Comfort+ vs. First Class Upgrade Priority
#1
Original Poster
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Comfort+ vs. First Class Upgrade Priority
I have noticed over time that the Comfort+ and First Class upgrade lists generally do not seem to align. I would assume that time of request (e.g., when ticketed or when requesting a Comfort+ aisle/window at check-in) would be the tie-breaker, but the delta between the F list and the C+ list is greater than I would expect.
For example, on my flight for tomorrow, here is the upgrade list. I have bolded the names of the people on both the F and the C+ upgrade list. I have only included the first 11 people on F (there are currently 44 checked in and rising).
First Class:
1. Person 1
2. Person 2
3. Person 3
4. Person 4 (Me)
5. Person 5
6. Person 6
7. Person 7
8. Person 8
9. Person 9
10. Person 10
11. Person 11
Comfort+:
1. Person 4 (me)
2. Person 2
3. Person 9
4. Person 10
5. Person 11
6. Person 3
I have always assumed that the C+ upgrade list follows the same priority as the F list. But this doesn't seem to be the case. I can't think of any way that Person 3 can be both simultaneously above me on the F+ list and simultaneously below Person 11 on the F list. This would theoretically require (if I understand the upgrade priority to be correct) that the only difference be that Person 3 ticketed earlier than everyone else but didn't request the C+ upgrade until later, meaning everyone else from #2 on the list to #11 on the list is exactly the same as me:
1. Diamond Medallion
2. Booked on an H fare
3. Delta Reserve Card
4. No MQD waiver
5. Corporate booking
6. Tiebreaker - time of request
I just can't believe that this is the case.
Does anyone know how the C+ priority differs from FC priority and what would drive this difference?
For example, on my flight for tomorrow, here is the upgrade list. I have bolded the names of the people on both the F and the C+ upgrade list. I have only included the first 11 people on F (there are currently 44 checked in and rising).
First Class:
1. Person 1
2. Person 2
3. Person 3
4. Person 4 (Me)
5. Person 5
6. Person 6
7. Person 7
8. Person 8
9. Person 9
10. Person 10
11. Person 11
Comfort+:
1. Person 4 (me)
2. Person 2
3. Person 9
4. Person 10
5. Person 11
6. Person 3
I have always assumed that the C+ upgrade list follows the same priority as the F list. But this doesn't seem to be the case. I can't think of any way that Person 3 can be both simultaneously above me on the F+ list and simultaneously below Person 11 on the F list. This would theoretically require (if I understand the upgrade priority to be correct) that the only difference be that Person 3 ticketed earlier than everyone else but didn't request the C+ upgrade until later, meaning everyone else from #2 on the list to #11 on the list is exactly the same as me:
1. Diamond Medallion
2. Booked on an H fare
3. Delta Reserve Card
4. No MQD waiver
5. Corporate booking
6. Tiebreaker - time of request
I just can't believe that this is the case.
Does anyone know how the C+ priority differs from FC priority and what would drive this difference?
#3
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Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 23,023
There could be people who are waitlisted for certificate/mileage FC upgrades. These would rank them higher than Medallion complementary upgrades. Since instrument upgrades don't apply to C+ upgrades, I would expect them to appear at their normal complementary level for C+. Person 1 could have simply opt-ed out of the C+ upgrade (along with 5-8).
Last edited by xliioper; Mar 18, 2018 at 8:49 am
#4
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Duh, this. I forgot about RUCs. Person 2 and 3 (and, presumably 1) have obviously applied RUCs on lower fare class tickets. This thread can be ignored...
#5
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Person 1 and Persons 5 through 8 could have already been "upgraded" to C+ or (unlikely but possible) they could have purchased C+.
#6
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Location: NYC
Posts: 27,222
Does RUC really make sense though? Don’t those only/primarily go to Plat/Diamonds, who would likely already be in C+? Or if not they’d be high on the C+ list anyway.
#8
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That’s the obvious explanation for why someone is on the FC standby list but not the C+ list. This thread is more concerned with why names on *both* lists (in bold in the OP) would be in different orders.
Does RUC really make sense though? Don’t those only/primarily go to Plat/Diamonds, who would likely already be in C+? Or if not they’d be high on the C+ list anyway.
#9
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#11
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You should've cleared into C+. Were there only middle seats left and the standbys got put in there? Either way, if you're on the C+ upgrade list you should've cleared especially as #1 and should've asked/said something to the gate agent as to why they didn't clear upgrades.
Seen reports of this before as well, where they don't process the C+ list and instead put standbys into there.
Seen reports of this before as well, where they don't process the C+ list and instead put standbys into there.
#12
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You should've cleared into C+. Were there only middle seats left and the standbys got put in there? Either way, if you're on the C+ upgrade list you should've cleared especially as #1 and should've asked/said something to the gate agent as to why they didn't clear upgrades.
Seen reports of this before as well, where they don't process the C+ list and instead put standbys into there.
Seen reports of this before as well, where they don't process the C+ list and instead put standbys into there.
I'm not sure what value there would have been in confronting the gate agent about it. The standbys had already cleared by the time I got to the gate. It is highly unlikely that she would have unseated them and put me in their place.
Even when #1 on the C+ upgrade list, I never expect C+ because the standby list seems to magically take priority. I've complained about this in the past.
An aside, this is the reason I fly AA to PHX and UA to SFO. Doesn't hurt that the AA tickets are $400-500 cheaper too.
#13
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I don't understand the C+ upgrade list. I have been upgraded from main cabin to C+ without having actually been listed on the C+ list. Then, as we found out in DTW in January when we asked to be cleared into C+, the GAs weren't going to clear any upgrades from main cabin to C+, presumably to accommodate their co-workers. They begrudgingly upgraded us.
#14
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I don't understand the C+ upgrade list. I have been upgraded from main cabin to C+ without having actually been listed on the C+ list. Then, as we found out in DTW in January when we asked to be cleared into C+, the GAs weren't going to clear any upgrades from main cabin to C+, presumably to accommodate their co-workers. They begrudgingly upgraded us.
It's frustrating because I feel like people dismiss how important the extra 3" or so is to some people. I'm 6'4" so sitting in Y- causes actual physical discomfort to my knees, especially if the person in front of me tries to recline. It also limits my ability to get work done.
#15
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It's frustrating because I feel like people dismiss how important the extra 3" or so is to some people. I'm 6'4" so sitting in Y- causes actual physical discomfort to my knees, especially if the person in front of me tries to recline. It also limits my ability to get work done.