2016 Upgrade Success (Or Lack Thereof)
Feb 4, 2016, 11:04 pm
#92
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, MM, NR; HH Diamond, Bonvoy LT Gold, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Diamond, others
Posts: 12,159
DL IME has seemed to up the FCM for 2016. Last three flights had 0, 2, and 0 ppl get the UG at the gate. I also know no one cleared at any of the EUA windows. On two of those flights I heard pax at the gate bragging about buying FC for $100...
This is first time in awhile I was not UG'd on B fares as a DM.
This is first time in awhile I was not UG'd on B fares as a DM.
Picking a random date for a flight from NYC to MSP (because that's what was in my browser), I found the difference between the cheapest coach (non-E) fare and the cheapest B or higher fare was over $600. Losing one of those suddenly makes getting $100 or $50 for FCM not so great for the shareholders.
Feb 6, 2016, 9:20 am
#93
Join Date: May 2015
Location: DCA
Programs: AA EXP, DL FO, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 6,712
02.06
DCA-ATL (V) - 12/21, no upgrade (tons of DMs on Saturday morning DCA flights I guess).
ATL-PDX (V) - RUC cleared shortly before gate.
PDX-MSP (V) - 3/15, cleared at gate
MSP-DCA (V) - Cleared at PM window
DCA-ATL (V) - 12/21, no upgrade (tons of DMs on Saturday morning DCA flights I guess).
ATL-PDX (V) - RUC cleared shortly before gate.
PDX-MSP (V) - 3/15, cleared at gate
MSP-DCA (V) - Cleared at PM window
Last edited by KDCAflyer; Feb 7, 2016 at 2:25 pm
Feb 6, 2016, 6:13 pm
#96
Join Date: May 2015
Location: ATL
Programs: DL DM, GOES
Posts: 711
2/4 ATL-LAX 8:30am 3/35 for 4 UG processed at start of Sky boarding. Luckily I was WAITING for the UG to process. No you board you lose!
2/6 LAX-ATL 5:30am 1/30 for 5. UG at T-16hrs (not positive, but think Tom Cruise was in 1B)
wow... 2/2 UG on ATL-LAX route! I should've stopped in Vegas
2/6 LAX-ATL 5:30am 1/30 for 5. UG at T-16hrs (not positive, but think Tom Cruise was in 1B)
wow... 2/2 UG on ATL-LAX route! I should've stopped in Vegas
Feb 6, 2016, 6:29 pm
#97
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: SEA (the REAL Washington); occasionally in the other Washington (DCA area)
Programs: DL PM 1.57MM; AS MVPG 100K
Posts: 21,371
booked tonight's SEA-JFK-BWI around 4pmEST Thurs (website showed "Not UG Eligible" but PM phone agent verified the system had me as "UG requested"); seat map showed probably 10 of 24 F seats available, and the "UG Confirmed" email arrived about 2 hours later
Feb 7, 2016, 2:00 pm
#98
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Durham, NC (RDU/GSO/CLT)
Programs: AA EXP/MM, DL GM, UA Platinum, HH DIA, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Platinum, Marriott Titanium, Hertz PC
Posts: 33,857
2/6 RDU-CVG CR7 FO on a V-Fare: Cleared at T-40 (Flight had 3 total passengers in F
2/6 CVG-JFK CR9 FO on a V-Fare: 4/4 for 0 Seats
Now 1/4 (25.00%) on the year.
2/6 CVG-JFK CR9 FO on a V-Fare: 4/4 for 0 Seats
Now 1/4 (25.00%) on the year.
Feb 7, 2016, 2:38 pm
#99
Join Date: May 2015
Location: DCA
Programs: AA EXP, DL FO, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 6,712
Saturdays at CVG are great for upgrades in general (very business heavy airport). Flights to NYC are always extremely tough though.
Feb 7, 2016, 8:19 pm
#100
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Durham, NC (RDU/GSO/CLT)
Programs: AA EXP/MM, DL GM, UA Platinum, HH DIA, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Platinum, Marriott Titanium, Hertz PC
Posts: 33,857
From what I could tell the F cabin had a lot of paid Business Class passengers on their way to Europe so I wasn't surprised I missed the CVG-JFK u/g.
Feb 7, 2016, 8:36 pm
#101
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Now in SLC
Programs: DL GM 1MM, MR LT Titanium
Posts: 4,117
6/6 so far but by the skin of my teeth:
Jan. Wed. BOS-LAX (V): last person at gate.
Jan. Sat. LAX-BOS (U): would have been last person at gate, but 738 was upgraded to 752 at the last minute, so almost everyone on the list got upgraded.
Feb. Sat. BOS-ATL (V): 5 days out.
Feb. Sat. ATL-ABQ (V): Had been #4 for 2 seats, so I applied an RUC about to expire and got upgraded at gate.
Feb. Sat. ABQ-ATL (V): 5 days out.
Feb. Sat. ATL-BOS (V): 2 days out.
The pattern I've noticed is that most F tickets, at least on these flights, have been bought less than 2 weeks before the flight. On several of these flights, there were 9-12 open F seats 2 weeks out but the upgrades became tight.
Jan. Wed. BOS-LAX (V): last person at gate.
Jan. Sat. LAX-BOS (U): would have been last person at gate, but 738 was upgraded to 752 at the last minute, so almost everyone on the list got upgraded.
Feb. Sat. BOS-ATL (V): 5 days out.
Feb. Sat. ATL-ABQ (V): Had been #4 for 2 seats, so I applied an RUC about to expire and got upgraded at gate.
Feb. Sat. ABQ-ATL (V): 5 days out.
Feb. Sat. ATL-BOS (V): 2 days out.
The pattern I've noticed is that most F tickets, at least on these flights, have been bought less than 2 weeks before the flight. On several of these flights, there were 9-12 open F seats 2 weeks out but the upgrades became tight.
Feb 17, 2016, 12:31 am
#103
Moderator: Hyatt; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: WAS
Programs: :rolleyes:, DL DM, Mlife Plat, Caesars Diam, Marriott Tit, UA Gold, Hyatt Glob, invol FT beta tester
Posts: 18,928
1/30 ATL-BWI (L) ? for 4 seats at the gate. Had been on SFO-DTW in A and DTW-BWI in L (single-cabin aircraft) but did a SDC; SFO-ATL confirmed in A but they said I'd have to waitlist for the 2nd leg. Got the upgrade, and 150% MQMs which makes sense since it was L-UP but still a pleasant surprise.
2/10 BWI-ATL (V) upgraded at the DM window
2/10 ATL-SFO (V) F cabin was full with a week to go, no chance in hell
I didn't actually fly on 2/10 though, on 2/8 I called with weather expected on 2/9 (but no waiver in place) and they graciously let me change my flights to that afternoon, so:
2/8 BWI-ATL (V) was 2nd for 3 seats
2/8 ATL-SFO (V) 9/60+ for 3 seats
Good news, I successfully RUCed my way into 1st on ATL-SFO, bad news I lost the BWI-ATL upgrade in the mix. Will take that trade though
2/19 SJC-LAS (T) at T-6 the F cabin was still 100% unassigned on the seat map. FCM upgrade price had been $300-$400, LOL (lowest I saw was $120ish at one point). Upgraded at the DM window, after which exactly 1 assigned F seat. One more assigned at GM window. Evidently not many Medallions on the flight.
2/22 LAS-SJC (V) return also upgraded at the window, along with 3 other DM/PM guessing from the seat map.
2/10 BWI-ATL (V) upgraded at the DM window
2/10 ATL-SFO (V) F cabin was full with a week to go, no chance in hell
I didn't actually fly on 2/10 though, on 2/8 I called with weather expected on 2/9 (but no waiver in place) and they graciously let me change my flights to that afternoon, so:
2/8 BWI-ATL (V) was 2nd for 3 seats
2/8 ATL-SFO (V) 9/60+ for 3 seats
Good news, I successfully RUCed my way into 1st on ATL-SFO, bad news I lost the BWI-ATL upgrade in the mix. Will take that trade though
2/19 SJC-LAS (T) at T-6 the F cabin was still 100% unassigned on the seat map. FCM upgrade price had been $300-$400, LOL (lowest I saw was $120ish at one point). Upgraded at the DM window, after which exactly 1 assigned F seat. One more assigned at GM window. Evidently not many Medallions on the flight.
2/22 LAS-SJC (V) return also upgraded at the window, along with 3 other DM/PM guessing from the seat map.
Feb 17, 2016, 4:53 am
#104
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: US-Europe
Programs: DL DM Charter/2.5MM, AA EXP, Marriott AMB, LT Titanium, HH Diamond, Avis PP, National Exec-E
Posts: 529
I am now 26 of 27 (96%) for the year, with very few of the UGs occurring within the window, even when FC is more than 50% FC open up to the point of boarding. Had my first miss of the year this past Monday, ATL-PWM and the FA mentioned to me during the drink service that there were only two DM/MMs on the flight and both of us were in Y.
Feb 17, 2016, 4:58 am
#105
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: West of CLE
Programs: Delta DM/3 MM; Hertz PC; National EE; Amtrak GR; Bonvoy Silver; Via Rail Préférence
Posts: 5,384
I'm doing a one day trip on Saturday 2/20, IAD-JFK-PBI-ATL-IAD.
IAD-JFK is on an EMB-145, so no F class.
Before the 5 day window, there were 7 empties in F JFK-PBI; there are still 7 empties as of this morning (3 days out).
Before the 5 day window, there were 8 empties in F PBI-ATL; there are still 8 empties as of this morning.
Before the 5 day window, there were 7 empties in F ATL-IAD; the Big D didn't upgrade anyone at the window, but upgraded me and 2 others at 2:50 am this morning, so there are 4 F empties left.
I got a cheap W ticket leaving 2/24, back on 2/29, outbound DCA-ATL-LHR; inbound DUB-CDG-JFK-DCA. The domestic segments are booked in full Y class. I got an immediate upgrade JFK-DCA; I have not been upgraded DCA-ATL; there are 9 empties in F, and the first upgrade window happens at 5 pm tomorrow.
IAD-JFK is on an EMB-145, so no F class.
Before the 5 day window, there were 7 empties in F JFK-PBI; there are still 7 empties as of this morning (3 days out).
Before the 5 day window, there were 8 empties in F PBI-ATL; there are still 8 empties as of this morning.
Before the 5 day window, there were 7 empties in F ATL-IAD; the Big D didn't upgrade anyone at the window, but upgraded me and 2 others at 2:50 am this morning, so there are 4 F empties left.
I got a cheap W ticket leaving 2/24, back on 2/29, outbound DCA-ATL-LHR; inbound DUB-CDG-JFK-DCA. The domestic segments are booked in full Y class. I got an immediate upgrade JFK-DCA; I have not been upgraded DCA-ATL; there are 9 empties in F, and the first upgrade window happens at 5 pm tomorrow.