Too Many People on Upgrade List?
Mar 3, 2022, 2:22 pm
#17
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: DL PM, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 8,414
I don't think this is a thing. If you want to spend time on this, call back and ask for a supervisor. If there is some real issue with your ticket they could reissue it. But if there are only a few seats left it may not be worth your time.
Mar 3, 2022, 6:36 pm
#19
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Nashville
Programs: DL DM 3 MM AA PLAT HH Lifetime Diamond Marriott Plat AMB lifetime titanium Hertz PC
Posts: 6,187
I have experienced a myriad of quirks and issues lately with upgrades, upgrade lists, first class seat maps, you name it. Seems like the entire IT operation is inconsistent and horribly dysfunctional at present. Sometimes things work perfectly, while at other times it doesn't work at all, and the agents and employees often don't even understand what you are trying to say.
Mar 3, 2022, 7:18 pm
#20
Join Date: Jan 2013
Programs: DL, UA
Posts: 594
I normally travel with a couple of different colleagues who are Diamond (earned) so I pick up their upgrade priority if it's just the two of us on the reservation. Jan/Feb were hit and miss. Generally bookings are 3-4 weeks in advance, and still we're 6-8 on the list for LA-SLC flights and then 3-4 on the list for SLC-connecting to more regional airport hops.
I think the swell of medallion ranks is to blame with a hunch I've got that the IT promise of 'earned' holding priority over 'rolled over' not being active... yet?
I think the swell of medallion ranks is to blame with a hunch I've got that the IT promise of 'earned' holding priority over 'rolled over' not being active... yet?
Mar 4, 2022, 12:29 am
#21
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: EDI/GLA
Programs: DL 2 MM Unobtainum | UA 1.1MM Gold | MR Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 2,272
This sounds like some malarkey.
I’ve been on a hub to hub flight on a widebody where the UG List was 150+ deep… bonus points if anyone can guess the route.
I’ve been on a hub to hub flight on a widebody where the UG List was 150+ deep… bonus points if anyone can guess the route.
Mar 4, 2022, 2:16 am
#23
Join Date: Jan 2022
Programs: DL, UA, AA
Posts: 1,996
If you keep rolling over miles, there are going to be some pretty long upgrade lists, with a lot of parity.
There's at least one more year of rolled-over status. People are still getting credit for mqms earned in 2020.
There's at least one more year of rolled-over status. People are still getting credit for mqms earned in 2020.
Mar 4, 2022, 5:55 am
#24
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 264
Platinum with Delta and flying today on two segments. System says I have been placed on the upgrade list. My second segment from ATL-YYY shows me first on the upgrade list. My first segment from XXX-ATL does not have my name anywhere on the upgrade list. I check my reservation again and it says I have been added to the upgrade list.
I call Delta and had a very nice agent try to help. She put me on hold and talked to support and came back and said I don't see my name because the list is too long and once it hits a certain number you actually don't get on the upgrade list.
I've been Plat for 6 years and never seen this before so maybe I have been lucky. Is it true that the list can get so long you aren't placed on it, no matter your status? Thanks!
I call Delta and had a very nice agent try to help. She put me on hold and talked to support and came back and said I don't see my name because the list is too long and once it hits a certain number you actually don't get on the upgrade list.
I've been Plat for 6 years and never seen this before so maybe I have been lucky. Is it true that the list can get so long you aren't placed on it, no matter your status? Thanks!
Mar 4, 2022, 6:39 am
#25
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Cleveland, Ohio, USA
Programs: UA PM, DL PM, Bonvoy Titanium, HH Gold
Posts: 1,293
Just as a follow up.
a) Why did I mask the cities? Possibly ill placed paranoia. No idea if this is monitored and it would be easy to determine who I was by Delta with the information provided. They are both medium sized mainland US cities.
b) As mentioned in OP, I did check the website and the reservation itself says "Added to Upgraded List" for both flights but the Upgrade list did not show my name and position for the first flight.
c) Called back again but wait time was so long I didn't talk to anyone else.
d) Only two seats available and as a Plat, I assumed (correctly) that Diamonds or above would get them.
Long story short, I wasn't going to get the upgrade anyways but had never heard of the "Upgrade list to long" before and wanted to see if that was a thing. As a couple posters above mentioned, sounds like a stray IT issue that just didn't work. Appreciate all the feedback.
a) Why did I mask the cities? Possibly ill placed paranoia. No idea if this is monitored and it would be easy to determine who I was by Delta with the information provided. They are both medium sized mainland US cities.
b) As mentioned in OP, I did check the website and the reservation itself says "Added to Upgraded List" for both flights but the Upgrade list did not show my name and position for the first flight.
c) Called back again but wait time was so long I didn't talk to anyone else.
d) Only two seats available and as a Plat, I assumed (correctly) that Diamonds or above would get them.
Long story short, I wasn't going to get the upgrade anyways but had never heard of the "Upgrade list to long" before and wanted to see if that was a thing. As a couple posters above mentioned, sounds like a stray IT issue that just didn't work. Appreciate all the feedback.
Last edited by DawgmanOH; Mar 4, 2022 at 7:12 am
Mar 4, 2022, 3:50 pm
#26
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: SLC
Programs: DL PM, Hilton/Marriott Gold
Posts: 971
I normally travel with a couple of different colleagues who are Diamond (earned) so I pick up their upgrade priority if it's just the two of us on the reservation. Jan/Feb were hit and miss. Generally bookings are 3-4 weeks in advance, and still we're 6-8 on the list for LA-SLC flights and then 3-4 on the list for SLC-connecting to more regional airport hops.
I think the swell of medallion ranks is to blame with a hunch I've got that the IT promise of 'earned' holding priority over 'rolled over' not being active... yet?
I think the swell of medallion ranks is to blame with a hunch I've got that the IT promise of 'earned' holding priority over 'rolled over' not being active... yet?
I'm sure some data & analytics wonk at Virginia Ave has figured out the exact UG List no-show/decline rates for every route in their system, to the point they could get rid of the 100+ person lists and only show your name on the list if you have a decent chance of making the upgrade. I'd almost appreciate if Delta gave some sort of 'Green/Yellow/Red' indication of your upgrade chances at T-24 so I could adjust packing/plans accordingly, but I know a lot of people on here get a sense of self-worth from seeing '58 of 123' next to their initials on the gate monitor...
Mar 5, 2022, 7:01 am
#27
Join Date: Feb 2019
Posts: 3,097
It's pretty amazing how this forum is literally bursting at the seams with complaints about how ill-informed the agents are, but every time someone gets a new uninformed statement from an agent, the assumption is that delta has actually instituted some new policy that makes literally zero sense.
Mar 5, 2022, 8:12 am
#28
In memoriam
Join Date: Dec 2001
Programs: DL 2MM, AA MM, DL Sky Club Life, AA Admirals Club Life, Hilton Gold Life
Posts: 1,732
It's pretty amazing how this forum is literally bursting at the seams with complaints about how ill-informed the agents are, but every time someone gets a new uninformed statement from an agent, the assumption is that delta has actually instituted some new policy that makes literally zero sense.
What's the difference, if you're still screwed?
Mar 6, 2022, 1:40 pm
#29
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've had a couple of trips lately where I got upgraded at the 5 day window as a PM on a U fare, with this being one of the only UGs given out at the time, leaving 8 or more seats open, and then get to the airport and see an UG list with 20+ people on it for 1 or 2 empties. If you don't get UG'ed around the time of your window, chances are you won't get UG'ed.