PM upgrades
Mar 21, 2019, 5:25 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2014
Programs: Delta DM 360, Marriott Ambassador
Posts: 67
PM upgrades
I am flying MSP-SNA and am a PM and am currently 14 out of 24 for a FC upgrade. Is this a case of that many DMs being on the same flight? I will be making DM in a few weeks and wonder if my chances will improve after that.
Mar 21, 2019, 5:52 am
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 23,056
I have edited LBJ's remarks a bit. 3Cforme - Delta Forum Moderator
Last edited by 3Cforme; Mar 21, 2019 at 7:15 am Reason: trying to be a little more descriptive
Mar 21, 2019, 5:59 am
#3
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: MSP
Programs: DL GM, MR Gold, Hilton Gold, National Exec
Posts: 534
Mar 21, 2019, 7:08 am
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: jfk area
Programs: AA platinum; 2MM AA, Delta Diamond, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 10,291
2 weeks ago on a n/s redeye from las to jfk I was upgraded at T-120, I'm just a PM. On AA where I am (still) EXP my upgs were not happening too often. I attribute my PM upg to DL running many more n/s (and 1/.s) between JFK and LAS.
EXP on AA = DM on DL
EXP on AA = DM on DL
Mar 21, 2019, 8:40 am
#6
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Now in SLC
Programs: DL GM 1MM, MR LT Titanium
Posts: 4,117
For fare classes that are eligible to be upgraded, the order is, from highest priority to lowest priority, Y B M S H Q K L U T X V N. T is pretty low. And I'm not surprised you'd be #14 on a flight to SNA--that's a route with a lot of business travelers. Being DM will help, but even then, I wouldn't be surprised if you sometimes sat in the back on that route.
Mar 21, 2019, 8:56 am
#7
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: DL PM, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 8,414
There are a couple of other factors worth mentioning:
One is the Delta Reserve American Express. If you have this card you get higher upgrade priority. Medallion level and fare class come first, but it is a tie breaker between people at the same level and fare class.
Additionally, pax who are flying on tickets booked under certain corporate contracts can also be given higher priority, depending on the contract, and DL does not publish the exact details of how this operates (we don't know how much it impacts priority or if all contracts work the same or not).
One is the Delta Reserve American Express. If you have this card you get higher upgrade priority. Medallion level and fare class come first, but it is a tie breaker between people at the same level and fare class.
Additionally, pax who are flying on tickets booked under certain corporate contracts can also be given higher priority, depending on the contract, and DL does not publish the exact details of how this operates (we don't know how much it impacts priority or if all contracts work the same or not).
Mar 21, 2019, 9:25 am
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 23,056
For fare classes that are eligible to be upgraded, the order is, from highest priority to lowest priority, Y B M S H Q K L U T X V N. T is pretty low. And I'm not surprised you'd be #14 on a flight to SNA--that's a route with a lot of business travelers. Being DM will help, but even then, I wouldn't be surprised if you sometimes sat in the back on that route.