logic behind upgrades?
Oct 19, 2009 | 7:35 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2009
Programs: DAL Plat, HH LT Diamond
Posts: 280
logic behind upgrades?
i don't follow sometimes...
(don't take this the wrong way - an upgrade to the front is a big bonus for me --- i'm not looking a gift horse in the mouth here...)
my flight tomorrow:
Flight 1144 : Salt Lake City, UT to Washington (Reagan National), DC on 20 Oct 2009
xxxxxxxxxxxxxmy name here #9 of 21 on Upgrade List
Current Seat Availability Seat Availability First Coach
Total Available Seats 18 13
what is the logic behind these upgrades not processing at the usual 5 day out for plats?
again, just trying to understand the logic --- i might change my flight patters if i can better understand how the process works
TIA
doug
(don't take this the wrong way - an upgrade to the front is a big bonus for me --- i'm not looking a gift horse in the mouth here...)
my flight tomorrow:
Flight 1144 : Salt Lake City, UT to Washington (Reagan National), DC on 20 Oct 2009
xxxxxxxxxxxxxmy name here #9 of 21 on Upgrade List
Current Seat Availability Seat Availability First Coach
Total Available Seats 18 13
what is the logic behind these upgrades not processing at the usual 5 day out for plats?
again, just trying to understand the logic --- i might change my flight patters if i can better understand how the process works
TIA
doug
Oct 19, 2009 | 7:43 pm
#2
In Memoriam
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: TPA DL GM/ 2.8 MM
Posts: 1,132
Oct 19, 2009 | 8:34 pm
#3
In Memoriam
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: TPA DL GM/ 2.8 MM
Posts: 1,132
an additional point of clarification...
"#9 of 21 on Upgrade List" indicates your position on the upgrade list at the time you checked in or last viewed the current upgrade list. It can change as additional pax check in online or at the airport. You can monitor the position on delta.com under "Itineraries and Check-in".
It looks like you do have a good shot at an upgrade at the gate, with 18 FC seats available.
"#9 of 21 on Upgrade List" indicates your position on the upgrade list at the time you checked in or last viewed the current upgrade list. It can change as additional pax check in online or at the airport. You can monitor the position on delta.com under "Itineraries and Check-in".
It looks like you do have a good shot at an upgrade at the gate, with 18 FC seats available.
Oct 19, 2009 | 8:51 pm
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Ponte Vedra Beach, FL
Programs: DL PM, HH Diamond, Fairmont Prem, SPG Gold, Priority Club Plat/IC Amb, AmEx Plat
Posts: 10,839
If DL believes that they can sell the F seats, they will hold back those seats (sometimes some, sometimes all) for sale. Upgrades can clear at any time during your window.
Oct 19, 2009 | 9:21 pm
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: LAX/BOS/HKG/AMS/SFO...hmm, I need a life.
Programs: United1K, AA ExPlAAt, DL MM/Gold, Hilton Diamond, Avis First
Posts: 13,316
Yes and it is not just straight FC sales...they also sell Y-UP seats close to departure to tempt a bit more revenue out of Biz travellers that are going to pay a lot (last minute) anyway.
Oct 20, 2009 | 12:24 am
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2009
Programs: DAL Plat, HH LT Diamond
Posts: 280
..
roger all the above ...
i'm just trying to figure out if there are certain routes / days / etc. that one should avoid ... not "hit and miss" type guessing....
if i had to make a somewhat educated guess, SLC to DCA is a big time route for Delta since SLC is the west coast hub - again, not complaining at all....
i'm sure there is a pattern to this methodology... just trying to figure it out!
thanks for the replies tho
doug
i'm just trying to figure out if there are certain routes / days / etc. that one should avoid ... not "hit and miss" type guessing....
if i had to make a somewhat educated guess, SLC to DCA is a big time route for Delta since SLC is the west coast hub - again, not complaining at all....
i'm sure there is a pattern to this methodology... just trying to figure it out!
thanks for the replies tho
doug
Oct 20, 2009 | 4:07 am
#7
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: MSP
Programs: Any status I once had is gone!
Posts: 728
Yesterday MSP-BOS NW 1075, I was #1 on the UG list with FC booked full. After boarding GA came on plane and moved someone from coach to first.
I checked the UG list before and after this occured, both cases I showed #1 on list. Could this pax offered to buy the UG?
Anyhow...I enjoyed my peanuts and soda and coach seat...
I checked the UG list before and after this occured, both cases I showed #1 on list. Could this pax offered to buy the UG?
Anyhow...I enjoyed my peanuts and soda and coach seat...
Oct 20, 2009 | 7:15 am
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Ponte Vedra Beach, FL
Programs: DL PM, HH Diamond, Fairmont Prem, SPG Gold, Priority Club Plat/IC Amb, AmEx Plat
Posts: 10,839
Yesterday MSP-BOS NW 1075, I was #1 on the UG list with FC booked full. After boarding GA came on plane and moved someone from coach to first.
I checked the UG list before and after this occured, both cases I showed #1 on list. Could this pax offered to buy the UG?
Anyhow...I enjoyed my peanuts and soda and coach seat...
I checked the UG list before and after this occured, both cases I showed #1 on list. Could this pax offered to buy the UG?
Anyhow...I enjoyed my peanuts and soda and coach seat...
Oct 20, 2009 | 8:24 am
#9
Join Date: May 2005
Location: FLL
Programs: DL ♦M MM|HH♦|Marr Slvr|CO UA AA US|Pri Cub Plat|SPG|Avis 1st|Htz 5*
Posts: 5,044
Yesterday MSP-BOS NW 1075, I was #1 on the UG list with FC booked full. After boarding GA came on plane and moved someone from coach to first.
I checked the UG list before and after this occured, both cases I showed #1 on list. Could this pax offered to buy the UG?
Anyhow...I enjoyed my peanuts and soda and coach seat...
I checked the UG list before and after this occured, both cases I showed #1 on list. Could this pax offered to buy the UG?
Anyhow...I enjoyed my peanuts and soda and coach seat...
Upgrade mix up that left me in Y
Oct 20, 2009 | 2:08 pm
#11
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: TN
Programs: DL 2MM, AA EP, UA S, HH S, MR LT Titanium, National Exec
Posts: 363
Something is messed up
I am beginning to think there are issues with upgrades, I looked at my next flight, at 6 days out there were 10 FC seats, today at 5 days out there are 5 and no upgrade. I am DL Reserve Plat on a B fare. I would chalk it up to a bunch of Y fares except it is the second flight in the last week this has happened and both are the only ones I purchased after my WP was linked on Oct 1.
I am ex NW flying on NW metal and never had issues upgrading until this week.
I am ex NW flying on NW metal and never had issues upgrading until this week.
Oct 20, 2009 | 9:00 pm
#12
Join Date: Nov 2007
Programs: Mile-High Club, Marriott Plt, SPG P-75, PC Plt, Hyatt Dia, Carlson Gold, BW Dia
Posts: 1,845
[Interesting note: An acquaintance who is a FAM told me he was once on a flight with 14 FAMs because of a known threat also aboard. I'll bet there was a whiny thread on FT shortly thereafter with someone complaining about not getting his upgrade!]
Oct 20, 2009 | 10:41 pm
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Floating around
Programs: UA Plat (1MM), DL Gold (1MM), Marriott LTT
Posts: 11,218
For me upgrades are working great on DL. Unfortunately, I have run into a problem now on NW but I'm not surprised. I have a 006 ticket with a DL-coded, NW-operated flight (LAX-LAS) on 10/26. There are R seats available but I have not been upgraded. My former NW WP Plat Elite # is in the reservation. All of my other flights on 10/26 (DL-coded and DL-operated) have all upgraded just fine).
As I mentioned, all other DL flights are upgrading on time with no problems recently. I guess NW still has issues with upgrades on codeshare flights. No big deal as I'm not likely to take the LAX-LAS flight afterall.
Good luck.
-RM
As I mentioned, all other DL flights are upgrading on time with no problems recently. I guess NW still has issues with upgrades on codeshare flights. No big deal as I'm not likely to take the LAX-LAS flight afterall.
Good luck.
-RM
Oct 21, 2009 | 5:01 am
#14
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: MSP
Programs: Any status I once had is gone!
Posts: 728
I was #1 with FC full an hour before boarding, same at half hour, same at boarding, still #1 after I boarded as well as when they moved the guy up. My gut says that the guy was a non-rev/employee as he had been chatting up the GA before the flight. Most likely someone missed their connection and they bumped up him instead of me...
Also, the total number of people on the UG waitlist remained at 20, both before and after they moved him. The guy was dressed casually and did not have a "pilot"-type roller case.
Also, the total number of people on the UG waitlist remained at 20, both before and after they moved him. The guy was dressed casually and did not have a "pilot"-type roller case.
Last edited by bkmn; Oct 21, 2009 at 5:10 am
Oct 21, 2009 | 7:16 am
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Ponte Vedra Beach, FL
Programs: DL PM, HH Diamond, Fairmont Prem, SPG Gold, Priority Club Plat/IC Amb, AmEx Plat
Posts: 10,839
I was #1 with FC full an hour before boarding, same at half hour, same at boarding, still #1 after I boarded as well as when they moved the guy up. My gut says that the guy was a non-rev/employee as he had been chatting up the GA before the flight. Most likely someone missed their connection and they bumped up him instead of me...
Also, the total number of people on the UG waitlist remained at 20, both before and after they moved him. The guy was dressed casually and did not have a "pilot"-type roller case.
Also, the total number of people on the UG waitlist remained at 20, both before and after they moved him. The guy was dressed casually and did not have a "pilot"-type roller case.
Second you're saying "FC full". There is a difference between Checked-In FULL and Boarded FULL. There are many reasons why a F cabin could be Checked-In Full and not Boarded Full (misconnects, SDCs, cancellations, etc).
If you are #1 on the list, BEFORE boarding, I would ask the gate agent if F has BOARDED FULL? If the answer is YES, then you boarded. If the answer is NO, you ask if you still have a chance for the upgrade. The answer is usually, yes and you should NOT board and wait to see if that seat becomes available for upgrade.