dmw650

Maybe this is a silly question. But if you board the plane and there are more people on the wait-list than seats, will you loose your upgrade?

In other words if I am short on the list and think I will get it, but not sure, am I better off waiting or boarding and securing overhead storage?

SteveHK

I can say from several personal experiences, the upgrade list will clear the same way whether you have boarded or not. If you are already onboard, an agent will come get you and let you know your new seat assignment.

Sometimes, it's been done in a really embarassing way, like when a GA one time got on the PA system to announce "Mr. K! Get your stuff and come on up to seat 3A in first class!" Sort of felt like I was on The Price is Right.

ijgordon

That makes sense, but what doesn't make sense is why revenue management didn't clear any upgrades via EUA prior to that point on what was clearly a very lightly loaded flight. I was trying to get a friend to Paris tomorrow, and the 764 flight had like 14-15 empty BF seats (of 35) the day before but no award availability. US had about 6 of 20 empty, and availability, so he's in a suite via PHL. CO revenue management can definitely be frustrating. (And this was a US award, so no waitlisting the CO segment, and no status benefits).

Sounds like someone wanted to be difficult for the sake of it. I've had several GAs thank me for (1) waiting to board until the upgrade cleared, saving her a trip down the jetway, or (2) making my way up (against traffic!) to the front after sitting in coach, once I saw my upgrade clear on the PDA. It seems like most GAs would prefer not to have to physically go get the passengers in coach, so go figure.

gawhite411

I guess that's one alternative. The holding to the gate thing led to a rather absurd result yesterday. On UA flight from LGA-ORD; my upgrade had already cleared. Every few minutes the GA would announce who was #1 on the list and then say that everyone else should board and take their assigned seat. There was only 1 seat left in F. But this started about a half hour before boarding and every time the waitlist changed, a new announcment was made to identify the new reigning #1 on the waitlist. It was INCREDIBLY TACKY. I think on UA they don't come get you from your seat in coach.

Richard Chen

A little patience would've avoided much of the frustration above with the same results.

sbm12

Yes, because the fares involved may vary by tens to hundreds of dollars.
I haven't seen instances were they don't. Not saying that such doesn't exist, but there has been a lot fo discussion on this topic and that's not one I've seen.
ibid.

Yup, just like they should in certain circumstances for certain customers on certain fares.

rajsbasi

I think one thing this does show is that the benefits of u/g's clearing at the elite cut off times appears to be shrinking into an undignified scrum at the gate by the GA's.

COEWR2587

+1

FriendlySkies

They do come and get you out of Y. I've been given battlefield upgrades before, and a number of my FT friend have had the same..

bearkatt

checking in at lga yesterday, the guy at the kiosk next to me said he was being offered a $29.00 upgrade. i asked if he was going to houston. yes. he took it. i have no other details. but i did see a pretty good deal for that guy.

davidash

CO600 (FLL - EWR) on 3/6/11 sits with 20 empty F seats at T-3 Days. I have never seen this before!

davidash

We should all call/write $mi$ek and tell him how we do not like his new policy of TOD. We Elite expect and even demand out up grades for flying so many miles wiht CO. I am sure, like Gordon, Jeff will reconsider if we all band together.

bob_the_d

i laugh because i have no more tears.

Renard

I think that they want to make it very clear that upgrades have become 'scraps that we throw at you at the last minute' and that is you really want one, pony up the TOD

elitefreak

Definitely not complaining - just extremely puzzled how they are managing things. Doesn't make sense - i think most would agree. There are smarter ways to do things.