2021 Upgrade Success (or lack thereof) thread
#391
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
So 8 flights CDG-Asia and back. I got op-uped to AF business on 5 of them. No op ups CDG to US and vv.
#392
Join Date: Aug 2021
Posts: 131
I hope this is ok to post a question here. In Dec I'm on Aeromexico coach. Im silver and from what I read Delta medallions get upgraded on Aeromexico of course space available. My flight is ord-mex in the afternoon. Has anyone been upgraded either to plus or premier?
#393
Join Date: Jul 2019
Programs: Delta PM, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 381
First time ever with Status and almost had a perfect mileage run with my son.
FO-
SAV-LGA 10/23 C+ at window, F at gate
LGA-ATL 10/23 C+ at window, 8&9 for 4 F
ATL-ANC 10/23 C+ (PS cabin) at gate
The only frustrating part of the trip, hit Gold due to ANC flight, but while 2022 status posted as Gold in app, current status still showed Silver. As a result:
ANC-ATL 10/24 C+ (PS) at window, 2&3 for 2 in F, would have both cleared if Gold had updated, but son wanted to stay together, so we passed on the 1 F seat.
Hit GM current status in flight to ATL so squeeked one last upgrade to go 5/5 on the trip
ATL-SAV 4&5 for 5 C+, 16&17 for 0 in F
FO-
SAV-LGA 10/23 C+ at window, F at gate
LGA-ATL 10/23 C+ at window, 8&9 for 4 F
ATL-ANC 10/23 C+ (PS cabin) at gate
The only frustrating part of the trip, hit Gold due to ANC flight, but while 2022 status posted as Gold in app, current status still showed Silver. As a result:
ANC-ATL 10/24 C+ (PS) at window, 2&3 for 2 in F, would have both cleared if Gold had updated, but son wanted to stay together, so we passed on the 1 F seat.
Hit GM current status in flight to ATL so squeeked one last upgrade to go 5/5 on the trip
ATL-SAV 4&5 for 5 C+, 16&17 for 0 in F
#394
Join Date: May 2016
Location: ATL
Programs: DL GM, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 1,238
There are lots of Seattle flights that go out fairly empty on a frequent basis and can be easy upgrades as a silver, especially during slower travel seasons. ORD, IAD, and BOS are some of the longer ones that come to mind, but many shorter routes like SFO and SJC also qualify. The trick is flying SEA to non-hub flights to business heavy markets. I just flew SFO-SEA on a flight that went out with 110 empty seats.
#395
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Austin, TX
Programs: HHonors Diamond, Marriott Titanium (LT Gold), UA Gold (*G), DL Silver, Makers Mark Ambassador
Posts: 4,591
DFW-SLC on 10/30 F cleared at window (2 pax)
SLC-DEN on 10/30 C+ Cleared at T-20, 6/7 for 1 F
Silver Medallion
SLC-DEN on 10/30 C+ Cleared at T-20, 6/7 for 1 F
Silver Medallion
#396
Join Date: Sep 2021
Location: Salt Lake City, Utah
Programs: DL Platinum, Hilton Diamond, Hertz PC
Posts: 138
SLC-RNO 10/29 and RNO-SLC 10/31 both cleared to F at the window for a GM on an award ticket, however, cancelled that last minute once plans changed.
Ended up flying SLC-DEN 10/29 which cleared to C+ at the window, 10/28 for 1 in F. DEN-SLC 10/30, originally on the 6 PM flight back and cleared to F at the window, but SDCed to a mid-day flight and was 1/4 for 1 F and cleared to F at the gate.
Ended up flying SLC-DEN 10/29 which cleared to C+ at the window, 10/28 for 1 in F. DEN-SLC 10/30, originally on the 6 PM flight back and cleared to F at the window, but SDCed to a mid-day flight and was 1/4 for 1 F and cleared to F at the gate.
#399
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Durham, NC (RDU/GSO/CLT)
Programs: AA EXP/MM, DL GM, UA Platinum, HH DIA, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Platinum, Marriott Titanium, Hertz PC
Posts: 33,857
11/1 DL 2600 RDU-ATL 757-200 PM on an S Fare: #5 of 28 (one upgraded after boarding)
11/1 DL 2369 ATL-MSY 757-200 PM on an S Fare: #3 of 22
Now 48.15% (13/27) on the year.
11/1 DL 2369 ATL-MSY 757-200 PM on an S Fare: #3 of 22
Now 48.15% (13/27) on the year.
#402
Join Date: Nov 2019
Location: SFO
Programs: Delta PM
Posts: 12
Silver Medallion
10/30: SFO-SEA, U Fare, Cleared into F at window. Flight had 7 empty F seats at gate and 0 on upgrade list. GA cleared 7 off standby list into F (??)
10/30: SEA-PDX, U Fare, Cleared into C+ at window. #3 of 5 for 0 F.
11/1: PDX-SLC, U Fare, Cleared into F at window. Flight went out with 1 empty F seat.
11/1: SLC-SFO, U Fare, Cleared into F at gate. #5 of 7 for 5 F. There were 0 F seats available around 8 am and 5 by boarding time at 10 pm.
Happy with the success here, but I booked a week in advance and picked flights that were mostly empty in F and C+ at booking. My partner, also Silver Medallion, booked a few minutes ahead of me and had the same results.
10/30: SFO-SEA, U Fare, Cleared into F at window. Flight had 7 empty F seats at gate and 0 on upgrade list. GA cleared 7 off standby list into F (??)
10/30: SEA-PDX, U Fare, Cleared into C+ at window. #3 of 5 for 0 F.
11/1: PDX-SLC, U Fare, Cleared into F at window. Flight went out with 1 empty F seat.
11/1: SLC-SFO, U Fare, Cleared into F at gate. #5 of 7 for 5 F. There were 0 F seats available around 8 am and 5 by boarding time at 10 pm.
Happy with the success here, but I booked a week in advance and picked flights that were mostly empty in F and C+ at booking. My partner, also Silver Medallion, booked a few minutes ahead of me and had the same results.
#403
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: VPS
Programs: IHG Diamond, Delta PM, Hilton Gold, Accor Gold, Marriott Silver
Posts: 7,208
Likely airline employees using their standby travel benefits, who IIRC can be cleared into a premium cabin if there are going to be empty seats there.
#404
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
11/3 DL 465 MSP-ATL. I was 5/75(!) for 3 seats when the top 3 folks cleared and boarding began. I went ahead and boarded. As boarding was ending I looked at the app and saw that I had cleared along with 1 other person. I was getting ready to claim the assigned seat on my own when the GA came on and brought me a new boarding pass. So 2 of us got pulled from the back as boarding was ending. There were lots of uniformed crew (mostly FAs but a few pilots) on the flight - all sitting in the back.
11/3 DL 2729 ATL-RDU 12/60 for 2 seats. No luck there!
11/3 DL 2729 ATL-RDU 12/60 for 2 seats. No luck there!
#405
Join Date: Mar 2021
Posts: 237
11/3 DL 465 MSP-ATL. I was 5/75(!) for 3 seats when the top 3 folks cleared and boarding began. I went ahead and boarded. As boarding was ending I looked at the app and saw that I had cleared along with 1 other person. I was getting ready to claim the assigned seat on my own when the GA came on and brought me a new boarding pass. So 2 of us got pulled from the back as boarding was ending. There were lots of uniformed crew (mostly FAs but a few pilots) on the flight - all sitting in the back.
11/3 DL 2729 ATL-RDU 12/60 for 2 seats. No luck there!
11/3 DL 2729 ATL-RDU 12/60 for 2 seats. No luck there!