2018 Upgrade Success (Or Lack Thereof)
#421
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: NYC/ EWR/ PHL
Programs: UA Platinum, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum
Posts: 2,212
My nemesis route today: DL 1803 the 11:07 AM ATL-RDU flight. As a PM on a U Fare on the MD-88 I was #18 of 46. Ended up with a middle in C+
Currently 59.18% (29/49)
Currently 59.18% (29/49)
#422
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: 4,630
My nemesis route today: DL 1803 the 11:07 AM ATL-RDU flight. As a PM on a U Fare on the MD-88 I was #18 of 46. Ended up with a middle in C+
Currently 59.18% (29/49)
Currently 59.18% (29/49)
Even on AA where it is easier to get upgraded since not everyone likes to burn electronic upgrade certificates, today there was a list of 15+ on a MIA-SDQ flight.
#423
Join Date: Feb 2016
Programs: DL DM, SPG Plat 100/LT Gold, Marriott Plat, National Executive Elite
Posts: 2,988
MCO-ATL cleared at DM window
LAX-MCO had 14 out of 24 F empties at DM window. No one cleared. Finally at T-26 hours, 3 people (including me) cleared.
LAX-MCO had 14 out of 24 F empties at DM window. No one cleared. Finally at T-26 hours, 3 people (including me) cleared.
#424
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: BNA
Programs: DL GM, HH Diamond
Posts: 1,027
Upgraded to C+ at GM window (T-72), then subsequently to F at T-54.
Don't get me wrong, no complaints, just didn't expect it. Normally if I don't get it at the window, then I just don't get it, or maybe at the gate. So I was pleasantly surprised this morning.
#425
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
#426
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2013
Programs: DL PM, MR Titanium/LTP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 10,130
LAS - SEA on 717, #6 of 12 after 2 cleared. C+ cleared at booking and went out with empty seats (including in my row)
SEA - RDU, A319, paid for the upgrade. May have cleared anyway but will never know. Flight went out over half empty with a ton of empty seats in C+ (only 1 F cleared at gate but who knows if any cleared at windows) so not sure it was worth the upgrade (at least it bumped up to C so got the bonus MQMs to add to the 2019 rollover).
SEA - RDU, A319, paid for the upgrade. May have cleared anyway but will never know. Flight went out over half empty with a ton of empty seats in C+ (only 1 F cleared at gate but who knows if any cleared at windows) so not sure it was worth the upgrade (at least it bumped up to C so got the bonus MQMs to add to the 2019 rollover).
#428
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: NYC
Programs: Delta Gold, Marriott Platinum, Former Amtrak Select, Former Hilton Gold
Posts: 422
Flying during thanksgiving week was fun as a SM.
LGA-ATL cleared C+ at the gate
ATL-BOG cleared F at check in
LGA-ATL cleared C+ at the gate
ATL-BOG cleared F at check in
#429
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: MEM
Programs: Starbucks Green Card
Posts: 5,431
Last 4 flights not cleared to first as Diamond. On FLL to ATL I was #10 on upgrade list. They're just selling all the seats. RT to ATL-SFO nobody cleared.
#430
Join Date: Feb 2017
Programs: DL DM, UA Gold, Alaska MVP, Bonvoy (lol) Ambassador
Posts: 2,994
That's a bit of an extreme statement.. and is it demonstrably false. I fly ATL-SFO regularly and it is not uncommon for at least a couple people to clear at the gate. Even I, a lowly non-360 DM, have cleared ATL-SFO before (on a redeye back to ATL). Flights like ATL-SJC are a much harder upgrade than ATL-SFO (for fun I have started to apply RUCs every time I book ATL-SJC - I am 0/7 for RUCs clearing on it).
#431
#432
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
LAX-SEA, flying on a corporate discount L fare purchased thru Concur ... cleared C+ shortly after booking (7 days out), and got the “Enjoy Your Upgraded Seat” email at T-119:35
#433
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: NYC
Programs: DL Platinum, AA Plat Pro, Bonvoy Lifetime Platinum, JetBlue Mosaic 3, Amtrak Select
Posts: 966
#434
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
[QUOTE=ethernal;30485734]That's a bit of an extreme statement.. and is it demonstrably false. I fly ATL-SFO regularly and it is not uncommon for at least a couple people to clear at the gate. Even I, a lowly non-360 DM, have cleared ATL-SFO before (on a redeye back to ATL). Flights like ATL-SJC are a much harder upgrade than ATL-SFO (for fun I have started to apply RUCs every time I book ATL-SJC - I am 0/7 for RUCs clea
I've cleared ATL/SFO before as a non-360 DM on a T fare.and a couple others below me on the upgrade list also cleared.
I would have figured SJC would be an easy upgrade (I didn't even know they had an ATL/SJC route). If you can find inventory for an RUC on ATL/SFO why not just use the RUC on that route then do a SDC into San Jose using the co-terminal DM benefit?
I've cleared ATL/SFO before as a non-360 DM on a T fare.and a couple others below me on the upgrade list also cleared.
I would have figured SJC would be an easy upgrade (I didn't even know they had an ATL/SJC route). If you can find inventory for an RUC on ATL/SFO why not just use the RUC on that route then do a SDC into San Jose using the co-terminal DM benefit?
#435
Join Date: Feb 2017
Programs: DL DM, UA Gold, Alaska MVP, Bonvoy (lol) Ambassador
Posts: 2,994
I've cleared ATL/SFO before as a non-360 DM on a T fare.and a couple others below me on the upgrade list also cleared.
I would have figured SJC would be an easy upgrade (I didn't even know they had an ATL/SJC route). If you can find inventory for an RUC on ATL/SFO why not just use the RUC on that route then do a SDC into San Jose using the co-terminal DM benefit?
I would have figured SJC would be an easy upgrade (I didn't even know they had an ATL/SJC route). If you can find inventory for an RUC on ATL/SFO why not just use the RUC on that route then do a SDC into San Jose using the co-terminal DM benefit?
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.