How Did I Jump To the Head of the First Class Queue?
Feb 5, 2015, 5:34 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Formerly at PIT, now planted near MSP.
Programs: No flights since April 2019 (Medical Issues). Lost all my status.
Posts: 1,483
How Did I Jump To the Head of the First Class Queue?
I'm a lame-duck GM. I'll be reverting to FO soon.
I was booked PIT-DTW-MSP; leaving PIT at 1:30pm, 41 minute layover, arriving MSP at 4:30pm.
Upon arriving at PIT at Noon, I found out that the PIT-DTW leg was delayed 50 minutes, thus I would miss my connection. DL had already rebooked me on a PIT-MSP non-stop, leaving at 5pm, arriving at 6:30pm.
I accepted my fate, had lunch at Friday's, and worked on the laptop.
At 1pm I checked the status of my 5pm flight, and noted that my original 1:30pm flight was now back on schedule. I hurried to the gate and asked to revert back to my original itinerary.
The GA said that it would not be a problem. He upgraded me to First Class on the PIT-DTW leg, but said that I had lost my EC seat on the DTW-MSP leg; would I mind a window seat in the mid-plane (757) exit row? I accepted.
Upon arrival at the gate in DTW, I found that I was #1 on an upgrade list of 60+ people, with 5 empty FC seats..
How did that happen? Does the GA in PIT have a magic button that sends "mildly inconvenienced" GMs to the head of a Medallion-Heavy upgrade list?
I was booked PIT-DTW-MSP; leaving PIT at 1:30pm, 41 minute layover, arriving MSP at 4:30pm.
Upon arriving at PIT at Noon, I found out that the PIT-DTW leg was delayed 50 minutes, thus I would miss my connection. DL had already rebooked me on a PIT-MSP non-stop, leaving at 5pm, arriving at 6:30pm.
I accepted my fate, had lunch at Friday's, and worked on the laptop.
At 1pm I checked the status of my 5pm flight, and noted that my original 1:30pm flight was now back on schedule. I hurried to the gate and asked to revert back to my original itinerary.
The GA said that it would not be a problem. He upgraded me to First Class on the PIT-DTW leg, but said that I had lost my EC seat on the DTW-MSP leg; would I mind a window seat in the mid-plane (757) exit row? I accepted.
Upon arrival at the gate in DTW, I found that I was #1 on an upgrade list of 60+ people, with 5 empty FC seats..
How did that happen? Does the GA in PIT have a magic button that sends "mildly inconvenienced" GMs to the head of a Medallion-Heavy upgrade list?
Feb 5, 2015, 5:54 am
#2
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Washington, DC, Chapel Hill, NC (RDU)
Programs: DL Plat (won't hit DM again) 2MM (2.5), HH Gold, PC Gold, Hyatt Plat
Posts: 5,626
I believe that IRROPs can make magic happen on the upgrade list. Ive experienced it in the past, even when the IRROP doesn't really delay me.
Feb 5, 2015, 7:53 am
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Earth. Residency:HKG formerly:YYZ
Programs: CX, DL, Nexus/GE, APEC
Posts: 10,684
Many times during IRROP the only ticket/seat available will be Y on your alternative flight. Once you are book into that fare you rise to the top.
Feb 5, 2015, 1:10 pm
#9
Join Date: Sep 2011
Programs: Delta DM, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 1,492
This is exactly what happened to me during the storm in NY on Monday. My original X fare flight was cancelled and I got rebooked on one of the few ATL-LGA flights that wasn't cancelled, but on a Y fare. When I got to the gate I saw I was 1/45 on the upgrade list for 1 seat and got it, although they made me wait until the very last second given all the displaced passengers making changes due to IRROPS.
Feb 5, 2015, 2:07 pm
#11
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: MSP
Programs: DL DM, HHonors Diamond
Posts: 610
This is exactly what happened to me during the storm in NY on Monday. My original X fare flight was cancelled and I got rebooked on one of the few ATL-LGA flights that wasn't cancelled, but on a Y fare. When I got to the gate I saw I was 1/45 on the upgrade list for 1 seat and got it, although they made me wait until the very last second given all the displaced passengers making changes due to IRROPS.
Feb 5, 2015, 2:25 pm
#13
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Washington, D.C.
Programs: UA Premier 1K: PlAAtinum; DL SM, MM; Marriott Gold; CO Plat Emeritus; NW Plat Emeritus
Posts: 4,776
Feb 5, 2015, 3:06 pm
#14
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 45
This has happend to me twice in 2015 already
Answer...Not always- i was also rebooked into Y and got an upgrade as an FO- and was excited for the 50% MQM bonus. Alas the mileage was paid based on my original non-Y fare with no bomus
Other time i did get the bonus on the rebook - original fare was T
Answer...Not always- i was also rebooked into Y and got an upgrade as an FO- and was excited for the 50% MQM bonus. Alas the mileage was paid based on my original non-Y fare with no bomus
Other time i did get the bonus on the rebook - original fare was T
Feb 5, 2015, 3:54 pm
#15
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Canada
Programs: AS, DL, UA, Hyatt, SPG
Posts: 2,574