2019 Upgrade Success (Or Lack Thereof)
Apr 17, 2019, 9:38 pm
#196
Join Date: Dec 2018
Programs: Delta DM, Avis PP, Hertz PC
Posts: 7
7/16 so far this year (counting 2 segments using RUC’s).....feeling I did better last year as a GM
PM w/ Reserve
1/19 LAX-ATL- C+
1/19 ATL-BTR- C+
1/22 BTR-ATL- F upgrade couple days prior to flight
1/22 ATL-LAX - back of plane
1/25 LGB-SLC - C+ time of booking
1/28 SLC-LGB - F upgrade at gate (last seat-companion not upgraded to F)
3/8 LAX-DFW - Bought F upgrade w/ 10,900 miles
3/11 DFW-LAX - F upgrade at gate
3/26 ONT-SLC - F upgrade at window
3/26 SLC-ORD - C+ at booking
3/30 ORD- SLC - back of plane (did not want middle C+)
3/30 SLC-LGB - F upgrade at window
3/31 SNA-SLC - C+ at booking
4/3 SLC- SNA - C+ at booking
*4/18 LAX- DTW - C+ at booking (currently #2 of 19 for 1 seat so assuming C+)
4/21 DTW-MSP - F upgrade (RUC applied segment 1/2)
4/21 MSP-SNA - F Upgrade (RUC applied segment 2/2)
PM w/ Reserve
1/19 LAX-ATL- C+
1/19 ATL-BTR- C+
1/22 BTR-ATL- F upgrade couple days prior to flight
1/22 ATL-LAX - back of plane
1/25 LGB-SLC - C+ time of booking
1/28 SLC-LGB - F upgrade at gate (last seat-companion not upgraded to F)
3/8 LAX-DFW - Bought F upgrade w/ 10,900 miles
3/11 DFW-LAX - F upgrade at gate
3/26 ONT-SLC - F upgrade at window
3/26 SLC-ORD - C+ at booking
3/30 ORD- SLC - back of plane (did not want middle C+)
3/30 SLC-LGB - F upgrade at window
3/31 SNA-SLC - C+ at booking
4/3 SLC- SNA - C+ at booking
*4/18 LAX- DTW - C+ at booking (currently #2 of 19 for 1 seat so assuming C+)
4/21 DTW-MSP - F upgrade (RUC applied segment 1/2)
4/21 MSP-SNA - F Upgrade (RUC applied segment 2/2)
Apr 17, 2019, 9:42 pm
#197
Join Date: Dec 2018
Programs: Delta DM, Avis PP, Hertz PC
Posts: 7
As a new PM, question on RUC’s. If I’m clear for shorter segment, but waitlisted for longer, am I top of UG list only trumped by DMs using RUC’s or is there limited availability/seats for waitlisted RUCs and DMs with higher fares and DMs will trump?
Apr 17, 2019, 9:49 pm
#198
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Madison, WI (MSN)
Programs: Delta Platinum, Hilton & Marriott Plastic Gold, Chick-fil-A Signature
Posts: 441
RUC has higher priority than complimentary upgrades.
I generally waitlist a RUC on the long segment and then if that clears call back to have it extended to the short segment as well. Just pointing out that this is possible if you have limited RUCs and don’t want to risk wasting one on a short flight.
I generally waitlist a RUC on the long segment and then if that clears call back to have it extended to the short segment as well. Just pointing out that this is possible if you have limited RUCs and don’t want to risk wasting one on a short flight.
Apr 17, 2019, 11:01 pm
#199
Join Date: Apr 2019
Posts: 3
2019 Flights as GM
Completed (12/46 First)
12/31 PDX-SLC First
12/31 SLC-ORD First
1/8 ORD-SLC No Upgrade (Traveling w/ companion)
1/8 ORD-PDX No Upgrade (Traveling w/ companion)
2/14 PDX-SEA C+
2/14 SEA-ORD First
2/24 ORD-SLC C+ *Plane diverted to MSP tech issue
2/24 MSP-PDX No Upgrade *Changed to flight T-30 before takeoff
2/25 PDX-SEA C+
2/26 SEA-LAS C+
2/28 LAS-SLC C+
2/28 SLC-PDX C+
3/14 PDX-LAX C+
3/14 LAX-MEX First
3/19 MEX-SLC First
3/19 SLC-PDX No Upgrade (C+ not requested)
3/21 PDX-SLC C+
3/21 SLC-PDX C+
3/25 ORD-SEA First
3/25 SEA-PDX First
3/26 PDX-SLC C+
3/26 SLC-IAH C+
4/2 DFW-SLC C+
4/2 SLC-PDX C+
4/23 PDX-SEA No Upgrade
4/23 SEA-ORD No Upgrade
5/4 ORD-SLC C+
5/4 SLC-PDX No Upgrade
5/5 PDX-LAX C+
5/5 LAX-BNA C+
5/9 BNA-ATL (SDC - C+)
5/9 ATL-PDX (SDC - C+)
5/17 PDX-SEA C+
5/17 SEA-ORD No Upgrade
5/26 SBN-MSP C+ on CRJ200
5/26 MSP-PDX F
6/26 PDX-JFK No Upgrade (No C+ request)
6/30 JFK-PDX F - Cleared at GM window
7/12 OGG-SEA No Upgrade (No C+ request)
7/13 SEA-PDX F - Cleared at GM window
7/14 PDX-SEA C+
7/14 SEA-IND C+
7/18 IND-MSP No Upgrade (No C+ request)
7/18 MSP-PDX C+
7/27 PDX-MSP F - Cleared at GM window
7/27 MSP-ORD F - Cleared at GM window
Upcoming
7/29 ORD-SEA
7/29 SEA-PDX
8/23 PDX-SLC
8/23 SLC-ORD
8/26 ORD-SEA
8/26 SEA-PDX
Completed (12/46 First)
12/31 PDX-SLC First
12/31 SLC-ORD First
1/8 ORD-SLC No Upgrade (Traveling w/ companion)
1/8 ORD-PDX No Upgrade (Traveling w/ companion)
2/14 PDX-SEA C+
2/14 SEA-ORD First
2/24 ORD-SLC C+ *Plane diverted to MSP tech issue
2/24 MSP-PDX No Upgrade *Changed to flight T-30 before takeoff
2/25 PDX-SEA C+
2/26 SEA-LAS C+
2/28 LAS-SLC C+
2/28 SLC-PDX C+
3/14 PDX-LAX C+
3/14 LAX-MEX First
3/19 MEX-SLC First
3/19 SLC-PDX No Upgrade (C+ not requested)
3/21 PDX-SLC C+
3/21 SLC-PDX C+
3/25 ORD-SEA First
3/25 SEA-PDX First
3/26 PDX-SLC C+
3/26 SLC-IAH C+
4/2 DFW-SLC C+
4/2 SLC-PDX C+
4/23 PDX-SEA No Upgrade
4/23 SEA-ORD No Upgrade
5/4 ORD-SLC C+
5/4 SLC-PDX No Upgrade
5/5 PDX-LAX C+
5/5 LAX-BNA C+
5/9 BNA-ATL (SDC - C+)
5/9 ATL-PDX (SDC - C+)
5/17 PDX-SEA C+
5/17 SEA-ORD No Upgrade
5/26 SBN-MSP C+ on CRJ200
5/26 MSP-PDX F
6/26 PDX-JFK No Upgrade (No C+ request)
6/30 JFK-PDX F - Cleared at GM window
7/12 OGG-SEA No Upgrade (No C+ request)
7/13 SEA-PDX F - Cleared at GM window
7/14 PDX-SEA C+
7/14 SEA-IND C+
7/18 IND-MSP No Upgrade (No C+ request)
7/18 MSP-PDX C+
7/27 PDX-MSP F - Cleared at GM window
7/27 MSP-ORD F - Cleared at GM window
Upcoming
7/29 ORD-SEA
7/29 SEA-PDX
8/23 PDX-SLC
8/23 SLC-ORD
8/26 ORD-SEA
8/26 SEA-PDX
Last edited by PNWandbeyond; Jul 24, 2019 at 2:41 pm
Apr 18, 2019, 12:24 am
#200
Join Date: Dec 2018
Programs: Delta DM, Avis PP, Hertz PC
Posts: 7
Thanks KPBadger!
Just to be clear, however, will the waitlisted segment (if other leg has cleared) if not cleared still receive the highest priority for any available seats (I.e. only DMs using RUCs or PMs using RUCs with higher fare class would beat me out)
Just to be clear, however, will the waitlisted segment (if other leg has cleared) if not cleared still receive the highest priority for any available seats (I.e. only DMs using RUCs or PMs using RUCs with higher fare class would beat me out)
Apr 18, 2019, 11:40 am
#201
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
Apr 18, 2019, 2:02 pm
#202
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Dallas, TX
Programs: Southwest A-List Preferred, Delta Silver, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold Elite, Avis PP
Posts: 191
4/13 - MCI-SLC-HNL
Was originally supposed to go MCI-MSP-HNL, but there was a delay on the MCI-MSP flight that gave me the option to change to a quicker routing the night before.
MCI-SLC - cleared to C+ right away after rebooking, was #1 of 3 for 3 FC seats, cleared to F at gate
SLC-HNL - was #8 of 18 for 10 FC seats, cleared to F at gate
Not a bad haul for a rebooking.
Was originally supposed to go MCI-MSP-HNL, but there was a delay on the MCI-MSP flight that gave me the option to change to a quicker routing the night before.
MCI-SLC - cleared to C+ right away after rebooking, was #1 of 3 for 3 FC seats, cleared to F at gate
SLC-HNL - was #8 of 18 for 10 FC seats, cleared to F at gate
Not a bad haul for a rebooking.
Apr 24, 2019, 9:20 pm
#203
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: NYC
Programs: DL Platinum, AA Plat Pro, Bonvoy Lifetime Platinum, JetBlue Mosaic 3, Amtrak Select
Posts: 966
LGA-BMH - upgraded at booking (4 days out)
BMA-ATL - #5 for 1 seat
ALT-LGA - upgraded 3 days out(!!!) Had something like 50+ people on the upgrade list.
This was on Tuesday for LGA-BMH and Wednesday for ATL-LGA on a B fare
BMA-ATL - #5 for 1 seat
ALT-LGA - upgraded 3 days out(!!!) Had something like 50+ people on the upgrade list.
This was on Tuesday for LGA-BMH and Wednesday for ATL-LGA on a B fare
Apr 24, 2019, 10:40 pm
#204
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: West of CLE
Programs: Delta DM/3 MM; Hertz PC; National EE; Amtrak GR; Bonvoy Silver; Via Rail Préférence
Posts: 5,384
My wife and I were originally booked DCA-DTW-ORD-RDU-DCA. At T-24, I had a chance for upgrades on both outbound segments; then a weather waiver was declared for the DC area because of storms mid-morning of our flight; I dropped to #11 for 2 seats on DCA-DTW and #8 for 1 seat DTW-ORD. The evening before our flight, I called the PM line and asked to be put on an itinerary where we had a shot at upgrades, DCA-LGA-ORD departing at 6 am and 8:15 am respectively. We got upgraded at the gate for DCA-LGA and were upgraded in the middle of the night for LGA-ORD.
For the return, we got upgraded on the CRJ-700 at the 120 hour window, but ended up #5 and 6 for 0 seats on the RDU-DCA.
So we went 3 for 4; I'm 7 for 14 on cheap coach fare upgrades since being relegated from DM to PM.
For the return, we got upgraded on the CRJ-700 at the 120 hour window, but ended up #5 and 6 for 0 seats on the RDU-DCA.
So we went 3 for 4; I'm 7 for 14 on cheap coach fare upgrades since being relegated from DM to PM.
Apr 25, 2019, 3:27 pm
#205
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: NYC
Programs: DL DM; Marriott Ambasador Elite
Posts: 626
DM, reserve card, hit the waiver early in the year, no RUCs.
I only have 20 MQS this year. Of those, 11 were in paid F or J, and one was on a flight with just a single cabin.
For the remaining flights, my upgrade rate is 3/8. All five flights where I missed the upgrade were between JFK and SFO; I’m only 1/6 on that route so far this year. I’ve been #1 for 0 seats a few times, even without RUCs.
I only have 20 MQS this year. Of those, 11 were in paid F or J, and one was on a flight with just a single cabin.
For the remaining flights, my upgrade rate is 3/8. All five flights where I missed the upgrade were between JFK and SFO; I’m only 1/6 on that route so far this year. I’ve been #1 for 0 seats a few times, even without RUCs.
Apr 27, 2019, 4:03 pm
#206
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2000
Location: RDU
Programs: AA LT Gold, DL SM, HY Disc, Marriott LT Gold
Posts: 12,507
ATL-CRW (717) Wednesday evening flight: I had bought up to F already because it wasn't very expensive and I was never going to get upgraded on the inbound ORD-ATL. But the ATL-CRW went out with one empty F seat.
ATL-ORD (MD88) last flight on Thursday: Upgraded at the window - plat, no reserve, but high fare class (K?). I always land that upgrade on Wed/Fri nights, but it's dicier on Thu/Sun nights and usually doesn't happen until somebody changes to the flight before..
ATL-ORD (MD88) last flight on Thursday: Upgraded at the window - plat, no reserve, but high fare class (K?). I always land that upgrade on Wed/Fri nights, but it's dicier on Thu/Sun nights and usually doesn't happen until somebody changes to the flight before..
Apr 28, 2019, 8:39 pm
#207
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
4/26 DL 6213 RDU-DCA CRJ-700 PM on T Fare: Upgraded at T-120
4/28 DL 6224 DCA-RDU CRJ-700 PM on K Fare: Upgraded at T-120.
Now 65.22% (15/23) on the year
4/28 DL 6224 DCA-RDU CRJ-700 PM on K Fare: Upgraded at T-120.
Now 65.22% (15/23) on the year
Apr 28, 2019, 8:50 pm
#208
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: MCO
Programs: DL PM, UA Silver, Marriott Titanium, Hertz Presidents Circle
Posts: 4,323
Apr 29, 2019, 8:04 pm
#209
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2013
Programs: DL PM, MR Titanium/LTP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 10,130
RDU - LGA, CR9, cleared at T-120
EWR - RDU, CR9, cleared at T-48
RDU - ATL, 757, Upgraded + companion (who is FO but irrelevant) at T-120 -- first advanced upgrade on RDU - ATL in some time
RDU - LGA, E175, cleared at T-120
LGA - RDU, CR9, offered $44 for upgrade but declined (not worth it IMO even at that price vs. pretty wide-open C+), C+ at booking
EWR - RDU, CR9, cleared at T-48
RDU - ATL, 757, Upgraded + companion (who is FO but irrelevant) at T-120 -- first advanced upgrade on RDU - ATL in some time
RDU - LGA, E175, cleared at T-120
LGA - RDU, CR9, offered $44 for upgrade but declined (not worth it IMO even at that price vs. pretty wide-open C+), C+ at booking
Apr 29, 2019, 8:11 pm
#210
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: US-Europe
Programs: DL DM Charter/2.5MM, AA EXP, Marriott AMB, LT Titanium, HH Diamond, Avis PP, National Exec-E
Posts: 529
Had my first miss of the year IAH-ATL on Apr 26, now 33 of 34. It was kind of fun to watch it play out. I was 1 of 38 with 5 seats about 3 hours before the flight. I got to IAH about 90 min before boarding and I was 2 of 38 with 2 seats. 10 minutes prior to boarding the 2 seats vanished and I was 3 with 0 seats. I figure some FCMs grabbed the first 3 and then others used their regionals as the 38 number didn't change... no big deal, as I had C+. Coinidentally my seatmate was also a DM/2MM (Big Red 2MM Tag). Prior to the landing in ATL the Lead FA walked back to C+ and I overheard her thanking all of the Medallions, … nice gesture. She thanked the two GM's in front us and then thanked another GM to my right and then walked past us and thanked a few PMs behind us and then walked back to FC. He asked, "You're a DM right?"... we both laughed.
Last edited by SYRRDU; Apr 29, 2019 at 8:17 pm