Since becoming silver I have 4 segments (3 ERJ) and was upgraded on the mainline 1 day out.

Matt

I've never had to or been placed in such a situation to confront the agent, but sure would if I noticed this happening!! I've heard mention of this before in other threads.

WASJETBOY

While at the gate 4 people were called up prior to boarding and in exchange for a $10.00 fee received seats 9A, 9B, 9D and 9E.
*****

I love when people post with such authority about things that they have no clue about.

First of all, Employees, their partners AND their families are entitled to space available BF travel. It is an employee perk. They were not upgraded, they listed for, paid for and received an employee perk.

They list for the flights in advance, and they can list in either cabin for said flight. It is not an upgrade. That said, sometimes it feels like one when you don't know if there is going to be any open seats.

Employees, spouse and family members can travel for free in economy, or they can pay a fee for BF (assuming that there is an open seat). The fee is a lot more than $10, it is between $100 and $200 each way (I am not posting the amount as it is company policy not to make such things public).

The fee is usually payroll deducted, so you would not see it being paid for at the gate, secondly, employees get a certain amount of vacation passes (free for BF / F) and they also help standby list seniority.

The $10 fee you saw being paid is actually the departure tax for CDG. When you travel on a non revenue ticket, you have to pay this fee at the gate assuming you get a seat assignment.

So, despite what you stated, they were not upgraded, and as an elite, you should know the rules for International BF flights.

That said, If you did want to drop a further 3k, you should have done it at check in, not once you're at the gate, at checkin they can sell tickets, and if you put 3k down, I am pretty sure that they'd have taken it, but I can't help but feel that if it was no big deal for you to just drop 3k at the gate, then you would have done it at purchase.

21/22 including some really unexpected EWR-LAX and EWR-LAS and even an EWR-SFO trip! Knock on wood!

Where are you guys going?
 

I am 7/15, 46.67% as a plat this year, on eligible segments. I fly a lot between LAX and the hubs, especially EWR, but what else can I do? There's no other way for me to route the flights to improve my upgrade percentage. Also, I have done what they want me to do and bought increasing fare classes on my last two trips to EWR. The result? 0/4. For those of you getting upgrades EWR-LAX and EWR-SFO, please post your fare classes. For me, it seems as if they are selling almost all of the F seats on these routes since the introduction of Simplifares, but I'd love to hear from anyone who has gotten an upgarde. Also, were all of your transcon upgrades battlefield, or did you get an EUA email? I can't remember the last time I got an EUA email on a transcon, and I've been plat for about five years.

Bump

(hoping to get a reply)

Just got upgraded MCI-IAH for June 3rd. No EAU for the IAH-SEA leg, but I knew that one wouldn't come through.

2/3 on my mainline flights as a Silver this year.

Matt

50 % (B,N,K) - 16 Segments
2 -Z Segments.
2 - B Segments Operated by NWA - 100%

50%......2/4....Out of 4 segments flown (2 LAX-IAH) and (2 IAH-LAX) this year, I've received upgrades one time in each direction. Upgrades came through on 767s, but did not come through on 752s. Now it seems the 767s have disappeared.

31% as a silver (just missed gold last year).

4/13 on mainline flights (7 on ERJ's not eligible)... all 4 were before March.

most of my flying is in/out of DCA though, so there isn't much hope.

*sigh*

Update
59 of 69 on mainline CO flights with purchased coach fare.
85.51%
B - 7/10
L - 3/4
Q - 7/7
S - 16/17
T - 8/11
U - 2/2
V - 2/3
W - 4/4
X - 10/11

11 Jungle Jets

5 - Z Fares on CO
1 - C on NW
2 - J on EK

91 Segments and 83166 EQMs to date.

Bump!

jhawk,

I see you are in DFW. Do you fly any transcons? And are you getting upgrades on them (especially EWR-LAX)?

LAXPlat

I am 2 for 5 as a silver this year...at least on flights I can get UG'ed. I have alot of ERJ seg's this year.

Also a CO non-rev-elite here. The above information is in fact correct. International travel is completely different than domestic travel for CO staff, and their families.