2021 Upgrade Success (or lack thereof) thread
Nov 10, 2021, 11:02 am
#421
Join Date: Aug 2021
Location: SLC, PHX
Programs: DL DM, BA Gold
Posts: 64
SLC-RNO for this Friday 11/12 cleared to F at the window, GM on a L fare. Will likely want to SDC to an earlier flight though which is showing J1 unfortunately, so unlikely I'll actually fly F. Looks like RNO-SLC on Monday will be C+ given that it's also J1, but we shall see.
Will make PM on this flight thanks to Amex MQMs posting, so curious what if anything happens with my upcoming BOS trips - seems like SLC-BOS v/v (which will be my most regular route going forward) may be DM territory, which won't happen for me anytime soon. Anyone have experience with that route that they can share?
Will make PM on this flight thanks to Amex MQMs posting, so curious what if anything happens with my upcoming BOS trips - seems like SLC-BOS v/v (which will be my most regular route going forward) may be DM territory, which won't happen for me anytime soon. Anyone have experience with that route that they can share?
Nov 10, 2021, 11:49 am
#422
Join Date: Sep 2021
Location: Salt Lake City, Utah
Programs: DL Platinum, Hilton Diamond, Hertz PC
Posts: 139
Bother, but sort of figured as such given what the UG lists usually look like (and suspect there's a fair amount of paid J from skiers too at least in the winter). C+ on the 752 isn't a bad ride though as a consolation prize.
Nov 11, 2021, 12:22 am
#425
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: ANC
Programs: DL DM
Posts: 1,859
DL1382 ANC-SEA B739: Cleared to C+ at booking, Cleared to F at the PM window.
DL972 SEA-ATL B757: Cleared to C+ at booking, Finished 6/20 for 2 seats.
DL2112 ATL-ECP A320: Cleared to C+ at booking, Finished 9/22 for 0 seats.
All 11/9/21.
DL972 SEA-ATL B757: Cleared to C+ at booking, Finished 6/20 for 2 seats.
DL2112 ATL-ECP A320: Cleared to C+ at booking, Finished 9/22 for 0 seats.
All 11/9/21.
Nov 11, 2021, 9:05 am
#426
Join Date: Sep 2016
Programs: DL DM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott Titanium
Posts: 63
11/1 - DL408 MSP-ATL A321 (K Fare) C+ at booking and 6 of 69 for F (2 upgraded)
Last minute booking here...
11/8 - DL2804 SAV-ATL A320 (K Fare) 1 of 16 for C+ (0 upgraded) and 4 of 29 for F (0 upgraded)
11/8 - DL662 ATL-PHX 764 (K Fare) Upgraded to PS/C+ 4 hours before departure and 3 of 49 for F (2 upgraded
)
Last minute booking here...
11/8 - DL2804 SAV-ATL A320 (K Fare) 1 of 16 for C+ (0 upgraded) and 4 of 29 for F (0 upgraded)
11/8 - DL662 ATL-PHX 764 (K Fare) Upgraded to PS/C+ 4 hours before departure and 3 of 49 for F (2 upgraded
)
Nov 11, 2021, 12:08 pm
#427
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: LGA
Programs: DL DM, UA Gold, Marriott Plat Prem., Hilton Gold, National Exec Elite.
Posts: 2,533
weird - I go to SAN a lot and never have issues through MSP, and seldom have issues through JFK or ATL. The only SAN I would have potentially missed that I recall was through SEA last week but I scrapped the trip. Only 2 seats a week out though in F
Nov 11, 2021, 2:16 pm
#428
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 1,884
I mostly fly to SAN from SEA, SLC, and ATL. I don't think I have ever gotten the upgrade from ATL.
Nov 15, 2021, 7:41 am
#430
Join Date: Nov 2021
Programs: Delta DM, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 58
Has anyone noticed it becoming way more difficult to get upgraded to F? It seems like a combination of more outright purchases of FC and more higher status Medallion members. In 2019, based out of IND, my success rate to F as a SM was roughly 50%. In the past two months I have taken 8 legs as a PM and they were all C+ upgrades at booking and 0 upgrades clearing to First. There as also very limited F availability at the 5 day window. Last Friday, I couldn't believe that at check-in, my wife and I were 25!!! and 26 of 56 for a F upgrade on an IND-ATL flight.
Thanksgiving weekend has usually been pretty easy to get upgrades due to less business travel, but I am looking at only 4 FC seats available on the IND-ATL leg and we are 8 days out. So my hopes are really being dashed.
I see this as three main factors: 1. All the extensions and status acceleration leading to more Medallion members. 2. Still fewer flights on the schedule than 2019. 3. The post-pandemic drive for people not wanting to sit next to strangers and purchasing FC seats outright.
What do you all think?
Thanksgiving weekend has usually been pretty easy to get upgrades due to less business travel, but I am looking at only 4 FC seats available on the IND-ATL leg and we are 8 days out. So my hopes are really being dashed.
I see this as three main factors: 1. All the extensions and status acceleration leading to more Medallion members. 2. Still fewer flights on the schedule than 2019. 3. The post-pandemic drive for people not wanting to sit next to strangers and purchasing FC seats outright.
What do you all think?
Nov 15, 2021, 9:38 am
#431
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: VPS
Programs: IHG Diamond, Delta PM, Hilton Gold, Accor Gold, Marriott Silver
Posts: 7,268
I see this as three main factors: 1. All the extensions and status acceleration leading to more Medallion members. 2. Still fewer flights on the schedule than 2019. 3. The post-pandemic drive for people not wanting to sit next to strangers and purchasing FC seats outright.
What do you all think?
I'm just hoping that it doesn't get to the point where DL starts cutting back on the number of C+ PM upgrades at booking they allow for a specific flight. We've got some transatlantic travel planned for next year and C+ for main cabin prices was one of the reasons why I was chasing PM this year.
Nov 15, 2021, 10:41 am
#432
Join Date: Oct 2020
Programs: Delta (Platinum), Hilton (Gold), Marriott (Gold), National (Executive)
Posts: 51
As a PM with MQD waiver (booked Main unless otherwise noted):
11/12 LGA-ATL: Cleared into C+ immediately, upgraded to F at T-120. Friday evening flight, wasn’t very full at all, and everyone on the upgrade list cleared into F.
11/14 ATL-STL: No upgrade at all, not even C+. This was only booked about 2 weeks beforehand, was an award ticket, and the flight was nearly full before BE pax were even assigned seats. Had exit row and flew with companion, so I un-requested C+ a few days before.
These are my first segments as PM, so I’m at a 50% success rate for both F and C+. However, the rest of my outstanding flights for the year are already confirmed in C+, so this will be about 75-85% by year end.
11/12 LGA-ATL: Cleared into C+ immediately, upgraded to F at T-120. Friday evening flight, wasn’t very full at all, and everyone on the upgrade list cleared into F.
11/14 ATL-STL: No upgrade at all, not even C+. This was only booked about 2 weeks beforehand, was an award ticket, and the flight was nearly full before BE pax were even assigned seats. Had exit row and flew with companion, so I un-requested C+ a few days before.
These are my first segments as PM, so I’m at a 50% success rate for both F and C+. However, the rest of my outstanding flights for the year are already confirmed in C+, so this will be about 75-85% by year end.
Nov 15, 2021, 2:28 pm
#433
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: STL
Programs: DL - PM
Posts: 226
I see this as three main factors: 1. All the extensions and status acceleration leading to more Medallion members. 2. Still fewer flights on the schedule than 2019. 3. The post-pandemic drive for people not wanting to sit next to strangers and purchasing FC seats outright.
What do you all think?
Nov 15, 2021, 7:26 pm
#434
Join Date: Aug 2021
Location: SLC, PHX
Programs: DL DM, BA Gold
Posts: 64
Has anyone noticed it becoming way more difficult to get upgraded to F? It seems like a combination of more outright purchases of FC and more higher status Medallion members. In 2019, based out of IND, my success rate to F as a SM was roughly 50%. In the past two months I have taken 8 legs as a PM and they were all C+ upgrades at booking and 0 upgrades clearing to First. There as also very limited F availability at the 5 day window. Last Friday, I couldn't believe that at check-in, my wife and I were 25!!! and 26 of 56 for a F upgrade on an IND-ATL flight.
Thanksgiving weekend has usually been pretty easy to get upgrades due to less business travel, but I am looking at only 4 FC seats available on the IND-ATL leg and we are 8 days out. So my hopes are really being dashed.
I see this as three main factors: 1. All the extensions and status acceleration leading to more Medallion members. 2. Still fewer flights on the schedule than 2019. 3. The post-pandemic drive for people not wanting to sit next to strangers and purchasing FC seats outright.
What do you all think?
Thanksgiving weekend has usually been pretty easy to get upgrades due to less business travel, but I am looking at only 4 FC seats available on the IND-ATL leg and we are 8 days out. So my hopes are really being dashed.
I see this as three main factors: 1. All the extensions and status acceleration leading to more Medallion members. 2. Still fewer flights on the schedule than 2019. 3. The post-pandemic drive for people not wanting to sit next to strangers and purchasing FC seats outright.
What do you all think?
Nov 16, 2021, 9:08 am
#435
Join Date: Sep 2021
Location: Salt Lake City, Utah
Programs: DL Platinum, Hilton Diamond, Hertz PC
Posts: 139
GM on an L fare SLC-RNO 11/12 - C+ shortly after SDC, 8/15 for 1 F.
PM on a U fare RNO-SLC 11/15 - C+ as soon as PM status posted, 6/11 for 1 F.
SLC-AUS-BOS 11/16 on a V fare cleared to F on both legs once I updated to PM overnight Friday. C+ for BOS-SLC 11/19 but doesn't look like F will happen.
PM on a U fare RNO-SLC 11/15 - C+ as soon as PM status posted, 6/11 for 1 F.
SLC-AUS-BOS 11/16 on a V fare cleared to F on both legs once I updated to PM overnight Friday. C+ for BOS-SLC 11/19 but doesn't look like F will happen.