Giving up upgrades for Lent
Mar 19, 2019, 12:17 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: New York, Ohio, & Fayetteville NC
Programs: Delta Platinum, SW (former) A-list
Posts: 71
Giving up upgrades for Lent
A few years ago I started giving up all my upgrades (which are usually first class, since I travel weekly between my job in Ohio, my husband in New York and the skydiving team I run in North Carolina, and those routes aren't in high demand) during Lent. In some ways it's awful--I depend on those first class seats to catch up on sleep since I am absolutely exhausted all the time. But I've also noticed that it makes me appreciate the upgrades the rest of the year so much more. Since I devoted myself to Delta only and gained status, I'm ashamed to say that I feel like I turn into more of an ....... (even if it's just my internal attitude) when I get too used to flying in first class! It's like being surrounded by rich people contagiously infects me with some sort of annoyed, entitled mood. I hate myself for it! Giving up the upgrades for Lent hits the reset button on that. Also, it is fun to look around and find someone who looks like they could really use it (sometimes they're really tall, old, injured/disabled, or just look really tired or upset) and see their surprise and joy when I explain and ask to switch seats with them. I always inform the flight attendants/gate agent what I'm doing and they have always been supportive and helpful. The emotional benefits to me are great enough that sometimes I think I should just keep doing it after Lent, but I'm just too tired and selfish for that 
Mar 19, 2019, 3:15 am
#2
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Atlanta, GA
Programs: Delta, Hilton, Hertz
Posts: 457
Why don’t you just disable the upgrade request in the app?
Mar 19, 2019, 4:11 am
#3
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: DTW
Programs: DL DM, National EE, Hertz PC, IHG PL, Bonvoy Amb
Posts: 1,342
Mar 19, 2019, 5:29 am
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: New York, Ohio, & Fayetteville NC
Programs: Delta Platinum, SW (former) A-list
Posts: 71
I wait to board till the later zones are boarding. Then I can pick out someone who probably wouldn't be likely to get upgrades ever. If I just disable the app, my upgrade will go to someone next in line for an upgrade, who won't appreciate it as much. The whole point is to give something unexpected to someone who would not ever get to fly first class otherwise.
Mar 19, 2019, 6:58 am
#5
Join Date: Dec 2018
Posts: 243
A few years ago I started giving up all my upgrades (which are usually first class, since I travel weekly between my job in Ohio, my husband in New York and the skydiving team I run in North Carolina, and those routes aren't in high demand) during Lent. In some ways it's awful--I depend on those first class seats to catch up on sleep since I am absolutely exhausted all the time. But I've also noticed that it makes me appreciate the upgrades the rest of the year so much more. Since I devoted myself to Delta only and gained status, I'm ashamed to say that I feel like I turn into more of an ....... (even if it's just my internal attitude) when I get too used to flying in first class! It's like being surrounded by rich people contagiously infects me with some sort of annoyed, entitled mood. I hate myself for it! Giving up the upgrades for Lent hits the reset button on that. Also, it is fun to look around and find someone who looks like they could really use it (sometimes they're really tall, old, injured/disabled, or just look really tired or upset) and see their surprise and joy when I explain and ask to switch seats with them. I always inform the flight attendants/gate agent what I'm doing and they have always been supportive and helpful. The emotional benefits to me are great enough that sometimes I think I should just keep doing it after Lent, but I'm just too tired and selfish for that
Mar 19, 2019, 7:25 am
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2008
Location: CHA, MAN;
Programs: Delta DM 1 MM; Hz PC
Posts: 11,169
A few years ago I started giving up all my upgrades (which are usually first class, since I travel weekly between my job in Ohio, my husband in New York and the skydiving team I run in North Carolina, and those routes aren't in high demand) during Lent. In some ways it's awful--I depend on those first class seats to catch up on sleep since I am absolutely exhausted all the time. But I've also noticed that it makes me appreciate the upgrades the rest of the year so much more. Since I devoted myself to Delta only and gained status, I'm ashamed to say that I feel like I turn into more of an ....... (even if it's just my internal attitude) when I get too used to flying in first class! It's like being surrounded by rich people contagiously infects me with some sort of annoyed, entitled mood. I hate myself for it! Giving up the upgrades for Lent hits the reset button on that. Also, it is fun to look around and find someone who looks like they could really use it (sometimes they're really tall, old, injured/disabled, or just look really tired or upset) and see their surprise and joy when I explain and ask to switch seats with them. I always inform the flight attendants/gate agent what I'm doing and they have always been supportive and helpful. The emotional benefits to me are great enough that sometimes I think I should just keep doing it after Lent, but I'm just too tired and selfish for that
Mar 19, 2019, 7:32 am
#7
Join Date: Oct 2016
Programs: DL Gold, AA Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 253
Wow, you are a good and kind person! I'm catholic, don't give up anything for Lent, instead I say a rosary every night and I'll definitely think of you when I do tonight's.
Mar 19, 2019, 7:34 am
#8
Join Date: Sep 2013
Programs: DL PM, 1MM, DL SC, Kimpton Inner Circle
Posts: 2,416
What a nice gesture! Although Delta seems to make that decision for me much of the time these days, and not just during Lent...
Mar 19, 2019, 7:48 am
#9
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: CT
Programs: DL DM 2MM, MR LTT, Hilton D, Hertz PC. National Emerald Exec, UA Silver(thanks to Marriott)
Posts: 2,026
I am agnostic so I keep all my upgrades
Mar 19, 2019, 8:34 am
#10
In memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2005
Location: PIT
Programs: DM life is over 2MM PM now & NW MillionAir Wyndham Rewards Plat -Hotels.com Silver -Accor Silver
Posts: 15,408
This thread has given me a very generous idea . . . .
I haven't flown yet since being demoted to a lowly PM, but, I do expect to get far fewer UGs.
That said . . . . I'm gonna hafto seriously consider trading all of my Comfort Plus middle seat <so called> upgrades, to someone who appears to be in need of a cheer-up!
I haven't flown yet since being demoted to a lowly PM, but, I do expect to get far fewer UGs.
That said . . . . I'm gonna hafto seriously consider trading all of my Comfort Plus middle seat <so called> upgrades, to someone who appears to be in need of a cheer-up!
Last edited by davetravels; Mar 19, 2019 at 11:16 am
Mar 19, 2019, 9:18 am
#11
Join Date: Feb 2016
Programs: DL DM, SPG Plat 100/LT Gold, Marriott Plat, National Executive Elite
Posts: 2,988
Silly. If you don't want an upgrade, don't request it.
you can't get a free upgrade then give it away to a total stranger - likely a violation of the Medallion t&cs and certainly a problem with the manifest having different people in different cabins
also stinks that a lowly silver or gold who rarely see upgrades doesn't get their earned benefit from the UG list yet someone who doesn't qualify for the upgrade is getting it nonetheless
you can't get a free upgrade then give it away to a total stranger - likely a violation of the Medallion t&cs and certainly a problem with the manifest having different people in different cabins
also stinks that a lowly silver or gold who rarely see upgrades doesn't get their earned benefit from the UG list yet someone who doesn't qualify for the upgrade is getting it nonetheless
Mar 19, 2019, 9:28 am
#12
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: 100,399
This thread has given me a very generous idea . . . .
I haven't flown yet since being demoted to a lowly PM, but, I do expect to get far fewer UGs.
That said . . . . I'm gonna hafto seriously consider trading all of my Comfort Plus middle seat <so called> upgrades, to someone who appears to be in need of a cheep-up!
I haven't flown yet since being demoted to a lowly PM, but, I do expect to get far fewer UGs.
That said . . . . I'm gonna hafto seriously consider trading all of my Comfort Plus middle seat <so called> upgrades, to someone who appears to be in need of a cheep-up!
What do you do if you can't find anyone who is willing to take your middle C+ "upgrade"?
Mar 19, 2019, 9:34 am
#13
In memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2005
Location: PIT
Programs: DM life is over 2MM PM now & NW MillionAir Wyndham Rewards Plat -Hotels.com Silver -Accor Silver
Posts: 15,408
Mar 19, 2019, 9:48 am
#14
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: RDU
Programs: DL(PM), UA(Silver), AA(EXP) Marriott(Ti), HH(Gold), Hertz(PC)
Posts: 2,667
Mar 19, 2019, 9:58 am
#15
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Minneapolis
Programs: DL DM
Posts: 2,234
Silly. If you don't want an upgrade, don't request it.
you can't get a free upgrade then give it away to a total stranger - likely a violation of the Medallion t&cs and certainly a problem with the manifest having different people in different cabins
also stinks that a lowly silver or gold who rarely see upgrades doesn't get their earned benefit from the UG list yet someone who doesn't qualify for the upgrade is getting it nonetheless
you can't get a free upgrade then give it away to a total stranger - likely a violation of the Medallion t&cs and certainly a problem with the manifest having different people in different cabins
also stinks that a lowly silver or gold who rarely see upgrades doesn't get their earned benefit from the UG list yet someone who doesn't qualify for the upgrade is getting it nonetheless
helds), they could deny the upgrade if they names don't match.