BritNYC

I felt I had to reply with an earlier comment with regards not upgrading Platinum Medallions on international flights.

This year on domestic and one trip to Mexico I am 100% successful on being upgraded, however i find the policy of buying a YBM ticket to use a PMU as an upgrade quite shocking. On Air France if you fly on the non peak hours you as a Gold FB member routinely get an upgrade into Business, (which is substantially better than the current BE product).

The current international upgrade policy doesnt reward elite+ platinums and is something that should be addressed. Currently im considering switching to Oneworld as a Gold BA Exec Club member im pretty sure gets that coveted flat bed on a transatlantic sLUT fare....

motytrah

I'm very surprised at this thread. There have been a number of threads over the last year in the NW forum about how NW should deploy an upgrade system like DL has. From what I'm reading here, perhaps the grass is not so green in DL land.

Since NW's "big thing" is the upgrades, Non-Revs in Domestic FC is a very big deal. Very rarely you'll see a uniformed FA/FO in FC, which is a contract obligation under very specific circumstances. GAs on NW will hand off new Board Passes to the FA to upgrade Elites into any empty seats. Perhaps the paper trail is what keeps everyone honest.

On the other hand the complaint with NW has always been who's on the list U/G list and are who should be ahead of who. (i.e. I'm a more important PE than anyone else). The assumption is the computer screen fixes everything because the computer is an impartial arbiter of upgrades. Sounds like there are some issues.

SFO777

This is the way it should be and exactly how CO handles it. CO elites can (pre) board and still not lose their upgrade priority. ^

DMIrishFlyer

Couldn't agree more - how much effort can it be to print boarding passes, bring them on the plane and have an FA take care of upgrading already boarded elites.

JJLA35

After reading all these post I can't believe that the DL GA'S don't check the first class cabin before they close the door and if there are empty seats, up grade the elites. I have been on many NW flights where GA's have come back to Y and handed pax's new BP's and moved them up front. If the flight is closed it only takes a min or two to reprint BP'S and move elites up. Why do you lose your right to and upgrade after you board in Y? That makes no sense at all. No wonder DL elites are not happy. I wouldn't be either sitting in Y looking at empty FIRST CLASS seats.

meh130

M-fare will not get you a BE seat with a PMU or miles. M-fare will get you an empty Z-fare seat in the BE cabin with a PMU or miles. One of the empty seats has to be a Z-fare seat to get upgraded.

This is the part about DL I really hate. I think DL should allow day of flight upgrades for empty BE seats for PMUs or miles if you are in a high-fare economy category.

On a flight from ATL-CDG on an M-fare and Z-fare waitlisted PMU in hand I was put in coach with 6 empty BE seats up front.

I only got upgraded with a PMU on an M-fare from CDG-ATL (after first being told I was upgraded at check-in, then not upgraded, and to check at the gate, then at the gate being told "non, c'est impossible" at the gate) because the AF gate agents (who work the DL flights at CDG) started upgrading people left and right (I assume based on fare or AF FF status), so I told the GA I was waitlisted for an upgrade. He just gave me the upgrade and had no clue what PMU was. The husband of one woman who was upgraded managed to whine his way up front via an FA.

DL is not NW, AA, or UA when it comes to international upgrades. Using PMUs is as difficult as finding SkySaver BE seats.

meh130

And such charity is a fireable offense for an FA at DL. At least that is what I have been told.

The question was how four empty F seats could be blocked off. Was it a coincidence or a conspiracy?

meh130

I think the general opinion is DL has the best domestic upgrade program, hands down. But at the same time, DL has the worst international upgrade program.

For me that works, as I rarely fly international. Even as a mere GM this year, I have gotten a few upgrades well in advance. PMs on a good fare get upgraded a lot, PMs on a discount fare still can get upgraded on some routes, GMs on a good fare get upgraded a lot, and depending on the route, GMs on a discount fare can get upgraded.

For international, I just live vicariously through my colleges on the west coast who get to fly UA international.

But on the bright side, int'l upgrade stingy DL will have the best int'l coach seats in the industry in a couple of years.

SFO777

Wow, DL must really be bad if you're envious of UA international.

BravoZulu

Perhaps a minor points, but . . .

OP stated that she/he arrived at gate 11 min. before flight time.

OP arrived with less than 15 min. before flight time (GAs clear upgrades at 15 min. mark).

All passengers to be onboard at 10 min. mark and OP just begins a discussion when GA is trying to close out flight and claims GA is rude?

OP did not ensure name was on upgrade list; why didn't OP fulfill her/his responsibility to be considered for upgrade? (might I ask when OP actually confirmed on flight?)

With all of these, I cannot see why OP warranted upgrade. Consequently, I think that it's irrelevant who actually got to ride in the front.

But that's just my view . . .

surferdl

In response to the last post, I walked out of the crown room at A, my gate was A 17 so I was right there about 40 mins before departure, that is when I asked the GA about upgrading, and got the attitude, so I came back at 11 mins before departure, asked again, and was really given the tude to the point I just didnt care anymore, but when i walked on the plane and saw the 4 empty seats, i was kind of shocked.

My upgrade success has been pretty good, I cant really complain at all about it, just kind of confusing to me when what happened happened.

I have no need to make anything up, and I know how to travel really well and i was raised always to be polite, which includes southern hospitality manners ( people from the south can understand).

Its not my first picnic.

FlySkyTeam

Is this actually true or not really enforced? I was on a BOM - JFK flight and there was a family with two children who were clearly under or around 8 years old flying in Biz Elite.

Though I will say, they were extremely behaved and definitely enjoyed their True Flat Suite Beds :-) I wish I had parents back in the day that got me these fares!

woody125

Oh yes it is very true but we are speaking about Pass Riders here. Kids on paid or award or upgraded tickets are welcomed to fly up front.

RichMSN

NW, imo, has the best domestic UG program. As a PLT, I was upgraded almost 90% of my domestic flights last year and am 16-for-17 this year.

Also, I can't believe that people on the upgrade standby list are expected to wait at the gate and give up on the priority boarding luggage space on DL. On NW and CO, the GA will come on board and do a "battlefield" upgrade before they close up.

It would be miserable to be on the upgrade waitlist and then not get upgraded and then have to check a bag cause the overhead was full. Worse yet, it appears that if someone already checked in no-shows or misconnects that the GA might say that first is full only to NOT upgrade PLTs who have followed instructions and boarded. Instead the PLT gets to look at the empty seat the entire flight.

Sounds pretty miserable to me, actually.