Originally Posted by
GBadger
I'm not really sure why at the gate would have a higher upgrade % than 5 days out...
If the upgrades are left to the gate, wouldn't there be more time for DL to sell seats, both in F and in Y on higher fares, bumping you down the upgrade ladder?
Good point. Which in the world of FC monetization makes free upgrades anytime other than at check-in/boarding a potential revenue robber for Delta.
But, at the end of the day, this was intended is a theoretical kind of survey question trying to get at what is most important to all of us: a relatively higher upgrade percentage or the knowledge (and remaining benefits) ahead of time that you have been upgraded, albeit less often.
It is possible to imagine a third option to choose from with an even higher upgrade rate:
3. After the success of monetization and the end of FC upgrades the enhanced ability as an elite to upgrade any fare to FC at any time from purchase to check-in for a flat rate of $50 cash or 2500 miles per scheduled flight hour, payable on your AMEX or with skymiles, on a first come, first served basis, where we imagine that this option, based on your purchase and travel patterns, puts you securely in first class 100% of the time you want to be there.