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Old Oct 14, 2021 | 12:53 pm
  #1  
gruntermen
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Is this normal?
I have a flight this evening from STL to MSP. The aircraft is an A320 that seats 157 people. So far there are 30 people on the upgrade list. Is this unusual for a midweek evening flight between two midwestern cities?
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Old Oct 14, 2021 | 1:00 pm
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Given that MSP is not just any midwestern city and happens to be one of DL's main longstanding hubs, yes, that's very much normal. Also, it's not really midweek and many consultants work on Mon-Thu schedules. Tue and Wed tend to be the two lighter business travel demand days. Thursday evening flights are frequently going to see a good number of consultants heading home from their work assignments.
Last edited by xliioper; Oct 14, 2021 at 1:07 pm
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Old Oct 14, 2021 | 1:07 pm
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Originally Posted by xliioper
Given that MSP is not just any midwestern city and happens to be one of DL's main longstanding hubs, yes, that's very much normal. Also, it's not really midweek and many consultants work on Mon-Thu schedules. Tue and Wed tend to be the two lighter business travel demand days.
We travllin???
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Old Oct 14, 2021 | 1:19 pm
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Originally Posted by LDNConsultant
We travllin???
Sure, there are a lot who are still grounded. But there are probably a good number in the air again at this point. And then there is non-business demand to consider with people leaving Thursday nights and taking long weekends to vacation or VFR. This will generally lead to fuller flights and most likely a higher number of total Medallions on a flight.
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Old Oct 14, 2021 | 1:21 pm
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gruntermen
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Originally Posted by xliioper
Given that MSP is not just any midwestern city and happens to be one of DL's main longstanding hubs, yes, that's very much normal. Also, it's not really midweek and many consultants work on Mon-Thu schedules. Tue and Wed tend to be the two lighter business travel demand days. Thursday evening flights are frequently going to see a good number of consultants heading home from their work assignments.
All good points and things I did not think of. One other thing that befuddled me: I am a lowly silver, flying on an award ticket and I don't have a delta reserve credit card. Who are the 10 people behind me on the upgrade list?
Last edited by gruntermen; Oct 14, 2021 at 1:34 pm
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Old Oct 14, 2021 | 1:26 pm
  #6  
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Originally Posted by gruntermen
I have a flight this evening from STL to MSP. The aircraft is an A320 that seats 157 people. So far there are 30 people on the upgrade list. Is this unusual for a midweek evening flight between two midwestern cities?
I flew 4 segments in the Midwest last week on Tue and Wed and on all 4 legs the upgrade list was between 25-40% of the total capacity of the plane. I was a bit surprised by that too, but yeah people are flying again and those that are, are piling up massive amounts of MQM/MQD due to the accelerator. So aside from those with status flying more frequently, there are a bunch of people flying with status they previously could not attain.

Expect things to get much worse next year when everyone rolls over status from 2021 AND rolls over 100% of MQM. UG lists will be truly massive come January 2023.
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Old Oct 14, 2021 | 1:29 pm
  #7  
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Originally Posted by gruntermen
All good points and things I did not think of. One other thing that befuddled me: I am a lowly silver, flying on an award ticket and I don't have a delta reserve credit card. How are the 10 people behind me on the upgrade list?
Probably folks who only have a reserve card and no status, who can get added to the list after all medallions.
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Old Oct 14, 2021 | 1:54 pm
  #8  
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Originally Posted by skislc
Probably folks who only have a reserve card and no status, who can get added to the list after all medallions.
Also partner elite.
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Old Oct 14, 2021 | 2:10 pm
  #9  
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Yesterday, DFW->ATL flight had 71 people on the upgrade list including at least 9 diamonds. Zero seats available. Travel's back, even if its not consultants.
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Old Oct 14, 2021 | 3:27 pm
  #10  
gruntermen
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Originally Posted by atldiamond
Yesterday, DFW->ATL flight had 71 people on the upgrade list including at least 9 diamonds. Zero seats available. Travel's back, even if its not consultants.
Is there anyway to tell what status the other people have on the list or was this a deduction based on your status and the number ahead of you?
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Old Oct 14, 2021 | 4:12 pm
  #11  
atldiamond
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No. It was deduced based on an upgrade to Comfort+ with Zone listed as Diamond for the #9 on the F upgrade list
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Old Oct 14, 2021 | 5:24 pm
  #12  
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Originally Posted by skislc
Probably folks who only have a reserve card and no status, who can get added to the list after all medallions.
Wouldn't "non-elite" (not FO/GM/PM/DM) Medallion members land below a Silver on the upgrade list?
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Old Oct 14, 2021 | 7:07 pm
  #13  
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Originally Posted by Qwkynuf
Wouldn't "non-elite" (not FO/GM/PM/DM) Medallion members land below a Silver on the upgrade list?
They don't get on the upgrade list.
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Old Oct 14, 2021 | 8:49 pm
  #14  
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Originally Posted by Qwkynuf
Wouldn't "non-elite" (not FO/GM/PM/DM) Medallion members land below a Silver on the upgrade list?
Silver IS the lowest Medallion status, no? If you're not at least Silver you're not a Medallion.
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Old Dec 22, 2021 | 9:32 am
  #15  
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(bumping this Oct. thread that I came across while searching for something else)

Originally Posted by Qwkynuf
Wouldn't "non-elite" (not FO/GM/PM/DM) Medallion members land below a Silver on the upgrade list?
Originally Posted by indufan
They don't get on the upgrade list.
Originally Posted by NYC Flyer
Silver IS the lowest Medallion status, no? If you're not at least Silver you're not a Medallion.
Partner elites appear after all Medallions (and are eligible on day of departure only)

Also non-status general members with a Delta Reserve AMEX are upgrade eligible as well.
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