Upgrade question -- Where did these people come from ??

[mstraveler]

Scheduled on a flight from IAH - CUN the Friday after Thanskgiving. I got upgraded (now only a lowly silver after several years of being 1P) and my husband (MP but no status these days) was still in E+.

As we headed into IAH the seat map was showing 4 free seats in F and 2 people on the upgrade wait list. The agent at the United Club put him on the upgrade list too (since he was with me) and an hour out of the flight there were still 4 seats and 3 (now including husband) on the list. But when we got to the gate F was full and there was a couple that had shown up and clearly got the last 2 seats. My question is, where could they have come from in the last 60 minutes, that late in the game?? (Spouse is good natured and fine about sitting in E+ but am quite curious about how they seemed to have showed up seemingly out of nowhere, the morning after a major holiday on a flight leaving the country ...)

[j1j2j38]

Checked in for the flight late. Or bought the upgrade after checking in. Or possibly sdc if there are multiple flights a day although not sure if sdc possible for international flights but maybe on iah to cun flights since they're not marketed the same as long haul international. The first or second possibility seems the most likely, if the'yre not checking bags it's not impossible that they could check in 60 minutes before. Since 60 is the cutoff, would depend on how accurate your "hour" is.

[Montereybay]

paid upgrades are highly likely.

[mstraveler]

As someone who plans most all travel months ahead, I am astounded that anyone would a) pay for the upgrade for this flight and b) do it at the last minute. But that was one of my thoughts. Maybe someone just decided after all of the relatives and pumpkin pie that they really needed to spend the weekend in Cancun and made it to IAH by 10 am for the flight .

Or maybe so busy with the relatives and the turkey that they did not check in - that had not occurred to me (also check in ahead of time).

[Air Houston]

At IAH it isn't too unusual to get people checking in 30-45 minutes before a flight to Cancun if they aren't checking bags. Most locals know that security at Terminal E is very rarely more than a 5-10 minute line, unlike Terminal C on weekday mornings or late aftetnoon. So, official airline limits aside, 45 minutes is early enough to arrive for a flight on a 737 from Terminal E. Also, it is possible that a 1K or Plat or Gold that was already upgraded added their companion to the upgrade list after arriving at the gate. And it is always possible that some passengers who should have been on the list weren't, and noticed it after arriving at the gate and seeing the display, and then asked the gate agent to add them. If they had higher status they could claim the upgrade. I have personally added traveling companions to the upgrade list (one each for me and my 1K SO) at the United Club after noticing open seats and a short list and had them clear, but I haven't been to CUN for a few months, so it wasn't me this time.

[Montereybay]

Originally Posted by mstraveler

As someone who plans most all travel months ahead, I am astounded that anyone would a) pay for the upgrade for this flight and b) do it at the last minute. But that was one of my thoughts. Maybe someone just decided after all of the relatives and pumpkin pie that they really needed to spend the weekend in Cancun and made it to IAH by 10 am for the flight .

Or maybe so busy with the relatives and the turkey that they did not check in - that had not occurred to me (also check in ahead of time).

Well you'd be surprised how cheap some of these upgrades are now quoting. As for the proximity to departure time, I've paid for an upgrade 45 mins before departure on an SFO-FRA knowing that my GPU wouldn't clear based on the amount of people on the upgrade list.

[mstraveler]

There are 4 flights/day and this was only the 2nd, so SDC is another good possibility j1j2j38. Maybe they had enough status, or even upgrades, and saw that there were F seats, and wanted to get out of town earlier ...

[UnitedFlyGuy]

TODs Upgrades.

[mstraveler]

[quote]Well, good to know Air Houston that you are not to blame . And a good perspective on the IAH/Cancun scene.

I don't know IAH at all; we live in San Francisco and flew in later on TG and spent the night. This seeming disappearance of seats on a quiet, post holiday morning is making more sense, especially factoring in the more last minute types.

I must not ever be offered those. All of the upgrades I see look ridiculously expensive compared to the cost of my ticket. Usually seem to come close to double - or 2/3.

(And in addition to the calculation of what I think the value of an edible meal and some supermarket wine is worth ).

[dahaberm]

When and how were you offered the TOD's upgrade?
I never seem to see them

[Montereybay]

Originally Posted by dahaberm

When and how were you offered the TOD's upgrade?
I never seem to see them

TOD's are at check-in. Very hit or miss

[Mr. Roboto]

Originally Posted by mstraveler

Scheduled on a flight from IAH - CUN the Friday after Thanskgiving. I got upgraded (now only a lowly silver after several years of being 1P) and my husband (MP but no status these days) was still in E+.

Maybe the other upgrades had a higher booking class or a higher elite level?

[keisari]

Originally Posted by Montereybay

TOD's are at check-in. Very hit or miss

I used to get lots of those but they are now very rare.
I also notice lots less complaining about TOD upgrades on flyertalk.
My upgrades are also clearing in a more timely fashion even though overall my rate of upgrades is lower than it was with CO
I also used to fly out of SJC and now find SFO easier and better; needless to say upgrades must be harder to come by when flying out of SFO

[Sulley]

I think it was just people checking in for the flight.

[limey1K]

Originally Posted by keisari

I used to get lots of those but they are now very rare.
I also notice lots less complaining about TOD upgrades on flyertalk.
My upgrades are also clearing in a more timely fashion even though overall my rate of upgrades is lower than it was with CO
I also used to fly out of SJC and now find SFO easier and better; needless to say upgrades must be harder to come by when flying out of SFO

My experience out of DEN is hit and miss. As an example, I flew DEN-LAX-HNL this week. Applied a GPU to a V-fare. Immediately cleared LAX-HNL but waitlisted DEN-LAX. When I checked in, it showed 21/24 booked in FC (3 open seats which had been shown on the seat map all week). I was #1 on the UG list at the gate and then proceeded to watch the "booked" number increase from 21 to 24 until it showed "Booked Full" and I took my original seat. This is not the first time I've been #1 on the list with multiple seats showing and then the board shows booked full. I was offered the upgrade at at check-in (don't remember the amount other than it was HODs) even though GPU was applied.