Upgrade Chances: The Definitive Thread
Jul 15, 2012, 2:29 pm
#1817
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: IND
Programs: DL PM & 2MM™, Lifetime HHonors Diamond
Posts: 20,891
Jul 15, 2012, 2:32 pm
#1818
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Dallas, TX
Programs: DL PM MM, AA Platinum Pro, Marriott Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Gold
Posts: 1,097
I'm at 27% as a PM out of SLC for 2012, and the routes I've been upgraded on were crap routes at weird times. I think I did better as a GM in 2011. Friday I was #15 for 2 seats on SLC-MCO. PM is worthless over GM for me and I'm frustrated upgrades are so rare these days. Flew Southwest earlier in the week. Great legroom throughout the plane, got a free cocktail, flight attendants were incredibly pleasant. Made me wonder about my loyalty to DL.
Jul 15, 2012, 2:54 pm
#1820
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Bye Delta
Programs: AA EXP, HH Diamond, IHG Plat, Hyatt Plat, Marriott Plat, Nat'l Exec Elite, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 16,290
1. What is my DM status getting me? I thought loyalty was a two way street. Donald Sutherland told me so in dulcet tones.
vs.
2. Delta has empty seats it won't sell me.
Jul 15, 2012, 3:28 pm
#1822
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: JFK/LGA/EWR
Posts: 1,296
I agree as long as there's enough time to grab a bite at the airport if I know I didn't get the upgrade. I don't mind airplane food, really, and some food choices just don't travel well.
Jul 15, 2012, 4:01 pm
#1824
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
+1 - Only takes one group of misconnecting pax in/X ATL to need a reroute through JFK and those seats are needed to pax who actually paid for them. Absolutely no reason why DL ought to release them for freebies in advance. Not as though OP's going to decline the UG at the gate if all goes well.
Jul 15, 2012, 4:20 pm
#1825
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Bye Delta
Programs: AA EXP, HH Diamond, IHG Plat, Hyatt Plat, Marriott Plat, Nat'l Exec Elite, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 16,290
Disagree, unless the intention is to drive another blade through the heart of upgrades as an elite benefit. All upgrades done at the gate will ultimately mean fewer upgrades for all.
Jul 15, 2012, 4:25 pm
#1826
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: BDU
Programs: DL:MM, Marriott:LTT
Posts: 8,779
Can you please explain the math on this? If there are X number of seats available for UG, how does that change if the seats are given ahead of time or at the gate? Or is the suggestion thatDL should be giving the seats away for free even if they can sell them at market price?
Jul 15, 2012, 4:51 pm
#1827
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Bye Delta
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Can you please explain the math on this? If there are X number of seats available for UG, how does that change if the seats are given ahead of time or at the gate? Or is the suggestion thatDL should be giving the seats away for free even if they can sell them at market price?
Jul 15, 2012, 4:54 pm
#1828
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Long Beach, CA
Programs: DL DM
Posts: 5,292
Keep the posers where they belong, and give the deepest pockets the nicest seats.
Jul 15, 2012, 5:28 pm
#1829
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: BDU
Programs: DL:MM, Marriott:LTT
Posts: 8,779
Count me among those that think all UGs should be battleground.
Jul 15, 2012, 5:33 pm
#1830
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Bye Delta
Programs: AA EXP, HH Diamond, IHG Plat, Hyatt Plat, Marriott Plat, Nat'l Exec Elite, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 16,290
It's not the number of seats available that changes, it's that DL isn't giving them away to you; rather, the seats are being given to others that DL has deemed above you on the priority list or those that have actually paid, making the seat unavailable for UG.
Count me among those that think all UGs should be battleground.
Count me among those that think all UGs should be battleground.