2019 Upgrade Success (Or Lack Thereof)
#226
Moderator: Hyatt; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: WAS
Programs: :rolleyes:, DL DM, Mlife Plat, Caesars Diam, Marriott Tit, UA Gold, Hyatt Glob, invol FT beta tester
Posts: 18,926
Sat 4/20 BWI-ATL DM+GM on single award ticket, upgraded at the window
#227
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: SEA
Programs: Delta
Posts: 28
Premium economy for domestic?
Just got a "Move On Up" email and said that I'm in Premium Economy (it's SU in My trip) for my SEA-MSP leg on a 739 and I was upgraded to Business (OU) for my MSP-SDF leg on a E175. Are they planning to rebrand again?
#228
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: MSP
Programs: DL GM, MR Gold, Hilton Gold, National Exec
Posts: 534
FO:
1/14 - MSP- BIL on a CR9 Atmosphere: C+ at window, 2 of 2 for 2 seats at gate, cleared
1/18 - BIL-MSP on CR9 Atmosphere: C+ at window, 2 of 2 for 4 seats at gate, cleared.
1/25 - MSP-CUN on 739 (award ticket w/companion): C+ at window, 7/8 out of 10 for 3 seats.
1/28 - CUN-MSP on 739: F at window for me +comp!
GM:
5/9 - MSP-SAT on CR9 (X fare w/companion): C+ at window. 1&2 out of 5 for 0 seats, 2 seats disappeared around T-4 hrs.
1/14 - MSP- BIL on a CR9 Atmosphere: C+ at window, 2 of 2 for 2 seats at gate, cleared
1/18 - BIL-MSP on CR9 Atmosphere: C+ at window, 2 of 2 for 4 seats at gate, cleared.
1/25 - MSP-CUN on 739 (award ticket w/companion): C+ at window, 7/8 out of 10 for 3 seats.
1/28 - CUN-MSP on 739: F at window for me +comp!
GM:
5/9 - MSP-SAT on CR9 (X fare w/companion): C+ at window. 1&2 out of 5 for 0 seats, 2 seats disappeared around T-4 hrs.
#229
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: MSP
Programs: DL GM, MR Gold, Hilton Gold, National Exec
Posts: 534
FO:
1/14 - MSP- BIL on a CR9 Atmosphere: C+ at window, 2 of 2 for 2 seats at gate, cleared
1/18 - BIL-MSP on CR9 Atmosphere: C+ at window, 2 of 2 for 4 seats at gate, cleared.
1/25 - MSP-CUN on 739 (award ticket w/companion): C+ at window, 7/8 out of 10 for 3 seats.
1/28 - CUN-MSP on 739: F at window for me +comp!
GM:
5/9 - MSP-SAT on CR9 (X fare w/companion): C+ at window. 1&2 out of 5 for 0 seats, 2 seats disappeared around T-4 hrs.
5/13 - SAT-MSP in CR9 (T fare w/companion): was originally scheduled on the 0615 flight on an A319, and F looked incredibly slim as only 2 F open and C+ only had only middle seats open. However, I had to change my flight to the 1830 departure at ~T-48 and we both cleared immediately. I couldn't believe how few medallions were on the flight. 1 open in F and all 20 C+ were open or given to standbys/nonrevs.
1/14 - MSP- BIL on a CR9 Atmosphere: C+ at window, 2 of 2 for 2 seats at gate, cleared
1/18 - BIL-MSP on CR9 Atmosphere: C+ at window, 2 of 2 for 4 seats at gate, cleared.
1/25 - MSP-CUN on 739 (award ticket w/companion): C+ at window, 7/8 out of 10 for 3 seats.
1/28 - CUN-MSP on 739: F at window for me +comp!
GM:
5/9 - MSP-SAT on CR9 (X fare w/companion): C+ at window. 1&2 out of 5 for 0 seats, 2 seats disappeared around T-4 hrs.
5/13 - SAT-MSP in CR9 (T fare w/companion): was originally scheduled on the 0615 flight on an A319, and F looked incredibly slim as only 2 F open and C+ only had only middle seats open. However, I had to change my flight to the 1830 departure at ~T-48 and we both cleared immediately. I couldn't believe how few medallions were on the flight. 1 open in F and all 20 C+ were open or given to standbys/nonrevs.
#230
Join Date: Mar 2018
Programs: SkyMiles 2018 PM, 2019 PM, 2020 PM, 2021 PM, 2022 PM, 2023 PM...
Posts: 314
PM flights
Jan.
11 ATL-LAX C+ at ticketing Cleared D1 at t-59 with RUC.
14 LAX-ATL C+ at ticketing
25 ATL-LAX C+ at ticketing Cleared D1 at 2:30 with RUC
28 KAX-AUS C+, AUS-ATL C+ (Both at gate after flight change)
GM flights
Feb.
26 ATL-LAX C+ at ticketing RUC failed.
Mar.
4 LAX-ATL C+ at ticketing
26 ATL-YYZ C+ at ticketing UG to FC with miles
April
1 YYZ-CVG C+ at ticketing (No FC) (gave up C+ for weight imbalance)
1 CVG-LAX C+ at ticketing
4 LAX-ATL FC UG w/RUC on plane (3rd on list for 1 seat, other pax had cats)
29 ATL-LAX (RUC)
MAY
3 LAX-ATL C+
8 ATL-CAK C+
10 CAK-ATL C+
13 ATL-LAX Currently 2 and 3 on FC list with RUC, 4 seats available. List 50 long.
Jan.
11 ATL-LAX C+ at ticketing Cleared D1 at t-59 with RUC.
14 LAX-ATL C+ at ticketing
25 ATL-LAX C+ at ticketing Cleared D1 at 2:30 with RUC
28 KAX-AUS C+, AUS-ATL C+ (Both at gate after flight change)
GM flights
Feb.
26 ATL-LAX C+ at ticketing RUC failed.
Mar.
4 LAX-ATL C+ at ticketing
26 ATL-YYZ C+ at ticketing UG to FC with miles
April
1 YYZ-CVG C+ at ticketing (No FC) (gave up C+ for weight imbalance)
1 CVG-LAX C+ at ticketing
4 LAX-ATL FC UG w/RUC on plane (3rd on list for 1 seat, other pax had cats)
29 ATL-LAX (RUC)
MAY
3 LAX-ATL C+
8 ATL-CAK C+
10 CAK-ATL C+
13 ATL-LAX Currently 2 and 3 on FC list with RUC, 4 seats available. List 50 long.
#231
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2000
Location: RDU
Programs: AA LT Gold, DL SM, HY Disc, Marriott LT Gold
Posts: 12,507
Plat no reserve, not particuarly expensive fare classes except for the Thursday night one that won't clear.. A bunch of RJ flights:
Tuesday day trip RDU-BOS-RDU: Cleared at the window
Thursday day trip RDU-DCA-RDU. AM cleared at the window, PM has no chance - 8 of 9 seats sold before the Diamond window even opened.
Saturday morning RDU-ORD: Cleared at the window
Tuesday day trip RDU-BOS-RDU: Cleared at the window
Thursday day trip RDU-DCA-RDU. AM cleared at the window, PM has no chance - 8 of 9 seats sold before the Diamond window even opened.
Saturday morning RDU-ORD: Cleared at the window
#232
Join Date: Feb 2015
Programs: Delta DM
Posts: 552
Can anyone hazard a guess on why I didn't get an upgrade? PM on award light ATL-EWR. Before 5 day window, there were 11 seats. After 5 day window, 8 seats remained. Today is the 3 day window and there's only 5 seats available. Would it be possible for 3 GMs to get upgraded? Maybe they sold the seats, who knows?
#233
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
5/14 DL 6250 DCA-RDU CRJ-700 PM On an H Fare: Cleared at Gate. I was #3 for 0 this morning and only got it as a lot of people didn't show or changed planes.
Now 66.67% (16/24) on the year
#234
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 23,056
Can anyone hazard a guess on why I didn't get an upgrade? PM on award light ATL-EWR. Before 5 day window, there were 11 seats. After 5 day window, 8 seats remained. Today is the 3 day window and there's only 5 seats available. Would it be possible for 3 GMs to get upgraded? Maybe they sold the seats, who knows?
#235
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: NYC
Programs: Delta Platinum, former AA EXP, Hilton Diamond, Uber Diamond, National Executive
Posts: 249
What difference does it make? In practice, upgrades are processed way before the standby list, so even if you can get on the upgrade list, by the time you're confirmed on the flight F is full anyway. Are you suggesting that you should be able to get an upgrade before you're even confirmed for the flight? How would this work logistically?
I think the nuance is that on AA they (often, not always) process standby requests before they clear the UG list. So if you're EP flying standby, you can grab your standby seat and then will be at the top of the UG list, thus "cutting" in front of lower priority folks who had been confirmed. Even if you don't clear, at least you're on the list.
#236
Join Date: Feb 2019
Posts: 3,097
how do they clear standbys before the upgrade list??? Usually when I'm on standby I am only cleared at the last minute if there are no-shows etc. It seems ridiculously convoluted to do things in that order.
#237
Join Date: Feb 2015
Programs: Delta DM
Posts: 552
There could very well have been Diamonds and Plats still above you who were not cleared at the 5 day window because only 3 seats were available in the upgrade bucket at that time. It's quite possible they simply released some more seats to the bucket at the 3-day mark and those Diamond and Plats cleared at that point. Or, they could have be additional FC purchases or purchased upgrades as well.
#238
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 87
And yet I almost missed it!
5/14 DL 6250 DCA-RDU CRJ-700 PM On an H Fare: Cleared at Gate. I was #3 for 0 this morning and only got it as a lot of people didn't show or changed planes.
Now 66.67% (16/24) on the year
5/14 DL 6250 DCA-RDU CRJ-700 PM On an H Fare: Cleared at Gate. I was #3 for 0 this morning and only got it as a lot of people didn't show or changed planes.
Now 66.67% (16/24) on the year
#239
Moderator: Hyatt; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: WAS
Programs: :rolleyes:, DL DM, Mlife Plat, Caesars Diam, Marriott Tit, UA Gold, Hyatt Glob, invol FT beta tester
Posts: 18,926
How does one get cleared at T-120? I never see it then. Other than within an hour of the flight, the latest I have seen it go through was ~6 hours and I think that was only because someone else changed their itinerary and a FC UG became available and I was next in line. T-120 seems like an odd duration. Usually gate upgrades don't take place until the agent gets there and that doesn't happen until about 1hr before flight.
#240
Join Date: Feb 2019
Posts: 3,097
I have gotten several upgrades this year on day of departure but not at the gate, usually pretty close in around 2-3 hours before departure. I get an email notification just like a window upgrade, and I don't appear on the GIDS or app as a I would for a gate upgrade.