No Trans-Continental Upgrade
 

As a NWA/Delta Platinum flyer, I Booked JFK-SFO last week and didn't get the upgrade bump - even up through the morning of the departure. It looked like there were open seats in FC, but reservations told me that the seats would most likely be released at the gate.

I opted to not take the flights without the confirmed upgrade. 7 hours each way in coach is more than I wanted to face.

VERY tough upgrade even as a plat. I did it once and apparently got lucky from what I read here.

1. JFK-SFO/LAX upgrades USED to be easy until the switch the BE 757s with less premium cabin seats.
2. If you want to increase your upgrade chances, you should connect as the other domestic aircraft have a greater ratio of premium to coach seats.
3. While the flights are scheduled for 7+ hours, the flying time is much less.

I've never missed an upgrade on that route as a PM, usually at the window, maybe once or twice at the gate.

Upgrade space on the JFK-SFO and JFK-LAX nonstop flights is not opened in advance. It's X0 through the end of the schedule, so everyone requesting an upgrade is on the battlefield. Unless something changes, if you want a chance at an advance confirmed complimentary upgrade, you'll have to choose a different route.

THESE seat are only being released 30 minutes prior to departure
lax jfk, sfo jfk

Same here for upgrades at the window, historically, but not since they changed the nonstops to BE. It's all X0 until gate time.

Though I'm sure that's sometimes true, I've definitely been upgraded at the 5 day window for JFK-SFO and SFO-JFK (this was in December).

i did land an upgrade on BE lax - jfk I did take the 6:10 AM FLIGHT, there were 3 open seats left, I was the only one in the Waiting list :cool:

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If you must fly up front... Buy F. You might even find some great A deals on te JFK-West Coast routes.

My guess is that your experience was the exception. I've also gotten the upgrade ahead of departure day a few times, but those flights definitely start out at X0.

Very possible. I should be on these flights a few more times this year, so I'll see what happens there.

I must say that I'm glad when they sub a BE 763 on this route...last time I had almost 2 rows of BE to myself!! However, I've also had the opposite happen, with a switch to standard domestic F for a redeye SFO-JFK :(.

I'm also on this flight at 10 AM in June and September on the luxurious "T" fare!! I'll expect my champagne to be waiting for me at the door as I board!! :D . . . Especially since I fully expect to be sitting in my pre-assigned seat in the exit row at door 2!

Anyway . . . so, if you didn't take the flight, what did you do?

We teleconferenced with the client. Not quite like being there in person - but it wasn't a totally bad experience. I'll see the client at a meeting in Las Vegas next week and will buy him dinner then.

oy. :o

sounds like you should have bought F tickets then.