2018 Upgrade Success (Or Lack Thereof)
Dec 28, 2018, 4:02 pm
#481
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Seattle
Programs: DL DM; Hyatt Globalist; etc
Posts: 540
Out of a handful of JFK-SFO-JFK trips as a DM I have been upgraded exactly once, from SFO-JFK on a Friday I believe. Normally I am far from the first on the UG list (I am usually in a cheaper coach fare due to booking comparitavely far out) and there is 0 or 1 seat available anyway.
I would not count on it, especially not during the weekday.
On the other hand, I’ve been wildly successful using RUCs on the route, which has been where almost all of them went this year (3/4, the other on SEA-JFK in a 739).
I would not count on it, especially not during the weekday.
On the other hand, I’ve been wildly successful using RUCs on the route, which has been where almost all of them went this year (3/4, the other on SEA-JFK in a 739).
Dec 28, 2018, 5:14 pm
#482
Join Date: May 2015
Location: NYC/Paris
Programs: DL Diamond
Posts: 111
My best as a Diamond is 9/70. Admittedly haven’t flown that route on a weekend though.
Dec 28, 2018, 6:23 pm
#483
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: JFK / LGA.. EWR is not part of NYC!
Programs: Brand loyalty is for suckers
Posts: 1,047
1/1 upgrading JFK-BUF as FO. 
Dec 28, 2018, 6:50 pm
#484
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
Dec 28, 2018, 6:53 pm
#485
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Programs: Delta DM
Posts: 425
Dec 28, 2018, 8:02 pm
#487
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: PWM/BOS/MHT
Programs: DL Platinum 1MM, HH Diamond, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 252
10/3, 8:30ish a.m. flight from JFK to LAX, per the GA they were clearing all DM, PM and about half of the GM. . I had already cleared my RUC plus I sat behind Kathy Bates on the flight. She was awesome and I was watching the Blindside and told her how good she was in it. One of my more memorable flights to say the least.
Dec 28, 2018, 8:43 pm
#488
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Mostly living in the basement
Programs: Newly minted free agent; MR LT(!)TE, HH SE, BA SECM, DL MM, UA PS, 2V Fanboi, CBP GE
Posts: 5,108
Saturday travel isn't necessarily better, as capacity is typically reduced to match demand.
That said, IME at various times these flights tend to go to the gate with 0 - 6 seats open. (Obviously there are some oddball exceptions where half the cabin is open.) It's impossible to tell these days where the upgrade list line ends between RUC and complimentary, or even if RUCs are processed correctly. As a DM, I expect to sit in the back if not confirmed up front at booking, and am rarely disappointed.
That said, IME at various times these flights tend to go to the gate with 0 - 6 seats open. (Obviously there are some oddball exceptions where half the cabin is open.) It's impossible to tell these days where the upgrade list line ends between RUC and complimentary, or even if RUCs are processed correctly. As a DM, I expect to sit in the back if not confirmed up front at booking, and am rarely disappointed.
Dec 28, 2018, 9:04 pm
#489
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: San Francisco
Programs: DL
Posts: 466
I’ve built tools for trying to calculate RUC/DoD D1 odds — trying to guess which flight will go out empty is too taxing. I’ve had luck with finding good empty flights i.e. the 767-400 that flies SFO-JFK occasionally, although that thing can fill up easily.
Dec 28, 2018, 9:43 pm
#490
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: NYC
Programs: DL DM; Marriott Ambasador Elite
Posts: 626
I am DM and fly JFK-SFO and JFK-LAX frequently. I’m a little under 25% for complimentary upgrades. I never use RUCs as I don’t take them as a choice benefit. For personal travel I just buy D1 on these routes, but can’t come close to justifying going out of pocket for the ~15 business trips I do a year to these cities.
Dec 28, 2018, 10:31 pm
#492
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: PHX
Programs: Delta 2M DM, Southwest A List and CP
Posts: 1,102
I thought only RUCs and DMs were eligible to upgrade on this route? 70 of them on the same flight??
Dec 28, 2018, 10:37 pm
#493
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: DL PM, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 8,414
I've been upgraded three times on JFK-LAX and 2 of 3 was a Saturday and one a Monday holiday (memorial day). The memorial day upgrade was shortly after they introduced what was then BE on this route, I was upgraded as an FO. I think holidays and Saturdays can make a difference.
Dec 29, 2018, 5:06 am
#494
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: IAH
Programs: Delta Platinum & 2MM, Marriott Lifetime TIT, Hertz Pres Club, IHG Gold, *A Gold
Posts: 1,253
Since I started flying Delta about 7-8 years ago, I've received exactly one operational upgrade to D1. That was January 2018 from NRT-PDX and it was both me and my wife on an award ticket. We were already seated in C+.
Its not a very fair data point as 95% of the time, if I'm on a flight with D1, I've already paid for it and am sitting up front anyway.
Its not a very fair data point as 95% of the time, if I'm on a flight with D1, I've already paid for it and am sitting up front anyway.
Dec 29, 2018, 5:40 am
#495
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Nashville -Past DL Plat, FO, WN-CP, various hotel programs
Programs: DL-MM, AA, SW w/companion,HiltonDiamond, Hyatt PLat, IHF Plat, Miles and Points Seeker
Posts: 11,072