Originally Posted by Pick2LiteMSP

There remains a lot of confusion in the upgrade priority based on Medallion level, fare class etc.

In both the DL and NW schemes, full fare pax were upgraded immediately upon booking, based on availability. There was a difference in the NW system in that an agent-based booking was immediately placed in available upgraded inventory at the time of booking. On-line and outside booking went through the upgrade sweep process, usually overnite, but sometimes within hours.

In the DL system, it appears that the automated system is the only method to get available space -- even on a full fare ticket. If the system is working right and you are within the 5-6 day window of EUA, it is likely there will be no availability until more inventory is released -- even up to a battle field upgrade at the gate.

In the case of upgrades on discount fare classes, I think there is a major difference between current DL rules and the old NW system. My understanding of the NW system was for only two classes -- full fare or 'other' (meaning discounted fares). All discounted fares were treated equally for upgrade purposes, so elite status had a lot of pull! Time of check-in for BF upgrades was the tie-breaker.

If you look at the DL upgrade process, they are methodically working the way down from the highest fare classes to the lowest fare classes, then by elite status. So, a DM with an 'L' fare is way behind a FO with a 'B' fare!

This gets further complicated with feeds into hubs versus origination in the hubs -- the hub captives may get effectively locked out when the connecting flight into the hub clears first and takes the second leg prior to EUA running for the hub-based leg. From observation, there is a conflicting rule on connecting flights where the upgrade must clear all the way through and can effectively 'break' the normal process.

Further, the connecting feeder flights frequently price out lower than a hub-based origination to the same destination -- does that mean they are at a lower fare class putting them further down the list? And, how does this play out in the upgrade process -- good or bad?

There are conflicts and confusion out there -- DL needs to simplify and clarify these problems.