Giving up upgrades for Lent
Mar 19, 2019, 10:36 am
#18
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: HSV
Programs: Bellevue Lifetime Premiere Mega Elite Supreme
Posts: 1,509
Isn't giving away something you got for free also known as "Re-gifting"?
Giving away a paid F seat... well...
Giving away a paid F seat... well...
Mar 19, 2019, 11:02 am
#19
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 1,883
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, 11:14 am
#20
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: RDU
Programs: DL(PM), UA(Silver), AA(EXP) Marriott(Ti), HH(Gold), Hertz(PC)
Posts: 2,650
Quite interesting, when the reaction to someone doing something nice for a perfect stranger is to criticize the person.
Mar 19, 2019, 11:20 am
#21
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Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Back in Reds Country (DAY/CVG). Previously: SEA & SAT.
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Answer: “the nice gesture didn’t benefit me so therefore it’s wrong”. As you noted, this happens frequently with those of us who may be traveling with a companion where one gets upgraded and one doesn’t so the upgraded person trades seats with a person next to their companion. Lucky person next to the non-upgraded spouse gets the F upgrade. An F seat is usually a pretty good bargaining chip.
Mar 19, 2019, 11:25 am
#22
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Huntsville, AL
Programs: DL DM 1.929MM, Hilton Lifetime Diamond, IHG Platinum, Avis CHM, Marriott Titanium (lifetime gold)
Posts: 7,857
Mar 19, 2019, 11:29 am
#23
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: RDU
Programs: DL(PM), UA(Silver), AA(EXP) Marriott(Ti), HH(Gold), Hertz(PC)
Posts: 2,650
Who said anything like that? Geez. OP got a first class seat he could use for himself, but instead decides to give it to someone else. That's doing something nice for someone. That's it.
Mar 19, 2019, 11:45 am
#24
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Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Back in Reds Country (DAY/CVG). Previously: SEA & SAT.
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Posts: 10,334
“0$ Cost” does not mean “$0 value”. Even if would have cost OP nothing (which is debatable itself since there’s a “cost” to getting and obtaining status), OP still gave up something of value.
Mar 19, 2019, 11:55 am
#25
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Northern Minnesota, US
Programs: DL Diamond, SPG/MR Plat, Kimpton IC, IHG Spire Elite, Hilton Gold
Posts: 659
So using that logic; if I got a gift of $1 million and gave it away I wouldn’t be a philanthropist. So all of those “philanthropic” family foundations that were funded years ago should really call themselves something else?
Mar 19, 2019, 12:17 pm
#26
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Houston
Programs: UA 1K and Million Miler, *A Gold, Marriott Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Hertz Five Star,
Posts: 1,301
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 
I think you know the answer and hence this is faulty thinking to continue to do this.
Mar 19, 2019, 12:39 pm
#27
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Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Back in Reds Country (DAY/CVG). Previously: SEA & SAT.
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Posts: 10,334
ETA: I’m would say I’m not sure OP needed to brag or hunblebrag about it on FT (as originally said to me offline by another FTer and I point I would agree with but I do also get the point the OP was trying to share).
Last edited by ATOBTTR; Mar 19, 2019 at 6:27 pm
Mar 19, 2019, 12:53 pm
#28
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: RDU
Programs: DL DM, HHonors Diamond, Marriott Platinum, etc etc etc
Posts: 2,341
While I don't see the point in giving up ALL my upgrades, I can appreciate what you are doing giving them out. As a recent PM I just now have started to get them regularly (appx 40% success rate this year) and can see on the days I'm traveling for work where I won't be partaking in the drink service doing that occasionally. Best of luck!
I decided to create a spreadsheet to track it this year strictly from a curiosity standpoint. Not sure about this "thinning of diamonds" with the new Amex waiver but my upgrades have gone down A LOT. I am 0% for upgrades to F in February and March so far. (Only upgrades this year were in January)
Lots and lots of 1, 2, or 3 for 0 seats though so yay????
Mar 19, 2019, 12:58 pm
#29
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Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Back in Reds Country (DAY/CVG). Previously: SEA & SAT.
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Posts: 10,334
Must be nice, as a DM I am at a 33% success rate this year so far.
I decided to create a spreadsheet to track it this year strictly from a curiosity standpoint. Not sure about this "thinning of diamonds" with the new Amex waiver but my upgrades have gone down A LOT. I am 0% for upgrades to F in February and March so far. (Only upgrades this year were in January)
Lots and lots of 1, 2, or 3 for 0 seats though so yay????
I decided to create a spreadsheet to track it this year strictly from a curiosity standpoint. Not sure about this "thinning of diamonds" with the new Amex waiver but my upgrades have gone down A LOT. I am 0% for upgrades to F in February and March so far. (Only upgrades this year were in January)
Lots and lots of 1, 2, or 3 for 0 seats though so yay????
Mar 19, 2019, 1:19 pm
#30
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
Must be nice, as a DM I am at a 29% success rate this year so far.
I decided to create a spreadsheet to track it this year strictly from a curiosity standpoint. Not sure about this "thinning of diamonds" with the new Amex waiver but my upgrades have gone down A LOT. I am 0% for upgrades to F in February and March so far. (Only upgrades this year were in January)
Lots and lots of 1, 2, or 3 for 0 seats though so yay????
I decided to create a spreadsheet to track it this year strictly from a curiosity standpoint. Not sure about this "thinning of diamonds" with the new Amex waiver but my upgrades have gone down A LOT. I am 0% for upgrades to F in February and March so far. (Only upgrades this year were in January)
Lots and lots of 1, 2, or 3 for 0 seats though so yay????