2021 Upgrade Success (or lack thereof) thread
Feb 4, 2021, 8:05 am
#46
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: Delta PM, Delta Reserve, Amex Plat, Bonvoy Gold, Hilton Diamond, Starbucks Gold ;)
Posts: 1,776
First booking since March 2020.
DCA-PBI-DCA Tuesday Out, Wednesday Return. Connecting in ATL.
Booked Main. Didn't get the C+ upgrades after booking. (PM) In fact, the booking system doesn't show upgrade eligibility during the booking process. I messaged DL through the app just to make sure I was wait listed. Got a canned response about DL complimentary upgrades clearing if there's availability. I had to ask twice to have them check my PNR to make sure my upgrades were requested. Very passive aggressive attitude from the chat agent.
I'll update if anything clears.
DCA-PBI-DCA Tuesday Out, Wednesday Return. Connecting in ATL.
Booked Main. Didn't get the C+ upgrades after booking. (PM) In fact, the booking system doesn't show upgrade eligibility during the booking process. I messaged DL through the app just to make sure I was wait listed. Got a canned response about DL complimentary upgrades clearing if there's availability. I had to ask twice to have them check my PNR to make sure my upgrades were requested. Very passive aggressive attitude from the chat agent.
I'll update if anything clears.
Feb 4, 2021, 9:00 am
#47
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,417
First booking since March 2020.
DCA-PBI-DCA Tuesday Out, Wednesday Return. Connecting in ATL.
Booked Main. Didn't get the C+ upgrades after booking. (PM) In fact, the booking system doesn't show upgrade eligibility during the booking process. I messaged DL through the app just to make sure I was wait listed. Got a canned response about DL complimentary upgrades clearing if there's availability. I had to ask twice to have them check my PNR to make sure my upgrades were requested. Very passive aggressive attitude from the chat agent.
I'll update if anything clears.
DCA-PBI-DCA Tuesday Out, Wednesday Return. Connecting in ATL.
Booked Main. Didn't get the C+ upgrades after booking. (PM) In fact, the booking system doesn't show upgrade eligibility during the booking process. I messaged DL through the app just to make sure I was wait listed. Got a canned response about DL complimentary upgrades clearing if there's availability. I had to ask twice to have them check my PNR to make sure my upgrades were requested. Very passive aggressive attitude from the chat agent.
I'll update if anything clears.
Does C+ look full on your flights?
Feb 4, 2021, 10:41 am
#48
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: Delta PM, Delta Reserve, Amex Plat, Bonvoy Gold, Hilton Diamond, Starbucks Gold ;)
Posts: 1,776
All of F on all flights is wide open. (according the the seat map)
I double checked to make sure my "request upgrade" was checked. It is. Flights are in two weeks, so I'm not sure why DL would be withholding the upgrade inventory for C+.
The flights are short, so it's not that big of a deal, but I found it very odd that these didn't clear into C+. For comparison, the fare difference was about $35/RT, so not even much of an upsell. I was just figuring I'd easily get the PM upgrade.
Feb 4, 2021, 11:42 am
#49
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,417
Are you traveling alone?
Look at the PNR on the DL app. See whether it will let you move to C+ seats for free. If not, is DL trying to sell you an upgrade to C+ and/or FC? (FCM/C+CM)
Look at the PNR on the DL app. See whether it will let you move to C+ seats for free. If not, is DL trying to sell you an upgrade to C+ and/or FC? (FCM/C+CM)
Feb 4, 2021, 12:14 pm
#50
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: Delta PM, Delta Reserve, Amex Plat, Bonvoy Gold, Hilton Diamond, Starbucks Gold ;)
Posts: 1,776
This frustrates me even more since the agent on the chat told me I had to be wait listed.
Feb 4, 2021, 12:53 pm
#51
Join Date: Sep 2012
Programs: DL DM
Posts: 766
I had some trips in December and January where my upgrade didn't clear at booking but randomly cleared a couple weeks later. In these cases, I wasn't able to select C+ off the seat map either. In other cases, I have had the same experience as above that often you just need to go into the seat map and C+ seats are freely available for you to choose.
Feb 7, 2021, 3:23 pm
#53
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
Feb 7, 2021, 8:06 pm
#54
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
2/6 DL 1585 RDU-ATL 737-900: PM on a K Fare: Cleared at T-120
2/6 DL 713 ATL-PDX 737-900: PM on a K Fare: Cleared at T-72
2/7 DL 962 PDX-MSP 737-900: PM on a T Fare: Cleared at Boarding
2/7 DL 4688 MSP-RDU CRJ-900: PM on a T Fare: Cleared at T-72
Haven't had a trip like this since pre-COVID. PDX-MSP was a surprise as I was showing #3 for 1 until boarding.
Now 80.00% (4/5) on the year.
2/6 DL 713 ATL-PDX 737-900: PM on a K Fare: Cleared at T-72
2/7 DL 962 PDX-MSP 737-900: PM on a T Fare: Cleared at Boarding
2/7 DL 4688 MSP-RDU CRJ-900: PM on a T Fare: Cleared at T-72
Haven't had a trip like this since pre-COVID. PDX-MSP was a surprise as I was showing #3 for 1 until boarding.
Now 80.00% (4/5) on the year.
Feb 7, 2021, 9:19 pm
#55
Join Date: Jun 2020
Location: ORD/MDW
Programs: DL PM, AA PPro, HHonors Gold, Hertz President's Circle, Enterprise Silver
Posts: 198
Recent trip - first way (X fare, Reserve card) with a companion (no status) and way back (V fare, Reserve card) on my own (GM):
2/4: DL752 BOS-DTW (A319) both upgraded to C+ at T-36, #10 and 11 out of 21 for 0 seats in First
2/4: DL5597 DTW-ORD (E175) both upgraded to First at GM window
2/7: DL5813 ORD-DTW (E175) upgraded to First at GM window (actually was offered 2 (!!) beers on this short flight)
2/7: DL475 DTW-BOS (A319) upgraded to C+ at GM window, 5/10 for 2 seats in First
2/4: DL752 BOS-DTW (A319) both upgraded to C+ at T-36, #10 and 11 out of 21 for 0 seats in First
2/4: DL5597 DTW-ORD (E175) both upgraded to First at GM window
2/7: DL5813 ORD-DTW (E175) upgraded to First at GM window (actually was offered 2 (!!) beers on this short flight)
2/7: DL475 DTW-BOS (A319) upgraded to C+ at GM window, 5/10 for 2 seats in First
Feb 8, 2021, 10:48 am
#56
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,417
Were there others on the upgrade list for FC? Did C+ seem to be full (often a good indicator of whether the flight is elite heavy)?
Feb 8, 2021, 1:05 pm
#57
Join Date: Sep 2012
Programs: DL DM
Posts: 766
Nobody else was on the upgrade list and these passengers brought first to a capacity of 8 (full). There were a few passengers in C+, but none of them were on the upgrade list so doubtful they are elites.
Feb 8, 2021, 4:27 pm
#58
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,417
Are the BE/waiting for seat assignment ("standby") lists sorted by status (etc. as the upgrade list would be) or check in time? Genuine standbys should be ordered by DL's published criteria for doing IDBs.
Sometimes you can tell whether some nonelite got a surprise OPUP versus an upgraded elite by the excited shrieks of "Wow, I've never been in FC before" etc. upon boarding as well as the little signs such as not being aware that coats will be hung up and that no payment is required for alcohol.
Sometimes you can tell whether some nonelite got a surprise OPUP versus an upgraded elite by the excited shrieks of "Wow, I've never been in FC before" etc. upon boarding as well as the little signs such as not being aware that coats will be hung up and that no payment is required for alcohol.
Feb 8, 2021, 7:32 pm
#59
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 1,884
Are the BE/waiting for seat assignment ("standby") lists sorted by status (etc. as the upgrade list would be) or check in time? Genuine standbys should be ordered by DL's published criteria for doing IDBs.
Sometimes you can tell whether some nonelite got a surprise OPUP versus an upgraded elite by the excited shrieks of "Wow, I've never been in FC before" etc. upon boarding as well as the little signs such as not being aware that coats will be hung up and that no payment is required for alcohol.
Sometimes you can tell whether some nonelite got a surprise OPUP versus an upgraded elite by the excited shrieks of "Wow, I've never been in FC before" etc. upon boarding as well as the little signs such as not being aware that coats will be hung up and that no payment is required for alcohol.
Feb 8, 2021, 8:52 pm
#60
Join Date: Sep 2012
Programs: DL DM
Posts: 766
Are they hanging coats up again? In the just under 60 flights I have been on in the last 12 months, I have had *two* where they offered to let me hang up my own coat. They said that they weren't allowed to touch it under the current rules. Most never mentioned it at all, unless asked, and either told people to put them in the bins or just said that they weren't doing that anymore.