I think that from Dec 1st (when they start selling MQM's) to Feb 28th (when last years non qualifying medallions expire) must be the worst time of the year for upgrades as the the number of competing medallions is at the peak.
Looking forward to March 1st to see if my theory holds water. Looking at number 6 of 26 on the upgrade list for an H fare to ATL tommrow. I will probably end up further down at the gate.
I have yet to see a PLAT upgrade...I had zero status in May and had more upgrades will passing thru FO in the summer.....
If this is the future...it may be best to stop at GM and then shop hard for paid, discounting F anywhere......
I wonder if passing out coupons like AA does would be better?
Do a search. There's a good decade or better of threads full of people looking forward to Mar. 1. That effect was dulled a bit since rollover, bt it used to be a big event to watch your upgrade percentage skyrocket.
As you'll find from some of the other threads on the subject, it depends very much on where and when you go and how elite heavy a route is. For example, hub to hub on a Friday evening is a forget it.
Hub to spoke early on a Sunday morning is no big deal.
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Isn't it really after Jan 1 since business travelers (those most likely to have Medallion) don't travel as much due to the holiday period? I, as a Silver, have done alright with getting upgrades when flying home at Christmas and in December in general.
Isn't it really after Jan 1 since business travelers (those most likely to have Medallion) don't travel as much due to the holiday period? I, as a Silver, have done alright with getting upgrades when flying home at Christmas and in December in general.
Even in January, I've done well. January tends to be a quiet time for business travel.
I was 4/4 last week, 12/4 CMH-ATL-DFW and 12/8 DFW-ATL-CMH, all T fare. One was a BF UG, but I was still #3 on the list with 5-6 available. December is usually a pretty legit time for upgrades in my experience... Even going through the eye of the beast (ATL).
Isn't it really after Jan 1 since business travelers (those most likely to have Medallion) don't travel as much due to the holiday period? I, as a Silver, have done alright with getting upgrades when flying home at Christmas and in December in general.
The thought is it's Mar 1, since medallion status expires on Feb 28, though as I said above, the Mar 1 effect is dulled since rollover and the medallion ranks are inflated.
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I think this year will be a massive improvement on March 1. The AMEX MR transfer 25k MQM, fly 2 get GM, and fly 3 get PM promotions expire. I know at bunch of GMs that will drop to no-status March 1. I will drop to FO and probably keep the same upgrade percentage. I would be interested to know how rollover has affected the ranks; how many Medallions have increased status due to rollover?
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Quote:
Originally Posted by northwest_buckeye
I was 4/4 last week, 12/4 CMH-ATL-DFW and 12/8 DFW-ATL-CMH, all T fare. One was a BF UG, but I was still #3 on the list with 5-6 available. December is usually a pretty legit time for upgrades in my experience... Even going through the eye of the beast (ATL).
In fact last year on Dec 21st - did a thread about it, I got an OpUp ATL-MAN
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It always interests me how people say this is the worst time of year for upgrades. I do agree that there are more medallions at this point in the year but it is really the quiet time of year for business travel with the holidays. Many more leisure passengers who have no status so I have noticed it can be easier to get upgrades and actually get them at the window.
This year could be a little different since DL has cut so much capacity that flights are quite full so it may be a little more difficult than normal. Generally the holidays are pretty easy for upgrades though (first two weeks of December included)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by FlyDeltaJets87
Isn't it really after Jan 1 since business travelers (those most likely to have Medallion) don't travel as much due to the holiday period? I, as a Silver, have done alright with getting upgrades when flying home at Christmas and in December in general.
How many FC award tickets are redeemed during the holidays?
It always interests me how people say this is the worst time of year for upgrades. I do agree that there are more medallions at this point in the year but it is really the quiet time of year for business travel with the holidays. Many more leisure passengers who have no status so I have noticed it can be easier to get upgrades and actually get them at the window.
This year could be a little different since DL has cut so much capacity that flights are quite full so it may be a little more difficult than normal. Generally the holidays are pretty easy for upgrades though (first two weeks of December included)
I disagree. My flight this morning is a 737 and there are 40 people on the upgrade list. I was surprised to see that I was number 11 as a diamond. I called Delta and she confirmed that there were 20! Diamonds on the upgrade window. Her reasoning was mileage runs trying to qualify.
I look forward to March 1st every year
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