2021 Upgrade Success (or lack thereof) thread
Jun 4, 2021, 11:44 pm
#166
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: 21,375
DL1220 SEA-FAI, 9 Jun; PM + non-status companion, V fare booked 14 May ... cleared at T-120 (no real surprise, seat map showed 19/20 available at time of booking and only ~6 in C+)
Edit — flight went out with 8 pax in F and maybe the same in C+
Edit — flight went out with 8 pax in F and maybe the same in C+
Last edited by jrl767; Jun 10, 2021 at 11:49 am
Jun 10, 2021, 11:51 am
#167
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: 21,375
DL1539 FAI-SEA, Mon 14 Jun — similar to above; cleared at T-120 and we’re currently the only ones in F
Jun 10, 2021, 1:58 pm
#168
Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: East Coast/West Coast, USA
Programs: AS, DL, UA, Hilton, Hyatt, IHG, Marriott
Posts: 268
9 June
DL 309
JFK-LAX
B764
6 of 17
GA came on to the plane to upgrade 1 pax to D1 and left their seat in C+(PS) open.
Interesting observations with booking this flight. I switched to this flight from the same one a day before about a week out. It showed pretty much a very empty plane which seemed weird compared to every other flight leaving that day. I don't know if my app just never updated from then, but my app still showed 22 open seats in D1, 7 in C+(PS) and about 160 in Y all up to OLCI where it dropped to 1 in D1, a full C+(PS) cabin, and about 20 seats in Y. I know not to rely on seating charts to gauge upgrades, just wondering if my app was being glitchy.
DL 309
JFK-LAX
B764
6 of 17
GA came on to the plane to upgrade 1 pax to D1 and left their seat in C+(PS) open.
Interesting observations with booking this flight. I switched to this flight from the same one a day before about a week out. It showed pretty much a very empty plane which seemed weird compared to every other flight leaving that day. I don't know if my app just never updated from then, but my app still showed 22 open seats in D1, 7 in C+(PS) and about 160 in Y all up to OLCI where it dropped to 1 in D1, a full C+(PS) cabin, and about 20 seats in Y. I know not to rely on seating charts to gauge upgrades, just wondering if my app was being glitchy.
Jun 11, 2021, 7:06 am
#169
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Georgetown, KY
Posts: 55
Silver Medallion traveling with non status daughter. traveling on award ticket
6/12 LEX-DTW, number 4/5 and 5/5 on upgrade list with 0 seats (First Class was shown as full for a few weeks). I had done a paid upgrade to C+ for my family of 4 for $10 each because we have 40 min connection and I wanted us all toward the front.
6/12 DTW-JAC, cleared at 24 hours prior to departure. This flight is not very full . It was showing 134 seats remaining out 199 yesterday now showing as 84 seats remaining with 12 on stand by list. It was added by Delta fairly recently and I think there weren't many rental cars left for people to plan new trips (my theory anyway)
This is my first trip since earning Silver Status in December 2019. I used to fly fairly often for public meetings for work but that is obviously not happening now. No chance of being Silver next year. Happy to have gotten at least one upgrade out of it and its a decently long flight.
Question - if I am lucky enough to get an upgrade on the return trip can I swap my son (who is on my husband's ticket) for my daughter so they both get to try first class?
6/12 LEX-DTW, number 4/5 and 5/5 on upgrade list with 0 seats (First Class was shown as full for a few weeks). I had done a paid upgrade to C+ for my family of 4 for $10 each because we have 40 min connection and I wanted us all toward the front.
6/12 DTW-JAC, cleared at 24 hours prior to departure. This flight is not very full . It was showing 134 seats remaining out 199 yesterday now showing as 84 seats remaining with 12 on stand by list. It was added by Delta fairly recently and I think there weren't many rental cars left for people to plan new trips (my theory anyway)
This is my first trip since earning Silver Status in December 2019. I used to fly fairly often for public meetings for work but that is obviously not happening now. No chance of being Silver next year. Happy to have gotten at least one upgrade out of it and its a decently long flight.
Question - if I am lucky enough to get an upgrade on the return trip can I swap my son (who is on my husband's ticket) for my daughter so they both get to try first class?
Jun 11, 2021, 8:29 am
#170
Join Date: Sep 2017
Programs: Delta Platinum Medallion, Hyatt Explorist, Wyndham Diamond
Posts: 313
Silver Medallion traveling with non status daughter. traveling on award ticket
6/12 LEX-DTW, number 4/5 and 5/5 on upgrade list with 0 seats (First Class was shown as full for a few weeks). I had done a paid upgrade to C+ for my family of 4 for $10 each because we have 40 min connection and I wanted us all toward the front.
6/12 DTW-JAC, cleared at 24 hours prior to departure. This flight is not very full . It was showing 134 seats remaining out 199 yesterday now showing as 84 seats remaining with 12 on stand by list. It was added by Delta fairly recently and I think there weren't many rental cars left for people to plan new trips (my theory anyway)
This is my first trip since earning Silver Status in December 2019. I used to fly fairly often for public meetings for work but that is obviously not happening now. No chance of being Silver next year. Happy to have gotten at least one upgrade out of it and its a decently long flight.
Question - if I am lucky enough to get an upgrade on the return trip can I swap my son (who is on my husband's ticket) for my daughter so they both get to try first class?
6/12 LEX-DTW, number 4/5 and 5/5 on upgrade list with 0 seats (First Class was shown as full for a few weeks). I had done a paid upgrade to C+ for my family of 4 for $10 each because we have 40 min connection and I wanted us all toward the front.
6/12 DTW-JAC, cleared at 24 hours prior to departure. This flight is not very full . It was showing 134 seats remaining out 199 yesterday now showing as 84 seats remaining with 12 on stand by list. It was added by Delta fairly recently and I think there weren't many rental cars left for people to plan new trips (my theory anyway)
This is my first trip since earning Silver Status in December 2019. I used to fly fairly often for public meetings for work but that is obviously not happening now. No chance of being Silver next year. Happy to have gotten at least one upgrade out of it and its a decently long flight.
Question - if I am lucky enough to get an upgrade on the return trip can I swap my son (who is on my husband's ticket) for my daughter so they both get to try first class?
If you ask the gate agent, I'm sure they'll allow you to swap seats with your son so he can try first class.
Jun 11, 2021, 9:24 pm
#171
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Georgetown, KY
Posts: 55
Silver Medallion traveling with non status daughter. traveling on award ticket
6/12 LEX-DTW, number 4/5 and 5/5 on upgrade list with 0 seats (First Class was shown as full for a few weeks). I had done a paid upgrade to C+ for my family of 4 for $10 each because we have 40 min connection and I wanted us all toward the front.
6/12 DTW-JAC, cleared at 24 hours prior to departure. This flight is not very full . It was showing 134 seats remaining out 199 yesterday now showing as 84 seats remaining with 12 on stand by list. It was added by Delta fairly recently and I think there weren't many rental cars left for people to plan new trips (my theory anyway)
This is my first trip since earning Silver Status in December 2019. I used to fly fairly often for public meetings for work but that is obviously not happening now. No chance of being Silver next year. Happy to have gotten at least one upgrade out of it and its a decently long flight.
Question - if I am lucky enough to get an upgrade on the return trip can I swap my son (who is on my husband's ticket) for my daughter so they both get to try first class?
6/12 LEX-DTW, number 4/5 and 5/5 on upgrade list with 0 seats (First Class was shown as full for a few weeks). I had done a paid upgrade to C+ for my family of 4 for $10 each because we have 40 min connection and I wanted us all toward the front.
6/12 DTW-JAC, cleared at 24 hours prior to departure. This flight is not very full . It was showing 134 seats remaining out 199 yesterday now showing as 84 seats remaining with 12 on stand by list. It was added by Delta fairly recently and I think there weren't many rental cars left for people to plan new trips (my theory anyway)
This is my first trip since earning Silver Status in December 2019. I used to fly fairly often for public meetings for work but that is obviously not happening now. No chance of being Silver next year. Happy to have gotten at least one upgrade out of it and its a decently long flight.
Question - if I am lucky enough to get an upgrade on the return trip can I swap my son (who is on my husband's ticket) for my daughter so they both get to try first class?
I called Delta for help and was quoted 6 hours and 10 min with no option for call back. So I called Signapore via Skype (thanks Flyer Talk for that tip) and eventually got rebooked going through Cincinnati. I more bummed about arriving later than I am loosing the upgrade. Worried about there not being a car when I get there. If we make it and get a car I will be relieved. I noticed that I am on the upgrade lists for the new flights and not my daughter but there are so few seats and I am so far down that it won't matter
Last edited by straychicken; Jun 11, 2021 at 9:36 pm
Jun 11, 2021, 9:48 pm
#172
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: DTW / SJC
Programs: AA EXP, DL DM, Marriott Titanium, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 764
Well that did not work out at all. Around 8:30 pm tonight - we received notice that our first flight due to depart tomorrow at 6:29 am was delayed 5 1/2 hours and through I tried I couldn't find a way to stay on the flight from Detroit to Jackson so I lost the first class upgrade.
I called Delta for help and was quoted 6 hours and 10 min with no option for call back. So I called Signapore via Skype (thanks Flyer Talk for that tip) and eventually got rebooked going through Cincinnati.
I called Delta for help and was quoted 6 hours and 10 min with no option for call back. So I called Signapore via Skype (thanks Flyer Talk for that tip) and eventually got rebooked going through Cincinnati.
Jun 12, 2021, 2:53 am
#173
Join Date: May 2021
Posts: 2
First flights of 2021 and first upgrade experience in ~2 years of having status:
GM with a non status companion traveling
LGA > MSP - upgraded at the GM window to F
HNL > LAX - upgraded about 48 hours before flight to F
LAX > JFK - surprised this came through. upgraded to C+ about 48 hours before flight
GM with a non status companion traveling
LGA > MSP - upgraded at the GM window to F
HNL > LAX - upgraded about 48 hours before flight to F
LAX > JFK - surprised this came through. upgraded to C+ about 48 hours before flight
Jun 12, 2021, 3:23 am
#174
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Georgetown, KY
Posts: 55
Looks like the 6:10am CVG-DTW is J2Y2; one option might be to confirm two of you on CVG-DTW-JAC, and put the other two on standby (if they don't get on CVG-DTW, they would take the later option, CVG-SLC-JAC I presume?). Depends on whether you're comfortable taking the risk of splitting up.
Last edited by straychicken; Jun 12, 2021 at 3:36 am
Jun 13, 2021, 4:28 pm
#175
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2000
Location: RDU
Programs: AA LT Gold, DL SM, HY Disc, Marriott LT Gold
Posts: 12,507
Plat no reserve, cheap fare class, Wednesday morning
RDU-DTW (717), cleared at window
DTW-ORD (E75), 2 of 12 for 2. The person before me cleared at T-60, I cleared at T-30 as the GA started asking for preboarders.
RDU-DTW (717), cleared at window
DTW-ORD (E75), 2 of 12 for 2. The person before me cleared at T-60, I cleared at T-30 as the GA started asking for preboarders.
Jun 16, 2021, 3:02 pm
#176
Join Date: May 2021
Location: Washington DC
Programs: Skymiles
Posts: 78
What are my chances of getting upgraded on the way to Miami as a gold?
I’m in DC and would like to go to Miami for our anniversary in August.
we have three options: connect in ATL, DTW, or LGA/JFK to get to Miami.
what are the chances I would get upgraded to first as a gold? Which airport would give me the best chance? It would be flying out on a Saturday, fly home on Tuesday. Keep in mind that august is the Miami low season and smack in the middle of hurricane season, so I’m hoping it means less status travelers
I’m in DC and would like to go to Miami for our anniversary in August.
we have three options: connect in ATL, DTW, or LGA/JFK to get to Miami.
what are the chances I would get upgraded to first as a gold? Which airport would give me the best chance? It would be flying out on a Saturday, fly home on Tuesday. Keep in mind that august is the Miami low season and smack in the middle of hurricane season, so I’m hoping it means less status travelers
Jun 16, 2021, 3:13 pm
#177
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: 5,626
What are my chances of getting upgraded on the way to Miami as a gold?
I’m in DC and would like to go to Miami for our anniversary in August.
we have three options: connect in ATL, DTW, or LGA/JFK to get to Miami.
what are the chances I would get upgraded to first as a gold? Which airport would give me the best chance? It would be flying out on a Saturday, fly home on Tuesday. Keep in mind that august is the Miami low season and smack in the middle of hurricane season, so I’m hoping it means less status travelers
I’m in DC and would like to go to Miami for our anniversary in August.
we have three options: connect in ATL, DTW, or LGA/JFK to get to Miami.
what are the chances I would get upgraded to first as a gold? Which airport would give me the best chance? It would be flying out on a Saturday, fly home on Tuesday. Keep in mind that august is the Miami low season and smack in the middle of hurricane season, so I’m hoping it means less status travelers
Jun 16, 2021, 3:16 pm
#178
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: MCO
Programs: DL PM, UA Silver, Marriott Titanium, Hertz Presidents Circle
Posts: 4,324
What are my chances of getting upgraded on the way to Miami as a gold?
I’m in DC and would like to go to Miami for our anniversary in August.
we have three options: connect in ATL, DTW, or LGA/JFK to get to Miami.
what are the chances I would get upgraded to first as a gold? Which airport would give me the best chance? It would be flying out on a Saturday, fly home on Tuesday. Keep in mind that august is the Miami low season and smack in the middle of hurricane season, so I’m hoping it means less status travelers
I’m in DC and would like to go to Miami for our anniversary in August.
we have three options: connect in ATL, DTW, or LGA/JFK to get to Miami.
what are the chances I would get upgraded to first as a gold? Which airport would give me the best chance? It would be flying out on a Saturday, fly home on Tuesday. Keep in mind that august is the Miami low season and smack in the middle of hurricane season, so I’m hoping it means less status travelers
Jun 16, 2021, 11:05 pm
#180
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: West of CLE
Programs: Delta DM/3 MM; Hertz PC; National EE; Amtrak GR; Bonvoy Silver; Via Rail Préférence
Posts: 5,384
On my most recent trip, DCA-MSP-GTF-MSP-IAD, I got upgraded to F at the 120 hour window on the last three segments. I could have bought an upgrade to F DCA-MSP for about $90 when I bought the ticket in April, but passed. I ended up at #11 out of 28 for 2 UG seats on a 1 pm Thursday departure.