2021 Upgrade Success (or lack thereof) thread
Nov 19, 2021, 8:13 am
#452
Join Date: Feb 2019
Posts: 3,097
One thing people seem to be missing here, for F upgrades, the "time of request" is (in most cases) the time of booking, not the time of check-in. It could be different if you check/uncheck the "request upgrade" box in your reservation but generally the request is made at the time of booking (or maybe ticketing, not 100% sure on this point).
Time of checki n is 100% irrelevant.
Time of checki n is 100% irrelevant.
Nov 20, 2021, 9:05 am
#453
Join Date: Nov 2007
Programs: DL PM
Posts: 14
PM with earned status booked Atl-Den on thanksgiving day. Cleared into C+ at booking. Prior to the DM/PM 5 day window there were 20 F and 1 C+ available. At the 5 day window they upgraded 15 to F. Now showing 5 avail F and 9 avail C+. No upgrade here, still in C+.
Nov 20, 2021, 9:38 am
#454
Join Date: May 2011
Location: NYC (LGA, JFK), CT
Programs: Delta Platinum, American Gold, JetBlue Mosaic 4, Marriott Platinum, Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Diamond,
Posts: 4,895
First economy flight as an earned PM - me and my companion cleared into F at the PM window for a Thanksgiving day flight, JFK to ATL. FWIW I think we would have cleared even if I was an FO, this is on an Airbus 330 and 20+ F seats are currently available
We will have a tougher test on the return (C+ was sold out, 5 F seats remaining)
We will have a tougher test on the return (C+ was sold out, 5 F seats remaining)
Nov 20, 2021, 7:04 pm
#455
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
I went 2-3 this week, missing out on CLE-DTW (#4 for 0 seats misd-morning Thursday), getting UG'd 3 days out DCA-DTW (last flight of Friday night) and at the gate DTW-CLE (#1 for 3 available seas). I bought the DTW-DCA UG for $63.
Nov 20, 2021, 8:16 pm
#456
Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: London/JAX
Programs: DL PM, BA Gold, UA Silver, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Gold, Radisson Premium, Global Entry, CLEAR
Posts: 872
First flights as a PM and was surprised by how high I was on the second two flights
11/20/2021, DL3529, SBN-DTW, H fare, cleared to Comfort+ at booking (booked at T-15), 1/4 for First for 0 open
11/20/2021, DL441, DTW-ATL, H fare, cleared to Comfort+ (Premium Select, A350) at booking, 5/35 for First for 1 open
11/20/2021, DL1672, ATL-JAX, H fare, 2/10 for Comfort+ for 5 open, cleared at gate, 6/33 for First for 1 open
11/20/2021, DL3529, SBN-DTW, H fare, cleared to Comfort+ at booking (booked at T-15), 1/4 for First for 0 open
11/20/2021, DL441, DTW-ATL, H fare, cleared to Comfort+ (Premium Select, A350) at booking, 5/35 for First for 1 open
11/20/2021, DL1672, ATL-JAX, H fare, 2/10 for Comfort+ for 5 open, cleared at gate, 6/33 for First for 1 open
Nov 21, 2021, 11:59 am
#457
Join Date: May 2003
Location: San Antonio, Tx
Programs: UA gold, AA Plat, HHonors diamond, DL DM
Posts: 705
Maybe DL is getting better at selling F and keeping F seats out of the upgrade pool. I am 0 out of three this weekend as a Diamond with one segment to go. On flights 1 and 2, I did not even make #1 on the list, although upgrades appear to have cleared. On flight 4 tonight, I am #8 on the list five hours from departure. None of these flights has been sold out. This is a first for me after four years as a diamond, Still waiting to see if flight 3 clears. While I have requalified for Diamond for next year and will not be one of those grandfathered in, as others have noted, I don't think that the split within levels for upgrade purposes has yet taken effect.
I cannot begrudge DL seeking to maximize revenue. I could have purchased F. I could have taken some of the shockingly priced segment upgrades offered after purchase. I have a boatload of upgrades earned for this year and leftover from last year. Maybe this is anecdotal for the Friday and Sunday before Thanksgiving week. But if this one experience reflects better revenue management, the value to me of seeking status will plummet. Add to that the fact that Delta 1 upgrades will become more difficult due to the one level limit on GUC's, the value of Diamond status further decreases.
I have a trip to Central America next month. Free agency on AA, yeah I know the risk, got me into J for $800 less than Comfort+ would have been on DL. Delta J was almost 2K more. Free agency on AM got me to MAD last month in J for $2500 less than DL. Again just three data points, but the metal luggage tag that I received two weeks ago alone is not going to keep me with DL.
I cannot begrudge DL seeking to maximize revenue. I could have purchased F. I could have taken some of the shockingly priced segment upgrades offered after purchase. I have a boatload of upgrades earned for this year and leftover from last year. Maybe this is anecdotal for the Friday and Sunday before Thanksgiving week. But if this one experience reflects better revenue management, the value to me of seeking status will plummet. Add to that the fact that Delta 1 upgrades will become more difficult due to the one level limit on GUC's, the value of Diamond status further decreases.
I have a trip to Central America next month. Free agency on AA, yeah I know the risk, got me into J for $800 less than Comfort+ would have been on DL. Delta J was almost 2K more. Free agency on AM got me to MAD last month in J for $2500 less than DL. Again just three data points, but the metal luggage tag that I received two weeks ago alone is not going to keep me with DL.
Nov 21, 2021, 1:07 pm
#458
Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: Virginia USA
Posts: 1,232
Maybe DL is getting better at selling F and keeping F seats out of the upgrade pool. I am 0 out of three this weekend as a Diamond with one segment to go. On flights 1 and 2, I did not even make #1 on the list, although upgrades appear to have cleared. On flight 4 tonight, I am #8 on the list five hours from departure. None of these flights has been sold out. This is a first for me after four years as a diamond, Still waiting to see if flight 3 clears. While I have requalified for Diamond for next year and will not be one of those grandfathered in, as others have noted, I don't think that the split within levels for upgrade purposes has yet taken effect.
I cannot begrudge DL seeking to maximize revenue. I could have purchased F. I could have taken some of the shockingly priced segment upgrades offered after purchase. I have a boatload of upgrades earned for this year and leftover from last year. Maybe this is anecdotal for the Friday and Sunday before Thanksgiving week. But if this one experience reflects better revenue management, the value to me of seeking status will plummet. Add to that the fact that Delta 1 upgrades will become more difficult due to the one level limit on GUC's, the value of Diamond status further decreases.
I have a trip to Central America next month. Free agency on AA, yeah I know the risk, got me into J for $800 less than Comfort+ would have been on DL. Delta J was almost 2K more. Free agency on AM got me to MAD last month in J for $2500 less than DL. Again just three data points, but the metal luggage tag that I received two weeks ago alone is not going to keep me with DL.
I cannot begrudge DL seeking to maximize revenue. I could have purchased F. I could have taken some of the shockingly priced segment upgrades offered after purchase. I have a boatload of upgrades earned for this year and leftover from last year. Maybe this is anecdotal for the Friday and Sunday before Thanksgiving week. But if this one experience reflects better revenue management, the value to me of seeking status will plummet. Add to that the fact that Delta 1 upgrades will become more difficult due to the one level limit on GUC's, the value of Diamond status further decreases.
I have a trip to Central America next month. Free agency on AA, yeah I know the risk, got me into J for $800 less than Comfort+ would have been on DL. Delta J was almost 2K more. Free agency on AM got me to MAD last month in J for $2500 less than DL. Again just three data points, but the metal luggage tag that I received two weeks ago alone is not going to keep me with DL.
Nov 21, 2021, 1:41 pm
#459
Join Date: Mar 2021
Programs: Marriott Ambassador - Delta Diamond - United Silver - Frontier 100k - Sixt Plat
Posts: 581
PM
LGA-MIA 11/18
0 FC availabe at checkin, i was 13th on the list out of 40
MIA-LGA 11/21
5 available at checkin but 0 approx 12 hours before boarding. Im 25th out of 43rd.
Just two weeks ago as a PM i was getting FC guarenteed on my last 5-8 segements. No chance now.
LGA-MIA 11/18
0 FC availabe at checkin, i was 13th on the list out of 40
MIA-LGA 11/21
5 available at checkin but 0 approx 12 hours before boarding. Im 25th out of 43rd.
Just two weeks ago as a PM i was getting FC guarenteed on my last 5-8 segements. No chance now.
Nov 21, 2021, 2:43 pm
#461
Join Date: May 2011
Location: NYC (LGA, JFK), CT
Programs: Delta Platinum, American Gold, JetBlue Mosaic 4, Marriott Platinum, Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Diamond,
Posts: 4,895
My first real test of PM will be a LGA to ORD for a business trip midweek. In C+ on both flights right now, and both show 7 available F seats.
Nov 22, 2021, 10:53 am
#465
Join Date: Mar 2021
Programs: Marriott Ambassador - Delta Diamond - United Silver - Frontier 100k - Sixt Plat
Posts: 581
Ironically HPN (White Plains/Westchester) Delta flights that all layover to ATL are empty in FC completely. So if you want FC down in the NYC area at-least to ATL you are guaranteed at this point. (It is a CRJ-900 though so take that as you will)