Does Delta Follow it’s Own Upgrade Rules
Aug 31, 2018, 1:47 pm
#61
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: msp
Programs: DL Plat, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 798
I’m still convinced that having a companion drags you to the bottom... traveling with family, on 2 PNR. (One adult with companion, one not, both adults are GM, Delta Amex card holders) Single adult booked in lower fare class but consistently several steps higher on UG list.
Aug 31, 2018, 6:47 pm
#62
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: NYC
Programs: DL DM; Marriott Ambasador Elite
Posts: 626
So this may be purely coincidental, but there is an odd pattern I’ve noticed.
I fly JFK-SFO monthly, always on the 9:30AM outbound on Monday and the 11:35 return on Friday (I fly too often to get up for insanely early flights).
I’ve noticed that in both directions, I’m always either #1 or like #13 on the upgrade list. I’m not exaggerating about this. Literally 100% of the time I’m top of the list or in the low double digits.
I guess there is a world in the tail of some distribution where that happens naturally, but it is so consistent that it is starting to seem a bit odd.
FWIW, I’m a DM with reserve card, I never take RUCs as a choice benefit, my employer requires that I book coach on this route, but I’m usually booking on short notice so typically in a high fare class.
I fly JFK-SFO monthly, always on the 9:30AM outbound on Monday and the 11:35 return on Friday (I fly too often to get up for insanely early flights).
I’ve noticed that in both directions, I’m always either #1 or like #13 on the upgrade list. I’m not exaggerating about this. Literally 100% of the time I’m top of the list or in the low double digits.
I guess there is a world in the tail of some distribution where that happens naturally, but it is so consistent that it is starting to seem a bit odd.
FWIW, I’m a DM with reserve card, I never take RUCs as a choice benefit, my employer requires that I book coach on this route, but I’m usually booking on short notice so typically in a high fare class.
Aug 31, 2018, 7:16 pm
#63
Join Date: Nov 2008
Programs: DL PM, MM; Marriott Plat
Posts: 458
Another data point. A coworker and I (both DM) had to rebook our trips home and it was done by a TA at the "same" time. On the second leg I am above him on the upgrade list (1 and 2) but on the first leg he got upgraded already and I am #1 of 1 for 2 seats. How did he get upgraded for the first flight and I didn't when I am above him on the upgrade list for the next flight?
Sep 1, 2018, 5:52 pm
#65
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Nashville
Programs: DL DM 3 MM AA PLAT HH Lifetime Diamond Marriott Plat AMB lifetime titanium Hertz PC
Posts: 6,187
Just joined in the thread. Yes, I concur and can confirm. I've seen this happen to me on about 90% of my LGA-ATL and ATL-LGA flights. About 121 hrs prior to the upgrade window, I would see J/C/P/F/A/G class availability for sale and look at the seat availability map. Then at 118 hrs prior, I can verify that the seat decrease for sale in J/C/P/F/A/G corresponds to the additional assigned assigned in domestic first class.
What I cannot confirm is if this also happens to married segments, open-jaw trips, stopovers or joined end-on-end ticketed fare rules.
My take: a DM/MM (or DM/2M, DM/3M) is more prone to switch flights and use their same-day-confirmed or stand-by priviledges instead of flying as ticketed. Hence, the system would not provide auto upgrades for DM/MM passengers. On the upside, I'm usually #1 or #2 on the upgrade queue and get upgraded about 50% of the time on this route.
What I cannot confirm is if this also happens to married segments, open-jaw trips, stopovers or joined end-on-end ticketed fare rules.
My take: a DM/MM (or DM/2M, DM/3M) is more prone to switch flights and use their same-day-confirmed or stand-by priviledges instead of flying as ticketed. Hence, the system would not provide auto upgrades for DM/MM passengers. On the upside, I'm usually #1 or #2 on the upgrade queue and get upgraded about 50% of the time on this route.
Sep 1, 2018, 5:53 pm
#66
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Nashville
Programs: DL DM 3 MM AA PLAT HH Lifetime Diamond Marriott Plat AMB lifetime titanium Hertz PC
Posts: 6,187
Sep 2, 2018, 1:59 pm
#67
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: msp
Programs: DL Plat, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 798
Sep 2, 2018, 4:17 pm
#68
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,369
Sep 6, 2018, 10:56 am
#69
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: msp
Programs: DL Plat, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 798
Sep 6, 2018, 11:46 am
#70
Join Date: Feb 2017
Programs: DL DM, UA Gold, Alaska MVP, Bonvoy (lol) Ambassador
Posts: 2,994
Meh.. at the end of the day there is nothing provable about any of this.
I will say that - compared to my experience as a United 1K - Delta's upgrade list seems.. much more inconsistent in terms of when upgrades are processed and what order I show up as.
I am sure it is psychological but anecdotally (and as others report) it does seem like I am more likely to be upgraded (or, more realistically, be #1 for 0) if I had IRROPS on a recent trip. There is one instance that stood out to me - there is a route that I never clear on and I got upgraded 3 days before departure about 12 hours after sitting on a flight with a 3 hour delay due to MX. The plane went out with a 100 person long upgrade list with 0 people clearing. As a DM with a reserve card on M fare I usually barely sniff the top 5 on that route and pretty much never end up being #1/0 so it was very unusual.
I will say that - compared to my experience as a United 1K - Delta's upgrade list seems.. much more inconsistent in terms of when upgrades are processed and what order I show up as.
I am sure it is psychological but anecdotally (and as others report) it does seem like I am more likely to be upgraded (or, more realistically, be #1 for 0) if I had IRROPS on a recent trip. There is one instance that stood out to me - there is a route that I never clear on and I got upgraded 3 days before departure about 12 hours after sitting on a flight with a 3 hour delay due to MX. The plane went out with a 100 person long upgrade list with 0 people clearing. As a DM with a reserve card on M fare I usually barely sniff the top 5 on that route and pretty much never end up being #1/0 so it was very unusual.
Sep 6, 2018, 11:47 am
#71
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,369
FAs can't help with upgrades but GAs can and should, although if they've already processed upgrades for the flight before you ask to be added to the list, they won't undo someone else's upgrade for you.
Sep 6, 2018, 3:11 pm
#72
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: LAX
Programs: DL, AS, Marriott, Hyatt, National
Posts: 862
This matches my experience when it's me +1 on the same PNR. In the case of only one available FC seat, a GA has always asked us if we wanted to split up or sit together.
Sep 10, 2018, 9:18 pm
#73
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Seattle
Programs: Delta Silver Medallion, BA Executive Blue, IHG Platinum Elite,Kimpton.
Posts: 739
I'm a lowly Silver Medallion, booked into comfort plus SEA-LAX with Mrs Openroad who has no status, what are the chances we could both get upgraded.
Sep 11, 2018, 12:56 am
#74
Join Date: Feb 2016
Programs: DL DM, SPG Plat 100/LT Gold, Marriott Plat, National Executive Elite
Posts: 2,988
Very low. There is an entire thread dedicated to upgrade chances and past success; taking the time to research there will give you a better idea