Upgrade Chances
May 18, 2019, 11:59 am
#16
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Santo Domingo, Dom. Rep. / Washington, DC
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May 18, 2019, 12:33 pm
#17
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: MSP
Programs: Delta PM, 1MM
Posts: 3,784
AF sometimes offers buyups to Business at the gate. The price varies and also depends on the original fare you purchased. I once was able to pay $318 to upgrade from PE to Business on a MSP-CDG flight. I have also upgraded from PE to Business for 25K SkyMiles. You have to call DL or AF (which is DL if you call from the US) to do that; it’s not always available.
May 18, 2019, 2:46 pm
#18
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: DL PM, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 8,414
No, nonrevs clear after all revenue pax have boarded on all flights, regardless if it is oversold or not. Nonrevs (aside from those flying space positive, who I think just board with their zone) are assigned to whatever open seats are left after all other pax have boarded. They will first be given any open premium seats, and then coach seats.
May 18, 2019, 3:20 pm
#19
Join Date: Feb 2019
Posts: 3,097
Minor nit to pick here, generally if Y is oversold and J has empty seats, they'll try op-ups before VDB.
May 19, 2019, 7:31 am
#20
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Santo Domingo, Dom. Rep. / Washington, DC
Programs: AA PPro/DL PLT, PPass, Marriott / Hilton Gold, JetBlue Mosaic, Hertz Presidents Circle, Amex Plat
Posts: 4,630
No, nonrevs clear after all revenue pax have boarded on all flights, regardless if it is oversold or not. Nonrevs (aside from those flying space positive, who I think just board with their zone) are assigned to whatever open seats are left after all other pax have boarded. They will first be given any open premium seats, and then coach seats.
OP is asking for chances for an upgrade, but doesn't have any instruments so basically is hoping for a freebie. In this situation, DL/AF will fill the front cabin with Nonrevs before upgrading passengers with no upgrade instruments.
May 19, 2019, 9:42 am
#21
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Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: San Antonio
Programs: DL DM, Former AA EXP now AY Plat, AC 75K, NW Plat, Former CO Gold, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 27,042
I think what was being replied to is being confused. SDQ commented they wouldn't do upgrades because Nonrevs would fill the cabin. Nonrevs only get given a seat once all paid passengers are taken care of. If Y is oversold, Y passengers will be upgraded to D1 before a nonrevs is given that seat. Basically nonrevs have nothing to do with a passenger getting upgraded.
May 19, 2019, 9:53 am
#22
Join Date: Feb 2019
Posts: 3,097
In a normal situation, where there's no oversell, nonrevs will clear into J until it's full then into Y. Nobody without an instrument will get an upgrade, even if there are zero non-revs.
In an oversell situation (where Y is oversold but J isn't) then revenue passengers will get op-uped to J until all Y revenue passengers have been accomodated. If there are any remaining J seats at that time, then non-revs will be cleared into them.
May 19, 2019, 12:12 pm
#23
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Santo Domingo, Dom. Rep. / Washington, DC
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Posts: 4,630
I don't think that's actually accurate.
In a normal situation, where there's no oversell, nonrevs will clear into J until it's full then into Y. Nobody without an instrument will get an upgrade, even if there are zero non-revs.
In an oversell situation (where Y is oversold but J isn't) then revenue passengers will get op-uped to J until all Y revenue passengers have been accomodated. If there are any remaining J seats at that time, then non-revs will be cleared into them.
In a normal situation, where there's no oversell, nonrevs will clear into J until it's full then into Y. Nobody without an instrument will get an upgrade, even if there are zero non-revs.
In an oversell situation (where Y is oversold but J isn't) then revenue passengers will get op-uped to J until all Y revenue passengers have been accomodated. If there are any remaining J seats at that time, then non-revs will be cleared into them.