When does SWU Waitlist clear on JFK<->LAX? What are my odds? What should I have don
Jan 3, 2013, 6:23 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Home Airport: PDX
Programs: Delta Skymiles 1M & DM ; Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 116
When does SWU Waitlist clear on JFK<->LAX? What are my odds? What should I have don
I'd appreciate advice given the situation I'm in. What I'm trying to do is get my BE upgrade confirmed ASAP with an SWU on a K fare for JFK<->LAX in late February 2012. Here's details (some spurious 
:
I'm traveling for work on JFK <-> LAX. My wife is coming along, and we're adding some days for vacation. My wife hasn't flown in 10 years, and has developed a bit of a flying phobia. For her first flight, I wanted to make sure she's in BE, so I booked straight-up using FF miles and she's confirmed in seat 1D. No problems there.
Since my flight is for my job (and I didn't have enough FF miles to book myself an BE award ticket anyway), I decided to book a K fare for the roundtrip (reimbursing my company out of pocket for the ~ $200 difference between the cheaper fares) and use an SWU.
I've not been PM for too long, but I'd heard (from a DL phone agent, actually) that using an SWU on a domestic K fare is an automatic upgrade.
Instead, they've got me upgraded wait-listed. I see in My Trips this box first:
JFK -> LAX: DL NUMBER
BUSINESS (Z) | NOT ASSIGNED
STATUS: WAIT LISTED
followed by this box second:
MEDALLION UPGRADE REQUESTED
JFK -> LAX: DL NUMBER
ECONOMY (K): 18D
I've read in other threads that SWU's need to be coded properly to get first on the list. Is mine coded right? Do I need to research further to tell?
Meanwhile, for now, my wife is sitting alone in BE, and annoyed at me that I'm going to be back in coach.
As it stands, there are still 16 BE seats for sale on JFK->LAX and 15 for LAX->JFK (flights in late February 2012). When do those seats get released? Not until day of the flight?
Apart from buying a BE seat outright, is there anything I can do now to confirm a BE? As a lesson-learned, can you tell me what I should have done?
:I'm traveling for work on JFK <-> LAX. My wife is coming along, and we're adding some days for vacation. My wife hasn't flown in 10 years, and has developed a bit of a flying phobia. For her first flight, I wanted to make sure she's in BE, so I booked straight-up using FF miles and she's confirmed in seat 1D. No problems there.
Since my flight is for my job (and I didn't have enough FF miles to book myself an BE award ticket anyway), I decided to book a K fare for the roundtrip (reimbursing my company out of pocket for the ~ $200 difference between the cheaper fares) and use an SWU.
I've not been PM for too long, but I'd heard (from a DL phone agent, actually) that using an SWU on a domestic K fare is an automatic upgrade.
Instead, they've got me upgraded wait-listed. I see in My Trips this box first:
JFK -> LAX: DL NUMBER
BUSINESS (Z) | NOT ASSIGNED
STATUS: WAIT LISTED
MEDALLION UPGRADE REQUESTED
JFK -> LAX: DL NUMBER
ECONOMY (K): 18D
Meanwhile, for now, my wife is sitting alone in BE, and annoyed at me that I'm going to be back in coach.
As it stands, there are still 16 BE seats for sale on JFK->LAX and 15 for LAX->JFK (flights in late February 2012). When do those seats get released? Not until day of the flight?
Apart from buying a BE seat outright, is there anything I can do now to confirm a BE? As a lesson-learned, can you tell me what I should have done?
Jan 3, 2013, 6:59 pm
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Bye Delta
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Posts: 16,273
Upgrades clear at the time of request only if there is upgrade inventory available. Otherwise, you go on the waitlist. On the premium domestic routes like JFK-LAX and JFK-SFO, upgrade inventory is, for all practical purposes, never released before the gate. The agent should be able to tell you at the time of booking whether or not there is upgrade inventory available for you to clear immediately. A subscription to ExpertFlyer will also give you this information.
So plan to not get the upgrade until 30-45 minutes before departure.
On the day you check in: A properly coded SWU will put you up near the top of the upgrade list. You are above all other passengers waiting for complimentary upgrades, and can only be topped by other medallions who used a SWU or other passengers who paid for BusinessElite but were rebooked in coach (usually due to IROPS). If you check in and see yourself far down on the list, it's worth a call to ensure your SWU was coded properly. The agent should be able to confirm your upgrade priority as "UP2B", which is the priority code for a Platinum Medallion waitlisted for a SWU upgrade. If they say your upgrade priority code is UP3, that's your complimentary upgrade priority and it indicates your SWU was not properly applied. Ask them to fix it.
So plan to not get the upgrade until 30-45 minutes before departure.
On the day you check in: A properly coded SWU will put you up near the top of the upgrade list. You are above all other passengers waiting for complimentary upgrades, and can only be topped by other medallions who used a SWU or other passengers who paid for BusinessElite but were rebooked in coach (usually due to IROPS). If you check in and see yourself far down on the list, it's worth a call to ensure your SWU was coded properly. The agent should be able to confirm your upgrade priority as "UP2B", which is the priority code for a Platinum Medallion waitlisted for a SWU upgrade. If they say your upgrade priority code is UP3, that's your complimentary upgrade priority and it indicates your SWU was not properly applied. Ask them to fix it.
Jan 3, 2013, 7:44 pm
#4
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: LAS
Programs: DL PM, UA PS, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 4,904
It might be best to ask to take yourself off the complimentary medallion upgrade list, and wait list for Z with your SWU. LAX JFK almost never clears outside of 40 minutes to departure, and your SWU will have a higher priority than the medallion upgrade, but the system might not read it correctly if you're on the medallion upgrade list.
Jan 3, 2013, 9:09 pm
#5
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: LAS
Programs: DL DM 1MM, Hertz PC, National EE, Bonvoy TE, GE, CLEAR
Posts: 159
It might be best to ask to take yourself off the complimentary medallion upgrade list, and wait list for Z with your SWU. LAX JFK almost never clears outside of 40 minutes to departure, and your SWU will have a higher priority than the medallion upgrade, but the system might not read it correctly if you're on the medallion upgrade list.
Remove yourself from the complimentary upgrade list. No reason to be on there as SWU has higher priority.
Jan 4, 2013, 12:25 am
#7
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Not necessary, I'd make sure it was coded correctly, more important.
Jan 4, 2013, 10:55 am
#8
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Just to reiterate because I think this is an important thread...
Advance upgrades won't clear on JFK-LAX except for extremely rare circumstances like an equip swap to a 767. You have to wait for the gate upgrade list.
This all hinges on your SWU being properly coded, which as mentioned would mean you have an UP2B priority on the airport list. If you have UP3 then you are being sorted by your normal plat status and not getting higher because of the SWU. You should be able to tell if you are #1 or close to that on the list. Be sure to call/ask agents what your upgrade priority is and if it isn't UP2B then get it fixed. The GA will likely not know how to fix it or that an SWU should give you higher priority.
You don't have to remove yourself from the comp upgrade... that has no impact provided that the SWU is coded properly.
Advance upgrades won't clear on JFK-LAX except for extremely rare circumstances like an equip swap to a 767. You have to wait for the gate upgrade list.
This all hinges on your SWU being properly coded, which as mentioned would mean you have an UP2B priority on the airport list. If you have UP3 then you are being sorted by your normal plat status and not getting higher because of the SWU. You should be able to tell if you are #1 or close to that on the list. Be sure to call/ask agents what your upgrade priority is and if it isn't UP2B then get it fixed. The GA will likely not know how to fix it or that an SWU should give you higher priority.
You don't have to remove yourself from the comp upgrade... that has no impact provided that the SWU is coded properly.
Jan 4, 2013, 12:03 pm
#11
Suspended
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Posts: 7,982
Upgrades clear at the time of request only if there is upgrade inventory available. Otherwise, you go on the waitlist. On the premium domestic routes like JFK-LAX and JFK-SFO, upgrade inventory is, for all practical purposes, never released before the gate. The agent should be able to tell you at the time of booking whether or not there is upgrade inventory available for you to clear immediately. A subscription to ExpertFlyer will also give you this information.
So plan to not get the upgrade until 30-45 minutes before departure.
On the day you check in: A properly coded SWU will put you up near the top of the upgrade list. You are above all other passengers waiting for complimentary upgrades, and can only be topped by other medallions who used a SWU or other passengers who paid for BusinessElite but were rebooked in coach (usually due to IROPS). If you check in and see yourself far down on the list, it's worth a call to ensure your SWU was coded properly. The agent should be able to confirm your upgrade priority as "UP2B", which is the priority code for a Platinum Medallion waitlisted for a SWU upgrade. If they say your upgrade priority code is UP3, that's your complimentary upgrade priority and it indicates your SWU was not properly applied. Ask them to fix it.
So plan to not get the upgrade until 30-45 minutes before departure.
On the day you check in: A properly coded SWU will put you up near the top of the upgrade list. You are above all other passengers waiting for complimentary upgrades, and can only be topped by other medallions who used a SWU or other passengers who paid for BusinessElite but were rebooked in coach (usually due to IROPS). If you check in and see yourself far down on the list, it's worth a call to ensure your SWU was coded properly. The agent should be able to confirm your upgrade priority as "UP2B", which is the priority code for a Platinum Medallion waitlisted for a SWU upgrade. If they say your upgrade priority code is UP3, that's your complimentary upgrade priority and it indicates your SWU was not properly applied. Ask them to fix it.
OP, call to make sure your SWU is properly coded. Also unfortunately the DL phone agent gave you incorrect information on the automatic/guaranteed upgrade. This happens more than it should.
Jan 4, 2013, 12:30 pm
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Home Airport: PDX
Programs: Delta Skymiles 1M & DM ; Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 116
How would ExpertFlyer help ensure upgrade?
No, I don't. I was looking at it last night, and it seemed to me all that it could give me was piece of mind to see when Z opened up. It can't actually make me any higher on the upgrade list? How would I use ExpertFlyer to make more sure my upgrade is processed?
Jan 4, 2013, 12:37 pm
#13
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: ORF
Programs: Delta Diamond Charter Member/1.8MM, IHG Spire Elite
Posts: 876
I'd appreciate advice given the situation I'm in. What I'm trying to do is get my BE upgrade confirmed ASAP with an SWU on a K fare for JFK<->LAX in late February 2012. Here's details (some spurious :
I'm traveling for work on JFK <-> LAX. My wife is coming along, and we're adding some days for vacation. My wife hasn't flown in 10 years, and has developed a bit of a flying phobia. For her first flight, I wanted to make sure she's in BE, so I booked straight-up using FF miles and she's confirmed in seat 1D. No problems there.
Since my flight is for my job (and I didn't have enough FF miles to book myself an BE award ticket anyway), I decided to book a K fare for the roundtrip (reimbursing my company out of pocket for the ~ $200 difference between the cheaper fares) and use an SWU.
I've not been PM for too long, but I'd heard (from a DL phone agent, actually) that using an SWU on a domestic K fare is an automatic upgrade.
Instead, they've got me upgraded wait-listed. I see in My Trips this box first:
JFK -> LAX: DL NUMBER
BUSINESS (Z) | NOT ASSIGNED
STATUS: WAIT LISTED
followed by this box second:
MEDALLION UPGRADE REQUESTED
JFK -> LAX: DL NUMBER
ECONOMY (K): 18D
I've read in other threads that SWU's need to be coded properly to get first on the list. Is mine coded right? Do I need to research further to tell?
Meanwhile, for now, my wife is sitting alone in BE, and annoyed at me that I'm going to be back in coach.
As it stands, there are still 16 BE seats for sale on JFK->LAX and 15 for LAX->JFK (flights in late February 2012). When do those seats get released? Not until day of the flight?
Apart from buying a BE seat outright, is there anything I can do now to confirm a BE? As a lesson-learned, can you tell me what I should have done?
:I'm traveling for work on JFK <-> LAX. My wife is coming along, and we're adding some days for vacation. My wife hasn't flown in 10 years, and has developed a bit of a flying phobia. For her first flight, I wanted to make sure she's in BE, so I booked straight-up using FF miles and she's confirmed in seat 1D. No problems there.
Since my flight is for my job (and I didn't have enough FF miles to book myself an BE award ticket anyway), I decided to book a K fare for the roundtrip (reimbursing my company out of pocket for the ~ $200 difference between the cheaper fares) and use an SWU.
I've not been PM for too long, but I'd heard (from a DL phone agent, actually) that using an SWU on a domestic K fare is an automatic upgrade.
Instead, they've got me upgraded wait-listed. I see in My Trips this box first:
JFK -> LAX: DL NUMBER
BUSINESS (Z) | NOT ASSIGNED
STATUS: WAIT LISTED
MEDALLION UPGRADE REQUESTED
JFK -> LAX: DL NUMBER
ECONOMY (K): 18D
Meanwhile, for now, my wife is sitting alone in BE, and annoyed at me that I'm going to be back in coach.
As it stands, there are still 16 BE seats for sale on JFK->LAX and 15 for LAX->JFK (flights in late February 2012). When do those seats get released? Not until day of the flight?
Apart from buying a BE seat outright, is there anything I can do now to confirm a BE? As a lesson-learned, can you tell me what I should have done?
Jan 4, 2013, 12:47 pm
#15
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 5,679
Most folks would advise against the waitlist in the first place when you're spending your money. So EF would help you search for Z inventory at time of booking. It would not help in your current situation.