2021 Upgrade Success (or lack thereof) thread
Apr 21, 2021, 2:47 pm
#121
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 1,884
RDU - LGA
LGA - PWM
PWM - DTW
All cleared at PM window +1 with my wife (herself a GM) — first two flights were virtually empty so no surprise, PWM - DTW went out full (I think they override the blocked seats in Y based on a passenger who was complaining about it to the FAs).
DTW - RDU, C+ only, 3&4 on waitlist for zero seats. Flight went out completely full
Upcoming flights (only me, PM):
RDU - LGA
LGA - RDU
Both cleared at booking and seats selected after ticketing (was already within PM window when purchased — both flights appear less than 25% full as of now)
LGA - PWM
PWM - DTW
All cleared at PM window +1 with my wife (herself a GM) — first two flights were virtually empty so no surprise, PWM - DTW went out full (I think they override the blocked seats in Y based on a passenger who was complaining about it to the FAs).
DTW - RDU, C+ only, 3&4 on waitlist for zero seats. Flight went out completely full
Upcoming flights (only me, PM):
RDU - LGA
LGA - RDU
Both cleared at booking and seats selected after ticketing (was already within PM window when purchased — both flights appear less than 25% full as of now)
Looks like the direct flights between Portland and Detroit are all on E175s or CRJ900s. My experience has been that for the last few months they are only blocking seats on one side - so if you like a window and choose a D seat you will have C empty, but if you pick A-side you will have company. On planes with a 2-3 config, like the 717 and A220, only the one middle seat is blocked.
Apr 21, 2021, 4:33 pm
#122
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: 5,626
DM reporting
4/6 RDU-SEA cleared at 5 days out on award ticket.
4/15-16 SEA-ATL-RDU used RUC to guarantee upgrade on a red-eye.
4/17 RDU-ATL cleared at gate, #1 for 1.
4/17 ATL-DEN cleared at gate #1 for 2. (not a 76x flight)
These were my first flights of 2021.
4/6 RDU-SEA cleared at 5 days out on award ticket.
4/15-16 SEA-ATL-RDU used RUC to guarantee upgrade on a red-eye.
4/17 RDU-ATL cleared at gate, #1 for 1.
4/17 ATL-DEN cleared at gate #1 for 2. (not a 76x flight)
These were my first flights of 2021.
Apr 21, 2021, 5:22 pm
#123
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 did. The 100 mile search around JAX picked up both GNV and BQ as well as DAB. I had a significant client based in Gainesville in the 1980s, and used to travel there often. I'm getting to DAB after 10 pm, so traffic should not be an issue.
I remember going through Starke on US 301. I used to tell people that Starke was famous for one piece of furniture.
I remember going through Starke on US 301. I used to tell people that Starke was famous for one piece of furniture.
Apr 21, 2021, 6:42 pm
#124
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: Tacoma, WA
Programs: Delta Platinum Medallion, Bonvoy Gold, Hyatt Explorist, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 495
Sat 4/15: Cleared into FC on SEA-HNL (A332) W/ companion at booking. Used expiring RUCs, would have likely cleared regardless.
Tue 4/20: Cleared into FC on HNL-SEA (B764) W/ companion at 5-day PM window. Second time in FC/D1 this year on the 764 and I'm really enjoying that plane/cabin!
Have only flown 7 segments thus far in 2021 on a light travel year and I'm 4/7 for FC, all with my FO companion. 3 more flights coming up in 2 weeks and then hopefully things will start to pick up from there.
Tue 4/20: Cleared into FC on HNL-SEA (B764) W/ companion at 5-day PM window. Second time in FC/D1 this year on the 764 and I'm really enjoying that plane/cabin!
Have only flown 7 segments thus far in 2021 on a light travel year and I'm 4/7 for FC, all with my FO companion. 3 more flights coming up in 2 weeks and then hopefully things will start to pick up from there.
Apr 26, 2021, 1:00 pm
#126
Join Date: Jun 2019
Programs: DL DM, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 65
I would have checked out GNV. The drive up I-95 from DAB to JAX can be hectic this time of year with all the tourist traffic and snow birds heading back up north. GNV is only 90 mins from JAX and is a straight shot up US-301 which is mostly a 4 lane rural highway and they just finished the Starke bypass so you no longer have to stop and slow down at all the traffic lights in Starke.
btw the plans between ATL and GNV are almost always the 50 seat tiny jet and the passengers may have to checking their carry-on bags for this flight upon boarding as the chunks are pretty small. Just to mention.
Apr 26, 2021, 1:24 pm
#127
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: MCO
Programs: DL PM, UA Silver, Marriott Titanium, Hertz Presidents Circle
Posts: 4,324
Wow. Glad to hear that. Used to be in GNV area for years and the speed traps in Waldo and Starke are a nightmare to me.
btw the plans between ATL and GNV are almost always the 50 seat tiny jet and the passengers may have to checking their carry-on bags for this flight upon boarding as the chunks are pretty small. Just to mention.
btw the plans between ATL and GNV are almost always the 50 seat tiny jet and the passengers may have to checking their carry-on bags for this flight upon boarding as the chunks are pretty small. Just to mention.
Apr 26, 2021, 10:11 pm
#129
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 for 4 on CHO-ATL-DAB and return. On the ATL-DAB (last flight of Friday night 4/23), I was #9 of 21 for 0 UG seats. I misconnected to the last flight ATL-CHO Sunday night (4/25) where I was #2 for 0 UG seats. I ended up on the 1000 flight 4/26 where I was #3 for 0 UG seats. I'm 8 for 12 UGs so far in 2021.
I was able to use RUCs on my next trip, which starts Wednesday morning 4/28, so I got a D1 sleeper seat in the middle leg DCA-JFK-LAX-RNO, and an F sleeper seat in the middle leg of RNO-SLC-ATL-DCA returning Sunday 5/2.
UG situation will change over the weekend with all F seats in play for the first time in 15 months. Hopefully people on here will be doing better.
I was able to use RUCs on my next trip, which starts Wednesday morning 4/28, so I got a D1 sleeper seat in the middle leg DCA-JFK-LAX-RNO, and an F sleeper seat in the middle leg of RNO-SLC-ATL-DCA returning Sunday 5/2.
UG situation will change over the weekend with all F seats in play for the first time in 15 months. Hopefully people on here will be doing better.
Apr 26, 2021, 10:24 pm
#130
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: MCO
Programs: DL PM, UA Silver, Marriott Titanium, Hertz Presidents Circle
Posts: 4,324
It will probably help, but not as much as you are expecting. Remember that DL was only selling ~67% of its Y seats before and with that % going up to 100% as well, there’s a good chance you will now have to compete with more elites again for those UGs as well. Also the “couple rule” will no longer be in effect so there won’t be anymore situations where the DL app says there’s 0 seats left at the gate with the 50% cap, but there are 2 couples traveling together so the GA can process 2 more UGs at the gate.
Apr 27, 2021, 7:36 am
#131
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2013
Programs: DL PM, MR Titanium/LTP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 10,130
RDU - ATL, 739, #5 for 0 (declined C+ at booking in favor of row 21F)
ATL - DEN, 764 cleared at PM window
DEN - ATL, 764 cleared at PM window
ATL - RDU, 739 cleared at PM window
ATL - RDU, A319 #12 for 0 after misconnect
87/10 for the year (plus 3/4 with GM companion)
ATL - DEN, 764 cleared at PM window
DEN - ATL, 764 cleared at PM window
ATL - RDU, A319 #12 for 0 after misconnect
Last edited by Duke787; Apr 27, 2021 at 1:47 pm
Apr 27, 2021, 3:09 pm
#132
Join Date: Jan 2020
Programs: DL GM, HH Diamond, Hertz Five Star
Posts: 32
GM plus Reserve Card
Already bought C+
4/23
DCA to ATL 13 of 24ish for 0 (aka the no chance zone for F)
ATL to MOB cleared to F at 72 hours out; F went out with empty seats even at 50% and no upgrade list
So 50-50 for the year
Next flight as of now will be 7/14 and am interested to see how much of a difference being back at 100% capacity makes on upgrades
Already bought C+
4/23
DCA to ATL 13 of 24ish for 0 (aka the no chance zone for F)
ATL to MOB cleared to F at 72 hours out; F went out with empty seats even at 50% and no upgrade list
So 50-50 for the year
Next flight as of now will be 7/14 and am interested to see how much of a difference being back at 100% capacity makes on upgrades
Apr 29, 2021, 7:02 am
#133
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 41
I've had 100% upgrade success from C+ to FC over the last 3 months. 5 round trips from DTW to LAS, FLL, CUN, MIA, and one more trip to LAS. Diamond / Delta reserve with extremely high spend. I was cleared at the gate on all of those flights except for CUN, where we were upgraded about 48 hours out.
Interesting situation just happened though, which is why I'm making this post:
DTW ---> LAS Flying with my wife, Called up prior to boarding, and told there was one FC upgrade availl, I deferred it to my wife, as I don't mind the exit row in C+. All was fine at the gate, she moved into FC.
The day before our return LAS ---> DTW flight, I get an email from Delta that our 11am flight was cancelled, and I was put in a 2pm flight, wife was put on a red eye. I called Diamond customer service and was told that the agent in DTW split our tickets in order to upgrade my wife when I told them to upgrade her instead of me. The 2pm I was put on was full, so my only option was to change to the red eye with her. I declined that.
We both show up for the 2pm flight, I explain to the lady in check-in about my dilemma. The flight was showing full, with no seats avail. She immediately apologized for the issue and put us both on the 2pm flight in FC.
tl;dr; if you defer your upgrade to a traveling companion, make sure to just accept it under your name, and let your companion sit in the seat you were upgraded to.
Interesting situation just happened though, which is why I'm making this post:
DTW ---> LAS Flying with my wife, Called up prior to boarding, and told there was one FC upgrade availl, I deferred it to my wife, as I don't mind the exit row in C+. All was fine at the gate, she moved into FC.
The day before our return LAS ---> DTW flight, I get an email from Delta that our 11am flight was cancelled, and I was put in a 2pm flight, wife was put on a red eye. I called Diamond customer service and was told that the agent in DTW split our tickets in order to upgrade my wife when I told them to upgrade her instead of me. The 2pm I was put on was full, so my only option was to change to the red eye with her. I declined that.
We both show up for the 2pm flight, I explain to the lady in check-in about my dilemma. The flight was showing full, with no seats avail. She immediately apologized for the issue and put us both on the 2pm flight in FC.
tl;dr; if you defer your upgrade to a traveling companion, make sure to just accept it under your name, and let your companion sit in the seat you were upgraded to.
Apr 29, 2021, 7:44 am
#134
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: DTW
Programs: DL DM, National EE, Hertz PC, IHG PL, Bonvoy Amb
Posts: 1,342
I've had 100% upgrade success from C+ to FC over the last 3 months. 5 round trips from DTW to LAS, FLL, CUN, MIA, and one more trip to LAS. Diamond / Delta reserve with extremely high spend. I was cleared at the gate on all of those flights except for CUN, where we were upgraded about 48 hours out.
Interesting situation just happened though, which is why I'm making this post:
DTW ---> LAS Flying with my wife, Called up prior to boarding, and told there was one FC upgrade availl, I deferred it to my wife, as I don't mind the exit row in C+. All was fine at the gate, she moved into FC.
The day before our return LAS ---> DTW flight, I get an email from Delta that our 11am flight was cancelled, and I was put in a 2pm flight, wife was put on a red eye. I called Diamond customer service and was told that the agent in DTW split our tickets in order to upgrade my wife when I told them to upgrade her instead of me. The 2pm I was put on was full, so my only option was to change to the red eye with her. I declined that.
We both show up for the 2pm flight, I explain to the lady in check-in about my dilemma. The flight was showing full, with no seats avail. She immediately apologized for the issue and put us both on the 2pm flight in FC.
tl;dr; if you defer your upgrade to a traveling companion, make sure to just accept it under your name, and let your companion sit in the seat you were upgraded to.
Interesting situation just happened though, which is why I'm making this post:
DTW ---> LAS Flying with my wife, Called up prior to boarding, and told there was one FC upgrade availl, I deferred it to my wife, as I don't mind the exit row in C+. All was fine at the gate, she moved into FC.
The day before our return LAS ---> DTW flight, I get an email from Delta that our 11am flight was cancelled, and I was put in a 2pm flight, wife was put on a red eye. I called Diamond customer service and was told that the agent in DTW split our tickets in order to upgrade my wife when I told them to upgrade her instead of me. The 2pm I was put on was full, so my only option was to change to the red eye with her. I declined that.
We both show up for the 2pm flight, I explain to the lady in check-in about my dilemma. The flight was showing full, with no seats avail. She immediately apologized for the issue and put us both on the 2pm flight in FC.
tl;dr; if you defer your upgrade to a traveling companion, make sure to just accept it under your name, and let your companion sit in the seat you were upgraded to.
Apr 29, 2021, 9:18 am
#135
Join Date: Feb 2016
Programs: DL DM, SPG Plat 100/LT Gold, Marriott Plat, National Executive Elite
Posts: 2,988
Or a nice/knowledgeable agent could go in and just assign one of the two the seat without processing the upgrade. Most don’t know how to do this though, especially using SNAP