Incremental value of GM over FO?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Everywhere
Programs: Delta GM, *G, BA Blue, Hyatt Plat, Marriott Silver, LHW
Posts: 753
Incremental value of GM over FO?
On GoGo now, enjoying the extra space in F and my GM upgrade. Hanging out in a cabin with empty seats and non-revs abound. My flight before this was the same -- there were 3 Comair pilots, 2 NRSAs, and one gift upgrade in the 12 F seats on the CR9.
I travel on a variety of fares -- I've flown Y, M, K, L, U, and T so far this year, and I'm 7 for 16 as a GM this year. The 7 flights on which I've been upgraded have been slam dunks. Either EUAs or easy gate upgrades. The 9 misses haven't even been close -- 17 of 23 / 10 of 21 on K fares, etc.
While I recognize the SkyPriority benefits of GM when traveling in coach (Zone 1 boarding and priority baggage handling being noteworthy), I don't see any incremental value in being GM vs. FO in the upgrade queue.
DL forum inhabitants: are your experiences different? I'll requalify for GM in August and probably make PM by end of year, but I wanted to see if anyone is really seeing the value of GM in trying to upgrade?
I travel on a variety of fares -- I've flown Y, M, K, L, U, and T so far this year, and I'm 7 for 16 as a GM this year. The 7 flights on which I've been upgraded have been slam dunks. Either EUAs or easy gate upgrades. The 9 misses haven't even been close -- 17 of 23 / 10 of 21 on K fares, etc.
While I recognize the SkyPriority benefits of GM when traveling in coach (Zone 1 boarding and priority baggage handling being noteworthy), I don't see any incremental value in being GM vs. FO in the upgrade queue.
DL forum inhabitants: are your experiences different? I'll requalify for GM in August and probably make PM by end of year, but I wanted to see if anyone is really seeing the value of GM in trying to upgrade?
#3
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 118
Hi Mr. 1C!
Given the flight we were on, I considered myself mildly lucky to get an upgrade as a PM.
As a GM, your success should be higher if you are not flying aon a "heavy" route - major cities on both ends and on a Friday just after work.
My question is how high in upgrade priority should a non-rev pilot be?
As a GM, your success should be higher if you are not flying aon a "heavy" route - major cities on both ends and on a Friday just after work.
My question is how high in upgrade priority should a non-rev pilot be?
#4
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM
Posts: 768
The jump from FO to GM is huge. Your mileage bonus and sky priority are very tangible and consistent, even if your UG percentage isn't.
If you want to see underwhelming differentiation, just wait until later in the year when you hit PM and you see that PM is GM plus 10-15% on UG.
If you want to see underwhelming differentiation, just wait until later in the year when you hit PM and you see that PM is GM plus 10-15% on UG.
#5
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: ATL
Programs: DL DM 1MM, HH Diamond, MR Lifetime Plat/Titanium, National Exec Elite
Posts: 194
The jump from FO to GM is huge. Your mileage bonus and sky priority are very tangible and consistent, even if your UG percentage isn't.
If you want to see underwhelming differentiation, just wait until later in the year when you hit PM and you see that PM is GM plus 10-15% on UG.
If you want to see underwhelming differentiation, just wait until later in the year when you hit PM and you see that PM is GM plus 10-15% on UG.
#6
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: MIA/DEN
Programs: Delta PM; IHG Plat, Avis Preferred, AA/UA kettle, Spirit/Frontier/Allegiant survivor
Posts: 21
I've seem my UG % change dramatically. Also, there's a huge difference between getting the last upgrade and being left in the back!
#7
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 5,679
I never noticed a difference between Silver and GM. But I'm doing a lot of hub-to-hub. The DM and PM folks have been upgraded long before I had a crack at the seats.
You will notice a difference in the case of IROPS. Silver lost the airside medallion line for CSRs. You're behind everyone in the phone queue. Check-in is goofed up too.
You will notice a difference in the case of IROPS. Silver lost the airside medallion line for CSRs. You're behind everyone in the phone queue. Check-in is goofed up too.
#8
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: MCO
Programs: DL DM/MM, Marriott Plat Premier, HH Diamond, Hyatt Plat, Hertz PC
Posts: 4,081
Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_0 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/532.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/4.0.5 Mobile/8A293 Safari/6531.22.7)
Maybe you don't see the value for UG either bec of where you fly from/to or when you fly. IMO there is a HUGE diff bet GM and FO value, not just in UGs but YMMV of course.
Maybe you don't see the value for UG either bec of where you fly from/to or when you fly. IMO there is a HUGE diff bet GM and FO value, not just in UGs but YMMV of course.
#9
In Memoriam
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: NYC
Programs: DL DM, UA, AA, SPG Gold, Marriott, HH, Fairmont, NYSC (Passport), 24hrFitness-Super Sport
Posts: 2,197
I noticed a big jump from FO to GM. As GM, I've been the last one or two to get UG'd on several of my flights out of JFK during holiday weekends. Was also able to snag SFO-JFK as GM. Doubt that would have happened as an FO. Seen 3 op-ups this year as GM. One (TXL-JFK) probably would have happened as an FO, but not sure this would have been the case on JFK-MAD-JFK.
While the priority boarding and baggage is nice, the priority security line is a HUGE bonus for GMs.
While the priority boarding and baggage is nice, the priority security line is a HUGE bonus for GMs.
#11
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
Hope your success rate gets better. A lot has to do with when you fly and, of course, the origin and destination.
#12
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
#13
Join Date: May 2010
Location: South Bend, Indiana
Programs: Delta PM, MM
Posts: 169
Agreed. There's a huge difference between FO and GM. I have been upgraded on all four of my flights since making GM. Prior to GM my upgrade percentage was about 40%. Another big benefit for me is the 100% mileage bonus. Now, if I could only get an op-up on my next ATL-DXB flight my joy would be complete!
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: The best state in the USA - Florida!
Programs: Marriott Titanium/LT Plat, AS MVP75K, AA PlatPro, UA Premier, Disney AP
Posts: 14,497