Longest upgrade list you've experienced?
May 7, 2010, 1:52 pm
#33
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Los Angeles
Programs: UA, Marriott
Posts: 105
With people bring on larger carry-on bags to get around the checked baggage fees, and the total exceeding what the overhead bins were designed to hold, more and more people try to get on board before their group is called. Airines still aren't cracking down on carry-on bag size. I've heard they don't want to get into arguments with the passengers with the big bags, figuring those who play by the "rules" (out of consideration for others) will just suffer in silence.
Most people (including myself) know that you don't need to play by the "rules" of checked baggage b/c it's rarely enforced. The minimal chance that they'll call someone on bringing too much baggage outweighs the negatives for checking luggage (cost + time waiting for luggage).
I hope they consistently crack down on the carry-on luggage. It will make life better for everyone boarding the plane. Might even reduce how much people pack...resulting in less weight for the plane to move...less fuel required.
May 7, 2010, 2:48 pm
#34
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: BER, SAT, AUS
Programs: Feels like FO (AA EXP)
Posts: 1,611
If they would crack down on those with too many carryons they'd have many benefits: increased revenue (maybe they could end up reducing the per/bag checked fee), faster boarding, and those in the last boarding groups would be able to bring on at least some luggage on packed flights.
Most people (including myself) know that you don't need to play by the "rules" of checked baggage b/c it's rarely enforced. The minimal chance that they'll call someone on bringing too much baggage outweighs the negatives for checking luggage (cost + time waiting for luggage).
I hope they consistently crack down on the carry-on luggage. It will make life better for everyone boarding the plane. Might even reduce how much people pack...resulting in less weight for the plane to move...less fuel required.
Most people (including myself) know that you don't need to play by the "rules" of checked baggage b/c it's rarely enforced. The minimal chance that they'll call someone on bringing too much baggage outweighs the negatives for checking luggage (cost + time waiting for luggage).
I hope they consistently crack down on the carry-on luggage. It will make life better for everyone boarding the plane. Might even reduce how much people pack...resulting in less weight for the plane to move...less fuel required.
May 7, 2010, 2:49 pm
#35
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: ATL
Programs: Delta PlM, 1M
Posts: 6,363
My wife and I purchased tickets on a roundtrip international and domestic trip,for mid-June (going) and early July (return), that included the opportunity to upgrade to Biz/First (paid with cash and miles). We got upgraded on all segements right away except for an Atlanta-LAX flight June 15. I was hoping we could get upgraded on that as well, but seeing this makes me think our chances could be slim to none. Oh well.
...
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You need to call in a few times and ask them specifically if the upgrade seats are available, and if they are then ask to be upgraded. The inventory for this is released gradually as DL thinks they will not sell out first.
I would try now, in a few weeks, and a week before your flight (unless you know somebody who subscribes to Expert Flyer and can check this for you).
May 7, 2010, 3:04 pm
#36
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,426
May 7, 2010, 3:06 pm
#37
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Somewhere in the sky or a Marriott
Programs: 7mm DM, FC, Marriott PM (lifetime), HH Diamond
Posts: 749
Too many giveaways = to many elite= too many complaints about no upgrade.
May 7, 2010, 3:08 pm
#38
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Ponte Vedra Beach, FL
Programs: DL PM, HH Diamond, Fairmont Prem, SPG Gold, Priority Club Plat/IC Amb, AmEx Plat
Posts: 10,839
May 7, 2010, 3:13 pm
#39
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: TPA-MKE-PHX
Programs: Ex DL-DM. MM. TWA-Aviator Plat. HHonors-DVIP, MR-Gold. Nat-Emerald. Avis Chairmn.
Posts: 1,925
In the old NW days in MKE the gate agent on an early morning flight to DTW announced something to the effect, "We will get to the 6 of you who are non-elites after boarding the rest of the plane." While he was jovial about it, he was serious. There were only six non-elites on the full A-320.
I assume all were elegible for an upgrade!
I assume all were elegible for an upgrade!
May 7, 2010, 3:22 pm
#40
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: MN
Programs: Lots of programs, dirt on all of them!
Posts: 11,938
Yesterday, while trying to SB for DTW-ATL,... Was more fascinated by the mid-fifties woman who insisted on standing at the end of the boarding rope letting each person get in front of her while she waited for Zone 4 to board... Hats of to the DFW gate crew, who handled this crush perfectly, never let anything get out of control or any customer get upset. MSP and DTW crews should be sent down to DFW to observe how the boarding process should happen.
. Maybe all DL GA's should be sent to DFW for training, not just those from former DL-North hubs. I have flown out of MSP hundreds of times and never recall any problems with any GA's there, ever.And if I were in Zone 4 with that may elites, yep, I would probably try to be the first person in my zone to board. By that time overhead space would be at a premium. Most of us FF'ers with elite status forget what it is like to be a peon.
May 7, 2010, 3:23 pm
#41
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: BDU
Programs: DL:MM, Marriott:LTT
Posts: 8,779
The single "gate louse" was more of an amusement than anything else. You had to wonder why she planted herself where she did and didn't move, but even she didn't impede people getting on the plane.
Interestingly, the next flight, which boarded much in the same way, but only had fifty-something people on the UG list, boarded on time but took off about 20 minutes late. There seemed to be many carry-on bags being loaded down from the Jetway. The flight after that, which was the one I was on, only had about thirty people on the UG list, also boarded in the same way, but pushed back completely full but more than five minutes early. My seatmate commented that we were going to get to ATL at about the same time as the earlier flight.
May 7, 2010, 3:26 pm
#42
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: BDU
Programs: DL:MM, Marriott:LTT
Posts: 8,779
Guess you enjoy DTW so much that you mistyped? . Maybe all DL GA's should be sent to DFW for training, not just those from former DL-North hubs. I have flown out of MSP hundreds of times and never recall any problems with any GA's there, ever.
And if I were in Zone 4 with that may elites, yep, I would probably try to be the first person in my zone to board. By that time overhead space would be at a premium. Most of us FF'ers forget what it is like to be a peon.
. Maybe all DL GA's should be sent to DFW for training, not just those from former DL-North hubs. I have flown out of MSP hundreds of times and never recall any problems with any GA's there, ever.And if I were in Zone 4 with that may elites, yep, I would probably try to be the first person in my zone to board. By that time overhead space would be at a premium. Most of us FF'ers forget what it is like to be a peon.
And before they made the Zone 3 announcement on that and the next flight, the GAs announced that there was no more room in the overheads and all bags would have to be checked.
May 7, 2010, 3:30 pm
#43
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: BDU
Programs: DL:MM, Marriott:LTT
Posts: 8,779
May 7, 2010, 3:37 pm
#44
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: CHA/TYS
Programs: The Mac Daddy of Heimlich County (and low-ball status)
Posts: 2,868
you're a PM, so you're more apt to get the upgrade. quit .....ing
May 7, 2010, 6:20 pm
#45
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 164
My wife and I purchased tickets on a roundtrip international and domestic trip,for mid-June (going) and early July (return), that included the opportunity to upgrade to Biz/First (paid with cash and miles). We got upgraded on all segements right away except for an Atlanta-LAX flight June 15. I was hoping we could get upgraded on that as well, but seeing this makes me think our chances could be slim to none. Oh well.
With people bring on larger carry-on bags to get around the checked baggage fees, and the total exceeding what the overhead bins were designed to hold, more and more people try to get on board before their group is called. Airines still aren't cracking down on carry-on bag size. I've heard they don't want to get into arguments with the passengers with the big bags, figuring those who play by the "rules" (out of consideration for others) will just suffer in silence.
With people bring on larger carry-on bags to get around the checked baggage fees, and the total exceeding what the overhead bins were designed to hold, more and more people try to get on board before their group is called. Airines still aren't cracking down on carry-on bag size. I've heard they don't want to get into arguments with the passengers with the big bags, figuring those who play by the "rules" (out of consideration for others) will just suffer in silence.