2018 Upgrade Success (Or Lack Thereof)
Sep 20, 2018, 11:03 am
#361
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: Tacoma, WA
Programs: Delta Platinum Medallion, Bonvoy Gold, Hyatt Explorist, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 495
Have only been FO for 4 weeks now, so this is my first crack at the upgrade game. Do folks count C+ upgrades in their overall upgrade %? I know some posters are adamant that C+ isn't an "upgrade", but I would certainly consider it as such on one of the 3-5 hour flights that I'm typically on originating from SEA. Anyhow, here goes. Since becoming FO on 8/25, I've flown 8 segments:
- 8/27 - CMH-MSP, MD-90. Was about 35th for FC, only C+ middle seats left so no C+ upgrade requested. Kept my nice exit row seat instead.
- 8/27 - MSP-SEA, 757. Upgraded to C+ about 3 hours before takeoff. This is actually my only C+ upgrade that didn't occur at 24-hour window, probably because I had just obtained FO a day or two prior?
- 9/7 - SEA-MSP, 757. Upgraded to C+ at 24-hour window.
- 9/7 - MSP-MCO, A321. Upgraded to First about an hour before departure. To get my very first FC upgrade on only my 4th segment after obtaining my first "elite" FF status ever - and on a 3.5 hour flight, to boot, was an absolute blast.
- 9/10 - MCO-DTW, 757. Upgraded to C+ at 24-hour window.
- 9/10 - DTW-SEA, 757-300. Upgraded to C+ at 24-hour window. I believe I was something like 12 of 16 for 4 FC seats.
- 9/20 - SEA-DTW, 757-300. 54 of 54 for 6 FC seats (Yes, 54th!!!). Only 3 middle C+ seats remaining, so no C+ requested. Exit row seat, 27D.
- 9/21 - DTW-IAD, CRJ-700. Upgraded to FC shortly after checking in. Only a 1.5 hour flight on a CRJ, but I'll take it!
First Class upgrades: 2/8, 25%
C+ upgrades: 4/8, 50%
Total upgrade %: 75%
Last edited by Daitheflu84; Sep 20, 2018 at 12:33 pm
Sep 20, 2018, 12:31 pm
#362
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: Tacoma, WA
Programs: Delta Platinum Medallion, Bonvoy Gold, Hyatt Explorist, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 495
As a newer frequent flyer, I took at advantage of the fast track to gold program Delta has going on. My first gold flight was this past weekend, round trip to IND. Bumped to C+ on 1197 to IND, then again on 1408 back to ATL, and got bumped to F at the gate. Both K fares.
Sep 24, 2018, 9:33 am
#363
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: Tacoma, WA
Programs: Delta Platinum Medallion, Bonvoy Gold, Hyatt Explorist, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 495
Upgraded to FC today on my IAD-MSP segment on an A319, actually about an hour before the 24-hour window. Subsequently upgraded to C+ on a 757-300 from MSP-SEA, currently 20 of 24 for 2 FC seats.
Does anyone else have experience getting a FC/C+ upgraded BEFORE their respective Medallion window? Just curious.
Does anyone else have experience getting a FC/C+ upgraded BEFORE their respective Medallion window? Just curious.
Sep 24, 2018, 12:31 pm
#364
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 563
I'm on an LAX-HNL flight this Friday. For several days, there have been 14 unsold first class seats (out of 20). So I'm thinking to myself, I am a Platinum Medallion, decent chance of getting upgraded at the T-120 window for once.
I am, however, so wrong. At the window, I do not get upgraded. There are still 14 unsold first class seats. What I DO get, right at the window, is a FCM offer in the app. Delta will graciously let me upgrade to first class for $389. I did not have this FCM offer before my window opened.
Oh Delta, where is your shame?
I am, however, so wrong. At the window, I do not get upgraded. There are still 14 unsold first class seats. What I DO get, right at the window, is a FCM offer in the app. Delta will graciously let me upgrade to first class for $389. I did not have this FCM offer before my window opened.
Oh Delta, where is your shame?
Sep 24, 2018, 3:25 pm
#365
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: Tacoma, WA
Programs: Delta Platinum Medallion, Bonvoy Gold, Hyatt Explorist, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 495
I bet you'll get the upgrade. Couple of my upgrades (I've been FO for 30 days) have been a couple hours inside the window, for whatever reason.
Sep 29, 2018, 8:06 pm
#367
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2000
Location: RDU
Programs: AA LT Gold, DL SM, HY Disc, Marriott LT Gold
Posts: 12,507
Tomorrow morning, ORD-SLC-BUR, Gold no reserve
ORD-SLC (319): Ha!! 8/12 F were sold three weeks ago. I'm currently 15th of 23 on the upgrade list. It's funny, because mid-week AM ORD-SLC is a pretty easy upgrade because nobody else wants to fly the CR9s.
SLC-BUR (CR9): Cleared at the window.
This is my last departure on DL from ORD for the year, the rest of my trips are MDW-ATL-XXX. About half as many upgrades as Gold as I had as Plat, even though i'm usually flying against the elite flow.
ORD-SLC (319): Ha!! 8/12 F were sold three weeks ago. I'm currently 15th of 23 on the upgrade list. It's funny, because mid-week AM ORD-SLC is a pretty easy upgrade because nobody else wants to fly the CR9s.
SLC-BUR (CR9): Cleared at the window.
This is my last departure on DL from ORD for the year, the rest of my trips are MDW-ATL-XXX. About half as many upgrades as Gold as I had as Plat, even though i'm usually flying against the elite flow.
Oct 2, 2018, 4:07 pm
#368
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: MEM
Programs: Starbucks Green Card
Posts: 5,431
SDC'd to a DTW-ATL flight today, at T-4 there were 7 open F and 9 open C+, all of them disappeared before gate control.
Oct 2, 2018, 6:15 pm
#369
Join Date: Feb 2016
Programs: DL DM, SPG Plat 100/LT Gold, Marriott Plat, National Executive Elite
Posts: 2,988
Oct 2, 2018, 8:35 pm
#370
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: MEM
Programs: Starbucks Green Card
Posts: 5,431
Nope. THough I have in the past cleared a DOD upgrade before gate control (when I was #1 on the list).
In this case I was #1 and didn't clear. Not sure if this is an IT glitch or what, it seems unlikely that 7 confirmed F pax AND 9 confirmed W pax SDC'd that late.
In this case I was #1 and didn't clear. Not sure if this is an IT glitch or what, it seems unlikely that 7 confirmed F pax AND 9 confirmed W pax SDC'd that late.
Oct 4, 2018, 7:08 pm
#371
Join Date: Aug 2018
Posts: 46
FO This past weekend with companion:
SEA-LAS: #1 and #2 for 3 FC seats. Cleared 10 min before boarding.
LAS-SEA: 6 seats in FC and Cleared at T-24. 3 people on the standby list cleared into the rest of the FC seats. Plane left with 1 FC open.
Didn't see any seats clear at the 5th or 3rd day mark so it seems like there were no medallions other than me on these flights...
SEA-LAS: #1 and #2 for 3 FC seats. Cleared 10 min before boarding.
LAS-SEA: 6 seats in FC and Cleared at T-24. 3 people on the standby list cleared into the rest of the FC seats. Plane left with 1 FC open.
Didn't see any seats clear at the 5th or 3rd day mark so it seems like there were no medallions other than me on these flights...
Oct 5, 2018, 11:31 am
#372
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: PDX
Programs: Free agent!
Posts: 1,427
FO with/Reserve card:
PDX-SLC, cleared T-24 with two open seats remaining
PDX-SLC, cleared T-24 with two open seats remaining
Oct 10, 2018, 7:23 pm
#373
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
As FO:
1/26: DL 782 RDU-DTW 717-200 X Fare: 19 and 20 out of 28 for F, 2 and 3 of 3 for C+
1/29: DL 4051 JFK-RDU CRJ-900 X Fare: 1 and 2 out of 6 for F. Annoyingly there was an empty seat in F but the F/A refused to move me up because "only the gate agent can"
As GM:
2/03: DL 3623 RDU-LGA CRJ-900 X Fare: 1 and 2 out of 6 for F.
2/10: DL 3623 RDU-LGA CRJ-900 X Fare: Cleared with Companion at T-72.
2/22 DL 5484 RDU-EWR CRJ-700 X Fare: Cleared at T-72
2/25 DL 1606 LAS-ATL A-321 T Fare: #1 0 of 17, C+ at T-72
2/26 DL 2351 ATL-RDU MD-88 T Fare: #38 of 64, 21 of 35 for C+
3/30 DL 2773 RDU-DTW MD-90 T Fare: Cleared at Window
3/30 DL 6201 DTW-YYZ CRJ-900 T Fare: Cleared at Window
3/31 DL 2551 YYZ-ATL 717-200 V Fare: Cleared at Gate
3/31 DL 1177 ATL-RDU MD-88 V Fare: Cleared at Gate
4/04 DL 6228 RDU-DCA CRJ-700 V Fare: Cleared at Window
4/13 DL 6250 RDU-DCA CRJ-700 X Fare: #3 of 11 at the Gate, one person pulled up after boarding.
4/22 DL 1663 MKE-ATL MD-88 X Fare: #9 of 19
4/22 DL 889 ATL-RDU MD-88 X Fare: #9 of 14 at the Gate, one person pulled up after boarding
4/26 DL 5212 RDU-JFK CRJ-900 U Fare: #1 of 4 at the Gate
4/30 DL 6280 BOS-RDU CRJ-900 L Fare: Cleared at T-72
5/19 DL 2012 ORD-ATL 737-700 V Fare: Cleared at T-72
5/19 DL 2034 ATL-RDU 757-200 V Fare: #4 of 8
5/24 DL 2856 MCO-RDU 717-200 X Fare: Cleared at T-72
6/01 DL 4562 RDU-EWR CRJ-900 V Fare: Cleared at T-72
6/03 DL 1238 MDT-ATL 717-200 L Fare: Cleared at the Gate
6/03 DL 889 ATL-RDU 757-200 L Fare: #12 of 19. There were 5 empty F seats and the gate agent came on board and asked the lead flight attendant if she could pull people up. Lead F/A said no
6/05 DL 1564 RDU-ATL MD-88 Q Fare: #12 of 35. Pretty high finish for a GM on this route, guess the Q Fare helped.
6/24 DL 2096 GSO-ATL MD-88 V Fare: Cleared at T-22
6/24 DL 2544 ATL-MEM MD-88 V Fare: #2 of 10
6/25 DL 2106 LIT-ATL 717-200 T Fare: Cleared at T-36
6/25 DL 0540 ATL-GSO MD-88 T Fare: #8 of 14, One Passenger pulled up after boarding
6/30 DL 5227 RIC-LGA CRJ-900 T Fare: Cleared at T-72. Went out with one empty seat.
As PM:
7/15 DL 2540 BOS-RDU 717-200 L Fare: Cleared at T-120. Took VDB
7/16 DL 1977 BOS-RDU 717-200 W Fare: #4 of 9. This was my rebooked VDB flight
7/22 DL 2953 DTW-ATL A-320 X Fare: Cleared at T-96
7/22 DL 2590 ATL-GSO MD-88 X Fare: Cleared at T-96
7/24 DL 6201 RDU-DCA CRJ-700 X Fare: Cleared at T-120 with Companion
8/4 DL 6218 RDU-DTW CRJ-700 T Fare: Cleared at T-120
8/4 DL 3738 DTW-GRR CRJ-900 T Fare: Cleared at T-120
8/22 DL 1248 AUS-ATL A-321 X Fare: Cleared at T-115
8/22 DL 551 ATL-GSO MD-88 X Fare: Cleared at T-115
8/30 DL 2840 MCO-RDU 717-200 X Fare: Cleared at T-120.
8/31 DL 1104 RDU-MSP 717-200 L Fare: #9 and #10 of 23
9/3 DL 5315 JFK-RDU CRJ-900 L Fare: Cleared at T-120 with Companion
9/16 DL 926 LAX-RDU 737-800 T Fare: Cleared at Boarding
10/7 DL 2799 SEA-RDU 737-800 U Fare: Cleared at T-120 - my new longest DL upgrade by mileage
10/10 DL 1564 ATL-RDU MD-88 V Fare: Cleared at T-120 - absolute shocker as I almost never get this route. There were 25+ on the upgrade list too
Currently 63.63% (28/44)
1/26: DL 782 RDU-DTW 717-200 X Fare: 19 and 20 out of 28 for F, 2 and 3 of 3 for C+
1/29: DL 4051 JFK-RDU CRJ-900 X Fare: 1 and 2 out of 6 for F. Annoyingly there was an empty seat in F but the F/A refused to move me up because "only the gate agent can"
As GM:
2/03: DL 3623 RDU-LGA CRJ-900 X Fare: 1 and 2 out of 6 for F.
2/10: DL 3623 RDU-LGA CRJ-900 X Fare: Cleared with Companion at T-72.
2/22 DL 5484 RDU-EWR CRJ-700 X Fare: Cleared at T-72
2/25 DL 1606 LAS-ATL A-321 T Fare: #1 0 of 17, C+ at T-72
2/26 DL 2351 ATL-RDU MD-88 T Fare: #38 of 64, 21 of 35 for C+
3/30 DL 2773 RDU-DTW MD-90 T Fare: Cleared at Window
3/30 DL 6201 DTW-YYZ CRJ-900 T Fare: Cleared at Window
3/31 DL 2551 YYZ-ATL 717-200 V Fare: Cleared at Gate
3/31 DL 1177 ATL-RDU MD-88 V Fare: Cleared at Gate
4/04 DL 6228 RDU-DCA CRJ-700 V Fare: Cleared at Window
4/13 DL 6250 RDU-DCA CRJ-700 X Fare: #3 of 11 at the Gate, one person pulled up after boarding.
4/22 DL 1663 MKE-ATL MD-88 X Fare: #9 of 19
4/22 DL 889 ATL-RDU MD-88 X Fare: #9 of 14 at the Gate, one person pulled up after boarding
4/26 DL 5212 RDU-JFK CRJ-900 U Fare: #1 of 4 at the Gate
4/30 DL 6280 BOS-RDU CRJ-900 L Fare: Cleared at T-72
5/19 DL 2012 ORD-ATL 737-700 V Fare: Cleared at T-72
5/19 DL 2034 ATL-RDU 757-200 V Fare: #4 of 8
5/24 DL 2856 MCO-RDU 717-200 X Fare: Cleared at T-72
6/01 DL 4562 RDU-EWR CRJ-900 V Fare: Cleared at T-72
6/03 DL 1238 MDT-ATL 717-200 L Fare: Cleared at the Gate
6/03 DL 889 ATL-RDU 757-200 L Fare: #12 of 19. There were 5 empty F seats and the gate agent came on board and asked the lead flight attendant if she could pull people up. Lead F/A said no
6/05 DL 1564 RDU-ATL MD-88 Q Fare: #12 of 35. Pretty high finish for a GM on this route, guess the Q Fare helped.
6/24 DL 2096 GSO-ATL MD-88 V Fare: Cleared at T-22
6/24 DL 2544 ATL-MEM MD-88 V Fare: #2 of 10
6/25 DL 2106 LIT-ATL 717-200 T Fare: Cleared at T-36
6/25 DL 0540 ATL-GSO MD-88 T Fare: #8 of 14, One Passenger pulled up after boarding
6/30 DL 5227 RIC-LGA CRJ-900 T Fare: Cleared at T-72. Went out with one empty seat.
As PM:
7/15 DL 2540 BOS-RDU 717-200 L Fare: Cleared at T-120. Took VDB
7/16 DL 1977 BOS-RDU 717-200 W Fare: #4 of 9. This was my rebooked VDB flight
7/22 DL 2953 DTW-ATL A-320 X Fare: Cleared at T-96
7/22 DL 2590 ATL-GSO MD-88 X Fare: Cleared at T-96
7/24 DL 6201 RDU-DCA CRJ-700 X Fare: Cleared at T-120 with Companion
8/4 DL 6218 RDU-DTW CRJ-700 T Fare: Cleared at T-120
8/4 DL 3738 DTW-GRR CRJ-900 T Fare: Cleared at T-120
8/22 DL 1248 AUS-ATL A-321 X Fare: Cleared at T-115
8/22 DL 551 ATL-GSO MD-88 X Fare: Cleared at T-115
8/30 DL 2840 MCO-RDU 717-200 X Fare: Cleared at T-120.
8/31 DL 1104 RDU-MSP 717-200 L Fare: #9 and #10 of 23
9/3 DL 5315 JFK-RDU CRJ-900 L Fare: Cleared at T-120 with Companion
9/16 DL 926 LAX-RDU 737-800 T Fare: Cleared at Boarding
10/7 DL 2799 SEA-RDU 737-800 U Fare: Cleared at T-120 - my new longest DL upgrade by mileage
10/10 DL 1564 ATL-RDU MD-88 V Fare: Cleared at T-120 - absolute shocker as I almost never get this route. There were 25+ on the upgrade list too
Currently 63.63% (28/44)
Oct 12, 2018, 11:56 am
#374
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: SEA
Programs: DL DM
Posts: 292
I have a feeling I somehow got screwed.. flying DL 690 on the 14th from JFK-SEA. Just a few days ago there were 4 F seats available and I had been on the waitlist for a month. I checked just now and that is, I believe, after the 3 day upgrade window (where complimentary DM upgrades occur (?) and there is 1 F seat left and my waitlist has not cleared.
I am DM and was on the waitlist. It's possible, of course, that they sold these seats but it feels a bit strange to me. Is it possible I got shafted somehow?
Another confusing thing about this flight is that I sometimes Delta shows me F seats, other times it shows me D1 seats.
I am DM and was on the waitlist. It's possible, of course, that they sold these seats but it feels a bit strange to me. Is it possible I got shafted somehow?
Another confusing thing about this flight is that I sometimes Delta shows me F seats, other times it shows me D1 seats.
Oct 12, 2018, 12:22 pm
#375
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: SJC/SFO. EWR/JFK
Programs: AS MVP 100K, DL PL
Posts: 542
Manual upgrade
Have next Monday SJC-LAX flight, used to be very easy upgrade, always 5-day window upgrade for PM. However, when it came to the upgrade window this Wednesday, nothing happened, though the first class buy-up offer went away. The system shows first class seat is free though the system returns an error when I tried to do so. Called PM line two times Wednesday, both of them insisted that was a tech glitch and asked me to wait (10 FC, 18E+ available at that time). Called in today and the agent manually upgraded me - though my worry is the second leg LAX-DTW was also affected by this ( I witnessed first class seats dropped from 10 to 3 after DM/PM/GM window opens)