Is it possible to "hack" your way to an upgrade on Delta?
Jan 6, 2011, 5:43 pm
#46
Join Date: Dec 2010
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I thought the TSA would put an initial on it when they match boarding pass to ID. GA's don't check that?
Jan 6, 2011, 5:55 pm
#47
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Also, I've often gotten a new seating assignment at the lounge, or SDC'ed to another flight and gotten a new BP once past security. The lack of initials on those new BP's never caused an issue. So, I don't think the GA's care at all.
Jan 6, 2011, 6:14 pm
#48
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: St. Paul, MN
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Posts: 729
My dear Sheena:
Would you be so kind to do a favor for an old friend? Please rearrange Deltalina's schedule to coincide with my upcoming flight.
Thanks so much
Love and kisses
Bago'peanuts
Would you be so kind to do a favor for an old friend? Please rearrange Deltalina's schedule to coincide with my upcoming flight.
Thanks so much
Love and kisses
Bago'peanuts
Jan 6, 2011, 6:17 pm
#49
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Jan 6, 2011, 11:58 pm
#50
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Not to mention connecting itineraries have multiple boarding passes at issue, only one of which is initialed by TSA. I flew four segments on 12/31, only one of which had an initialed BP.
Jan 7, 2011, 1:03 am
#51
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: HNL/SEA/DTW/AMS
Programs: DL Diamond, SPG Gold
Posts: 56
Smurfs are easily fooled by forged documents (I even met one who thought the "P" at the top of a passport identity page was PART OF MY NAME...& scolded me that it didn't appear on my boarding pass.)
Not Popppa,
I logged into the person's Skymiles account (with their permission) to see the upgrade that occurred more that two months before their Medallion window on a sLUT fare. I know this because I noted the fare class of a segment within this itinerary that was NOT eligible for upgrade. I was so curious as to what happened that I had someone look "behind the curtain" for me. (Again, authorized based on our business relationship). It happened & I know HOW it happened...but I wouldn't DARE post that part of the story here.
All of the FT "doubting Thomases" go back in your caves: I declare unequivocally that I've seen a Medallion upgrade take place FAR in advance of ALL EUA windows for a passenger traveling on a discount coach ticket. (finger snap)
PPP
Jan 7, 2011, 10:00 am
#52
Join Date: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,877
It would not be difficult for someone at Delta to search the system to find said upgrade and itinerary, especially given the input parameters you have provided.
Jan 7, 2011, 12:49 pm
#53
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: HNL/SEA/DTW/AMS
Programs: DL Diamond, SPG Gold
Posts: 56
No date, no city pair, no nothin'. Unless Professor Xavier became a redcoat when I wasn't looking it would be pretty difficult for Delta to discern specifics to the aforementioned event. How many Medallion members are there again? How many active & ticketed itineraries are there right now.
If Delta could or even wanted to make a federal case based on what I have posted here then Shena would be a loooong dead & buried distant memory.
PPP
Jan 7, 2011, 1:13 pm
#54
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Given what we've seen of DL's IT talents lately - not so sure.
Jan 7, 2011, 1:50 pm
#55
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: LGA/JFK
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Jan 7, 2011, 2:09 pm
#56
Join Date: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,877
Less than 900,000?
From what you posted:
-- Medallion member
-- original itinerary not eligible for upgrade (after looking on http://www.cwsi.net/delta.htm, the only fare class that cannot be upgraded by a Medallion is "E"; all others are upgradeable by a Medallion)
-- upgraded to a "V" fare
-- upgraded more than 50 days in advance
Based on the information provided, this would be a fairly easy task for any seasoned DL data analyst.
In a nutshell, one would basically select all medallion member itineraries where the itinerary type is "E" and where the itinerary was upgraded and where the upgrade was "V" and where the start of the upgrade window date minus the upgrade date is >= 50 days.
This would not all be done in the same query, of course. One has to whittle the data away.
From what you posted:
-- Medallion member
-- original itinerary not eligible for upgrade (after looking on http://www.cwsi.net/delta.htm, the only fare class that cannot be upgraded by a Medallion is "E"; all others are upgradeable by a Medallion)
-- upgraded to a "V" fare
-- upgraded more than 50 days in advance
Based on the information provided, this would be a fairly easy task for any seasoned DL data analyst.
In a nutshell, one would basically select all medallion member itineraries where the itinerary type is "E" and where the itinerary was upgraded and where the upgrade was "V" and where the start of the upgrade window date minus the upgrade date is >= 50 days.
This would not all be done in the same query, of course. One has to whittle the data away.
Last edited by DelrayChris; Jan 7, 2011 at 2:29 pm
Jan 7, 2011, 2:23 pm
#57
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Mid West
Programs: DM, HiltonHonors
Posts: 1
The V0 was the amount of upgrades available to hand out, none, but the F1 were the seats in first still not claimed, 1. It is possible someone else was ahead of you on the gate upgrade stand-by list and she bypassed them to give it to you, but also just as concievable that someone with a fully refundable F class fare decided not to show up and it was now within the alloted time limit to release that seat to the stand-by list. Depending on the aircraft it may have also been a crew rest seat in first that the pilot said to go ahead and release. If the flight is short enough they don't need them but don't usually take the time to release them to the GA. This brings up another point to those who keep saying they"see" emty seats in first class. Many flights have a seat in first that is blocked out for crew rest. It is always a specific seat that has snap up curtains to go around the seat. They are not always used, but almost never given away on a trans-oceanic flight or trans-continental flight. Remember, these pilots can go from one long flight to another and I, for one, want my pilot to get any sleep he needs!
Jan 7, 2011, 3:44 pm
#58
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: HNL/SEA/DTW/AMS
Programs: DL Diamond, SPG Gold
Posts: 56
Stiiirike two!
Less than 900,000?
From what you posted:
-- Medallion member
-- original itinerary not eligible for upgrade (after looking on http://www.cwsi.net/delta.htm, the only fare class that cannot be upgraded by a Medallion is "E"; all others are upgradeable by a Medallion)
-- upgraded to a "V" fare
-- upgraded more than 50 days in advance
Based on the information provided, this would be a fairly easy task for any seasoned DL data analyst.
In a nutshell, one would basically select all medallion member itineraries where the itinerary type is "E" and where the itinerary was upgraded and where the upgrade was "V" and where the start of the upgrade window date minus the upgrade date is >= 50 days.
This would not all be done in the same query, of course. One has to whittle the data away.
From what you posted:
-- Medallion member
-- original itinerary not eligible for upgrade (after looking on http://www.cwsi.net/delta.htm, the only fare class that cannot be upgraded by a Medallion is "E"; all others are upgradeable by a Medallion)
-- upgraded to a "V" fare
-- upgraded more than 50 days in advance
Based on the information provided, this would be a fairly easy task for any seasoned DL data analyst.
In a nutshell, one would basically select all medallion member itineraries where the itinerary type is "E" and where the itinerary was upgraded and where the upgrade was "V" and where the start of the upgrade window date minus the upgrade date is >= 50 days.
This would not all be done in the same query, of course. One has to whittle the data away.
Sorry, but you are assuming facts not entered into evidence. Despite the presence of (circumstantial) motive, ...both means & opportunity are nowhere to be found.
While your effort is admirable, there is simply not enough information to "solve the equation". Even if there were, which there isn't, what terrible thing would Delta do with this information?
PPP
Jan 7, 2011, 4:24 pm
#59
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Minneapolis
Programs: DELTA
Posts: 1,599
Bribe Your Way to FC
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?
-A
Jan 7, 2011, 4:28 pm
#60
Join Date: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,877
They may not do anything, however, they could very well audit this moving forward now that they suspect people -- insiders -- are taking advantage of the system. Because, only someone with inside access could have made the change as you describe it.
Learning about an inside scoop sometimes means keeping it to yourself
Last edited by DelrayChris; Jan 7, 2011 at 4:47 pm