puck021

My general experience has been that if I’m in F either by a free or purchased upgrade the flight I get protected onto is usually in F as well if available

StayingHomeIsBetter

Perhaps it is because I have never done anything to offend DL management. (ROFL)

I can't explain my success rate, or your failure rate. We are both DMs. I am a Flying Colonel, but all that gets you these days is an infrequent pat on the back, a hearty high-ho, and a hip-hip-hooray by a FA.

Did you try HUCA? I may have been initially turned down once or twice, but when I explain that it is a DL policy to protect DMs I consistently prevail.

If I am on a complementary UG (which is rare these days), I am invariably told that I have to join the UG queue on the protection flight. But, if in FC on a coupon or on a paid FC fare, you should invariably get protected into FC if a seat is available.

Once you have "purchased" the UG, either with a coupon or credit card, your FC ticket is supposed to be, effectively, indistinguishable from a paid FC fare. That is the reason that I have been known to succumb to the FCM shakedown.

RealHJ

Never, as I fundamentally believe that HUACA is not something that the customer should do. Instead of taking more time to try to get a different answer (I feel wrong in doing that), I just take my chances, and it either works out or doesn't.

It was done before without having to ask, just recently (last 2, 3 years) I've been told that "we don't do that anymore" (when I asked to be 'protected' by name - not for 'protection', mind you ) and that "it's impossible to put you on another flight without taking you off the original one first" in some form or another. But again, just I think 3 or 4 experiences, so it's not a lot of data points. But it does seem to me like either a clear policy shift, or lack of training of agents. In other words, typical Delta inconsistency. I really wish Delta would implement some system wide effectively communicated policies & effectively executed training, plus Quality Assurance / testing, to deliver to their customers something closer to a consistent and predictable experience.

The issue is that F/J is - majority of the time - either fully sold out, or oversold (on the routes I am talking about; not talking about domestic recliner F obviously here). So, the only time I was able to get that, I did get a seat request card for the other flight, while still preserving the original one, but I was told it was already oversold in F/J by 2 seats, and that I was on standby after the two other pax. May be that is why DL agents just don't bother to 'protect' pax in F/J, as it's usually sold out or oversold (I mean on lie-flat so-called "Delta One" routes; obviously not on domestic FC that makes little sense to pay extra $$ for; for domestic F recliner seats connection the 'protected' flight has stuck to the PNR even after I didn't take the original flight the one time so was done).

The NWA tags on my bags have gotten me some special treatment once or twice, by staff who were fond of NW and not that happy about the Deltification and the overall service downgrade that came along with that. But that's about all that it's been good for. That, and good memories - now in the more distant past.

StayingHomeIsBetter

True. Alternate Plan B (involving FC) is increasing hard to find, especially when the disruptions involve more than a single flight (such as in WX situations).

But, when it comes to a delay with a particular flight (mine) I have had fairly good success staying in FC. Actually, truth be told, I have been fairly lucky in getting protected and then not needing to take advantage of the protection.

The same scarcity of opportunities applies to SDC, IME.

You made reference to "protection" in another, unspecified context. I did not want to draw any inferences.

Were you talking about "protection" in the context of something you can purchase from a vending machine in the restroom.

Or, "protection" in the context of someone in a black shirt and white tie coming up to you with "Nice seat assignment you have here. Be a shame if something should happen to it..." (I've watch too much Sopranos...)

apodo77

puck021

puck021

That would be onsie not onsite.