lsugolfer

I agree. Truthfully, I would understand their reasoning behind this.

However, until these rules are changed officially by DL, I would appreciate their GA's abiding by the current policy.

SighMN

I guess this is a lesson learned. When I used to fly a lot of domestic US routes I always made sure my booking class was such that I could upgrade if I so chose to. I think on Delta.com they do make it relatively easy to try to purchase the right booking code so you can upgrade if you so choose to. Although I know some corporations require evidence you bought the cheapest available fare which would preclude upgrading. Some allow you to pay the difference with your own money though.

lsugolfer

I have a DL AMEX and a DL World MC Debit Card with Suntrust, most of my routes are 500 mile flights. I am currently at 94 paid segments on the year 4 segments on a 25,000 award ticket, and 6 segments using the pay with miles feature.

I've also been a DL traveler for 4 years now at sub-medallion levels, have my car rental and hotel accounts linked to my skymiles account, and participate in dining for miles, e-surveys for miles, etc.

lsugolfer

This is entirely irrelevant to the issue at hand.

fti

^^^

Time Away

I know I am quoting my own post here, but I needed to add something else I found out when I arrived at ATL last night after talking to one of the other so-called "gamers" as we de-planed.

When I arrived at the gate, no one had boarded yet. I was #7 with supposedly 3 seats (1 unassigned and 2 unclaimed). I knew it was a long shot, but I didn't have a carry-on and it's a long flight so I decided to wait. By the time zone 4 was called, I was #3 and I wasn't the only one waiting. There were at least two more Medallions waiting near me as well. Both of their names were called by the GA to standby for a possible upgrade after Medallions 1-4 on the list already had boarded. I must have missed them being called again, but I saw them both board and figured they didn't want to wait any longer. Turns out, they both got upgraded which then left me as #1 on the list. I found this out in ATL after the flight by talking to one of the individuals waiting around at the gate with me. Another important point to clarify is that the two waiting were not orginally #1 or 2, they were 5 and 6. (I know this because I must have looked like a dog staring at the dinner table for scraps as posted above.) The rest is in my original post in the quote above.

So the GA let Medallions 1-4 board and be ineligible for an upgrade, then upgraded 5 & 6, then proceeded to deny #7, and then upgrade orginal #1. Talk about inconsistency.

On top of all that, as a PM, the GA didn't make me feel like a valued customer. She made a comment that the orginal #1 or 2 on the list might be a DM or PM. I let that one roll off my back and didn't pull a DYKWIA fit, but the more I think about it and read the posts in this thread, the more it ticks me off!

houserulz77

Actually the issue here is that you had two unassigned F seats when boarding began, and the upgrades weren't cleared.

It's one thing to cash in on a lucky upgrade based on this "board and lose" policy.

But to not clear upgrades for vacant seats until boarding has commenced, then tell #'s 5 and 6 to stand-by for a likely upgrade is really crappy.

This also illustrates just how clueless some elites are when it comes to the upgrade process. I can't imagine anyone who frequents this forum even thinking about boarding when the GIDS showed the number of unclaimed seats (whether "reserved" or not) was greater than their position on the u/g list.

thegasguru

Again, this just makes me crazy. I can't imagine that anyone in DL management would actually want the program to be deployed by the GAs in this manner.

jsmith50

Besides the lack of consistency in this policy, one of my chief issues with this is the number of GAs who, when asked if F has boarded full, will dismissively tell you that it has to make you go away when, in fact, there are still empty seats in F. It seems like a tremendous bother to most GAs to have to actually look to see if F has boarded full. Much like everything DL does, I would just like to see a consistently enforced policy so I know what to expect when I show up at the airport and/or try to board a flight.

ecaarch

I have experienced this and thought it was the best way to deal with the DL policies that exist. ^

lsugolfer

They do this in JAX...immediately after they call for F, the GA looks at the screen to see who's boarded and if it isn't full tells the pax on the list that match up with the number of vacant seats in F to hold back.

dd992emo

I hear that announcement quite a bit in LAX.

monkeshine

Why should your blood boil? It is highly possible the GA told the person who was previously #1 on the list to board and that if there were a seat she would get her and move her up. Then this person shows up, because his cx was late or he sat drinking in the lounge or whatever and he's supposed to just waltz in and get the seat?

I do agree, of course, 1 policy for all. The policy should be the seat goes in order of rank not whether you board first or sneak in just before the doorknob hits you where the good Lord split ya.

jsmith50

I personally have nothing against falling off the upgrade list once I've boarded. To me, it's rolling the dice either way (to an extent). Generally I'm flying day trips or a single over-night, so I have a carry-on only. If I am not upgraded at window and I'm on the list but it doesn't look like I'll clear, I'm willing to give up the slot on the UG list to, hopefully, find overhead space for my bag. If you wait until all 4 zones are boarded and have a bag, you may get the lone remaining F seat, but if not, you may be out of luck and have to gate-check the bag. All of this is, of course, moot, if you're not carrying on.

jzoz01

DTW to SLC about 2 weeks ago. Was 5 on the UG list with 4 seats open, on delta app. Upgrade list was not on the monitor, so approached gate agent And asked where I was on the list. Gate agent says, "I'm not going to be able to accommodate you, please board with your zone", and handed me back my BP. I asked what number I was and was told "you're in the top 10". Upgrade list eventually showed up on screen, was showing 0 seats open with me now number one, there was also one reserved, but unclaimed seat. Waited until boarding started and at T-30, still one F seat not checked in. Two gate agents working flight, one handling boarding, and the one I talked to earlier handing out seat assignments. She looks at me and asks if I need help and I reply that I'm waiting on the unclaimed F seat. She replies "please board F is full". I point out that one passenger failed to check in, she checks her screen and frowns, then turns away. About 5 mins later she looks over and tells me I've waited long enough and hands me a BP for 1B, like she's doing me a favor.