Launch of upgradesuccess.com
 

Upgradesuccess.com is up and running! Developed by divrdrew and FlytheTail, this website will track both successful and unsuccessful upgrades of all kinds (mileage, status, etc). No ads, no registration, just a tool that we FTers can use for tracking upgrades. Previous glitches have been fixed and we're ready to roll.

We need your input! Please log in your upgradesuccess at this website. Once we have adequate data, we'll enable the search function. If you already emailed upgrade information to FlyTheTail in March or April, please do not re-enter the information.

We are trying to make the site as comprehensive as possible, so it will go beyond just collecting CO segment information. If you have any suggestions on the site, please use the feedback e-mail on the site. Thanks!

Awesome work. Just put in may last flights. Not traveling for a few weeks but will try and keep my segmenst up to date.

Just entered my 15 or so segments for this year, including my segments for tomorrow which have already eua'd :D :D :D

I may have been off on the flight times for flights earlier this year. Working from memory of when I usually prefer to travel. However, all other information I entered was accurate. I've actually done pretty well this year for %. However, I did have to change two flights and pay the $100 since my original flights showed little or no hope...All FC seats were sold early, even before the 5 day window. I guess they may be considered half and upgrade !!!

Thanks for the site. I'm sure to use it often. ^ ^ ^

Don't worry that much about flight times. THe most important data to have is metal, status, airline with the status, and segment. Other information is nice, but not really necessary...it will help for advanced search functions that we plan on building in later on.

Wouldn't it also make sense to track the equipment type the flight was operated on? Upgrade chances can vary widely based on this factor. Also, could you put in a "3 hour" choice for CO upgrades (there is an upgrade run at 3 hours before departure) or a way to complete the "other" choice for upgrade window in something besides whole days?

Just a couple of suggestions. BTW I've entered mine so far for this year. I mention the 3 hour thing because I had a 3 hour before departure automatic upgrade this evening that I found out had run when I got to the airport and printed my boarding pass and saw I was in 1K, not 18F like I was when I did OLCI last night. Got the Presidents Club and checked my e-mail and there it was - an e-mail from CO notifying me of the upgrade sent exactly 3 hours before my departure time.

BTW anyone else on CO 51 tonight when the APU died during pushback at EWR and everything suddenly went dark?

ssullivan,

That's an excellent suggestion. BTW, did you know that you and I were at AC together? Go, Roos!

Haha now you've got me really wondering who you are!

Thanks for the great suggestions.

We'll get a 3-hour window added to the site...in the meantime, you can simply enter 3 hours in the 'other' box.

We had originally thought to include equipment, but that can get very complicated with so many variations on the same thing (multiple models of 737/757/767 that are different for each airline). Any suggestions on how to make the entry simple and uncomplicated so that it won't end up taking more time to enter the upgrades? Should we simply put radio buttons for the main type of equipment without regard to series (e.g. D10, 747, 767, etc)?

Thanks again for the contributions to the site and the suggestions.

I do think that including equip type is an important detail to track. IMHO, knowing the equipment type makes all the difference in gauging chances for an upgrade, since the number of F seats varies by model. I'm sure I'm not alone in making flight choices based on aircraft type as well as schedule & price. I'll fly CO's 738 over the 735, for instance, even at greater cost and less convenient scheduling.

True, there are many variations of aircraft - and now with CO's revamped 73X first class cabins (some with 4 seats, others with 10, etc.) it does make for more data to track. I can also appreciate that it adds complexity to the interface, and increases input time. Bravo to you for attempting to keep the interface clean & simple!

Maybe you could add radio buttons for the different variations of plane for each carrier, but include a button to bypass the specific "sub-model" of a particular model (i.e. the 737-300, -500, -700, -800, -900, etc.) and allow the inputter to simply select the main model (ie. the 737) they flew on. I do think it is reasonable to ask people to identify if they've flown a DC9-series, or a 737-series, or a 767-series, etc. I would think that anyone interested enough to hit this site would also know at least the main model type of plane they flew on.

Thanks for your work. Looking forward to being a regular contributor to the site.

What I originally had in mind was a simple 3-character field that can be filled in. Along side that field will be something like (click here for help) which will take you to a page that has model and sub-model types listed. We'll shoot for that, that way it will remain simple for those who know what equipment it is without looking it up. Of course, it won't be mandatory and the first few hundred segments won't have it, but hopefully when we get the segment count up these original entries will be minimal.

Drew