Use of PMUs
#16
Join Date: May 2004
Location: formerly Gold now Diamond, formerly MSY, now LAX, formerly NW, now DL
Programs: Hyatt Plat, Hilton Gold, SPG Gold, Delta Diamond/1MM
Posts: 4,635
The current PMUs are useless to me.
I would change it to day of departure, open seats you could get upgraded with the PMUs without class restriction.
#18
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: NYC
Programs: AA EXP / LT PLT / 3MM, Marriott LT Gold
Posts: 35,386
This is correct. You cannot stand by for a PMU upgrade at the gate, but you can clear on the day of departure if Z inventory becomes available. This will supposedly change under the new system.
#19
In Memoriam
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: TPA DL GM/ 2.8 MM
Posts: 1,132
I missed out on a few where I was waitlisted, and was told at the gate that they had to clear by the day before, but I guess that's ancient history now anyway. (They were Central America flights, so I didn't have to buy M fares to qualify, and it was before those flights qualified for complimentary elite upgrades.)
#20
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2009
Programs: Delta skymiles DM + 1MM
Posts: 8,144
If you want to get the upgrades for intercontinental flights, it's well worth the money to subcribe to expertflyer (I think $99 a year last time I renewed). With this I have no trouble on using the PMUs for upgrades to Asia with advance planning. You will still have to buy a M-class fare (around $2k for the cheapest cities in Asia), but at least you have 3 RTs per year (6 one-way certs).
The old NW Platinum certs were frankly much better (upgrade from any paid ticket basically), but it was only 2 one-ways or 1 RT per year.
The old NW Platinum certs were frankly much better (upgrade from any paid ticket basically), but it was only 2 one-ways or 1 RT per year.
#21
In Memoriam
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: TPA DL GM/ 2.8 MM
Posts: 1,132
#22
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2009
Programs: Delta skymiles DM + 1MM
Posts: 8,144
my outbound from lga to hkg via dtw is 9/15 and the return from nrt to jfk is on 9/23. Supposedly, each of those flights had 9 seats available in the Z bucket, this was 3 days ago and now there are none.
#23
In Memoriam
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: TPA DL GM/ 2.8 MM
Posts: 1,132
I'm 99% sure she said there was 9 seats available for PMU/mileage upgrades.
my outbound from lga to hkg via dtw is 9/15 and the return from nrt to jfk is on 9/23. Supposedly, each of those flights had 9 seats available in the Z bucket, this was 3 days ago and now there are none.
my outbound from lga to hkg via dtw is 9/15 and the return from nrt to jfk is on 9/23. Supposedly, each of those flights had 9 seats available in the Z bucket, this was 3 days ago and now there are none.
9/15 - NW 751 - DTW-HKG - U6
9/23 - NW 618 - NRT-JFK - U8
Things do change in three days, but EF does show PMU/miles upgrade availability on those flights.
#24
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: SBN
Programs: DL Diamond, HHonors Diamond, Hyatt a lowly Platinum now
Posts: 187
How accurate is expertflyer? the reason I ask is that I just booked lga-dtw-hkg-nrt-jfk and was told by SMS that there was 9 seats available in Z class for both the dtw to hkg and the nrt to jfk routes. This was just 3 days ago. I did the 5 day trial offer with expertflyer and it shows 0 availability for dtw to hkg and 0 availability for nrt to jfk, this was checking this morning.
Seat availability is VERY fluid. Seats appear and disappear quickly, that's why EF's email notification (which I have set up to text me) is helpful. I have found unexpected upgrade seats on popular routes for Holiday travel with the notifications, for instance, when one just popped up and I was the first person to call and get it.
#25
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: NYC
Programs: AA EXP / LT PLT / 3MM, Marriott LT Gold
Posts: 35,386
I have found ExpertFlyer to be very accurate, 100% in my case so far for a few years. Often EF has listed a seat and when I call the Platinum line they say there isn't one, then I explain the routing, and then they find it. EF is really WAY more accurate to me than the phone reps from DL or NW, many reps are inexperienced and don't know what bucket you need, or how to look for possibilities through gateway cities, etc. I have also had them tell me there are seats when EF says there aren't, but then when I ask them to book it it comes back that they are mistaken and EF was right.
Seat availability is VERY fluid. Seats appear and disappear quickly, that's why EF's email notification (which I have set up to text me) is helpful. I have found unexpected upgrade seats on popular routes for Holiday travel with the notifications, for instance, when one just popped up and I was the first person to call and get it.
Seat availability is VERY fluid. Seats appear and disappear quickly, that's why EF's email notification (which I have set up to text me) is helpful. I have found unexpected upgrade seats on popular routes for Holiday travel with the notifications, for instance, when one just popped up and I was the first person to call and get it.
#26
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: SBN
Programs: DL Diamond, HHonors Diamond, Hyatt a lowly Platinum now
Posts: 187
- +/- 3 days on outbound and return flights on searches
- Email notifications if a upgrade seat pops up
- Saved queries so that I can look at it again on potential trips.
I hate to be a shill for EF, but really it's a small price to pay to be able to get the upgrade seats.
Does anybody know of a free or cheaper program that gives the advanced features?
#27
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2009
Programs: Delta skymiles DM + 1MM
Posts: 8,144
O.K., I see it now. What I was doing wrong was checking off Delta Air Lines as the airline in the drop down menu. I tried it with North West and the availability did come up.