2021 Upgrade Success (or lack thereof) thread
Nov 22, 2021, 1:22 pm
#466
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Dallas, TX
Programs: Southwest A-List Preferred, Delta Silver, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold Elite, Avis PP
Posts: 191
GM
11/18 - RDU-LGA, cleared into C+ couple hours before boarding, 5 of 17 for 1 FC seat
11/18 - LGA-MCI, cleared into C+ at boarding, 11 of 18 for 1 FC seat
11/18 - RDU-LGA, cleared into C+ couple hours before boarding, 5 of 17 for 1 FC seat
11/18 - LGA-MCI, cleared into C+ at boarding, 11 of 18 for 1 FC seat
Nov 22, 2021, 3:29 pm
#468
Join Date: Mar 2021
Programs: Marriott Ambassador - Delta Diamond - United Silver - Frontier 100k - Sixt Plat
Posts: 581
Nope, theyve been holding 5+ FCs upon until boarding. They are trying to sell till the last minute and its working.
Nov 22, 2021, 3:46 pm
#469
Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: Virginia USA
Posts: 1,232
They hold back a few for last minute sales. I've seen as few as 2 held back and as many as 5 in recent weeks. When you check in, you will see where you are in the hierarchy (but the hierarchy changes as people check in, so you may be #1 23 hours and 59 minutes before departure and then #56 at departure), and then if nobody buys those seats and you're high up enough in the list when you scan your boarding pass it will print your new upgraded seat assignment (in my experience the app will update once boarding begins usually too, though it will still say Comfort+ it will show your correect upgraded seat number).
Nov 22, 2021, 5:14 pm
#470
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: DTW
Programs: DL DM, National EE, Hertz PC, IHG PL, Bonvoy Amb
Posts: 1,342
That is not how things are done at Delta. Upgrade inventory is needed. Most likely your flight will go to gate upgrades. Depending on the route, as a Platinum with 5 seats available now, the upgrade might be a shoe-in, or you might be #20 on the list.
Nov 24, 2021, 3:01 pm
#472
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2000
Location: RDU
Programs: AA LT Gold, DL SM, HY Disc, Marriott LT Gold
Posts: 12,507
Thanksgiving week:
Tuesday, PM award ticket:
RDU-MSP, 319: cleared at window
MSP-ORD, 717: mostly sold out before window opened, ended up 5 of 13 for 3, but I had 10C and 10D was open so no big deal
Friday, PM V class
ORD-ATL, 320: Almost all of F sold out before the window, only 1 seat left two days out so that isn't going to clear - no real surprise
ATL-RDU, 757: amazingly cleared at the window.
Tuesday, PM award ticket:
RDU-MSP, 319: cleared at window
MSP-ORD, 717: mostly sold out before window opened, ended up 5 of 13 for 3, but I had 10C and 10D was open so no big deal
Friday, PM V class
ORD-ATL, 320: Almost all of F sold out before the window, only 1 seat left two days out so that isn't going to clear - no real surprise
ATL-RDU, 757: amazingly cleared at the window.
Nov 24, 2021, 8:44 pm
#473
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
my son — a newly-minted FO — was on a $264 RIC-JFK-PDX ticket this evening (purchased maybe two weeks ago, so probably no higher than L); scored F on the E75 at T-24, and C+ (which was actually PS) on the 764 at the gate (~T-50 min; saw he was #1 on the list, asked the GA if he could get the remaining window seat, and GA handed him the corresponding BP … guess I have taught him well 
)
)
Last edited by jrl767; Nov 25, 2021 at 9:08 am
Nov 26, 2021, 5:38 am
#474
Join Date: Jun 2020
Location: ORD/MDW
Programs: DL PM, AA PPro, HHonors Gold, Hertz President's Circle, Enterprise Silver
Posts: 198
PM with companion, reserve card on an award ticket (NH or something like that)
11/26
BOS-JFK, C+ at booking, 1/2 out of 11 for 0 seats in F
JFK-PUJ, C+ at booking, 1/2 out of 5 for 3 seats, UG 15 min before boarding
11/26
BOS-JFK, C+ at booking, 1/2 out of 11 for 0 seats in F
JFK-PUJ, C+ at booking, 1/2 out of 5 for 3 seats, UG 15 min before boarding
Nov 26, 2021, 10:47 am
#476
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: MSN
Programs: DL GM, Marriott Titanium, Amtrak Member
Posts: 226
Happy Thanksgiving!
GM - earned in 2019 but now extended through next year. What's nice is I hopefully have some UK travel next year and can take advantage of Gold!
11/24 MSN-MSP-IND booked C+ with X base fare. Upgraded at gold window for MSN-MSP. Then was 5/16 for 2 seats MSP-IND.
11/27 IND-MSP-MSN booked C+ with T base fare. Upgraded at gold window for both segments.
So far this year I am at 7/19 for upgrades.
GM - earned in 2019 but now extended through next year. What's nice is I hopefully have some UK travel next year and can take advantage of Gold!
11/24 MSN-MSP-IND booked C+ with X base fare. Upgraded at gold window for MSN-MSP. Then was 5/16 for 2 seats MSP-IND.
11/27 IND-MSP-MSN booked C+ with T base fare. Upgraded at gold window for both segments.
So far this year I am at 7/19 for upgrades.
Nov 26, 2021, 5:04 pm
#478
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2017
Programs: AS 75K, DL Silver, UA Platinum, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Platinum + LT Gold
Posts: 10,515
my son — a newly-minted FO — was on a $264 RIC-JFK-PDX ticket this evening (purchased maybe two weeks ago, so probably no higher than L); scored F on the E75 at T-24, and C+ (which was actually PS) on the 764 at the gate (~T-50 min; saw he was #1 on the list, asked the GA if he could get the remaining window seat, and GA handed him the corresponding BP … guess I have taught him well )
)
Nov 27, 2021, 5:33 am
#479
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
Flight from ATL to JFK late this evening - I am 4, my fiance (she is an FO) is 5, four seats left. This was a decent test case of PM for me as it is out of ATL and on a 737, so smallish first class and c+ cabins (C+ appeared sold out at booking). We will see it another F seat opens up or we both stay in main cabin
Nov 27, 2021, 5:36 am
#480
Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: Virginia USA
Posts: 1,232
Flight from ATL to JFK late this evening - I am 4, my fiance (she is an FO) is 5, four seats left. This was a decent test case of PM for me as it is out of ATL and on a 737, so smallish first class and c+ cabins (C+ appeared sold out at booking). We will see it another F seat opens up or we both stay in main cabin