FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - Elite business class upgrade success (master list)
Old Aug 16, 2009, 5:50 pm
  #1  
newsmanhoss
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 2,412
Elite business class upgrade success (master list)

I thought it might be helpful to start a thread (maybe make it sticky if it catches on) on the success that AirTran elites have had in getting the complimentary upgrades to business class.

Here are my experiences:

MKE-MSP on 5/23/09:
Successful (+1 companion on different PNR)

MSP-MKE on 5/25/09
Successful (+1 companion on different PNR)

MKE-DEN on 8/14/09
Unsuccessful. For whatever reason, GA allowed passengers to get elite up before 40 minute window...I was too late and there was only one seat left (Mrs Newsman and I wanted to sit together, so one seat didn't work). That flight ended up with 11/12 biz class seats occupied.

DEN-MKE on 8/16/09
Successful (+1 companion on same PNR). In fact, I approached the GA one hour before departure and she already had our upgraded passes printed (and had even paged us in he gate area before that, apparently). 8/12 Biz class seats were occupied on the flight.

MKE-BOS 8/22/09 6am
Successful (+1 companion on same PNR). 8/12 seats occupied. There were 4 kids in biz class. Weird.

BOS-MKE 8/24/09 6am
Successful (+1 companion on same PNR). 11/12 seats occupied.

MKE-SFO 9/3/09 8:35 am
Used credits to upgrade me and my companion the day before the flight. (I am not counting this in my success rate below). Biz class was full on this west coast route.

SFO-MKE 9/7/09 11pm (redeye flight)
Successful (+1 companion on same PNR). 12/12 seats occupied. Flight completely full. I was surprised to get the upgrade, considering how full this long-haul flight was. We ended up using credits to upgrade our earlier flight MKE-SFO on 9/3 (8am departure). That flight ended up being full as well, but I doubt we would have gotten the free upgrade then.

MKE-MCO 11/13/09 3:53 p.m.
Successful (+1 companion on same PNR). 10/12 seats occupied.

MCO-MKE 11/15/09 5:30 p.m.
Unsuccessful. Business Class checked in full on this high-volume leisure route.

2/4/10 MKE-LAX 7pm
Didn't attempt comp ugprade, used credits for me and my companion. Five emtpy BC seats on this flight.

2/9/10 LAX-MKE noon
Used credits to upgrade me and my companion. BC went out full.

MKE-SFO 9/9/10 8:30 departure
Didn't attempt to get a comp upgrade. 4 people on my reservation and we used credits to upgrade all of us. BC went out full on this long-haul flight.

SFO-MKE 9/13/10 Noon departure.
No comp upgrades. Used credits to upgrade three out of the four of us.

MKE-ATL 10/8/10 Flight 211 3:23p
Unsuccessful. #3 to check in, but there were no upgrades. Good to see they appeared to have sold all of them.

ATL-MKE 10/10/10 Flight 17 6:04pm
Successful. Companion and I both upgraded.

MKE-LGA 10/15/10 2:55 pm
Unsuccessful. GA told BC checked in full.

LGA-MKE 10/18/10 4:16pm.
Unsuccessful. Only one upgrade left, so my wife and I sat together in coach. Were #4 and #5 to check in.

MKE-LAX 1/15/11 9:55a (Saturday)
Companion and I auto upgraded at T-25 hours due to free auto-upgrade promotion for elites. Appeared to be the only two elites on board. Fare paid was $89 each way, so this was a great deal. Entire plane, including BC, went out full, including an infant.

LAX-MKE 1/23/11 11:55 (Sunday) companion and I auto upgraded on $178 round trip fare. Appeared that only one elite auto upgrade was given. BC still went out full, so they likely were able to sell some of them. After my long haul success, I've decided I will not use credits for confirmed upgrades for the duration of this promotion.

MKE-MSY 2/4/11 (Friday)
Due to promo, wife and I both upgraded at t-25 hours. BC and coach went out full. Appeared that only four elites were upgraded.

MSY-MKE 2/6/11 (Sunday)
Wife and I both upgraded at t-25 hours. Appeared that five elites were upgraded. They were still trying to sell one BC seat just before departure. Either they sold it or gave an op-up, because BC was full.

These are likely my last flights before the promotion ends. I have enjoyed the 2011 Elite promotion. My wife and I are both 100% upgraded during this time.

Back to the regular T-40 upgrade process:

MKE-CAK 11/8/11 (Tuesday)
Success +1 companion.

CAK-MKE 11/10/11 (Thursday)
Success +1.

MKE-CAK 12/22/11 (Thursday)
Success +1. BC was nearly full. Paged to desk at T-40 to receive new boarding passes. Total of 3 elites upgraded.

CAK-MKE 12/26/11 (Monday)
Success +1. 8 BC seats were empty. Paged at T-50 to get BPs. We were the only two elites upgraded.

FLL-MKE 1/21/12 (Saturday)
Success +1. BC went out full.

MKE-CAK 2/17/12 (Friday evening)
Success +1. BC was 8/12 occupied. Only 2 elites on flight.

CAK-MKE 2/19/12 (Sunday afternoon)
Success +1.

MKE-CAK 5/11/12
Success +1. Biz class full.

CAK-MKE 5/13/12
Success +1. Biz class full.

Last edited by newsmanhoss; May 15, 2012 at 5:58 am
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