Calling For An Upgrade
May 7, 2005 | 7:55 pm
#16
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Bay Area, CA
Programs: UA Plat 2MM; AS MVP Gold 75K
Posts: 35,092
Originally Posted by First_Class_Flyer
I must disagree. I'm sure that I will get an upgrade. I will keep you all posted.
May 8, 2005 | 8:43 am
#17
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: SAT
Programs: DL DM
Posts: 158
Maybe he's a kid, but maybe he's not lying. Two years ago when I started flying and I wasn't elite I was able to "score" a few upgrades on AM flights, just by being nice to the GA's. It's really not that hard when the FC cabin isn't full. One time they upgraded me and I was the only pax on Clase Premier 
May 8, 2005 | 8:59 am
#18
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: NY
Posts: 7,582
Originally Posted by First_Class_Flyer
Well, I am always friendly but firm. That has always worked for me. I should mention that I don't always get an upgrade, but I would say about 70% I do. Not being an elite, those are very good numbers. I was just wondering why it isn't working this time. I should send an E-mail over to Gordo and see if he can get me one.
Originally Posted by First_Class_Flyer
I fly F/C on most of my flights, whether they are domestic or international. I am one of the lucky few that has the extra spending money to fly first. I do it most of the time, but if the fare is just too outrageous, I'll opt for miles of business class. First class from JFK/EWR to CDG is my favorite rout.
JMO . . .
May 8, 2005 | 10:38 am
#19
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Southwest Desert, under a rock, watch out! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<" You can get there, but it's gonna cost you!
Programs: Previously NonePass, now UA 1K (*Enhanced*)
Posts: 4,248
F_C_F is the best bet to take our minds off the reconfigured 735's since avek double 'aught flew the coop. 
May 8, 2005 | 1:45 pm
#20
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Peapack, New Jersey
Posts: 269
Sometimes I don't know why I even bother asking questions here. Every time, some self important member goes through my posts, turning my own words against me. I asked a simple question. I am an honest person, if you choose not to believe me, that is your decision.
May 8, 2005 | 3:56 pm
#21
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: BOS, PVG
Programs: United Global Services and 1MM, Marriott Titanium, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 10,301
Originally Posted by snake
F_C_F is the best bet to take our minds off the reconfigured 735's since avek double 'aught flew the coop.
May 8, 2005 | 10:02 pm
#22
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: NYC
Posts: 27,887
Originally Posted by First_Class_Flyer
I'm not full of it. Perhaps, the agents can just tell that I am a nice person. it's not like I'm not using my miles, I earn my rewards like everyone else.
As for your original request, yield management controls the "R" bucket of seat availability -- this is what needs to be available to redeem a domestic mileage upgrade award. If R=0, then no upgrade. You can certainly keep calling back and asking the agent, but they'll only tell you what the computer system shows. Sometimes rev mgmt will release R seats closer to flight time (well, certainly, since EUA upgrades come out of R too). In the past, it was easy to always guarantee a mileage upgrade by calling about 3 1/2 hours before the flight, when all remaining first class inventory was "dumped" into R -- which happened about 30 minutes before the EUA process actually ran. Nowadays, it seems like lots of flights are actually sold out altogether in F (or Z) by this time, so the strategy may be outdated. But you could try right before the advance EUA runs at 5-days, 3-days, etc. EUA used to run around midnight C.T., but word here is that sometimes it runs in the evening.