach. Another lady from coach was also brought in from coach later. I did notice the Gate Agent not even attempting to sell upgrades with such an empty flight.
8/2: PBI-ATL. Back to my favorite airtran airport. Erin gives me an upgrade without my asking because she remembered me as an Elite and I got the upgrade 50 min in advance. BC ended up filling up despite 7 seats being available with an hour to go.
Can anyone tell me if ATL-BOS at 3:30 pm on a Tuesday is usually a good contender to get a free upgrade? Debating whether to use 4 credits or not. I am flying out today. Same question applies to a similar timed flight next Tuesday from BOS-ATL next week. Are these kind of Tuesday afternoon flights decent candidates to gamble on getting a free upgrade? [UPDATE]As of this morning, there are 7 seats available. in BC which is kind of what is consistent across all ATL-BOS flights today. I expect to be #1 or #2 on the checkin list.
Can anyone tell me if ATL-BOS at 3:30 pm on a Tuesday is usually a good contender to get a free upgrade? Debating whether to use 4 credits or not. I am flying out today. Same question applies to a similar timed flight next Tuesday from BOS-ATL next week. Are these kind of Tuesday afternoon flights decent candidates to gamble on getting a free upgrade? [UPDATE]As of this morning, there are 7 seats available. in BC which is kind of what is consistent across all ATL-BOS flights today. I expect to be #1 or #2 on the checkin list.
Theres just less than half of C class open as of right now on that flight. The overall answer is that it varies from week to week.
ATL-BOS FL344 (I am on the flight now and posting thanks to a free GOGO code that Airtran emailed me): SUCCESS
Very close. Flight delayed an hour to 4:30. BUt I went to the counter at 40 min before the original scheduled dparture(3:30). They said there were 2 seats left. I know I was 3rd to checkin among elites, but one guy did not respnd to a page, so they struck him off the list. He then calls my name to the counter. BUt he can't seem to upgrade me. Later on another GA tries to help and he can't do it either. So they page another person who was above me in the list but who did not show up at the 40 min mark. This time she responded and came to the counter. AFter some futile efforts, they just handwrite the seat numbers on our boarding passes. We got the last two seats. I am surprised Boston is still $69 for the upgrade as West Palm has gone up to 69 too and is nearly 45 min shorter.
8/14 - GRR-BWI was $69 at OLCI, $49 at kiosk, free when I asked if there were any upgrades left shortly before we boarded (allegedly because the flight was delayed over 2 hours due to weather, but maybe it was just my lucky day).
For the duration of FL's existence, I plan to wait till I arrive at the airport to attempt to upgrade, since I really only fly the WAS-ATL and GRR-BWI routes and $69 is highway robbery on flights of that length.
Location: Winter Park Fla. USA Hilton Diamond, Delta SM, Starwood Gold, Hertz PC
Posts: 66
Denied!
Flight 373 from Atl to Mco today had plenty of biz seats available this morning, but when I got to the gate I was told no room. When we boarded, there were at least FIVE Airtran employees sitting up front. Doesn't seem right!
Denied!
