Toughest domestic UG's! The top 10 list!
Jul 24, 2012, 12:42 pm
#46
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Santo Domingo, Dom. Rep. / Washington, DC
Programs: AA PPro/DL PLT, PPass, Marriott / Hilton Gold, JetBlue Mosaic, Hertz Presidents Circle, Amex Plat
Posts: 4,631
Jul 24, 2012, 12:56 pm
#47
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: CT
Programs: DL DM 2MM, MR LTT, Hilton D, Hertz PC. National Emerald Exec, UA Silver(thanks to Marriott)
Posts: 2,026
Jul 24, 2012, 1:10 pm
#48
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: ATL
Programs: Delta GM, Marriott Platinum, Hertz 5*
Posts: 2,530
I'm shocked this hasn't been mentioned yet, but anything to/from ORD (especially ATL, DFW, JFK) is pretty much impossible for PM and below, and a crapshoot at best for DMs on LUT fares.
Jul 24, 2012, 1:11 pm
#49
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Dallas, TX
Programs: DL PM MM, AA Platinum Pro, Marriott Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Gold
Posts: 1,097
Jul 24, 2012, 1:55 pm
#50
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: LHR
Programs: DL DM 2MM, BA Bronze, Various Hotels
Posts: 10,187
Is someone or the OP going to compile this data? Creating a thread like this without some organisation for folks to does not seem as useful in the long term as the thread grows.
Jul 24, 2012, 2:06 pm
#51
Join Date: Mar 2012
Programs: DL FO
Posts: 236
Jul 24, 2012, 2:33 pm
#52
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Now in SLC
Programs: DL GM 1MM, MR LT Titanium
Posts: 4,134
Agree with BOS-MSP and BOS-DTW especially with all the Airbii on the route. I do wish DL would have kept the 757s that NW used to run on these routes.
BOS-ATL is also tough when it's an Airbus (which is way too often) or even an MD-90.
Almost all my missed upgrades are out of BOS to or from those three cities, usually on H/Q/K fares; I almost always get upgraded on my connecting flight.
BOS-ATL is also tough when it's an Airbus (which is way too often) or even an MD-90.
Almost all my missed upgrades are out of BOS to or from those three cities, usually on H/Q/K fares; I almost always get upgraded on my connecting flight.
Jul 24, 2012, 3:08 pm
#53
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: ATL/LAX
Programs: Delta Diamond 2MM, AA EXP
Posts: 705
all this thread tells me is that the DM program is almost totally worthless.
And about that "Rumor" thread, it seems that it is total BS too. I think we are in the third quarter and no spend based program.
AA/UA getting most of my international paid J. Unfortunately being ATL/LAX based I am stuck with DL domestically and just pay for Pup.
Try getting upgraded ATL-LAX on a Sunday afternoon on K+ AMEX reserve, it's like winning the lottery.
And about that "Rumor" thread, it seems that it is total BS too. I think we are in the third quarter and no spend based program.
AA/UA getting most of my international paid J. Unfortunately being ATL/LAX based I am stuck with DL domestically and just pay for Pup.
Try getting upgraded ATL-LAX on a Sunday afternoon on K+ AMEX reserve, it's like winning the lottery.
Jul 24, 2012, 3:42 pm
#54
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Brooklyn
Programs: DL PM, Bonvoy Platinum
Posts: 830
Hmm. I'm 100% between ORD and JFK/LGA, not only as GM for the last couple years but silver before that. And my luck with the west coast seems the opposite of others': I'm 3 for 4 between JFK and LAX but 0 for 6 between JFK and SFO. All of which to say YMMV, hence the difficulty of compiling lists like this.
Jul 24, 2012, 4:01 pm
#55
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: NYC
Programs: Delta DM, AA EXP, Hyatt Diamond, HHoners Gold, SPG Gold, National ExecElite, Hertz PC, Avis First
Posts: 204
YMMV indeed. As a PM, I'm 100% on the JFK/LAX-SFO trans-cons this year (8/8,) and on the two times I've needed to head out west via ATL (once to LAX on the 77L and once to SFO on a 763) I've been upgraded at the window.
Jul 24, 2012, 4:14 pm
#56
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: ATL
Programs: DM, KM,
Posts: 173
Got this UG last Fri afternoon, but missed the ATL-SLC the previous Sunday afternoon. Only UG I've missed this year.
Also, after a drought of ATL-SEA-ATL UGs, I've managed to score the last 4 trips. I normally schedule the early afternoons on both legs--dep on Wednesday and return on Sunday.
Also, after a drought of ATL-SEA-ATL UGs, I've managed to score the last 4 trips. I normally schedule the early afternoons on both legs--dep on Wednesday and return on Sunday.
Jul 24, 2012, 4:22 pm
#57
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: LAX
Programs: DL PM | Marriott Gold | Alaska Gold
Posts: 758
Flying SFO - LAX on a Monday evening in a couple weeks. Currently showing number 19 or 27 on the list via the mobile app. Good thing it is a short flight and I have an aisle seat in the exit row. 
Jul 24, 2012, 4:25 pm
#58
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: City of Angels
Programs: DL Kettle| HH Pot
Posts: 525
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.
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.
As a GM and PM I have never missed a BWI UG to any city. At DCA it's hit or miss depending on the route. About 25% of my flights are BWI, the rest DCA.
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.
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, 4:53 pm
#59
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA | IAD | BWI | BOS | OSL
Programs: AMEX Plat, AA EXP, DL Diamond Medallion, US, B6, SPG Gold,Marriott Gold,Hilton Gold,Starbucks Gold
Posts: 1,388
JFK-LAX would be at the top of my list, but JFK-SFO you do see GM and lower getting upgrades at off-peak times. JFK-LAX trumps ATL-LAX because since Delta moved the 77L to the morning upgrades have been more likely because you do not have as many connections from DC/NYC/BOS to that flight
ATL-DCA especially at peak times forget about it
ATL-DCA especially at peak times forget about it