Are there really this many DMs?
Feb 27, 2017, 3:17 pm
#31
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: ATL
Programs: DL DM, 2MM
Posts: 28
Yes, there really are that many DMs.
Earlier this month, I was 27/55 on the upgrade list ATL - SFO. Granted, I was on a "T" fare and it was Friday afternoon, but the GA verified that there were 26 DMs ahead of me.
Feb 27, 2017, 3:18 pm
#32
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 1,880
Granted this was before the changes to upgrade priority last spring, so it's possible something changed then, but the best evidence I've seen points to 360s not getting higher priority than regular Diamonds: my 360 friend and I (a regular DM) were both traveling on the same flight with Q fares, but I had booked before him and I was ahead of him on the upgrade list.
Feb 27, 2017, 3:39 pm
#33
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Santo Domingo, Dom. Rep. / Washington, DC
Programs: AA PPro/DL PLT, PPass, Marriott / Hilton Gold, JetBlue Mosaic, Hertz Presidents Circle, Amex Plat
Posts: 4,631
This reminds of the DYKWIA passenger a few years ago who got on the plane and started quizzing everyone in First Class looking for 'proof' he was robbed of his first class upgrade. (Cowbell clanging all the time) The woman next to me looked at him and said "I am old and rich and I paid for this seat" LOL! FA finally forced Mr. DYKWIA back to his assigned seat and all the while he chanted "I am Diamond and I can't believe all those passengers outrank me" (At the time I was DM on a full fare ticket, yeah buddy I probably out ranked you LOL!)
Feb 27, 2017, 6:11 pm
#34
Join Date: May 2015
Location: DCA
Programs: AA EXP, DL FO, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 6,712
Must have been the same guy who saw my Silver luggage tag during pre-boarding and was surprised to see that I had a FC BP. Asked me what number I was in the list, I played dumb and told him I was the last for sure. Mr. DM went to the podium and asked the GA (right in front of me) about the status of the upgraded passengers because he was a DM and didn't get an upgrade. Answer from the GA: "Mr. Diamond, Thank you for your business, FC checked-in full and unfortunately we were unable to process the upgrade list."
Feb 27, 2017, 6:22 pm
#35
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
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: 100,417
But has FC BOARDED full? That's what ultimately matters for gate upgrades.
Feb 28, 2017, 8:56 am
#38
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Treasure Coast, FL
Programs: DL Diamond, Marriott LT Plat, HH Diamond, Avis Preferred Plus, National Executive
Posts: 4,578
I'll make DM this year and am based in PBI with transits through ATL weekly.
I usually book within 7 days of travel and am convinced my upgrade percent will be the same as it is as a newly minted platinum where I am usually in the 20's on the upgrade list.
Have taken advantage of some generous FCM offers like this weeks trip ($101 for PBI-ATL-XNA-ATL-PBI). So booking close in has a few advantages I suppose.
I usually book within 7 days of travel and am convinced my upgrade percent will be the same as it is as a newly minted platinum where I am usually in the 20's on the upgrade list.
Have taken advantage of some generous FCM offers like this weeks trip ($101 for PBI-ATL-XNA-ATL-PBI). So booking close in has a few advantages I suppose.
Feb 28, 2017, 11:08 am
#41
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Northern California
Programs: DL DM Charter, 2.9MM; 2019 PM and falling; Kettle everywhere else
Posts: 243
Upgrades between SFO and ATL are my most difficult by far. Generally I am around #10-12 on the upgrade list with my fares in the mid-range.
Feb 28, 2017, 1:38 pm
#42
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2008
Programs: Formaldehyde Medallion DL DieMiles
Posts: 12,646
Feb 28, 2017, 1:40 pm
#43
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: MEM
Programs: Starbucks Green Card
Posts: 5,431
Feb 28, 2017, 1:55 pm
#44
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 45
Echo others. Had pm for about 2 years, flying mco-atl-xxx and back. If I got upgraded 5% of time that was a lot. Date and times didn't matter. I left delta for that reason. Upgrades totally unavailable. Even dm on my routes were hitting under 50% so made decision to leave easy. Just too tough in-out of atl. That said I know golds in New York that hit over 50%.
Feb 28, 2017, 2:09 pm
#45
Join Date: May 2015
Location: DCA
Programs: AA EXP, DL FO, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 6,712
Echo others. Had pm for about 2 years, flying mco-atl-xxx and back. If I got upgraded 5% of time that was a lot. Date and times didn't matter. I left delta for that reason. Upgrades totally unavailable. Even dm on my routes were hitting under 50% so made decision to leave easy. Just too tough in-out of atl. That said I know golds in New York that hit over 50%.