A different upgrade experience
Nov 4, 2009 | 9:14 pm
#1
Original Poster
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Join Date: Dec 1999
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Titanium, IHG Diamond, United Silver
Posts: 16,890
A different upgrade experience
WifeMSN and I did the following on a little 5-day weekend:
MSN-MSP-PHX-MSP-MSN
25K miles award tickets. Cost: $20 + 50K miles.
I'm PLT, wife nada.
MSN-MSP: Both upgraded at online checkin.
MSP-PHX: Put on upgrade list at checkin. #1 and #2 on list when we get to the gate. Both of us upgraded at the gate before boarding.
PHX-MSP: In 6D and 6E and the GA came on and moved us up.
MSP-MSN: #1 and #2 on the waitlist. Upgraded at the gate before boarding.
MSN-MSP-PHX-MSP-MSN
25K miles award tickets. Cost: $20 + 50K miles.
I'm PLT, wife nada.
MSN-MSP: Both upgraded at online checkin.
MSP-PHX: Put on upgrade list at checkin. #1 and #2 on list when we get to the gate. Both of us upgraded at the gate before boarding.
PHX-MSP: In 6D and 6E and the GA came on and moved us up.
MSP-MSN: #1 and #2 on the waitlist. Upgraded at the gate before boarding.
Nov 4, 2009 | 9:34 pm
#4
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: MSP
Programs: DL Diamond; NW Platinum; Hilton Diamond; Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 159
Nov 5, 2009 | 9:44 am
#5
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Phoenix
Programs: DL Million Miler, Skymiles GM, Marriott Lifetime Platinum Elite
Posts: 677
Wow, interesting. When did they start upgrading award tickets? That wasnt supposed to start until 2010.
I've flown on DL and NW metal on award tickets in the past 6 months, and each time asked (in vain) about upgrades only to be flatly told that my tickets were not eligible.
I've flown on DL and NW metal on award tickets in the past 6 months, and each time asked (in vain) about upgrades only to be flatly told that my tickets were not eligible.
Nov 5, 2009 | 9:48 am
#6
Original Poster
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 1999
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Titanium, IHG Diamond, United Silver
Posts: 16,890
Wow, interesting. When did they start upgrading award tickets? That wasnt supposed to start until 2010.
I've flown on DL and NW metal on award tickets in the past 6 months, and each time asked (in vain) about upgrades only to be flatly told that my tickets were not eligible.
I've flown on DL and NW metal on award tickets in the past 6 months, and each time asked (in vain) about upgrades only to be flatly told that my tickets were not eligible.
Nov 5, 2009 | 10:13 am
#7
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: DCA
Programs: DL DM, AA EXP, various hotel
Posts: 2,231
Nov 5, 2009 | 10:42 am
#9
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: DCA
Programs: DL DM, AA EXP, various hotel
Posts: 2,231
Duh. I think I may have read that somewhere earlier in the thread. 
That's really interesting, because the new companion upgrade program is not supposed to work for LUTs, even. The upgrade on your ticket is less suprising, because that functionality is supposed to happen eventually.
That's really interesting, because the new companion upgrade program is not supposed to work for LUTs, even. The upgrade on your ticket is less suprising, because that functionality is supposed to happen eventually.
Nov 5, 2009 | 11:54 am
#11
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Posts: 16,890
Or they can fly enough to be top tier. I'm sure that if there were PLTs on the list, they would've jumped us. Of course, I could be wrong as I don't really seem to know the rules like I used to. I never once imagined we'd get upgraded at all, let alone on 4 of 4 segments.
Nov 5, 2009 | 6:01 pm
#12
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Sunny Florida
Posts: 637
Northwest has been upgrading award tickets and NW elites have always known this. It is not new. However, it will probably go away, temporarily, once the intergration is complete and come back again with the new skymiles benefits "sometime" in spring 2010.
Nov 5, 2009 | 6:24 pm
#13
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Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: MN
Programs: Lots of programs, dirt on all of them!
Posts: 11,943
I had a similar experience. Booked a very last-minute trip on Tuesday using miles to fly MSP-EWR on Wednesday (to go to the world series game last night). When I checked in, I was offered the upgrade. Upgraded at the gate. I was #3 of 11 and I believe there were only three available seats. On the return this morning, also offered an upgrade, #1 of 1 on the waiting list, upgraded at the gate. F went out with 1 open seat. So NW is apparently still UG'ing award tickets.
Nov 5, 2009 | 7:34 pm
#14
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Programs: Marriott Lifetime Titanium, IHG Diamond, United Silver
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I know, but companions on award tickets? That's new for me.
Nov 5, 2009 | 7:38 pm
#15
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Sunny Florida
Posts: 637