Upgrade tips for overbooked international flight?
Aug 30, 2012, 4:50 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: DTW
Programs: Delta PM, SPG gold, HHgold, Marriott Platinum Mariott Silver, AA, UA
Posts: 71
Upgrade tips for overbooked international flight?
Hi
The DTW-LHR flight tonight is overbooked.
We are 2 gold medallions. How do we get bumped to first class.
Anything we can do to help the process?
Thanks
The DTW-LHR flight tonight is overbooked.
We are 2 gold medallions. How do we get bumped to first class.
Anything we can do to help the process?
Thanks
Aug 30, 2012, 5:06 pm
#2
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Treasure Coast of FL (MCO/MLB/PBI)
Programs: AS MVP, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 844
Here's what you can do:
1) Check-in
2) Sit in the gate area
3) Wait for your name to be called
In all seriousness, the gate agents will go in order of priority for op-ups, starting with DM's, then PM's, then GM's. You can always ask the check-in or gate agent, but that won't help your chances.
1) Check-in
2) Sit in the gate area
3) Wait for your name to be called
In all seriousness, the gate agents will go in order of priority for op-ups, starting with DM's, then PM's, then GM's. You can always ask the check-in or gate agent, but that won't help your chances.
Aug 30, 2012, 5:11 pm
#3
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Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: New York, NY, USA
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Aug 30, 2012, 5:18 pm
#4
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: JFK/LGA/EWR
Posts: 1,296
My fight tomorrow JFK-LHR is J5Y0 although there are 13 empty seats i can switch to. All 3 nonstops are Y0 with a total of 16 available in J. Might be tough to get an op-up. Your flight I believe is J7 and I suspect it will be tough for a GM or 2. Good luck!
Aug 30, 2012, 6:04 pm
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: DTW
Programs: Delta PM, SPG gold, HHgold, Marriott Platinum Mariott Silver, AA, UA
Posts: 71
Sorry, I did mean business class and those seats are great!
Just wanted to make sure there was nothing to do. I know it is all computerized but
theres always hope. At the club right now, do we need to be at the gate ?
Thanks for the info.
Just wanted to make sure there was nothing to do. I know it is all computerized but
theres always hope. At the club right now, do we need to be at the gate ?
Thanks for the info.
Aug 30, 2012, 6:52 pm
#7
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Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,369
Fly more and become a PM or DM for upgrades on DL.
Aug 30, 2012, 8:25 pm
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2008
Location: CHA, MAN;
Programs: Delta DM 1 MM; Hz PC
Posts: 11,169
I fly very regular TATLs. I have 99 lifetime TATLs - 100th will be in October. I have had 6 total. 4 on CO as Gold and 2 on DL as PM. All you can do is hope. I never hope. I just sit in the boarding area and on the rare occasion it happens I am extremely grateful.
Last edited by GRALISTAIR; Aug 31, 2012 at 1:25 pm
Aug 31, 2012, 1:53 am
#10
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,151
Aug 31, 2012, 2:14 am
#11
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Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: LHR
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Posts: 10,187
It really varies. On three ex-LHR flights this year my FO sister has had an OpUp each time, including one of them with my non-status nephew.
You never know...hope it worked out favourably!
You never know...hope it worked out favourably!
Aug 31, 2012, 5:15 pm
#14
Join Date: May 2006
Location: GA
Programs: VA-PLT, QF-GLD, DL-GM, UA-ex1K, AA-exPLT, HH-DM, IHG-PLT, MR-GLD
Posts: 8,242
This is a definite way to help your chances in my experience. Of course I can't predict what would have happened if I didn't volunteer (maybe I'd get the op-up anyway), but twice when I volunteered, I got a free upgrade when they didn't need my seat.
If the GA has your BP and/or name, and you were pleasant and helpful, it does give you an edge. Even if they go properly by status, it can be the tiebreaker. And of course we all know they don't always go properly by status.