35 elites w/out upgrade SEA to MSP
Sep 24, 2009, 10:52 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 32
35 elites w/out upgrade SEA to MSP
the 757-200 has 20 first class seats, so i was a little surprised that i didn't move up to R today. it has been awhile since i haven't been upgraded, so i asked how many were on the list today. there were 35 (i was #4). i have seen mid-20s several times, but an upgrade list of 35 seems really high.
Sep 25, 2009, 12:18 am
#2
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 2,384
the 757-200 has 20 first class seats, so i was a little surprised that i didn't move up to R today. it has been awhile since i haven't been upgraded, so i asked how many were on the list today. there were 35 (i was #4). i have seen mid-20s several times, but an upgrade list of 35 seems really high.
Sep 25, 2009, 2:02 am
#3
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: MSP (after 21 years in SEA)
Programs: DL DM/3MM, Lifetime DL SkyClub, BA Gold, Amex Centurion, AVIS Chairman's, Hertz Platinum
Posts: 584
didnt I read that now they're upgrading any elite member's companions at 12 hours out? So that means that anyone who has a companion will be on the list at 12 hours out. So that would include all those who didnt clear in EUA plus companions. I saw a post the other day of a silver who was flying with his two daughters and all three were upgraded. I'm not sure quite whats going on but I thought I heard something like that. My partner (Gold Elite) is flying SEA-MSP-SEA this weekend and cleared the outbound at 4 days out and the inbound at 3 days out. My mom (Plat Elite) is flying MSP-SEA-MSP this weekend as well she got upgraded like 6 days out for both the inbound and outbound...
Sep 25, 2009, 4:37 am
#4
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: MEL
Programs: DL, QF, QR Gold, MR Lifetime Gold
Posts: 6,997
Sep 25, 2009, 5:06 am
#5
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: DCA
Posts: 3,395
On the Thursday 6:30pm DCA-DTW flight, I have seen more than 50 people on the upgrade list. In fact, a few times the boarding has gone all platinums, then all golds, followed by silvers, then maybe 30 people in general boarding.
Sep 25, 2009, 5:38 am
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: DCA
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Posts: 22,297
Try a Thursday DCA-SLC 5pm-ish flight, I've seen 30+ Platinums not clear. Of course DCA is tough with the heavy concentration of government employees flying on faux Y fares.
Sep 25, 2009, 6:43 am
#7
Join Date: Aug 1999
Location: Alexandria, VA, USA NW Platinum Elite Since 1999, United GoldMM, Hyatt Plat, SPG Gold, Hilton Gold, Hertz #1 Gold, IC Ambassador, Avis Chairman's
Posts: 7,445
Yea... I did an afternoon flight one day that had over 80 people on the upgrade list... but I made it, on an AWARD ticket. Sure helps to be a member of the soon to be defunct 2% Club ... 
Sep 25, 2009, 6:53 am
#9
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Highland PArk,IL,USA -- AA Lifetime Platinum, IHG Plat, UA Silver, Hilton Gold, Radisson Gold, Marriott Lifetime Titanium
Posts: 2,366
Upgrades always seem to get a little more difficult as year-end has new elites and elites that will disappear next year all in the queue.
My guess is with all the EQM that DL has Gold and Silver next year will be losing the only benefit that makes DL better than AA, the free upgrade.
If Gold go under 50% and Silver under 25% than DL would have put the final straw in what was a great program. They surely do not have much to stand on for a FFP, with lousy awards, and having many elites sitting in the back.
My guess is with all the EQM that DL has Gold and Silver next year will be losing the only benefit that makes DL better than AA, the free upgrade.
If Gold go under 50% and Silver under 25% than DL would have put the final straw in what was a great program. They surely do not have much to stand on for a FFP, with lousy awards, and having many elites sitting in the back.
Sep 25, 2009, 7:49 am
#11
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: DTW
Programs: DL PM; SPG Gold
Posts: 188
Sep 25, 2009, 9:36 am
#12
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 2,384
K fare.
I am past 125K this year though - not sure if that was a factor. I didn't check in until about 1 hour before the flight, hoping R would open up. But I was still number 1 on the upgrade list.
I am past 125K this year though - not sure if that was a factor. I didn't check in until about 1 hour before the flight, hoping R would open up. But I was still number 1 on the upgrade list.
Last edited by bmchris; Sep 25, 2009 at 9:41 am
Sep 25, 2009, 9:48 am
#13
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: AZO/DTW
Programs: Marriott Gold, SPG Gold, IHG Platinum, Delta GM, CO GE
Posts: 256
And the best part is....
As noted about a month ago: When DL begins to "upgrade" FA's on deadhead flights, NetJet pilots, company crew (which I was told after a TTU is DL policy--flight crew that is: one can see some logic here if something were to go wrong you would have a company pilot/co in first), GA's that know who everyone is i.e., the crew and company (and non-company as in NetJet pilots) *before* boarding and then announcing to all pax holding all manner of elite status "first is full".....great. It will, I fear, get much worse, I will finish out this year at least Gold, but I think that will be it for me, just start looking for the cheapest flights and paying a bit extra for better seats. DTW is going to route most flights through ATL [which is hell on earth] glad I dont have to use MSP -- they will be out as soon as DL finishes it's 200 million obligation to the city, which the company could buy out of if they wanted: I would not be surprised if they did so, sooner than later, too.
Best
Best
Last edited by Himmelhund; Sep 25, 2009 at 10:51 am Reason: missing word
Sep 25, 2009, 9:57 am
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist & Ambassador: China
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: DEN
Programs: DL DM/MM, UA 1K, AA Exp, HH Dia, WOH Glob, IHG Plat, Marriott Gold, NA EE, Hertz PC
Posts: 17,418
Makes it fun to watch the boarding announcement for elites and half the plane tries to board. Call it elite cattle call.
