Upgrade seating - scattered single seats prevent upgrade for a "group"?

jb008 · Dec 14, 12, 9:09 am

I have a few upcoming flights where several individual seats are available in F but I'm traveling on a shared PNR with my spouse. Since there are two of us on the same reservation with only scattered individual seats available, will we be prevented from being computer upgraded? Put another way, will the computer assume we'd rather be split but seated in F, or is it programmed to assume we'd prefer seated together in Y over split when on a shared PNR?

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Total off topic favor, would someone with an EF subscription mind letting me know the cat for the 2 F seats on the LGA to FLL flight 1807 on 12/15 that I can see on the seat map? Many thanks in advance!

Bicostal · Dec 14, 12, 9:17 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by jb008

I have a few upcoming flights where several individual seats are available in F but I'm traveling on a shared PNR with my spouse. Since there are two of us on the same reservation with only scattered individual seats available, will we be prevented from being computer upgraded? Put another way, will the computer assume we'd rather be split but seated in F, or is it programmed to assume we'd prefer seated together in Y over split when on a shared PNR?

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Total off topic favor, would someone with an EF subscription mind letting me know the cat for the 2 F seats on the LGA to FLL flight 1807 on 12/15 that I can see on the seat map? Many thanks in advance!

F1. Seems it won't be a problem not sitting together up front.

mridley2 · Dec 14, 12, 9:18 am

Seat location in F won't affect either of you UG chances.

You'll be UG'd at your medallion window if V/X inventory is available. Companion will UG at T-24 window after all other medallions have cleared. Again if V/X is available. So almost guaranteed you won't be sitting together by delta.dumb's assignment.

I doubt it will matter--companion UG's are very few and far between these days--but if you both happen to get UG'd to F I would politely ask someone in F to switch with you or talk to gate agent.

cabingirl · Dec 14, 12, 9:30 am

No, you won't be prevented from being upgraded just by being on a shared PNR. You're listed separately on the upgrade list, so if there's one seat left, you will get it and your spouse will be left in Y. There's also nothing to prevent you from being split up in F...in the rare cases where my boyfriend and I get the upgrade we almost never sit together.

What I would like to know is, how do you decline a single upgrade at the gate if you want to stay with your companion? I see that advice on here from time to time, but most of the time they process the upgrades so close to boarding time that to decline would interrupt boarding and they may already have put someone in your Y seat. I know that the "right" answer is to not request an upgrade if you want to be sure to stay with your companion, but we like to gamble on the double upgrade (and it has paid off before).

Mr. Tickets · Dec 14, 12, 9:31 am

You do not mention your levels of Medallion status. If you are on the same PNR and one of you has lower status than the other you will both clear (if space available) at the lowest level. If one of you is FO and one is GM, you will clear at FO window. They will not clear you separately at your individual levels on the same PNR prior to the gate.

rylan · Dec 14, 12, 9:32 am

It'll stick you in whatever open seats are available, assuming there is upgrade inventory available for 2 pax. You can try to move your seats around to get close after being upgraded, and then you'd have to ask if someone would be willing to move. Best bet is to get one each of window and aisle so its easier to find someone to move.

1807 tomorrow is showing F1P0. Its a 320 so don't expect an upgrade. I've written off 320s as possible for upgrades unless at some odd day/hour low-elite time.

MSPeconomist · Dec 14, 12, 9:56 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by mridley2

Seat location in F won't affect either of you UG chances.

You'll be UG'd at your medallion window if V/X inventory is available. Companion will UG at T-24 window after all other medallions have cleared. Again if V/X is available. So almost guaranteed you won't be sitting together by delta.dumb's assignment.

I doubt it will matter--companion UG's are very few and far between these days--but if you both happen to get UG'd to F I would politely ask someone in F to switch with you or talk to gate agent.

Not if they're on the same PNR. Before the gate, both would be upgraded (if inventory is available for two) at the lower person's window. At the gate, they're ordered based on individual status.

jb008 · Dec 14, 12, 10:01 am

Thanks for all the input!!!

I'm FO and my wife doesn't have status, so it's a low probability event to start with. I specifically routed through LGA to try to improve odds and it's vacation travel on weekends so I'm hoping that reduces the business traveler loads. It partially worked as we were confirmed already on the spoke to hub hop.

Since I see 2 F seats on the map so I was curious for the category and I'll keep my fingers crossed that we might squeak by at the gate tomorrow. We're leaving for vaca so it'll be great no matter what

That was why I was curious if the fact that we're on a single PNR while the two seats weren't adjacent would be an issue with the automatic system. I'll have an idea where we are on the upgrade list later this afternoon when OLCI opens for me.

@Rylan - thanks for checking EF for me!

MSPeconomist · Dec 14, 12, 10:12 am

Remember that the seating map doesn't necessarily tell you much about loads on the flight. In this case, you're seeing two unoccupied FC seats on the map, but F1 on EF tells you that only one is truly available for purchase, and at a high fare. You could have checked this yourself by trying dummy bookings by fare class on delta.dumb for one and two FC seats; no need for EF, although it's more efficient to check this on EF.

As a general rule, DL saves one to four FC seats for last minute sale on aircraft smaller than the 757. If you see two seats, it's a good guess that the flight is V = 0, G = 0.

jb008 · Dec 14, 12, 10:19 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by MSPeconomist

Remember that the seating map doesn't necessarily tell you much about loads on the flight. In this case, you're seeing two unoccupied FC seats on the map, but F1 on EF tells you that only one is truly available for purchase, and at a high fare. You could have checked this yourself by trying dummy bookings by fare class on delta.dumb for one and two FC seats; no need for EF, although it's more efficient to check this on EF.

As a general rule, DL saves one to four FC seats for last minute sale on aircraft smaller than the 757. If you see two seats, it's a good guess that the flight is V = 0, G = 0.

Thanks for the advice! Hadn't thought to try the dummy booking.

mridley2 · Dec 14, 12, 10:22 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by MSPeconomist

Not if they're on the same PNR. Before the gate, both would be upgraded (if inventory is available for two) at the lower person's window. At the gate, they're ordered based on individual status.

Incorrect. I think this was the way in the past but not anymore. I've flown many times with my bf on same PNR and I'll UG at my GM window and he will either UG at T-24 or be placed on the BFUG list. Many others on FT have reported this as well.

Mr. Tickets · Dec 14, 12, 10:56 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by mridley2

Incorrect. I think this was the way in the past but not anymore. I've flown many times with my bf on same PNR and I'll UG at my GM window and he will either UG at T-24 or be placed on the BFUG list. Many others on FT have reported this as well.

This is basically impossible, the system could not handle it. You cannot have two different classes of travel confirmed on the same PNR, other than at gate the gate when the GA work from a different system. I think you may be confused. If I am wrong, I will accept my error, but I think further investigation will reveal that either you were on separate PNR's or you cleared at the gate.

Pharaoh · Dec 14, 12, 11:03 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by MSPeconomist

Remember that the seating map doesn't necessarily tell you much about loads on the flight.

It that ever true!

We flew LGA-MCO two days ago. As of five days ago, coach was roughly 80% full (based on seat maps) and 16 seat F showed only 1 occupied; EC had about 5 of 15 seats occupied and most preferred seats were still empty. I figured we had a better than even chance of the upgrade.

Get to the gate and we are #11 on the upgrade list with 1 F showing! No IROPs or other (obvious) situation. The flight went out with F full, EC had 8 of 15 seats filled and the rest of coach was roughly half full. Weird.

flyerslc · Dec 14, 12, 11:06 am

Seems pretty clear to me. If you are on the same reservation, you lose priority ( directly from DL web site):

1. You and companion have different reservation numbers:  Your upgrade will clear based on your individual member status and confirmation window. Your companion’s will clear no sooner than 24 hours prior to the flight's departure.

2. You and companion share same reservation number:   Both your upgrades will clear no sooner than 24 hours prior to the flight's departure.

MSPeconomist · Dec 14, 12, 11:08 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by jb008

Thanks for the advice! Hadn't thought to try the dummy booking.

You can also usually check for V > 0 by doing a dummy booking of a Y or higher fare class (check refundable to avoid just getting A and P fares back) when logged in and looking for the words "upgrade available."