AirTran Airways A+ Rewards - Elite business class upgrade success (master list)

I thought it might be helpful to start a thread (maybe make it sticky if it catches on) on the success that AirTran elites have had in getting the complimentary upgrades to business class.

Here are my experiences:

MKE-MSP on 5/23/09:
Successful (+1 companion)

MSP-MKE on 5/25/09
Successful (+1 companion)

MKE-DEN on 8/14/09
Unsuccessful. For whatever reason, GA allowed passengers to get elite up before 40 minute window...I was too late and there was only one seat left (Mrs Newsman and I wanted to sit together, so one seat didn't work). That flight ended up with 11/12 biz class seats occupied.

DEN-MKE on 8/16/09
Successful (+1 companion). In fact, I approached the GA one hour before departure and she already had our upgraded passes printed (and had even paged us in he gate area before that, apparently). 8/12 Biz class seats were occupied on the flight.

MKE-BOS 8/22/09 6am
Successful (+1 companion). 8/12 seats occupied. There were 4 kids in biz class. Weird.

BOS-MKE 8/24/09 6am
Successful (+1 companion). 11/12 seats occupied.

SFO-MKE 9/7/09 11pm (redeye flight)
Successful (+1 companion). 12/12 seats occupied. Flight completely full. I was surprised to get the upgrade, considering how full this loong-haul flight was. We ended up using credits to upgrade our earlier flight MKE-SFO on 9/3 (8am departure). That flight ended up being full as well, but I doubt we would have gotten the free upgrade then.

MKE-MCO 11/13/09 3:53 p.m.
Successful (+1 companion). 10/12 seats occupied.

MCO-MKE 11/15/09 5:30 p.m.
Unsuccessful. Business Class checked in full on this high-volume leisure route.

Success rate for free upgrades so far this year is 7/9 flights for both me and my companion.

Great idea, Newsman! I'd like to see it as a sticky. I'm also interested in how early people are requesting and receiving upgrades. I will often approach the GA up to an hour prior to determine if there is any inventory left, and to ask when they plan to start processing upgrades. FL is known to begin boarding early, and I hate to ask for an u/g after boarding has started (even if that's when the 40-minute window opens).

MKE-SFO flight 342 on 8/17/09
Unsuccessful. Approached GA about an hour before the flight to assess availability and was told BC was full.

SFO-MKE flight 343 on 8/21/09
Successful. Called the elite 800# at 12:01 am EDT and redeemed four credits. Flight departed with one seat open in BC.

MKE-SFO flight 342 on 8/24/09
Unsuccessful. Approached GA about an hour before the flight to assess availability and was told BC was full.

Update 9/7/09: My only successful upgrades on this route in either direction were when I called the elite line at 12:01am EDT the day of the flight and upgraded with credits. While I feel this is an acceptable use of earned credits (certainly better than upgrading with credits on a shorter route, such as between MKE and LGA, and better than paying $100), it is somewhat of an inconvenience, and you're redeeming at 4 times the rate you're earning. Fortunately I built up a reserve of credits during the MKE to LGA promo.

I will be off of Airtran for now - until either my destination changes or the direct red-eye from SFO to MKE returns to the schedule. For the next month I'm on NWA/Delta MKE-MSP-SFO and back.

Great idea, Newsman! I'd like to see it as a sticky. I'm also interested in how early people are requesting and receiving upgrades. I will often approach the GA up to an hour prior to determine if there is any inventory left, and to ask when they plan to start processing upgrades. FL is known to begin boarding early, and I hate to ask for an u/g after boarding has started (even if that's when the 40-minute window opens).

Here's an update from this morning:

MKE-SFO flight 342 on 8/17/09
Unsuccessful. Approached GA about an hour before the flight to assess availaility and was told BC was full.

That's too bad you're not getting these upgrades, considering how often you're taking this route. You're a frequent traveler, but you're missing out on the biggest benefit of the elite program.

Here are my experiences so far this month:

LGA-ATL on 8/5: Successful, even though when I got to the gate they were just starting to announce pre-boarding. (Biz class ended up filled)
ATL-LAS on 8/5: Unsuccessful - biz class was already full

I ended up using 4 credits to upgrade both of my return segments.

Since the "free upgrades at T - 40 minutes" policy started, I have gotten somewhere between 6 and 10 free upgrades, mostly on LGA-MKE & v.v. and HPN-ATL & v.v, with a few outliers. Once, coming back from PNS (or maybe JAX?), I walked up to the gate roughly 45 minutes before departure to ask about a complementary upgrade and the GA had already done it for me!

One last note: When flying two segments on one ticket, I almost always use 4 credits to ensure an upgrade - especially to the west coast. On my half a dozen or so cross-country flights on AirTran, biz class has always been full. I would be very surprised to hear of anyone getting a free upgrade out west to or from ATL, but maybe those of you routing via MKE will have more luck.

Successful:
BWI-PWM 7/4 (1 + companion (same pnr))
BOS-BWI 10/3 (1 + companion (same pnr))
BWI-BOS 11/14 (1 + companion (different pnr, but linked))
BOS-BWI 11/15 (w/ companion but only one seat open)

Failed:
PWM-BWI 7/7 (1 + companion (same pnr))
BWI-BOS 10/3 (1 + companion (same pnr))

TBD:
BWI-ATL 12/24 (TBD)
ATL-BWI 12/26 (TBD)

CAK-LGA 08/17: Successful (+1 companion)
LGA-CAK 08/19: Successful (+1 companion)

That's too bad you're not getting these upgrades, considering how often you're taking this route. You're a frequent traveler, but you're missing out on the biggest benefit of the elite program.

Agreed. Due to my work schedule, I'm switching to NW next month. They offer a Sunday evening MKE to SFO and Thursday night red-eye SFO to MKE, both connecting through MSP. FL does not currently offer a Sunday evening direct flight from MKE to SFO, and is dropping the direct red-eye return next month. If I have to connect to the west coast, I'd rather go through MSP than ATL.

Earlier this year I flew YX MKE to LGA for several weeks and banked those miles on NW (in preparation for YX's demise). Based on EQS/EQM balances, I should make Plat by the end of the year and not have to manually upgrade each flight.

Moderators: Please make this thread sticky if possible. Thanks!!

I agree, this should be a sticky!

28 Aug HPN-ATL morning flight: successful upgrade; 1 empty Biz class seat.

30 Aug ATL-HPN evening flight: successful upgrade

Today LGA-ATL morning flight: successful upgrade

Today ATL-PHX morning flight: almost got an upgrade! Arrived at the gate 47 minutes before scheduled departure time; the guy ahead of me bought an upgrade; I was then told that I might receive an upgrade & to check back in a few minutes. A few more people came up to the counter; one looked like he bought an upgrade. At T - 43 minutes, the GAs called up one customer; shortly after that a GA called me over & informed me that no Biz class seats were left.

Would it be worth a mileage run to get elite for this benefit alone? We will have 6 one ways within two months but nothing else after that. Would it be worth paying for two real cheap round trips and traveling them to get elite since it now only requires 10 in a 90 day period? It could probably be done in a day and only cost ~$200 if one could find some $39 sale fares.

Since it will also allow a companion upgrade, it may be worth it. What are the requirements to renew elite once you obtain it? How long do you have elite for once you have it?

Would it be worth a mileage run to get elite for this benefit alone? We will have 6 one ways within two months but nothing else after that. Would it be worth paying for two real cheap round trips and traveling them to get elite since it now only requires 10 in a 90 day period? It could probably be done in a day and only cost ~$200 if one could find some $39 sale fares.

Since it will also allow a companion upgrade, it may be worth it. What are the requirements to renew elite once you obtain it? How long do you have elite for once you have it?

I think it's worth it if you can find a sale fare to make it happen. Once you have elite status, it requires 12 flight credits annually to keep it, so it's a pretty good deal. Just know that you're not guaranteed an upgrade. It is space-available. But, as you can see here, you'll have pretty good luck with upgrades unless you are on a long-haul flight to/from the west coast.

Once you have elite status, it requires 12 roundtrips annually to keep it, so it's a pretty good deal.

It's even better than this. You only need 12 credits to maintain status, so just 6 RTs. Further, according to their Terms and Conditions you can purchase the needed credits to maintain status, so not even a mileage run would be necessary.

It's even better than this. You only need 12 credits to maintain status, so just 6 RTs. Further, according to their Terms and Conditions you can purchase the needed credits to maintain status, so not even a mileage run would be necessary.

Thanks for that. Yes, only 12 one-way trips. Once you have status, AirTran will make you an offer to purchase credits if you are close to renewing it, but I don't think you can do that if you are trying to initially qualify for status.

Thanks for that. Yes, only 12 one-way trips. Once you have status, AirTran will make you an offer to purchase credits if you are close to renewing it, but I don't think you can do that if you are trying to initially qualify for status.

I'm pretty sure you're right. That's why I said 'maintain status' in my post.

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.

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.

AirTran always closes boarding 10 minutes before departure.

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.

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.

I believe the companion must be traveling on the same pnr to receive the free upgrade.

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

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.

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry8320/4.5.0.110 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/102)

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.

Go figure I see this post 2 hours after I renewed my KVS subscription. Good to know I'm in Y tomorrow AM! :(

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.

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.

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.

I have noticed a lot of inconsistencies with how the elite up program is administered in different airports.

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.

Still other times, I go up and ask, and they have already processed my upgrade and hand me the boarding pass.

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'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 have been upgraded prior to asking once for certain, and I think at least one other time. The definite case was for PNS-ATL; the probable case (new BP handed to me 15 seconds after I walked up) was on LGA-ATL.

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.

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!

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!

Makes perfect sense. If you look at my post at the beginning of this thread, I try to post how many seats were occupied. I encourage others to do the same, and some of them have. It's a great tool for people like us.

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 used credits on my last MKE-SFO, partially based on your inability to receive a comp upgrade. Incidentally, my wife and I both got free elite-ups on our return flight SFO-MKE, but it was a red-eye.

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.

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 - Monday, October 11 - successful - submitted request to gate agent 80 mins prior (I wasn't going to get burnt like last week) - seats throughout (including BC) vacant
FNT-ATL - Friday, October 16 - unsuccessful - BC was already sold out (I checked online the night prior). I didn't even have a chance.

FNT-ATL - Friday, October 16 - unsuccessful - BC was already sold out (I checked online the night prior). I didn't even have a chance.

Even if the seat maps are full, things can change at the last minute...there could be no-shows or a change in travel plans. There's always that outside chance that one can open up, so it never hurts to ask.

Even if the seat maps are full, things can change at the last minute...there could be no-shows or a change in travel plans. There's always that outside chance that one can open up, so it never hurts to ask.
This is especially true if any of the Biz Class seats were showing as occupied more than one day before the flight - these are often paid Biz Class seats; their occupants can change their ticket without penalty.

10/23 evening flight HPN-ATL: no luck! (only 2 seats were showing available 1 hour before departure).
10/23 last flight ATL-JAX: successful; 1 empty seat.
10/25 am flight JAX-ATL; successful; no empty seats.
10/25 !am flight ATL-HPN; successful; 3 empty seats - 6 upgraded the day before, my free upgrade, and 2 more (paid w/$, I think) done after my free upgrade.

See my other thread on what appears to be a new procedure for elite upgrades.

called on am sat 10/24
upgraded yesterday, 10/25, for 4 air tran credits
sfo to milwaukee, milwaukee to DCA

both flights were full in biz calss
but at milwaukeee they were selling the upgrades to DCA

the premium security line at sfo is slower than the regular line!!
what a poorly run situation