Originally Posted by HeathrowGuy
Mostly from EWR to points along the East Coast and Midwest, using both CO and NW. I avoid the flight times that are likely to be packed with Elites, and generally clear by check-in. Of course, I run into flights were I just can't win from time to time, but IME, no magic or rocket science is required to maintain a high upgrade percentage.
I will say that when I fly NW my upgrade rate is much higher (about 75%).
But I don't have the kind of schedule that allows me to pick and choose flights for the likelihood of upgrade so I'm primarily flying EWR-LAX, usually leaving EWR on CO 1502 (@ 07:35PM) and returning on 1503 (@ 03:40 PM), in both cases because I need to get as much work done before I travel.
I know these routes & these flights are among the most heavily traveled by OP Plats, so it's no wonder that I'm not getting upgrades.
However, I have flown CO EWR to: SFO, AUS, BTR, SAN, LAS, MIA, ATL, MEX, SNA, ONT all without receiving an upgrade either.
I will say that I am very happy to have discovered B6 into BUR, as most of my work in Los Angeles is concentrated in the Burbank/Glendale/Hollywood/downtown L.A. area. Burbank is great and much closer to these areas than LAX.