Scaring you into upgrading?
Jul 3, 2019, 8:14 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2010
Programs: DL Diamond MM, SPG Platinum, Skywards Silver
Posts: 319
Scaring you into upgrading?
Background: I’ve booked 2 one way main cabin tix between LAX and MCO for travel in sept and oct. I booked one yesterday and one today. Each time, I do not clear the upgrade into C+, then it offers be the C+ for $84, and first for $238.
But ihere’s the kicker, it assigns me a seat in economy and then blocks out EVERY other seat in economy. When I do a dummy booking there are 50+ open seats. So I do nothing. Then an hour later I got upgraded to C+.
Is this scaring me into purchasing the upgrade immediately or just a systems error?
But ihere’s the kicker, it assigns me a seat in economy and then blocks out EVERY other seat in economy. When I do a dummy booking there are 50+ open seats. So I do nothing. Then an hour later I got upgraded to C+.
Is this scaring me into purchasing the upgrade immediately or just a systems error?
Jul 3, 2019, 11:05 am
#3
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 1,883
DL IT at it's finest
Yes, sometimes there can be a period of time in which you will see the seat maps displayed like this when they are in the process of upgrading you. Once you are upgraded nowadays, they blackout the seats in Y in your view, but the timing of blacking out the Y seats and showing your upgraded seat can be out of sync. Often, if you are watching right at the upgrade window, you can do a dummy booking and see that your seat is now vacant and a bunch of new seats in the front cabin have become occupied, so you know you are upgrade before your itinerary updates.
Yes, sometimes there can be a period of time in which you will see the seat maps displayed like this when they are in the process of upgrading you. Once you are upgraded nowadays, they blackout the seats in Y in your view, but the timing of blacking out the Y seats and showing your upgraded seat can be out of sync. Often, if you are watching right at the upgrade window, you can do a dummy booking and see that your seat is now vacant and a bunch of new seats in the front cabin have become occupied, so you know you are upgrade before your itinerary updates.
Jul 3, 2019, 12:29 pm
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: SEA (the REAL Washington); occasionally in the other Washington (DCA area)
Programs: DL PM 1.57MM; AS MVPG 100K
Posts: 21,357
there's a time lag between confirming in Main Cabin and confirming a comp upgrade to C+; I typically get the email confirming the upgrade anywhere from 10 min to an hour after the email confirming the initial booking (and both seem to arrive later for Concur bookings)
Jul 3, 2019, 12:37 pm
#5
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: BNA
Programs: DL GM, HH Diamond
Posts: 1,027
Not disagreeing with the lag/IT comments.
But I would guess they hold back upgrades let people panic still offer buy ups for a while, then finally clear some upgrades. I see this pattern of not clearing at the window yet clear before the gate, all the while the offer to buy the upgrade just sits on the my trips page.... could be coincidental, but could be interpreted like they are trying to "scare you into" paying for the upgrade.
But I would guess they hold back upgrades let people panic still offer buy ups for a while, then finally clear some upgrades. I see this pattern of not clearing at the window yet clear before the gate, all the while the offer to buy the upgrade just sits on the my trips page.... could be coincidental, but could be interpreted like they are trying to "scare you into" paying for the upgrade.
Jul 3, 2019, 1:26 pm
#6
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
This is just how it works. You don't get the C+ upgrade until your reservation tickets. That is usually within an hour.
This is actually pretty good, as I understand that AA and UA are much slower to issue tickets.
This is actually pretty good, as I understand that AA and UA are much slower to issue tickets.
