Is it possible to "hack" your way to an upgrade on Delta?
Jan 6, 2011, 11:44 am
#31
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Jan 6, 2011, 11:45 am
#32
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I'm doing some research for a story and I was wondering if anyone had ever heard of a computer hacker hacking into Delta's systems and getting an upgrade for themselves. Assuming you had excellent hacking skills, is this even possible? And if possible, what's the likelihood of getting caught?
Jan 6, 2011, 11:51 am
#33
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That is correct, although I don't think it would stick if you're were allowed in that seat in the first place. I did use this technique several times to score elite seats on KL when the NW agents couldn't access the KL system. The NW & KL systems worked fine together for making reservations, not so well when it came to selecting seats.
Jan 6, 2011, 12:42 pm
#35
Join Date: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,877
As another poster mentioned, you would need access to the back-end/mainframe systems that store the reservation/flight information. Even then, you would have to know how to properly manipulate the data.
Compromising their web site servers would be of little value. The servers communicate with the back-end servers but these point-to-point lines of communication are protected with firewalls and secure TCP/IP connections (e.g., SSL).
You would be better off knowing someone with access to Sabre, Amadeus, or Galileo. I had a friend who was a contractor who worked on one of these systems and was on call in the evenings in case of emergencies. Was over at their house one night and they received a trouble call. A few logins later and there it was, the mainframe terminal for one of the airlines. Jokingly, I asked if they could "flag" a flight of mine for a different meal or for an upgrade, "pretty much" was the answer.
More often than not, systems like these have heavy auditing. That is, if certain data is changed, the old data, along with the who/what/when/where/how is logged in a separate database.
The easier way would be for you to have a Gate/Check-In agent friend upgrade you.
Compromising their web site servers would be of little value. The servers communicate with the back-end servers but these point-to-point lines of communication are protected with firewalls and secure TCP/IP connections (e.g., SSL).
You would be better off knowing someone with access to Sabre, Amadeus, or Galileo. I had a friend who was a contractor who worked on one of these systems and was on call in the evenings in case of emergencies. Was over at their house one night and they received a trouble call. A few logins later and there it was, the mainframe terminal for one of the airlines. Jokingly, I asked if they could "flag" a flight of mine for a different meal or for an upgrade, "pretty much" was the answer.
More often than not, systems like these have heavy auditing. That is, if certain data is changed, the old data, along with the who/what/when/where/how is logged in a separate database.
The easier way would be for you to have a Gate/Check-In agent friend upgrade you.
Jan 6, 2011, 12:59 pm
#36
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Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: FRA
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You would be better off knowing someone with access to Sabre, Amadeus, or Galileo. I had a friend who was a contractor who worked on one of these systems and was on call in the evenings in case of emergencies. Was over at their house one night and they received a trouble call. A few logins later and there it was, the mainframe terminal for one of the airlines. Jokingly, I asked if they could "flag" a flight of mine for a different meal or for an upgrade, "pretty much" was the answer.
Jan 6, 2011, 1:26 pm
#37
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Considering that Deltamatic was developed when Nixon was President and originally ran on hardware which was developed in the Eisenhower area (the first IBM mainframes with transistors instead of vacum tubes), I seriously doubt that there is anyone still alive who would have the necessary skills. They died during Regan's reign.
Jan 6, 2011, 2:58 pm
#39
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 89
I know of someone who was booked/re-booked DIRECTLY into "V" more than 50 days in advance...meaning that someone (probably an inside job) had/has the ability to force an upgrade FAR ahead of the normal Elite window.
Food for thought...
PPP
P.S. (I know what you're thinking...I called B.S. & I demanded proof... & I was shocked to see it with my own eyes)
3P
Food for thought...
PPP
P.S. (I know what you're thinking...I called B.S. & I demanded proof... & I was shocked to see it with my own eyes)
3P
Any Medallion on a Y ticket can be upgraded to V at booking. 50 days, 100 days, doesn't matter.
Jan 6, 2011, 3:28 pm
#40
Join Date: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,877
I am surprised someone would take such great risks by altering a boarding pass for something so petty.
Last edited by DelrayChris; Jan 6, 2011 at 3:36 pm
Jan 6, 2011, 3:44 pm
#41
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Give me a little credit...such an occurance to a Medallion on a full Y ticket would NOT be noteworthy! The person was traveling on a sLUT fare.
Last edited by popppa; Jan 6, 2011 at 3:46 pm Reason: clarity
Jan 6, 2011, 3:46 pm
#42
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I know someone who put SKY PRIORITY on their BP to get the shorter security lines. It seems fairly low risk, because presumably you'd save your unadulterated BP for security checkpoint and actual boarding.
Jan 6, 2011, 4:33 pm
#43
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I know of someone who was booked/re-booked DIRECTLY into "V" more than 50 days in advance...meaning that someone (probably an inside job) had/has the ability to force an upgrade FAR ahead of the normal Elite window.
Food for thought...
PPP
P.S. (I know what you're thinking...I called B.S. & I demanded proof... & I was shocked to see it with my own eyes)
Food for thought...
PPP
P.S. (I know what you're thinking...I called B.S. & I demanded proof... & I was shocked to see it with my own eyes)
Not necessary at ORD, since no one enforces the elite security line in T2.
Jan 6, 2011, 5:05 pm
#45
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Considering that Deltamatic was developed when Nixon was President and originally ran on hardware which was developed in the Eisenhower area (the first IBM mainframes with transistors instead of vacum tubes), I seriously doubt that there is anyone still alive who would have the necessary skills. They died during Regan's reign.
Deltamatic itself was operational during LBJ's first full year as President.