2018 Upgrade Success (Or Lack Thereof)
#451
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
Another week another failure:
- 12/12 DL 1666 RDU-ATL A-321: PM on a V Fare: #11 of 45
Now 55.76 (29/52). I'm on a four flight losing streak, all between RDU and ATL
- 12/12 DL 1666 RDU-ATL A-321: PM on a V Fare: #11 of 45
Now 55.76 (29/52). I'm on a four flight losing streak, all between RDU and ATL
#452
Join Date: May 2015
Location: BWI
Programs: DL PM, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 165
BWI-SEA last week; out via DTW and back via MSP. I thought the 757-300s in and out of SEA would be an easy upgrade to F, but I did not come close in either direction. Was I in a dream world to begin with?
#453
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Back in Reds Country (DAY/CVG). Previously: SEA & SAT.
Programs: DL PM 1MM, AA PLAT, UA Silver, Marriott Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 10,290
I never once cleared on SEA-DTW/DTW-SEA as a DM or PM in three years of regularly flying the route when I lived in SEA. Closest I came was I did clear an RUC in advance one-way. If I didn't buy up on SEA-DTW/DTW-SEA, I was riding in Y/C+.
#454
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: MIA/FLL
Programs: Delta GM, National EE, IHG Plat, HH Diamond, SPG/Marriott Gold
Posts: 6
I just made GM, but as FO I was upgraded to F on 3 flights
1. MIA-JFK, Wednesday AM, cleared at window
2. MSP-JFK, day after Thanksgiving, cleared at gate
3. JFK-MIA, day after Thanksgiving, cleared after boarding
1. MIA-JFK, Wednesday AM, cleared at window
2. MSP-JFK, day after Thanksgiving, cleared at gate
3. JFK-MIA, day after Thanksgiving, cleared after boarding
#455
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: NYC
Programs: DL DM; Marriott Ambasador Elite
Posts: 624
Awful rate as a DM out of LGA/JFK this year. Out of 100 flights, I bought F/J on 20 (18 of those own money FWIW), and bought Y on 8 that were not upgrade eligible. On the remaining 72, I cleared into first on 29. On several of the remaining 43, I didnt even get C+. On top of that, only one of four GUCs cleared. I get that its unpopular, but Im kind of looking forward to seeing how effective Deltas efforts to thin the herd are.
#456
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: CT
Programs: DL DM 2MM, MR LTT, Hilton D, Hertz PC. National Emerald Exec, UA Silver(thanks to Marriott)
Posts: 2,026
Awful rate as a DM out of LGA/JFK this year. Out of 100 flights, I bought F/J on 20 (18 of those own money FWIW), and bought Y on 8 that were not upgrade eligible. On the remaining 72, I cleared into first on 29. On several of the remaining 43, I didnt even get C+. On top of that, only one of four GUCs cleared. I get that its unpopular, but Im kind of looking forward to seeing how effective Deltas efforts to thin the herd are.
#457
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Kansas City, USA
Programs: AA Gold, Delta Platinum, Marriott Titanium, IHG Plat, AVIS Preferred, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,066
My first domestic flights of a Platinum challenge were 4/4 for an upgrade.
12/7-MCI-MSP - cleared at window
12/7 MSP-MDW - cleared at window
12/9 MDW-MSP - cleared at 72 hours
12/9 MSP-MDW - cleared at window
I was upgraded on tomorrow's MCI-ATL but ended up buying up on ATL-ORD.
12/7-MCI-MSP - cleared at window
12/7 MSP-MDW - cleared at window
12/9 MDW-MSP - cleared at 72 hours
12/9 MSP-MDW - cleared at window
I was upgraded on tomorrow's MCI-ATL but ended up buying up on ATL-ORD.
#458
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
Amazing I cleared SEA-DTW on a Friday as a FO back in March, 2015. It was a crazy fluke of an upgrade and one of my best as a FO.
#459
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Tahoe
Programs: Delta DM for now
Posts: 474
Finished my DL flying for the year last week. 72 upgrade eligible segments total and finished with:
10/47 as a GM 21%
13/25 as a PM 52%, including one successful RUC
23/72 Total 32%
10/47 as a GM 21%
13/25 as a PM 52%, including one successful RUC
23/72 Total 32%
#460
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Back in Reds Country (DAY/CVG). Previously: SEA & SAT.
Programs: DL PM 1MM, AA PLAT, UA Silver, Marriott Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 10,290
One route I saw a reversal in trends on was SEA-SLC/SLC-SEA. In 2015/2016, I rarely cleared on that route, even as a PM (unless I had the "Y" fare). But in late 2016, I began doing very well on that route and even continued doing well this year despite dropping back to PM, clearing most of the time. I guess as DL expanded in SEA and began offering more nonstops from SEA, fewer Medallions going to/from SEA were needing to route via SLC but I cannot actually say why I saw better trends.
#461
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Arlington, VA
Programs: DL DM, 1.5 MM; AS MVP Gold 100K; HHonors Diamond; AMEX Platinum
Posts: 487
Finished up my flying year on 12/13. (Will restart on 1/1, so I'm not wasting any time.)
Whole year 37 upgrades to F out of 65 eligible flights or 57%. (Started the year as GM, and moved up to PM)
As a PM, had 31 upgrades to F out of 47 eligible flights or 66%.
Generally not bad. I think it helps that I'm based in DC, and most of my flying is leisure trips, so I'm not always flying at the most difficult times. Should hit DM early in 2019, so I may get even better results for next year.
Whole year 37 upgrades to F out of 65 eligible flights or 57%. (Started the year as GM, and moved up to PM)
As a PM, had 31 upgrades to F out of 47 eligible flights or 66%.
Generally not bad. I think it helps that I'm based in DC, and most of my flying is leisure trips, so I'm not always flying at the most difficult times. Should hit DM early in 2019, so I may get even better results for next year.
#462
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
12/20 DL 6263 DCA-RDU CR7 PM on an H Fare: Upgraded at T-120
Final Numbers for 2018:
As FO: 0/2 (0.00%)
As GM: 15/27 (55.56%)
As PM: 15/24 (62.50%)
Overall: 30/53 (56.60%)
Final Numbers for 2018:
As FO: 0/2 (0.00%)
As GM: 15/27 (55.56%)
As PM: 15/24 (62.50%)
Overall: 30/53 (56.60%)
#463
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: PIT/WAS
Programs: Delta GM
Posts: 256
As FO:
F upgrades
1/1 DTW-GRR
7/4 BOS-DTW
C+ upgrades
3/4 MDW-MSP
3/4 MSP-JFK
3/12 MSP-MDW
7/1 DTW-BOS
7/4 DTW-AZO
9/29 MSP-DEN
10/2 DEN-DTW
Upgrade requested, didn't clear
7/1 AZO-DTW
Not upgrade eligible/not requested
3/4 JFK-DUB (exit row)
3/12 DUB-AMS (KLM operated), AMS-MSP (exit row)
4/5 outbound, 4/8 return AZO-DTW-MSP-AZO (E fare)
9/29 LAN-MSP (CR2)
10/2 DTW-LAN (CR2)
10/5 outbound, 10/7 return SBN-MSP-SBN (E fare)
Segments remaining for the year:
12/29 AZO-MSP-SLC-SFO
F upgrades
1/1 DTW-GRR
7/4 BOS-DTW
C+ upgrades
3/4 MDW-MSP
3/4 MSP-JFK
3/12 MSP-MDW
7/1 DTW-BOS
7/4 DTW-AZO
9/29 MSP-DEN
10/2 DEN-DTW
Upgrade requested, didn't clear
7/1 AZO-DTW
Not upgrade eligible/not requested
3/4 JFK-DUB (exit row)
3/12 DUB-AMS (KLM operated), AMS-MSP (exit row)
4/5 outbound, 4/8 return AZO-DTW-MSP-AZO (E fare)
9/29 LAN-MSP (CR2)
10/2 DTW-LAN (CR2)
10/5 outbound, 10/7 return SBN-MSP-SBN (E fare)
Segments remaining for the year:
12/29 AZO-MSP-SLC-SFO
Last edited by JoelThomas; Dec 20, 2018 at 1:20 pm Reason: corrected dates
#464
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: West of CLE
Programs: Delta DM/3 MM; Hertz PC; National EE; Amtrak GR; Bonvoy Silver; Via Rail Prfrence
Posts: 5,354
#465
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: West of CLE
Programs: Delta DM/3 MM; Hertz PC; National EE; Amtrak GR; Bonvoy Silver; Via Rail Prfrence
Posts: 5,354
I'm through flying for 2018. I bought quite a few FCM fares this year; I found that often it was only $125-200 above cheap coach to get such fares on the return to the DC area from a western destination. I also used a number of RUCs and GUCs to get up front also. I would say that I was probably 55-60% for the year on those flights that I took a chance on.
I did not sit in regular Y the entire year; I never did worse than C+. The proof of this is that I still have 8 unused free drink e-chits in my Delta wallet.
While I had a number of flights where I got the last upgrade seat, the best upgrade of the year was ATL-SFO two Fridays ago, where I was #3 for 1 F seat 40 minutes before departure; when I got to the gate the GIDS was showing that they had given my exit row seat away to someone else, and then the next flash showed that I was sitting in 1A. There were two no shows for F.
I did not sit in regular Y the entire year; I never did worse than C+. The proof of this is that I still have 8 unused free drink e-chits in my Delta wallet.
While I had a number of flights where I got the last upgrade seat, the best upgrade of the year was ATL-SFO two Fridays ago, where I was #3 for 1 F seat 40 minutes before departure; when I got to the gate the GIDS was showing that they had given my exit row seat away to someone else, and then the next flash showed that I was sitting in 1A. There were two no shows for F.