Upgrade Chances: The Definitive Thread

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Oct 8, 2010, 2:10 pm

#916

houserulz77

Join Date: Feb 2009

Location: TPA

Programs: United - PG, Marriott Silver

Posts: 1,625

FLL has been an easy upgrade for me. I am 100% to/from DTW, and even at 75% to/from ATL. That's as an FO and on U or T fares.

Oct 22, 2010, 5:14 pm

#917

bmw303

Join Date: Feb 2008

Posts: 1,597

Upgrade Chances

Just curious whether ATL - EWR (and vice-versa) on Delta is an elite heavy route. Can a Silver on a B or M fare have a good shot at an upgrade on Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday?

thanks

Oct 22, 2010, 5:18 pm

#918

JORBUST

formerly Mdanner423

Join Date: Dec 2006

Location: North Carolina

Programs: Delta Platinum, Hyatt Diamond

Posts: 506

This coming week at least, a coach B fare is $100 less than a A (First) fare. Just book A if you are going to spend that much?

Quote:

Originally Posted by bmw303

Just curious whether ATL - EWR (and vice-versa) on Delta is an elite heavy route. Can a Silver on a B or M fare have a good shot at an upgrade on Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday?

thanks

Oct 22, 2010, 5:19 pm

#919

JORBUST

formerly Mdanner423

Join Date: Dec 2006

Location: North Carolina

Programs: Delta Platinum, Hyatt Diamond

Posts: 506

Also, yes it's very elite heavy. This coming Monday's flight is already V=0, so it was taken up by Diamonds/Plats/Golds by now.

--Matthew

Oct 23, 2010, 6:20 am

#920

mlts0807

Join Date: Aug 2010

Location: Indiana

Programs: Marriott PP /DL Diamond

Posts: 56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mdanner423

Also, yes it's very elite heavy. This coming Monday's flight is already V=0, so it was taken up by Diamonds/Plats/Golds by now.

--Matthew

Probably a simple question. How can you see how many seats are left on a flight?

Oct 23, 2010, 7:19 am

#921

bmw303

Join Date: Feb 2008

Posts: 1,597

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mdanner423

This coming week at least, a coach B fare is $100 less than a A (First) fare. Just book A if you are going to spend that much?

yes - the difference was just over $100. Unfortunately policy prohibits buying the F seat.

Oct 23, 2010, 7:41 am

#922

JORBUST

formerly Mdanner423

Join Date: Dec 2006

Location: North Carolina

Programs: Delta Platinum, Hyatt Diamond

Posts: 506

Subscribe to Expert Flyer.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mlts0807

Probably a simple question. How can you see how many seats are left on a flight?

Oct 23, 2010, 11:27 am

#923

StayingHomeIsBetter

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Jun 2008

Programs: Formaldehyde Medallion DL DieMiles

Posts: 12,646

Quote:

Originally Posted by bmw303

yes - the difference was just over $100. Unfortunately policy prohibits buying the F seat.

Just explain to the policy geeks that, if anything goes irregular with the flight, DL will insist that the ticket is not a first class ticket, so it must not be FC (even though, as you recognized, DL markets it as such).

Oct 26, 2010, 1:41 pm

#924

umguy

Join Date: May 2001

Location: Ft Lauderdale

Posts: 2,596

Realistic upgrade chances JFK-LAX

I have a ticket booked for this Sat PIT-JFK-LAX. It's booked in a full Y and I'm a Plat. What are the chances for upgrade on this. I try to avoid anything I can't upgrade in advance. I figure I can start early, and if I don't clear one I can SDC to the next one. And try again. I appreciate any help from people who generally fly this route.

Oct 26, 2010, 1:43 pm

#925

Stripe

Join Date: Jun 2005

Location: AUS

Programs: AA Exec Platinum/MM, DL Gold/MM, Hilton Diamond, Accor Platinum, Hertz Presidents Circle

Posts: 6,976

Have you looked to see how many first class seats are open on the flight?

Oct 26, 2010, 2:02 pm

#926

umguy

Join Date: May 2001

Location: Ft Lauderdale

Posts: 2,596

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stripe

Have you looked to see how many first class seats are open on the flight?

Expert Flyer is showing
J6 for the 9am
J4 for the for the noon
J9 for the 3pm (which if I can SDC I may try to start here)
J4 for the 5pm
J9 for the 7pm (currently booked on)

Last edited by umguy; Oct 26, 2010 at 2:06 pm Reason: figures changed

Oct 26, 2010, 2:05 pm

#927

El Boocho

Join Date: Aug 2002

Location: Los Angeles

Posts: 4,677

Quote:

Originally Posted by umguy

Assuming there are still seats (say F3 or greater), I'd say your chances are pretty good. I have only missed that upgrade 3 times ever. Two times were recently, but I was on a U or T ticket and missed by one each time. I thought as a DM traveling off peak I would have no problems, but it didn't work out that way. To be honest, something seemed amiss. There were plenty of seats available on the return and then they were all gone. No cancellation or anything and it was midday on a Saturday, so not much business travel and it was before the Europe flights arrived. Something just smelled fishy. Win some lose some...

Oct 26, 2010, 2:07 pm

#928

mersk862

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

Shouldn't be an issue - the only people that can trump the OP is a DM on a full Y, so it is unlikely there are that many of them.

Oct 26, 2010, 2:07 pm

#929

NHFL9

Join Date: Jun 2002

Location: NY Metro

Programs: DL DM

Posts: 2,881

The route is very quirky. Some flights (i.e. the 9pm JFK-LAX) has everyone getting upgraded, others have Diamonds in the back. My recommendation is to book JFK-XYZ-LAX and SDC to the non-stop if the odds for the upgrade look good.

Oct 26, 2010, 2:07 pm

#930

El Boocho

Join Date: Aug 2002

Location: Los Angeles

Posts: 4,677

Quote:

Originally Posted by umguy

Expert Flyer is showing
J6 for the 9am
J4 for the for the noon
J9 for the 3pm (which if I can SDC I may try to start here)
J4 for the 5pm
J9 for the 7pm (currently booked on)

Looks like a pretty good chance, unless you are counting on it. Then it won't happen.