Best days for snagging Concierge upgrades
Jan 16, 2018, 8:42 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2007
Programs: AA Gold, 1MM, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Gold, EI Concierge
Posts: 307
Best days for snagging Concierge upgrades
Hi,
I had an earlier thread on using a companion ticket while not travelling and trying to upgrade and am back with another angle. Thanks for your help there.
We are going to go out to DFW via ORD and return to DUB from LAX. We can be flexible on the day we leave and return so I wonder what are your experiences in getting upgrades over the weekend.
Is Saturday outbound to ORD busy with paid J ? Do most people positon on Saturday for work on Monday or do they fly out Sunday ?
From LAX - do the Irish lads go home Friday while the US guys leave Saturday to recover for work on Monday...?
Any experiences appreciated. I know there are a million clickbait articles on this but wanted your actual experience.
I had an earlier thread on using a companion ticket while not travelling and trying to upgrade and am back with another angle. Thanks for your help there.
We are going to go out to DFW via ORD and return to DUB from LAX. We can be flexible on the day we leave and return so I wonder what are your experiences in getting upgrades over the weekend.
Is Saturday outbound to ORD busy with paid J ? Do most people positon on Saturday for work on Monday or do they fly out Sunday ?
From LAX - do the Irish lads go home Friday while the US guys leave Saturday to recover for work on Monday...?
Any experiences appreciated. I know there are a million clickbait articles on this but wanted your actual experience.
Jan 16, 2018, 11:55 am
#2
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Naas at the weekend and FRA during the working week
Programs: EI Aer Club Concierge , BAEC Silver, Tesco clubcard
Posts: 409
In my 7 years of using upgrade vouchers I’ve never had a problem with ORD and LAX. Being somewhat flexible is the key. My only real problem has been SFO and even that route I managed to snag eventually. I travelled Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Jan 16, 2018, 2:14 pm
#3
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Ireland
Programs: Aer Lingus AerClub Concierge , Marriott/SPG Platinum
Posts: 10
Over the last 4 years I've never had an issue with MCO, ORD and LAX. I applied for one on the way home from SFO once and it was only issued at the gate.
Most if not all of my flights have been weekdays with the odd one departing Dublin on a Sunday.
Most if not all of my flights have been weekdays with the odd one departing Dublin on a Sunday.
Jan 17, 2018, 3:01 am
#4
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: DUB/ORD/SIN/PVG
Programs: EI AerClub Concierge, EK Gold, BA Gold, BD Gold (Retired), HHonors Diamond, Bonvoy Lifetime Gold
Posts: 2,923
Over the last number of years I have used the vouchers for BOS, JFK, ORD and MCO and only once has the upgrade not clear in advance but did clear at the gate (ORD-DUB on a Friday, almost exclusively business travelers).
Jan 17, 2018, 9:19 am
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Netherlands
Programs: KL Platinum; A3 Gold
Posts: 28,730
Rather than worrying about the day of the week, the key here would be to get your request in early.
The earlier you make a request, the more chance there is of it being accepted.
I don't know if the old Gold Circle staff are still employed there, but in the past you could ring up, enquire about upgrade availabilty, and they would wait on the phone while you made your booking, so that they could upgrade you on the same call once you gave them the PNR for the booking just made for the dates they had confirmed were available. (And they said to me that, if you book far enough in advance, you are practically guaranteed that there will be upgradable seats on any flight)
The earlier you make a request, the more chance there is of it being accepted.
I don't know if the old Gold Circle staff are still employed there, but in the past you could ring up, enquire about upgrade availabilty, and they would wait on the phone while you made your booking, so that they could upgrade you on the same call once you gave them the PNR for the booking just made for the dates they had confirmed were available. (And they said to me that, if you book far enough in advance, you are practically guaranteed that there will be upgradable seats on any flight)
Jan 17, 2018, 11:17 am
#6
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,897
I don't know if the old Gold Circle staff are still employed there, but in the past you could ring up, enquire about upgrade availabilty, and they would wait on the phone while you made your booking, so that they could upgrade you on the same call once you gave them the PNR for the booking just made for the dates they had confirmed were available.