The Definitive B/E Upgrade Complaint Thread
#782
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: NYC
Programs: AA EXP 2MM; SPG GLD; Hilton GLD
Posts: 340
ACC-JFK
Curious for advice as I'm relatively new to intl upgrades on DL. Tonight, my wife (a PM) was flying on an M fare from ACC-JFK. She requested an upgrade with miles over a month ago and things were looking great. However she never cleared and the flight went out with 9+ seats empty.
This seems absolutely absurd for an old-guard AA flyer. DeltaAssist is telling some BS story that "sometimes upgrades don't clear" but this just seems like incompetent agents at outstations.
Frankly, I'd like them to allow her to upgrade on any fare for her next trip to Ghana though know this is probably dreaming. More importantly would be good to understand what's going on. Why even pay extra and take a gamble when you might not clear on an empty flight????
This seems absolutely absurd for an old-guard AA flyer. DeltaAssist is telling some BS story that "sometimes upgrades don't clear" but this just seems like incompetent agents at outstations.
Frankly, I'd like them to allow her to upgrade on any fare for her next trip to Ghana though know this is probably dreaming. More importantly would be good to understand what's going on. Why even pay extra and take a gamble when you might not clear on an empty flight????
#783
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,417
Curious for advice as I'm relatively new to intl upgrades on DL. Tonight, my wife (a PM) was flying on an M fare from ACC-JFK. She requested an upgrade with miles over a month ago and things were looking great. However she never cleared and the flight went out with 9+ seats empty.
This seems absolutely absurd for an old-guard AA flyer. DeltaAssist is telling some BS story that "sometimes upgrades don't clear" but this just seems like incompetent agents at outstations.
Frankly, I'd like them to allow her to upgrade on any fare for her next trip to Ghana though know this is probably dreaming. More importantly would be good to understand what's going on. Why even pay extra and take a gamble when you might not clear on an empty flight????
This seems absolutely absurd for an old-guard AA flyer. DeltaAssist is telling some BS story that "sometimes upgrades don't clear" but this just seems like incompetent agents at outstations.
Frankly, I'd like them to allow her to upgrade on any fare for her next trip to Ghana though know this is probably dreaming. More importantly would be good to understand what's going on. Why even pay extra and take a gamble when you might not clear on an empty flight????
#784
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: BOS
Programs: DL DM 2MM, Marriott LT Titanium, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 15,204
Yeah, technically miles upgrades need to clear 24hrs in advance... however as mentioned it is possible for a GA to pull miles at the gate if they know how and you explain the situation.
Other question, was your wife listed on the waitlist in her itinerary for the Z upgrade? Seems odd that with 9 seats open there wouldn't be any Z upgrade inventory available a day or two before the flight.
Other question, was your wife listed on the waitlist in her itinerary for the Z upgrade? Seems odd that with 9 seats open there wouldn't be any Z upgrade inventory available a day or two before the flight.
#785
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: HKG
Programs: DL FO, UA, AA, AsiaMiles, SPG, HHonors
Posts: 7,982
Yeah, technically miles upgrades need to clear 24hrs in advance... however as mentioned it is possible for a GA to pull miles at the gate if they know how and you explain the situation.
Other question, was your wife listed on the waitlist in her itinerary for the Z upgrade? Seems odd that with 9 seats open there wouldn't be any Z upgrade inventory available a day or two before the flight.
Other question, was your wife listed on the waitlist in her itinerary for the Z upgrade? Seems odd that with 9 seats open there wouldn't be any Z upgrade inventory available a day or two before the flight.
#786
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: BOS
Programs: DL DM 2MM, Marriott LT Titanium, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 15,204
If there isn't Z available then Delta_Assist probably can't help, since by that time the flight is under airport control and you'd have to be transferred to the standby upgrade list at the gate.
#787
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: NYC
Programs: AA EXP 2MM; SPG GLD; Hilton GLD
Posts: 340
Yeah, technically miles upgrades need to clear 24hrs in advance... however as mentioned it is possible for a GA to pull miles at the gate if they know how and you explain the situation.
Other question, was your wife listed on the waitlist in her itinerary for the Z upgrade? Seems odd that with 9 seats open there wouldn't be any Z upgrade inventory available a day or two before the flight.
Other question, was your wife listed on the waitlist in her itinerary for the Z upgrade? Seems odd that with 9 seats open there wouldn't be any Z upgrade inventory available a day or two before the flight.
#788
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,417
Be careful about terminology. DL says waitlist for what happens up to T-24 and then calls the list for airport gate upgrades the standby upgrade list. Was your wife on the airport standby upgrade list or not for upgrades on the day of departure and at the gate?
#789
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: NYC
Programs: AA EXP 2MM; SPG GLD; Hilton GLD
Posts: 340
Good point. Not on the airport list - ACC agents won't do anything after 24hours - say it's not possible. She was also confused because sky miles agents had said she didn't need to do anything more.