I figured that was implied! Only way to guarantee an upgrade is to buy first!

To my Kool aid drinking friends in the posts above.....it has nothing to do with getting a free upgrade ......it has everything to do with rewarding your best customers..The only reason the airlines can do fcm is because they were allowed to organize into a monopoly and there is not enough competition to stop it.....I as a ceo would never reward a d customer over an a customer which is what they are doing with fcm....If they want to give a 50 dollar upgrade give it to the status people first .....don't undercut them.....maybe u guys should go read the 80/20 principal and stop living in a dream world....I bet u guys either work for the government or in a union and have never had a private sector job....tools

Salty

I am enjoying the new FCM, it means I can burn excess skymiles after a big J award purchase by lifting myself up the chain. In ATL it's highly unlikely that I get upgraded, so an opportunity to spend a little more of my own cash/virtual cash is welcome

Source: I work in the private sector

Bottom line is that everyone's situation is different. The PM/DM's weren't complaining when they stripped away free econ comfort from GM's on booking... swings and roundabouts friends


ETA: also isn't rewarding someone for loyalty rather than $ more unionistic than FCM?? Just thinking out loud..

LOL. You really think PMs like you are DL's A list best customers?? :D
Here's a free tip: Wanna a First Class seat? Buy a First Class ticket.

You may be in the private sector but I bet you have never taken on ownership of a business or the ceo of a company .....i would never reward the sale or coupon guy over a guy that does major business with me...the only reason delta can do this is because they are a government monopoly because they will be bailed out no matter how stupid or greedy their decisions are...I would like to be one of only 4 places to go and get a product with no consequences in how I run my business name one other business that rewards their employees over a paying customer the unions are a big reason things have gotten so bad I don't give a rats behind about your virtual cash and would reward the hcvs over you all day long and u would be sitting in the back which would force u to move to flying southwest where u belong

I will be dm by the end of feb:)

I'm not going to wade through 120 pages of train wreck this topic has become.
I'm just going to add my little datapoint and move along.

Last week, PHX-MSP-IND.
OCI and found my upgrade cleared for the first leg, and was "upgrade requested" for the second leg. As I completed check in, I was offered to upgrade the second leg for $99.
I clicked no.
At the airport kiosk to print my tix, and the kiosk informs me "upgrade not requested" on my second leg. I speak with the ticketing agent, and he is not able to add me to the UG list.(!!!)
I'm running late and frankly, not too worried about an upgrade.
At MSP, I speak to the gate agent who is then able to upgrade me.
Not sure how all the moving parts worked or why, but that's my story. (I'm DM, btw)

And you'll be sitting in coach while FOs like me take advantage of FCM :D

and PMs like me:
why pay $348 in coach for WAS-XXX-LAX when I see a G fare for $434? sure it's at 6am, but I'll call the PM line at T-23 and SDC to an afternoon or evening flight, likely over JFK
why pay $254 for SEA-XXX-WAS when I can snag a G fare -- on a redeye, which is necessary for this trip -- for $359?

Fo lol u guys won't even have any benefits or even be a status level in 2 yrs....have fun over at Southwest:)

Are you like 12?
Who needs status when we can FCM our way for cheap into your F seat while you do the perp walk back to Y? LOL.

I've done that before for Maimi. I can buy a g fare to Fll for not much more than a coach fare to Maimi and the. Call at t-24 and get on a flight to Miami.

Who needs status when we can FCM our way for cheap into your F seat while you do the perp walk back to Y? .......you have just proved my point delta can reward non hvc customers with no consequence .....just not reality.... I bet you voted for Obama and the legalization of pot as well Mr 777 utopia lol

I know 777 utopia is all for redistribution of medallion benefits lol

So what? If you don't like DL's policy, you can leave. They are daring you to do so but you won't and they know it.
As I see it, you have three choices...

• Use FCM yourself and buy F tickets
• Fly another airline that will value your upgrade business more
• Fly private