Upgrading at the gate
Jan 28, 2015 | 1:21 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2013
Location: YYZ
Posts: 585
Upgrading at the gate
Sorry if dumb question but does Delta ever sell last-minute upgrades at the gate?
I fly on AC and see LMUs all the time where people pay to upgrade right at the gate. Almost 9/10 times it's overpriced and no one buys it but I have seen some decent offers sometimes.
I know DL offers upgrades at check in but what about at the gate?
Or would they rather upgrade 9 people and make no revenue (which is what happened on my ATL-SFO flight 2 days ago)?
I fly on AC and see LMUs all the time where people pay to upgrade right at the gate. Almost 9/10 times it's overpriced and no one buys it but I have seen some decent offers sometimes.
I know DL offers upgrades at check in but what about at the gate?
Or would they rather upgrade 9 people and make no revenue (which is what happened on my ATL-SFO flight 2 days ago)?
Jan 29, 2015 | 7:48 am
#3
Join Date: Sep 2009
Programs: DL DM 2MM; Marriott Titanium
Posts: 226
Was on a DL codeshare/KLM metal int'l flight last week. A FA onboard our 777 went to EC customers with an iPad and started selling upgrades before takeoff. It was actually kind of aggressive. We thought no one would buy because it was around 500 Euros, but one man did. The FA then went into coach trying to sell an upgrade to the now-vacated aisle EC seat! And she found a buyer! Incredible. Never seen that before.
She didn't ask everyone; perhaps just Flying Blue members. It was interesting to watch...
She didn't ask everyone; perhaps just Flying Blue members. It was interesting to watch...
Jan 29, 2015 | 8:00 am
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, MM, NR; HH Diamond, Bonvoy LT Gold, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Diamond, others
Posts: 12,163
Sorry if dumb question but does Delta ever sell last-minute upgrades at the gate?
I fly on AC and see LMUs all the time where people pay to upgrade right at the gate. Almost 9/10 times it's overpriced and no one buys it but I have seen some decent offers sometimes.
I know DL offers upgrades at check in but what about at the gate?
Or would they rather upgrade 9 people and make no revenue (which is what happened on my ATL-SFO flight 2 days ago)?
I fly on AC and see LMUs all the time where people pay to upgrade right at the gate. Almost 9/10 times it's overpriced and no one buys it but I have seen some decent offers sometimes.
I know DL offers upgrades at check in but what about at the gate?
Or would they rather upgrade 9 people and make no revenue (which is what happened on my ATL-SFO flight 2 days ago)?
Jan 29, 2015 | 9:44 am
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2008
Programs: Lifetime Hilton Diamond, Lifetime Marriott Titanium, "Lifetime" DL DM (subject to DL CEO whims)
Posts: 12,801
I have never seen this done starting at the top and descending by fare class, but it is common for them to require a minimum fare class to be eligible (sorry, I don't recall what that fare class was... it's been a long time since I have seen this done).
Jan 29, 2015 | 10:01 am
#6
Join Date: Oct 2007
Programs: Now just a lowly DL PM/1MM. This industry needs some competition. It's just not enjoyable anymore.
Posts: 3,545
I believe K is the minimum fare class for this.
Jan 29, 2015 | 10:14 am
#7
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Pagus Bracbatensis, Kingdom of the Netherlands
Programs: DL SPlat, KLM Bump, Privium Plus, GOES
Posts: 2,076
Was on a DL codeshare/KLM metal int'l flight last week. A FA onboard our 777 went to EC customers with an iPad and started selling upgrades before takeoff. It was actually kind of aggressive. We thought no one would buy because it was around 500 Euros, but one man did. The FA then went into coach trying to sell an upgrade to the now-vacated aisle EC seat! And she found a buyer! Incredible. Never seen that before.
She didn't ask everyone; perhaps just Flying Blue members. It was interesting to watch...
She didn't ask everyone; perhaps just Flying Blue members. It was interesting to watch...
Het level van de Delta Skymiles passagiers is niet zichtbaar op de PIL. Benader deze passagiers dan ook niet actief voor een upgrade naar Economy Comfort. Echter, als een passagier met zijn of haar
lidmaatschapskaart aan kan tonen dat hij/zij de status Platinum of Diamond heeft, mag je deze passagier gratis ‘upgraden’ naar Economy Comfort. Gold-, Silver en Member passagiers moeten wel betalen voor een upgrade naar Economy Comfort.
KL crew will receives commission. Fully expect this to come to DAL also in the upcomming years.
Jan 29, 2015 | 12:50 pm
#9
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Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: MSP
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They didn't do it class by class, but required some minimum fare class, then (when that didn't sell enough) lowered the requirement in 2 or 3 steps to "anybody else in coach".
Jan 29, 2015 | 12:52 pm
#10
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Perhaps they are, as in "We have our standards, but they are economically flexible."
Jan 29, 2015 | 3:07 pm
#11
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Motown
Programs: DL, WN, AA, IHG Diamond, Hertz 5*
Posts: 3,450
At one time, the DL gate software just wouldn't process a gate upgrade unless pax had a K fare or higher. Not sure if that has changed recently.