Originally Posted by
Adelphos
Everything is schedule based, and in NYC more so. I've started to become a student of which specific times and routes have the lowest elite usage, on both AA and Delta. Thankfully I can usually choose when I leave for business trips, so I'm trying to maximize upgrades that way.
Exactly, timing and a million other factors impact anecdotal observations. I am 4/4 to F as a GM on upgrade eligible flights so far this year. 2 were at the window, 1 was at the gate (#1 for 2 seats), and 1 was YBYL (full flight,
#2 on the upgrade list and there was a no-show in F, agent was trying to get the flight out on time and I was on a late arriving connection - it was either going to me or a basic economy non-status going into F as they didn't have time to pull someone up, so I got bumped).