Hardest Domestic Upgrade?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: LAS
Programs: UA 1MM, Marriott Lifetime Plat, Southwest A-List Preferred
Posts: 2,846
Hardest Domestic Upgrade?
Is there a domestic route on the DL that's been traditionally viewed as the hardest to upgrade on?
I know UA has the ORD-SEA route and AA has the BOS-SFO route - both I've read are close to impossible to secure upgrades on.
I know UA has the ORD-SEA route and AA has the BOS-SFO route - both I've read are close to impossible to secure upgrades on.
#3
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Hopefully on a plane...
Posts: 6,580
ATL-SFO is said to be extremely hard to upgrade on.
ATL-MLB is almost a 100% no go for an FO and GM. I was once #27 on the list as a GM on a B fare.
ATL-MLB is almost a 100% no go for an FO and GM. I was once #27 on the list as a GM on a B fare.
#4
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: SLC
Programs: Delta Diamond 2 Million Miler, United 1K, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold, Avis President’s Club
Posts: 218
PNS-MCO is quite difficult to secure an upgrade-- even on a Y.
Just playing...
Seriously, ATL-PHL has always been tough for me on Monday Mornings.
Just playing...
Seriously, ATL-PHL has always been tough for me on Monday Mornings.
#5
Join Date: May 2003
Location: ATL/MOO (Many Others Often)
Programs: DL GM (2MM), Lifetime Marriott Plat, Hilton Gold, IHG Plat
Posts: 2,456
I'm just a Gold but the only flights I've not been upgraded on this year (non international of course) are FLL to ATL. I'm 0-3. Everything else has been up front for me. There might be others more challenging but for this GM that's the hardest upgrade for me.
Good question!
Good question!
#6
Join Date: May 2004
Location: New Orleans, LA (MSY)
Programs: DL 1 MM/DM; HH Lifetime Diamond; Hertz Presidents Circle
Posts: 986
Basically, ATL to any major metro city on the Left Coast-and to some extent, vice versa. Some examples:
1) ATL-LAX
2) ATL-SFO
3) ATL-SLC
4) ATL-SEA
5) ATL-LAS
LAX-ATL evening flights (before midnight).
I've been on H fares on some of these segments over the past couple of years, and as a PM-have been at times #xx of 25+ on the upgrade list. Just last week, I was #9 of 27 on a Q fare from LAX-ATL (DL1556, 10:40p flight) with 5 FC seats available. Two weeks ago, I was on an H fare from ATL-SEA in the morning and was #8 of 17 with no FC seats. (I did score a G upgrade for the SEA-ATL return, though ^)
It seems that nothing short of full Y is your best bet for a UG from ATL to the Left Coast-as a PM. GM and FOs can forget about it.
1) ATL-LAX
2) ATL-SFO
3) ATL-SLC
4) ATL-SEA
5) ATL-LAS
LAX-ATL evening flights (before midnight).
I've been on H fares on some of these segments over the past couple of years, and as a PM-have been at times #xx of 25+ on the upgrade list. Just last week, I was #9 of 27 on a Q fare from LAX-ATL (DL1556, 10:40p flight) with 5 FC seats available. Two weeks ago, I was on an H fare from ATL-SEA in the morning and was #8 of 17 with no FC seats. (I did score a G upgrade for the SEA-ATL return, though ^)
It seems that nothing short of full Y is your best bet for a UG from ATL to the Left Coast-as a PM. GM and FOs can forget about it.
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: The best state in the USA - Florida!
Programs: Marriott Titanium/LT Plat, AS MVP75K, AA PlatPro, UA Premier, Disney AP
Posts: 14,497
LAS-ATL has been impossible for me. I've been in the 30s both times on this route.
I am 2 for 2 on ATL-LAS though. Helped once that the plane was a 767-400 (got the last seat; there were about 8 or 9 other Silvers behind me); the other was the last seat on a 767-300 (I was on a full Y fare that jumped me up).
I am 2 for 2 on ATL-LAS though. Helped once that the plane was a 767-400 (got the last seat; there were about 8 or 9 other Silvers behind me); the other was the last seat on a 767-300 (I was on a full Y fare that jumped me up).
#8
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Hopefully on a plane...
Posts: 6,580
Basically, ATL to any major metro city on the Left Coast-and to some extent, vice versa. Some examples:
1) ATL-LAX
2) ATL-SFO
3) ATL-SLC
4) ATL-SEA
5) ATL-LAS
LAX-ATL evening flights (before midnight).
I've been on H fares on some of these segments over the past couple of years, and as a PM-have been at times #xx of 25+ on the upgrade list. Just last week, I was #9 of 27 on a Q fare from LAX-ATL (DL1556, 10:40p flight) with 5 FC seats available. Two weeks ago, I was on an H fare from ATL-SEA in the morning and was #8 of 17 with no FC seats. (I did score a G upgrade for the SEA-ATL return, though ^)
It seems that nothing short of full Y is your best bet for a UG from ATL to the Left Coast-as a PM. GM and FOs can forget about it.
1) ATL-LAX
2) ATL-SFO
3) ATL-SLC
4) ATL-SEA
5) ATL-LAS
LAX-ATL evening flights (before midnight).
I've been on H fares on some of these segments over the past couple of years, and as a PM-have been at times #xx of 25+ on the upgrade list. Just last week, I was #9 of 27 on a Q fare from LAX-ATL (DL1556, 10:40p flight) with 5 FC seats available. Two weeks ago, I was on an H fare from ATL-SEA in the morning and was #8 of 17 with no FC seats. (I did score a G upgrade for the SEA-ATL return, though ^)
It seems that nothing short of full Y is your best bet for a UG from ATL to the Left Coast-as a PM. GM and FOs can forget about it.
#9
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: AUS DL PM MM, HH LTD
Posts: 1,852
I flew MCO-ATL-DCA and return almost weekly for seven years as a PM. After they changed the rules where you couldn't upgrade at time of booking with a K fare, the Monday morning ATL DCA became almost impossible (around 10%) and the Thursday afternoon DCA ATL was even worse (less than 5%) for upgrades. I would find myself as a PM as far down as 20th to 25th on the list coming home from DCA; especially with the problem of the computer still putting government fares on the list as Y. Somewhat surprisingly, DCA CVG almost always cleared; I just couldn't take it often as DL kept moving around the connection times in CVG so that I couldn't make it home.
Marc
Marc
#10
Join Date: May 2004
Location: New Orleans, LA (MSY)
Programs: DL 1 MM/DM; HH Lifetime Diamond; Hertz Presidents Circle
Posts: 986
On weekday mornings-early afternoons? I guess I should rephrase. Scoring upgrades from ATL to the Left Coast during peak hours is difficult.
I had a 9:57a flight (DL1557) ATL-SEA and didn't make the upgrade on an H fare. Had I flown after 4p, I probably would've scored an upgrade. The SEA-ATL return was easier (night flight on G upgrade).
I had a 9:57a flight (DL1557) ATL-SEA and didn't make the upgrade on an H fare. Had I flown after 4p, I probably would've scored an upgrade. The SEA-ATL return was easier (night flight on G upgrade).
#11
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Hopefully on a plane...
Posts: 6,580
On weekday mornings-early afternoons? I guess I should rephrase. Scoring upgrades from ATL to the Left Coast during peak hours is difficult.
I had a 9:57a flight (DL1557) ATL-SEA and didn't make the upgrade on an H fare. Had I flown after 4p, I probably would've scored an upgrade. The SEA-ATL return was easier (night flight on G upgrade).
I had a 9:57a flight (DL1557) ATL-SEA and didn't make the upgrade on an H fare. Had I flown after 4p, I probably would've scored an upgrade. The SEA-ATL return was easier (night flight on G upgrade).
I didn't ever have to take the mid-day flights from ATL-SEA and I avoided the morning SEA-ATL flights because I hate losing an entire day flying (unless I'm getting paid of course).
#12
Join Date: Mar 2007
Programs: Delta PM/CRC, AA GLD/AC, SPG Gold
Posts: 405
I agree with NOLA flyer...my experience getting up front from ATL to Left coast and back is bad. As a result I now do all sorts of preemptive gymnastics to confirm a seat up front without relying on MU's. (My experience SEA-ATL have been the worst, though admittedly the flights were mostly as an FO).
#13
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: SDF
Posts: 3,302
ATL-LAS (and v.v.) is off and on, you'll have flights with upgrades for sale and flights where you are #30 on the list. There are definitely more difficult routes (LAX, SFO, SEA).
#14
Join Date: Nov 2004
Programs: Marriott Platinum Delta Platinum AA Platinum
Posts: 578
I must say I find ATL-LAS realtively wasy, I think I am at 100% there but ATL-LAX is a challenge for me sometimes.
#15
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: NYC
Programs: AA Plat, Delta Plat, Bonvoy Plat, Hilton Diamon
Posts: 1,262