2017 Upgrade Success (Or Lack Thereof)
#62
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Northern Calif./Eastern Ida.
Programs: Amethyst Premier Plutonium Medallion
Posts: 20,566
1/22/17 DL707 GRR-DTW about 25/40 for 0
1/22/17 DL36something DTW-STL presently 1/5 for 0 with 2 opens at T20hr I imagine they were sold or went to SDCs and wx reroutes
GM on V fares
Both segments upgraded to WU about 36 hours in advance
1/22/17 DL36something DTW-STL presently 1/5 for 0 with 2 opens at T20hr I imagine they were sold or went to SDCs and wx reroutes
GM on V fares
Both segments upgraded to WU about 36 hours in advance
#63
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: West of CLE
Programs: Delta DM/3 MM; Hertz PC; National EE; Amtrak GR; Bonvoy Silver; Via Rail Prfrence
Posts: 5,354
I got CHO-ATL-SFO for $400 less RT than I would have on a trip originating at any of the three DC area airports. It took me 90 minutes to drive from my home to CHO (long-term parking is $8 per day and is only 5 minutes on foot from the terminal); it takes me 40-45 minutes to drive to a metro station south of DCA, and another 20-25 minutes from my car to the TSA entrance at DCA.
I won three gate lotteries to go 4 for 4 on this trip. I bought my ticket 2 days in advance; I was the only name on the UG list 24 hours out CHO-ATL for 2 F empties; DL actually upgraded me by 1800 the night before the 0550 departure.
On the ATL-SFO leg, which was serviced by an A330-300 with 34 sleeper seats in F, I was #3 for 7 F empties, but 8 hours out I was #5 for 3 F empties. I called the Big D and asked to apply one of my RUCs. The first reservationist did this, but it did not improve my standing on the list; I called back, and the second reservationist indicated that the first person did not property input the "priority code"; when she did, I jumped the line and went to #1 on the list. DL sold or gave away 1 F seat; at 0800 sitting in the E SkyClub I got the happy news, and ended up sleeping horizontally for 4 of the 5 hours aloft.
On the return, I had booked the cheapest routing, which was SFO-DTW-ATL-CHO. There were something like 5 F seats available 24 hours out, but the number went to 0 by 2 hours out. There was only 1 F seat available on both DTW-ATL and ATL-CHO. As it turned out, despite the pilots and FA being at the gate and ready to go 35 minutes before scheduled departure, DL had not towed the DTW aircraft to our gate. I stood there for 20 minutes and realized that I might miss my connecting flight, which would mean overnighting in ATL. I called the Big D and got on a SFO-ATL flight; this one turned out to have 5 empties in F. The reservationist did not get me on the upgrade list. I went back to the SFO SkyClub, where the concierge on the second floor got me the #2 position on the UG list. I easily cleared into F on this flight, and then was #1 on the UG list for CHO and scored the last UG seat.
Good first trip for 2017.
I won three gate lotteries to go 4 for 4 on this trip. I bought my ticket 2 days in advance; I was the only name on the UG list 24 hours out CHO-ATL for 2 F empties; DL actually upgraded me by 1800 the night before the 0550 departure.
On the ATL-SFO leg, which was serviced by an A330-300 with 34 sleeper seats in F, I was #3 for 7 F empties, but 8 hours out I was #5 for 3 F empties. I called the Big D and asked to apply one of my RUCs. The first reservationist did this, but it did not improve my standing on the list; I called back, and the second reservationist indicated that the first person did not property input the "priority code"; when she did, I jumped the line and went to #1 on the list. DL sold or gave away 1 F seat; at 0800 sitting in the E SkyClub I got the happy news, and ended up sleeping horizontally for 4 of the 5 hours aloft.
On the return, I had booked the cheapest routing, which was SFO-DTW-ATL-CHO. There were something like 5 F seats available 24 hours out, but the number went to 0 by 2 hours out. There was only 1 F seat available on both DTW-ATL and ATL-CHO. As it turned out, despite the pilots and FA being at the gate and ready to go 35 minutes before scheduled departure, DL had not towed the DTW aircraft to our gate. I stood there for 20 minutes and realized that I might miss my connecting flight, which would mean overnighting in ATL. I called the Big D and got on a SFO-ATL flight; this one turned out to have 5 empties in F. The reservationist did not get me on the upgrade list. I went back to the SFO SkyClub, where the concierge on the second floor got me the #2 position on the UG list. I easily cleared into F on this flight, and then was #1 on the UG list for CHO and scored the last UG seat.
Good first trip for 2017.
#64
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Durham, NC (RDU/GSO/CLT)
Programs: AA EXP/MM, DL GM, UA Platinum, HH DIA, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Platinum, Marriott Titanium, Hertz PC
Posts: 33,857
Saturday 1/21 DL CR7 RDU-EWR X Fare: Upgraded at T-45
Sunday 1/21 DL 777 JFK-ATL T Fare: #18 of 30
Yearly Stats: 50.00% (1/2)
My streak of never missing an upgrade between NYC and RDU as a Silver Medallion continues. I was originally #29 of 30 for an A-321 ATL-RDU on my T-Fare but ended up standing by on an earlier flight and never ended up on the upgrade list for that one.
Sunday 1/21 DL 777 JFK-ATL T Fare: #18 of 30
Yearly Stats: 50.00% (1/2)
My streak of never missing an upgrade between NYC and RDU as a Silver Medallion continues. I was originally #29 of 30 for an A-321 ATL-RDU on my T-Fare but ended up standing by on an earlier flight and never ended up on the upgrade list for that one.
#65
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: PHL - Go Flyers!
Programs: EMT-P
Posts: 564
I'm on a DL challenge from AA EXP and have my first flights this Sun/Mon
1/29 ABE-DTW CRJ (no first class cabin)
DTW-CLE CRJ900 - Upgrade to first yesterday
1/30 CLE-DTW CRJ900 (no upgrade yet)
DTW-ABE CRJ (no first class cabin)
1/29 ABE-DTW CRJ (no first class cabin)
DTW-CLE CRJ900 - Upgrade to first yesterday
1/30 CLE-DTW CRJ900 (no upgrade yet)
DTW-ABE CRJ (no first class cabin)
#66
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Northern Calif./Eastern Ida.
Programs: Amethyst Premier Plutonium Medallion
Posts: 20,566
Predictions for tomorrow
DL1850 STL-MSP 4 open will end mid pack on a waitlist of 40ish people
DL2578 MSP-SMF will end in the top 1/3-1/2 of a waitlist of 25ish for 4 seats
Gm is the new FO
DL1850 STL-MSP 4 open will end mid pack on a waitlist of 40ish people
DL2578 MSP-SMF will end in the top 1/3-1/2 of a waitlist of 25ish for 4 seats
Gm is the new FO
#67
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Madison, WI (MSN)
Programs: Delta Platinum, Hilton & Marriott Plastic Gold, Chick-fil-A Signature
Posts: 441
Did well on last weekend's trip, DM on U fare:
1/22 MSN>SLC at window (did not fly due to WX waiver)
1/22 SLC>OAK at window (did not fly due to WX waiver)
1/22 MSN>MSP at gate (changed onto flight T-2 days due to WX waiver)
1/22 MSP>SFO at gate (changed onto flight T-2 days due to WX waiver)
1/25 SFO>ATL RUC waitlisted first week of Jan, cleared 7 days in advance
1/25 ATL>MSN Applied RUC once ATL>SFO cleared, would have cleared anyway as person next to me was an upgraded Platinum
1/22 MSN>SLC at window (did not fly due to WX waiver)
1/22 SLC>OAK at window (did not fly due to WX waiver)
1/22 MSN>MSP at gate (changed onto flight T-2 days due to WX waiver)
1/22 MSP>SFO at gate (changed onto flight T-2 days due to WX waiver)
1/25 SFO>ATL RUC waitlisted first week of Jan, cleared 7 days in advance
1/25 ATL>MSN Applied RUC once ATL>SFO cleared, would have cleared anyway as person next to me was an upgraded Platinum
#69
Join Date: Feb 2008
Programs: 6 year GS, now 2MM Jeff-ugee, *wood LTPlt, SkyPeso PLT
Posts: 6,526
Perhaps this belongs in a different thread....
But just had something odd happen. My understanding, and over the last three years as a DL elite, my experience, is that Delta (unlike UAfkaCO ) does not offer upgrade sales ("TODs") when there is a waiting list. Perhaps I'm wrong, but I've not seen it.
So today I go to check in for my 8:35 am SFO-SEA flight tomorrow, and I get a prompt offering me an upgrade for $139. I decline, and check in, and get the same E+ seat I was assigned before. there are 3 F seats unfilled (on the map and per the upgrade list) and I am 1 of 1 on the upgrade list.
PM here, to the extent that matters. The upgrade is not a big deal (and I expect I will clear) but a policy change is a big deal...
Any idea from someone more familiar with DL what happened?
So today I go to check in for my 8:35 am SFO-SEA flight tomorrow, and I get a prompt offering me an upgrade for $139. I decline, and check in, and get the same E+ seat I was assigned before. there are 3 F seats unfilled (on the map and per the upgrade list) and I am 1 of 1 on the upgrade list.
PM here, to the extent that matters. The upgrade is not a big deal (and I expect I will clear) but a policy change is a big deal...
Any idea from someone more familiar with DL what happened?
#70
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Seattle
Programs: DL DM, Marriott Gold
Posts: 609
So far in 2017 I'm batting 100%
1/4 SEA-SFO Cleared at window
1/6 SFO-SEA Cleared at window
1/17 SEA-GEG Cleared at window
1/18 GEG-SEA Cleared at window
1/26 SEA-JFK Cleared T-24 M Fare
1/28 JFK-SEA Cleared at window
I'm sure my luck isn't going to keep going, but so far so good. I'm guessing it's going to end next week when I fly SEA-MSP-BOS on an X fare.
1/4 SEA-SFO Cleared at window
1/6 SFO-SEA Cleared at window
1/17 SEA-GEG Cleared at window
1/18 GEG-SEA Cleared at window
1/26 SEA-JFK Cleared T-24 M Fare
1/28 JFK-SEA Cleared at window
I'm sure my luck isn't going to keep going, but so far so good. I'm guessing it's going to end next week when I fly SEA-MSP-BOS on an X fare.
#71
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Northern Calif./Eastern Ida.
Programs: Amethyst Premier Plutonium Medallion
Posts: 20,566
But just had something odd happen. My understanding, and over the last three years as a DL elite, my experience, is that Delta (unlike UAfkaCO ) does not offer upgrade sales ("TODs") when there is a waiting list. Perhaps I'm wrong, but I've not seen it.
So today I go to check in for my 8:35 am SFO-SEA flight tomorrow, and I get a prompt offering me an upgrade for $139. I decline, and check in, and get the same E+ seat I was assigned before. there are 3 F seats unfilled (on the map and per the upgrade list) and I am 1 of 1 on the upgrade list.
PM here, to the extent that matters. The upgrade is not a big deal (and I expect I will clear) but a policy change is a big deal...
Any idea from someone more familiar with DL what happened?
So today I go to check in for my 8:35 am SFO-SEA flight tomorrow, and I get a prompt offering me an upgrade for $139. I decline, and check in, and get the same E+ seat I was assigned before. there are 3 F seats unfilled (on the map and per the upgrade list) and I am 1 of 1 on the upgrade list.
PM here, to the extent that matters. The upgrade is not a big deal (and I expect I will clear) but a policy change is a big deal...
Any idea from someone more familiar with DL what happened?
Happens all the time. See the "FCM" thread. I'm waiting to board STL-MSP and same thing happened to me at OLCI today.
#72
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: ATL
Programs: DL DM, Hyatt LT DM, Wyndham DM, Hertz PC, HH Gold, SPG Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 2,038
1/25/17
ATL-MCO
24hr Window Check-In 7/23 for 3 Seats
At gate 1/27 for 0 Seats(Showing 5 Upgrades)
2min to door closing GA comes on and asks me if I wanted to move forward and handed me 5D. I made it to 5D. Sat down and instantly GA came back on and said the passenger showed up. Back to my Economy Plus seat and the passenger that was let on was told he had to go back to terminal.
ATL-MCO
24hr Window Check-In 7/23 for 3 Seats
At gate 1/27 for 0 Seats(Showing 5 Upgrades)
2min to door closing GA comes on and asks me if I wanted to move forward and handed me 5D. I made it to 5D. Sat down and instantly GA came back on and said the passenger showed up. Back to my Economy Plus seat and the passenger that was let on was told he had to go back to terminal.
#73
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Atlanta
Programs: DL SkyMiles Diamond, IHG Spire Ambassador
Posts: 86
SDC'd yesterday from my direct ATL-SFO V fare this evening to
1/28/17 8:10am
DL1929 ATL-SEA 767-300
DL 4869 SEA-SFO E175
cleared immediately into first on 4869
Was 2 of 20 for 6 (later 7) on 1929
cleared at T-30
1/28/17 8:10am
DL1929 ATL-SEA 767-300
DL 4869 SEA-SFO E175
cleared immediately into first on 4869
Was 2 of 20 for 6 (later 7) on 1929
cleared at T-30
#74
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: ATL
Programs: DL PM; SPG Platinum; Marriott Platinum; Hilton Diamond; UA Silver
Posts: 32
So far being unlucky in comp upgrade, no upgrade yet (0/4).
1/5 SEA-MSP-ORD V fare
1/6 ORD-ATL V fare (this one got really close)
1/17 ORD-ATL award ticket
Took the $799 OP offer on 1/6 ATL-FRA (V fare).
1/5 SEA-MSP-ORD V fare
1/6 ORD-ATL V fare (this one got really close)
1/17 ORD-ATL award ticket
Took the $799 OP offer on 1/6 ATL-FRA (V fare).