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2021 Upgrade Success (or lack thereof) thread

2021 Upgrade Success (or lack thereof) thread

Old Apr 29, 2021, 10:05 am
  #136  
 
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 1,867
Still 100% on upgrades to F this year, but the processing of upgrades really leaves me scratching my head. On my flight a couple days ago, upgrades were processed at T-80 even though only 1 seat was occupied and there were only a couple people eligible at the DM/PM window. On my next flight, 7 seats were available at the window. I checked at T-119 and the app still showed us in C+ and I looked that the upgrade/standby list to see 0 seats available. Looked at the seat map and we actually were in F and about an hour later the app screen updated to show our new seats. It was really strange to see them fill every F seat at the DM/PM window.
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Old Apr 29, 2021, 11:08 am
  #137  
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Washington, DC, Chapel Hill, NC (RDU)
Programs: DL Plat (won't hit DM again) 2MM (2.5), HH Gold, PC Gold, Hyatt Plat
Posts: 5,624
Originally Posted by mot29
DM reporting

4/6 RDU-SEA cleared at 5 days out on award ticket.
4/15-16 SEA-ATL-RDU used RUC to guarantee upgrade on a red-eye.
4/17 RDU-ATL cleared at gate, #1 for 1.
4/17 ATL-DEN cleared at gate #1 for 2. (not a 76x flight)
These were my first flights of 2021.
And a few more
4/23 DEN-ATL cleared at gate as #2 for 6 on a 764
4/23 ATL-MSY #2 for 0 - not a surprise for a Friday evening into MSY
4/26 MSY-LAX took an upgrade offer for 14,000 SM to upgrade 5 days out - flight was showing 1 available and for a 4 hour flight with the MQM and MQD offer it was worth it for me.
4/26 LAX-PDX cleared at T-120
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Old Apr 29, 2021, 11:44 am
  #138  
 
Join Date: Jun 2019
Programs: DL DM, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 65
DM

SJC - LAX 1 and 2 out of 0 seats to F
LAX - SJC Upgraded to F around T-90
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Old Apr 29, 2021, 8:20 pm
  #139  
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Dallas, TX
Programs: Southwest A-List Preferred, Delta Silver, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold Elite, Avis PP
Posts: 191
GM

4/28 MCI-ATL - 6/15 for 1 seat, none in C+, surprised for a Wednesday morning but ended up sticking in my exit row window
4/28 ATL-HNL - 7/24 for 19 D1 seats, cleared sometime in the AM on Wednesday

Couldn't complain getting an D1 upgrade on ATL-HNL!
kstateinALB is offline  
Old Apr 29, 2021, 10:12 pm
  #140  
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Programs: DL DM
Posts: 751
Travel certainly has picked up. Ive had good luck this year on mostly regional routes as PM (86% on eligible aircraft so far), but lists are certainly growing longer this month and upgrades are a bit tougher especially on aircraft with an unfavorable F/Y ratio (A319, Im lookin at you!), especially when there are a handful of folks who WFBF.

On one of my routes usually serviced by a CRJ9, we have fluctuated between having multiple open seats in First with all upgrades cleared to an average of 4-7 upgrades not cleared earlier this year. This month, its been closer to 10-15 uncleared upgrades each trip.

As others have pointed out, Im not entirely sure how seat blocking will impact things. First has been relatively full already since they allowed couples to sit together, and since planes will overall be fuller when blocking is over with, more folks will be competing for the upgrades.
tardyturtle is offline  
Old Apr 30, 2021, 7:14 am
  #141  
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: Delta PM, Delta Reserve, Amex Plat, Bonvoy Gold, Hilton Diamond, Starbucks Gold ;)
Posts: 1,764
Flying next week from DCA-DTW-GRR. Got multiple offers to UG to F for about $39 per segment. Last night the F upgrades finally came through on both of my outbound legs. I'll probably get the GRR-DTW, but the DTW-DCA flight looks full.

I was able to easily use a GUC DCA-ATL-LAX, with the ATL-LAX on the A350. It will. Flight's the first week of June.
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Old May 4, 2021, 7:23 pm
  #142  
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Programs: DL DM
Posts: 751
How are folks seeing upgrades looking now with no more seat blocking? On an upcoming trip I easily upgraded at T-120 (along with one other person) and there were still 15 open seats after I cleared (on A321). It seemed like the past few months there was quite a bit of WFBF, but I'm wondering if some folks stopped doing that since they no longer can guarantee an empty seat next to them.

Granted, the flight isn't all that full and this is n-of-1, but it's been a while since I saw so many open seats on the upgrade screen that I had to make a double take
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Old May 4, 2021, 10:14 pm
  #143  
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: Delta Diamond , Marriott Ambassador, Alaska MVP Gold, American Airlines Gold
Posts: 77
I booked my first flight in 14 months on Saturday that takes off tonight and returns on the 15th (finally seeing family, including a new baby that was born on Saturday, huzzah!) and I was shocked at how easily I got upgraded.

My redeye outbound SEA to ATL on the retrofitted 764 (D1 suites but not marketed as a D1 flight) auto-upgraded me to First from MC within an hour of booking (I was waiting for the medallion line to call me back so I could burn some RUCs and by the time they did I had already cleared to FC). I probably had a decent shot of getting a complimentary FC upgrade on the return (same 764), but I was able to just apply the RUC to get it instantly and burn it since it expires in December.

I was/am shocked at how easy it was. I was tempted to just book directly into FC since Ill need to hustle to get my MQD for the year, but well take that as it comes.
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Old May 6, 2021, 11:34 am
  #144  
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Dallas, TX
Programs: Southwest A-List Preferred, Delta Silver, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold Elite, Avis PP
Posts: 191
GM

5/5 HNL-MSP - 4/9 for 5 D1 seats, cleared at the gate 15 minutes prior to boarding
5/5 MSP-MCI - cleared at T-72 to F

Was 2/2 on my Hawaii trip getting cleared to D1. Service lacked a bit but the lie-flat was wonderful.
kstateinALB is offline  
Old May 6, 2021, 3:28 pm
  #145  
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: Delta PM, Delta Reserve, Amex Plat, Bonvoy Gold, Hilton Diamond, Starbucks Gold ;)
Posts: 1,764
PM

5/4 DCA-DTW upgraded T-3 (A220)
5/4 DTW-GRR upgraded T-3 (A321)

5/6 GRR-DTW upgraded T-3 (CR7)
5/6 DTW-DCA #3, only one upgrade at the gate. C+ full (A220)

No more announcements about social distancing during deplaning. It’s back to a free for all.
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Old May 7, 2021, 2:32 pm
  #146  
 
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: Tacoma, WA
Programs: Delta Platinum Medallion, Bonvoy Gold, Hyatt Explorist, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 494
Originally Posted by kstateinALB
GM

5/5 HNL-MSP - 4/9 for 5 D1 seats, cleared at the gate 15 minutes prior to boarding
5/5 MSP-MCI - cleared at T-72 to F

Was 2/2 on my Hawaii trip getting cleared to D1. Service lacked a bit but the lie-flat was wonderful.
My girlfriend and I got the D1 upgrade on the 764 last month to and from HNL. Incredible plane and seat, but I really miss "real" first class. Hopefully it will return by the time we fly R/T SEA-OGG in July. But I always love getting UGd to a lie flat, food or no food!
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Old May 7, 2021, 2:37 pm
  #147  
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: MCO
Programs: DL PM, UA Silver, Marriott Titanium, Hertz Presidents Circle
Posts: 4,274
Originally Posted by Daitheflu84
My girlfriend and I got the D1 upgrade on the 764 last month to and from HNL. Incredible plane and seat, but I really miss "real" first class. Hopefully it will return by the time we fly R/T SEA-OGG in July. But I always love getting UGd to a lie flat, food or no food!
DL is actually still serving normal full hot meals and drinks on HNL-MSP/ATL.
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Old May 7, 2021, 2:39 pm
  #148  
 
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: Tacoma, WA
Programs: Delta Platinum Medallion, Bonvoy Gold, Hyatt Explorist, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 494
3 short flights this weekend, upgraded with companion on all 3 at the 5-day PM window:

SEA-RNO, E175
RNO-SLC, 738
SLC-SEA, 739ER

Now 7/10 in the year, all flights with companion.
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Old May 8, 2021, 10:57 am
  #149  
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Dallas, TX
Programs: Southwest A-List Preferred, Delta Silver, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold Elite, Avis PP
Posts: 191
Originally Posted by Daitheflu84
My girlfriend and I got the D1 upgrade on the 764 last month to and from HNL. Incredible plane and seat, but I really miss "real" first class. Hopefully it will return by the time we fly R/T SEA-OGG in July. But I always love getting UGd to a lie flat, food or no food!
They did serve hot food for the main meal on both flights in and out of HNL. Cold snack for second meal to HNL and cold oatmeal on flight to MSP. Not the same D1 as when I last flew in late 2019 but it is what it is.
kstateinALB is offline  
Old May 8, 2021, 11:42 am
  #150  
 
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: Tacoma, WA
Programs: Delta Platinum Medallion, Bonvoy Gold, Hyatt Explorist, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 494
Originally Posted by kstateinALB
They did serve hot food for the main meal on both flights in and out of HNL. Cold snack for second meal to HNL and cold oatmeal on flight to MSP. Not the same D1 as when I last flew in late 2019 but it is what it is.
Ah, so it's just us SEA/LAX flyers that get screwed. I've had enough of those damn snack boxes to last a lifetime..
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