Winkdaddy

I think you have a decent shot...just a quick glance at the flight shows 11 seats open in FC...coach looks full except for the exit rows are pretty open indicating less medallions. After the 3 day mark, look and see if more seats in coach open up and less seats in FC...then you will know if any Golds were upgraded at the window.

All this is very iffy of course, but IMO you have a very good chance.

gouldwj

I would have thought more like 33.33% repeating.

Thanks for the replies, I did have an inclination to think that on a Sun morning flight, there might not be as many business travelers. I'll cross my fingers!

mpp

I have been upgraded on this (and going the other way) as a Silver more often than not. Don't forget that you get to use the SkyClub on both ends as this is part of the Transcon "Business Elite" stuff. The SkyClub in PDX opens at 5am everday.

DLATL777

Another one of these?


16.85840938409383%

xanthuos

FYI, this is inaccurate and making statements like this contributes to the confusion (which causes several posts here on FT on a regular basis).

Passengers on non-stop flights to/from JFK & a handful of west coast cities are eligible for SkyClub access if sitting in first class.

The BusinessElite service between JFK & SFO/LAX offers the same benefit, but to avoid confusion, it's best if the other cities (PDX, SEA, SAN, LAS, DEN, PHX etc) are not tagged with the term "BusinessElite".

mpp

FYI, it's what Delta calls it. They don't call it First Class. They call it BusinessElite. It is true there are no lie flat seats and it is not BusinessElite service, but you are upgraded to X ("Domestic BusinessElite") and the boarding pass prints as BusinessElite, etc. You can't buy a non-stop First Class ticket between PDX and JFK. I agree Delta should just call it First Class and include SkyClub benefit.

DLATL777

Incorrect.

Its called "Business" not "Business Elite" on all routes (with the exception of JFK-SFO/LAX where it actually is Business Elite, as has already been said) because of the flight number; the flight is either a continuation or terminating leg of an international flight with the same flight number. Period. The boarding pass NEVER prints "Business Elite" it prints "Business."

mokura

Hi guys, might be a silly question, but here we go:

I have been platinum northwest worldperks for a few years now. pre-merger, I almost always got upgraded on all my flights (KLM, NWA, Delta, Continental). I am even talking about international flights (for example, Montreal to Rome, NYC to Tokyo, etc.). However, post merger never got any upgrades.

I have a flight planned out to china. I have the choice between Delta or Continental. In your opinion, which has a better chance of being upgraded as skymiles platinum medallion? I guess the logical answer would be delta, but i just never got any upgrades with them recently (not even upgraded seats in economy), so im kinda reluctant....

Any advice would be great!

MSPeconomist

With the exception of a few shorter international routes (for instance, Canada, typically not designated as BE or BF), neither CO nor NW gives free international upgrades to anyone. The rules for paying with miles or SWUs are different; check on this if you have the appropriate upgrade instruments.

For OPUPs, officially it's anything goes, although folklore suggests that any airline is likely to favor its own elites. Hence, if you're PM with DL and nothing on CO, your slight chance would be higher on DL.

However, if you are PM with DL (last year too) and literally have never gotten a domestic upgrade on a published paid fare since the merger, something might be wrong. Do you know where you were on the upgrade lists and whether your flights were all particularly elite-heavy? Have you been checking the upgrade request (normally the default) when you book your tickets or could your TA be doing it wrong?

dan88

is there any chance a silver medallion member being upgraded on jfk/lax or lax/jfk flights? If so can somebody give me an idea what days/times might have a higher %? thanks

GBadger

Sure, but it's small.

Pick the times when few people are commuting. Tuesday and Wednesday mid-day would generally be good options, as would Saturday mid-day (though there you have to watch for international connections...like people that need to be in Europe Monday morning.)

NHFL9

The last flight out of JFK (9:00pm departure) is an easy upgrade. Other than that, it is hit or miss. I have been on a 8:00am flight with a few Silvers up front and have been on flights where Diamonds sat in the back. It is a popular route with paid BusinessElite customers.

delayedinLGA

Really, is it fact better than "HAHAHA no chance mate"? Cause that's what I always thought a Silver's chances of an upgrade are, esp in longer / busier flights.

cfischer

last Saturday ... 4 Elites for 10 seats outbound and 7 Elites for 14 seats on the return.

AndyTLe

JFK used to be so easy for all Medallions on all flights. With the new BE service LAX and SFO is harder now but still possible.