US Airways Dividend Miles - I am thankful for US Airways

Ok, how is that for a thread title you weren't expecting?

I flew DL yesterday doing ATL-DTW-BGM and will be doing the return in a few days. I flew coach in DL, and it was not pleasant. I have become spoiled sitting in F consistently on US.

I saved $250 per ticket on DL over US when I booked, so it was an easy decision this time. However, it made me thankful that US has a pretty good upgrade system in place. I watched the upgrade monitor on the ATL-DTW segment and it appeared roughly 15-20 Medallion members didn't clear upgrades.

While US may no have the best F product, but it sure beats DL coach!

Do you have staus on DL???

I think the DL upgrade system works fine. I'm 100% on upgrades as Delta Gold Medallion so far this year, which has been pleasantly surprising. Always remember that upgrades are dependent on routes, days of the week, time of day on any airline.

Work has been taking me to SDQ and US has minimal service so have been flying AA and HOW I MISS US for upgrades! As a CHPR, I always got upgraded but not on AA. No status!

Do you have staus on DL???

Not shown. I agree, without equivalent status on the airlines use for upgrade comparisons, it's really apples and oranges. I suspect top level DL or AA elites flying on US without status could lament their lack of upgrades on US. It's the nature of the beast - status gets the perks and the higher the status the better the perks. No status - don't blame the airline for not giving you any perks unless you pay the fare to get them.

Jim

regardless of his status, it was a valid point that DL flights consistently have upgrade lists of 20-50 pax - most of which obviously wont clear. flying out of ATL it is almost impossible to get an upgrade unless you are top-tier, on a full-fare ticket, and have about 3 amex cards.

regardless of his status, it was a valid point that DL flights consistently have upgrade lists of 20-50 pax - most of which obviously wont clear. flying out of ATL it is almost impossible to get an upgrade unless you are top-tier, on a full-fare ticket, and have about 3 amex cards.

That would depend on the route wouldn't it? I suspect US elites could have similar issues upgrading on select flights from PHL, CLT or PHX.

regardless of his status...

I understand that, and presumably it's because ATL has more DL elites than any US hub has US elites and DL possibly sells more FC seats on average than US.

But assuming no status on DL (none is shown) would his upgrade rate be better on US if he had no US status either (instead of CP).

Of course, DL makes it easy for anyone to see how many of their elites don't get upgrades. Wonder how many times the OP has sit up front on US with no idea how many if any US elites didn't get the upgrade?

To me a better title would be "I'm thankful for top status on US" since it's quite possibly that CP status that lets him sit up front "consistently" unless he flys only flights that have relatively few elites.

Jim

I think the DL upgrade system works fine. I'm 100% on upgrades as Delta Gold Medallion so far this year, which has been pleasantly surprising. Always remember that upgrades are dependent on routes, days of the week, time of day on any airline.

and fare basis and status....... with fare basis being one of the most important

regardless of his status, it was a valid point that DL flights consistently have upgrade lists of 20-50 pax - most of which obviously wont clear. flying out of ATL it is almost impossible to get an upgrade unless you are top-tier, on a full-fare ticket, and have about 3 amex cards.

Amazing isn't it. I've been in the 50's on a upgrade list as a PLT.

Note to the kids in Tempe. People do want fly an airline with a good hard product in the air and thus the huge UG list......:eek:

I flew coach in DL, and it was not pleasant.

Agreed. Has to be the the worst in the industry if you don't get an exit row. Thankfully I have a very good track record of being upgraded. Unfortunately with all the guys and gals coming and going from the middle east I have chosen to experience just how bad this product is on over half of my flights so far.

That would depend on the route wouldn't it? I suspect US elites could have similar issues upgrading on select flights from PHL, CLT or PHX.

I recognize that this is just anecdotal, but my experience as a top-tier elite on US and a was-until-recently-top-tier elite on DL, flying from the Southeast, is that I get the domestic upgrade on US 100% of the time, without fail, at the 7-day window. And when I was just platinum, to make the comparison arguably more even, I did too (at the platinum window). And back as gold, I believe I did too. I missed only a few even as a silver.

As a Plat on DL, I have not once gotten an upgrade at the theoretical 5-day window, and bat something around 25% at getting it at the gate.

So, in actual practice for me, the seemingly apples-and-oranges comparison of US First to DL Economy is fairly valid, since that is reality depending on my choice of carrier.

I should make the caveat, however, that recently on international routes I have been getting OPERATIONAL upgrades a high percentage of the time on DL, and only very rarely on US, which sort of balances out the scenario in an unofficial way.

YMMV.
I have been upgraded on T fares at 7 days on DL and not upgraded on US.
My UG% on DL is 90% so far this year. On US is 75% as a CP.

and you're gold or PT or Diamond, DL will apparently be giving a cert for a free drink under their new "Sky Priority" program. US will give you ....? :confused:

and you're gold or PT or Diamond, DL will apparently be giving a cert for a free drink under their new "Sky Priority" program. US will give you ....? :confused:

Which again is a to-each-his-own situation. Since I have no interest in alcoholic drinks, it is always sort of annoying to me when airlines use them as a "perk" or in this case, a consolation prize.

My interest in traveling in first is 50% comfort, 50% being able to work on a laptop without someone reclining into me. And, well, maybe a predeparture diet coke would be nice if I have had to run for the gate.

So, I get these certs offering free booze, free headsets (how many frequent flyers don't carry their own better-quality headsets?) and usually just throw them away with some regret. I am not so extroverted as to go walking the aisles looking for some worthy stranger who might want to use them...

So, I get these certs offering free booze, free headsets (how many frequent flyers don't carry their own better-quality headsets?) and usually just throw them away with some regret. I am not so extroverted as to go walking the aisles looking for some worthy stranger who might want to use them...

How about just offering them to the person next to you? I'm sure he/she might enjoy the gift. That wouldn't necessitate getting up. ;)

So here I am delayed quite 90 min so in BGM. Mechanical, so it happens. Just reminds me that small airports are limited in options.

In my original post, I was not saying anything negative about DL. Only that I am spoiled an like F as we all do.

If I would have been in US coach, I probably would have said the same thing. My main point was that it is nice to have status with an airline, and my normal is US Airways. And since on US I have 100% upgrades since last fall (except when hop earlier flights), I am happy with them.

I just don't want to go through the process of rebuilding status with DL in a challenge. I know I am lazy...but what can I say.

And since most of my routes are ATL-large cities, I am guessing I would fight lots of other Medallion members for upgrades.

So, nothing really special here...other than saying US has my loyalty :)

My main point was that it is nice to have status with an airline, and my normal is US Airways. And since on US I have 100% upgrades since last fall (except when hop earlier flights), I am happy with them.

Which is a perfectly valid point and really the same one I was attempting to make.

Jim

I was rather amused when I got on the BGM-DTW flight. The FA told us all free booze for the delay if we were over 21.

I don't drink when flying, as it typically gives me a headache. Nice gesture though!