2018 Upgrade Success (Or Lack Thereof)
Dec 1, 2018, 4:45 pm
#436
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2000
Location: RDU
Programs: AA LT Gold, DL SM, HY Disc, Marriott LT Gold
Posts: 12,507
December Friday fun... Gold, no reserve, cheap fare class....
11am SAT-ATL (MD90): 29th of 40 for 4
3pm ATL-ORD (MD88): 6th of 13 for 2, but the five row C+ was 1/2 empty so everybody traveling solo had an empty seat next to them and my Woodford-induced nap was just fine.
Only four more segments over the next two weeks to get back to PLAT for 2019.
11am SAT-ATL (MD90): 29th of 40 for 4
3pm ATL-ORD (MD88): 6th of 13 for 2, but the five row C+ was 1/2 empty so everybody traveling solo had an empty seat next to them and my Woodford-induced nap was just fine.
Only four more segments over the next two weeks to get back to PLAT for 2019.
Dec 3, 2018, 1:35 pm
#438
Join Date: Oct 2017
Programs: Delta PM, Hilton Silver, UA Plat
Posts: 261
FO here
SJC-ATL upgraded to First at the window (thankfully so I can get some rest on the red eye)
ATL-MEX 6 out of 8 for 1
I guess I'll just enjoy Comfort+ for that one
So far since becoming FO 3 FC upgrades out of 6 (granted I don't fly difficult routes out of SJC)
SJC-ATL upgraded to First at the window (thankfully so I can get some rest on the red eye)
ATL-MEX 6 out of 8 for 1
I guess I'll just enjoy Comfort+ for that oneSo far since becoming FO 3 FC upgrades out of 6 (granted I don't fly difficult routes out of SJC)
Dec 4, 2018, 7:44 pm
#439
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: 18,947
SJC-LAS (Thurs afternoon) and LAS-SJC (Sun morning) cleared at or before the DM window.
DM+1 using DL Plat AMEX cert (this is far from the best redemption but I didn't have a better use for it and it still paid for the annual fee...)
From the seat map (insert usual caveat) it looks like there were 10 seats open on the outbound (T fare) and 6 seats open on the return (U) before we cleared.
DM+1 using DL Plat AMEX cert (this is far from the best redemption but I didn't have a better use for it and it still paid for the annual fee...)
From the seat map (insert usual caveat) it looks like there were 10 seats open on the outbound (T fare) and 6 seats open on the return (U) before we cleared.
Dec 4, 2018, 8:32 pm
#440
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Toledo, OH
Programs: Delta DM & MM, Hilton DM, Marriott gold, Hyatt Globalist, Alaska 75K, Wyndham Diamond,
Posts: 15,399
Why would you think SJC would be an easy upgrade? It is a low cost hub (Southwest, and to a lesser extent Alaska, dominate the airport) so cost conscious flyers will usually end up on WN or AS meaning that you're left with a plane full of high spending elites. Upgrade list on a Monday AM flight is usually around 80-100 people on a 738/739 with 0 or 1 seats available.
In terms of your proposed RUC strategy - there are reasons I don't do that - one is that I book only a week or two in advance at most which means that there is never any RUC inventory to begin with (either SFO or SJC) - and second that is a dangerous game. The SJC flights I take go to the gate with 0 seats available at least three-quarters of the time - so a SDC would be impossible.
In terms of your proposed RUC strategy - there are reasons I don't do that - one is that I book only a week or two in advance at most which means that there is never any RUC inventory to begin with (either SFO or SJC) - and second that is a dangerous game. The SJC flights I take go to the gate with 0 seats available at least three-quarters of the time - so a SDC would be impossible.
Agree about the SDC, especially if the flight usually has zero seats in F available at t-24.
Dec 5, 2018, 4:11 am
#441
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Lawrence, MA USA
Programs: Delta Gold
Posts: 273
My 2018 flying season is over. As a Gold flying out of Boston, I was 2-for-24 for upgrades to F (both on the same flight - @ 5:30am on a Saturday to MSY). There were even a few trips that I couldn't crack C+. Its tough out there!
Dec 5, 2018, 7:36 am
#442
formerly Goflyer100
Join Date: Jul 2015
Programs: DL Platinum Medallion - Hilton Diamond
Posts: 161
How is DL with giving CPUs on domestic flights compared to UA. Domestic flights with UA are always so crowded and even as a 1K it's difficult to get upgrades because there is no space, especially after the merger with Continental. And UA has also fewer hubs than DL. Would you say that getting an upgrade on DL with Platinum status is easier or is this the same. I'm considering a status match to DL next year.
Dec 5, 2018, 1:12 pm
#443
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: 18,947
How is DL with giving CPUs on domestic flights compared to UA. Domestic flights with UA are always so crowded and even as a 1K it's difficult to get upgrades because there is no space, especially after the merger with Continental. And UA has also fewer hubs than DL. Would you say that getting an upgrade on DL with Platinum status is easier or is this the same. I'm considering a status match to DL next year.
UA has TODs, DL has FCM so if these are heavily trafficked then don't expect much.
Dec 5, 2018, 1:18 pm
#444
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
DCA-JFK, Sunday 12/9 about 1:30 pm award ticket, 9000 miles ow. Confirmed to C+ on booking on 11/4. Confirmed to FC morning of 12/4. From the seat map it looks like they either sold my C+ seat or someone got upgraded into it. C+ is full now.
Dec 5, 2018, 7:01 pm
#445
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
12/4 DL 1137 RDU-ATL A-321 PM on a V Fare: #7 of 48. Slightly better than usual for this route I guess.
Now 58.86 (29/51)
Now 58.86 (29/51)
Dec 5, 2018, 7:45 pm
#446
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: 21,375
when I got to the gate ~610 the GIDS said I was #1 of 18 for 2 seats ... told the GA that I’d appreciate a window if available; she typed for a few seconds and said “Sorry, it’s 1D, is that ok?”
uh, yes, thank you very much!
there’s not quite as much bulkhead legroom in DL’s 16F 738 as there is in AS’s 12F config, but it’s WAY better than the 739 that I was originally going to endure
Dec 8, 2018, 2:14 pm
#447
Join Date: May 2011
Location: NYC (LGA, JFK), CT
Programs: Delta Platinum, American Gold, JetBlue Mosaic 4, Marriott Platinum, Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Diamond,
Posts: 4,897
Currently 2 of 5 for tomorrow’ JFK to YYZ flight. Doubt I will make it. Already upgraded to C+, which is fine for this flight
Dec 8, 2018, 4:41 pm
#448
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: NYC/ EWR/ PHL
Programs: UA Platinum, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum
Posts: 2,212
Dec 13, 2018, 4:14 pm
#449
Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 20
GM:
8/1 DL5977 DFW-LGA cleared to First T-72
8/2 DL3722 LGA-DFW cleared to First T-72
PM:
Monday evening DL5426 PWM to LGA cleared to First (+companion) T-120
Friday evening DL2918 JFK to ATL cleared to First (+companion) T-120
Friday evening ATL to EWR cleared to First at gate
Saturday evening LGA to FLL cleared to First at gate
Thursday morning LGA to GSP cleared to First T-120
Thursday evening ATL to GSP cleared to First T-120
8/1 DL5977 DFW-LGA cleared to First T-72
8/2 DL3722 LGA-DFW cleared to First T-72
PM:
Monday evening DL5426 PWM to LGA cleared to First (+companion) T-120
Friday evening DL2918 JFK to ATL cleared to First (+companion) T-120
Friday evening ATL to EWR cleared to First at gate
Saturday evening LGA to FLL cleared to First at gate
Thursday morning LGA to GSP cleared to First T-120
Thursday evening ATL to GSP cleared to First T-120
Dec 14, 2018, 7:22 am
#450
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
End of the year numbers:
Upgraded to F: 21/30 - 70%
Upgraded to C+: 30/30 - 100%
FCM: 2 segments
Done flying DL for the year, officially dropping to FO next year, so not expecting more than 20% being optimistic.
Upgraded to F: 21/30 - 70%
Upgraded to C+: 30/30 - 100%
FCM: 2 segments
Done flying DL for the year, officially dropping to FO next year, so not expecting more than 20% being optimistic.