FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - Putting Standby in C+

Feb 20, 2020 | 7:28 am

#17

ethernal

Join Date: Feb 2017

Programs: DL DM/MM, UA Gold, Bonvoy (lol) Titanium/LTP

Posts: 3,360

Quote:

Originally Posted by vincentharris

PM/DM get C+ “shortly after booking” so I’m confused as to why people here who are PM or DM are waiting to the day of flight for upgrades unless you are buying last minute flights? I have never had a flight (unless booking under 3 days or so from departure) where C+ was not available for “upgrade”

Also I fly hub to hub or on very heavy business/elite routes so it’s not any sort of obscure routes.

As WillSkiGT mentioned, many routes are sold out weeks before departure. Pretty much any 737-900 trans/mid-con from Atlanta during business hours is sold out at least 2 weeks in advance. If you're okay with a middle seat, you can generally snag them at least 3-4 weeks out. To get an aisle/window, the minimum booking window is at least a month out.

757 routes tend to be a bit better since there are more seats. But certainly all the windows/aisles are gone 2-3 weeks out, and all seats are gone within 10 days.

ATL-SFO, SJC, PDX are all good examples of this. I haven't checked them but if you go in and book a flight for - say the morning of Monday, March 9th (so 18 days out) I can guarantee you that they will all be sold out. If they are running a 757, there is a chance a few middle seats will be available.

My schedule reliability for bookings out greater than two weeks is basically zero, so for all intents and purposes C+ seats don't exist for me. In fact, when I book (usually T-7 days) it is almost universal that all the aisle seats are taken - so I usually have to call to get one of the last rows unblocked. And then you have to pray, pray, pray that you'll get the gate upgrade. As I mentioned, the only reason I pay $450 or whatever it is for the Reserve card is to help me get gate C+ upgrades - it's made a huge difference (from maybe 10-15% of the time to >50% of the time). I probably wouldn't even use my choice benefits for SkyClub access as my objective function is to minimize my time at airports rather than maximize it. And yes, I will take a C+ middle over 36C - especially 10B/C on a 739.

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