Toughest domestic UG's! The top 10 list!
Jul 24, 2012, 8:32 am
#16
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Here, there, and everywhere
Programs: PC: Platinum, DL: PM, National: Exec
Posts: 806
ATL-LGA/JFK at peak times
Monday morning I was #40something as a platinum out of over 70 on the upgrade list. No upgrade for me.
It was funny/sad that about half the passengers on the MD were either in first or on the upgrade list.
Monday morning I was #40something as a platinum out of over 70 on the upgrade list. No upgrade for me.
It was funny/sad that about half the passengers on the MD were either in first or on the upgrade list.
Jul 24, 2012, 8:41 am
#17
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: 1/2 way between FNT,DTW
Programs: DL Plat, US Gold
Posts: 711
As I get to fly non stop out of DTW to most places, I would say the toughest are or the ones with the longest lists I have seen in the last year on the GIDS are:
DTW-LAX (I usually fly the 5PM or 7PM and always if clear get one of the last seats at the gate)
DTW-SFO (a tad easier than LAX now that they are flying 757s and 767s for the summer months)
DTW-SEA (only really on the 737s)
DTW-ATL (depends on the day of the week and aircraft)
DTW-SLC (again depends on the aircraft, the noon and 7PM Airbus are very tough)
Others: DTW-TPA, DTW-JFK (on the Intl feeder flights at 3PM and 5PM), DTW-SMF (a319 seasonal has seen some long lists)
Now as another poster has mentioned, TPA is very medallion heavy, and I have seen DTW-TPA flights where first is completely empty and they are selling UG's at the gate and DTW-TPA where the list is 20 deep and first is full already. I have seen Friday night flights where 1 week this happens and the next its the complete opposite.
DTW-LAX (I usually fly the 5PM or 7PM and always if clear get one of the last seats at the gate)
DTW-SFO (a tad easier than LAX now that they are flying 757s and 767s for the summer months)
DTW-SEA (only really on the 737s)
DTW-ATL (depends on the day of the week and aircraft)
DTW-SLC (again depends on the aircraft, the noon and 7PM Airbus are very tough)
Others: DTW-TPA, DTW-JFK (on the Intl feeder flights at 3PM and 5PM), DTW-SMF (a319 seasonal has seen some long lists)
Now as another poster has mentioned, TPA is very medallion heavy, and I have seen DTW-TPA flights where first is completely empty and they are selling UG's at the gate and DTW-TPA where the list is 20 deep and first is full already. I have seen Friday night flights where 1 week this happens and the next its the complete opposite.
Jul 24, 2012, 8:58 am
#19
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 422
Anyone have luck getting upgraded on LAX-ATL or ATL-LAX as PM? I am 0-for-20 (or so) and can't get any luck on this route. I have traveled on different days and different times (Thursday night red eyes, Friday night red eyes, weekday and weekend mornings/afternoons) without success. I'be flown on all sorts of economy fare buckets except Y. Flights through MSP have been much better but can't stand the no-IFE seats.
Jul 24, 2012, 9:02 am
#21
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Gulf Coast/Ventura County/Somewhere in between
Programs: DL GM, Marriott PP, Avis Something or other
Posts: 4,431
Anyone have luck getting upgraded on LAX-ATL or ATL-LAX as PM? I am 0-for-20 (or so) and can't get any luck on this route. I have traveled on different days and different times (Thursday night red eyes, Friday night red eyes, weekday and weekend mornings/afternoons) without success. I'be flown on all sorts of economy fare buckets except Y. Flights through MSP have been much better but can't stand the no-IFE seats.
Jul 24, 2012, 9:25 am
#22
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: TPA
Programs: DL - KM/DM MM, AA - AP, HHonors Diamond, Emerald Exec Elite
Posts: 80
Jul 24, 2012, 10:18 am
#26
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: IAH
Programs: UA 1K, SPG Plat
Posts: 76
BOS-MSP and MSP-BOS are tough. DMs in the back and on Monday mornings I have seen the UG list at ~60-70.
Other ones I have seen are:
HOU-ATL with a 50+ UG list (but I have limited data on that)
PHX-ATL (peak times)
MEM-LAX
SFO-DTW
DTW-BOS - the only time I was upgraded was on a Y fare.
ATL-BOS on Thursday nights
I tend to fly at peak times a lot, so my data may be skewed.
Other ones I have seen are:
HOU-ATL with a 50+ UG list (but I have limited data on that)
PHX-ATL (peak times)
MEM-LAX
SFO-DTW
DTW-BOS - the only time I was upgraded was on a Y fare.
ATL-BOS on Thursday nights
I tend to fly at peak times a lot, so my data may be skewed.
Jul 24, 2012, 10:25 am
#28
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: Delta DM, Delta Reserve, Singapore Silver, Amex Plat, Bonvoy Gold, Hilton Diamond, Starbucks Gold ;)
Posts: 1,785
Most of my travel is on weekdays
DCA-SLC-DCA is tough. I'ver never missed SLC-BWI
From DCA.. ATL is tough as well as UG on the DCA-LAX AS flight.
I think ATL-LAX/SFO/SEA are tough.
SLC-LAX-SLC
FLL-ATL can be tough too at times.
I agree with the A319/A320 flights on any route are tough. I avoid these AC like the plague.
Jul 24, 2012, 10:32 am
#30
Join Date: Jan 2010
Programs: AA Plat 2MM/UA G MM/DL MM DM 2015/BA Silver/Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 3,103
Many times there's a DM or two in back and rarely is there a GM up front except mid-week.