Paid Upgrade at Gate?
Aug 11, 2008, 7:45 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2008
Location: DEN
Posts: 184
Paid Upgrade at Gate?
Hello,
We're flying SAV-ATL-LIM in Oct and was wondering about a paid upgrade for ATL-LIM leg? We have no status and are booked in T.
Alternatively, if I call a day before (or on the day) would DL give us a "deal" to upgrade? Or just save those seats for last minute / award pax?
From searching the forum I don't think there's much chance, but with airline policies changing so much, maybe someone in the know can advise?
Thanks for your help!
We're flying SAV-ATL-LIM in Oct and was wondering about a paid upgrade for ATL-LIM leg? We have no status and are booked in T.
Alternatively, if I call a day before (or on the day) would DL give us a "deal" to upgrade? Or just save those seats for last minute / award pax?
From searching the forum I don't think there's much chance, but with airline policies changing so much, maybe someone in the know can advise?
Thanks for your help!
Aug 11, 2008, 7:54 am
#2
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Seat 1A (hopefully) between JAN and ???
Programs: DL PM .313 MM & CRC, AA .453 MM, HH Silver, Priority Club, Fairmont President's Club
Posts: 261
Dream on. But welcome to flyertalk. You've come to the right place for answers to your airline FF program questions.
Aug 11, 2008, 7:57 am
#3
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Atlanta
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold, Marriott Silver, Starwood Platinum
Posts: 3,656
The deal is paying the difference between a J tix and your T ticket. In the unlikely event they may do an OP up but very unlikly with no status and low fare class.
Aug 11, 2008, 7:59 am
#4
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Miramar, FL
Programs: DL Charter DM/3.4 MM, DLAmex Plat, PC Plat, MR Gold, HH Diamond, National Exec Elite, Hertz Gold 5*
Posts: 263
Without status, you will not be able to upgrade a "T" fare.
Aug 11, 2008, 8:00 am
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Ponte Vedra Beach, FL
Programs: DL PM, HH Diamond, Fairmont Prem, SPG Gold, Priority Club Plat/IC Amb, AmEx Plat
Posts: 10,839
Welcome to FT.
As others have mentioned, you have no chance of upgrading your T fare. T is the lowest paid fare that DL has and is not upgradeable, regardless of the approach you take.
With airlines policies constantly changing, you'll find it more difficult to fly, not easier.
As others have mentioned, you have no chance of upgrading your T fare. T is the lowest paid fare that DL has and is not upgradeable, regardless of the approach you take.
With airlines policies constantly changing, you'll find it more difficult to fly, not easier.
Aug 11, 2008, 8:15 am
#6
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: 10 months VLC, 2 months everywhere else
Programs: *A
Posts: 3,770
Now if you were flying Skyteam member Aeroflot, cerca three years ago, the paid upgrade would be easy. Today it's just about impossible (although I've produced a letter written by a Tashkent doctor stating my knees require biz class and I've been upgraded 4 for 4 going Central Asia to SVO/ICN since Aeroflot became a Skyteam member). 
Aug 11, 2008, 9:12 am
#7
Join Date: Sep 2007
Programs: DL Silver, AS MVP, UA Silver, HHonors Diamond, Marriott Plat, SPG Plat, National Exec Elite
Posts: 3,883
Like the others have said, without status you won't be able to upgrade a T fare. If gate upgrades are available you could buy-up to a K fare and then pay the gate-upgrade fee. This is a risk since if you buy up to a K and get on the paid gate upgrade list, but those upgrades are filled by Medallions, SDCs, or anyone else the Gate Agent may upgrade ahead of you, you would have paid up your fare for nothing.
Aug 11, 2008, 9:26 am
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2008
Location: DEN
Posts: 184
thank you for your replies (and confirming my fears). Looks like it's Y for us for this trip. Oh well.
Aug 11, 2008, 9:47 am
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: About 45 miles NW of MCO
Programs: Acapulco - Gold, Panama - Red, Timothy Leary 8 Mile High Club
Posts: 29,246
Like the others have said, without status you won't be able to upgrade a T fare. If gate upgrades are available you could buy-up to a K fare and then pay the gate-upgrade fee. This is a risk since if you buy up to a K and get on the paid gate upgrade list, but those upgrades are filled by Medallions, SDCs, or anyone else the Gate Agent may upgrade ahead of you, you would have paid up your fare for nothing.
Aug 11, 2008, 8:38 pm
#10
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 170
zsmith2,
What does "OP" stand for in reference to your statement, "In the unlikely event they may do an OP up but very unlikly with no status and low fare class."?
I tried searching but cannot find the answer.
What does "OP" stand for in reference to your statement, "In the unlikely event they may do an OP up but very unlikly with no status and low fare class."?
I tried searching but cannot find the answer.
Aug 11, 2008, 8:44 pm
#11
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: NYC
Programs: AA PLT
Posts: 1,615
Operational upgrade: an undeserved upgrade granted for operational reasons (most often when Y is oversold).
Aug 11, 2008, 8:46 pm
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Ponte Vedra Beach, FL
Programs: DL PM, HH Diamond, Fairmont Prem, SPG Gold, Priority Club Plat/IC Amb, AmEx Plat
Posts: 10,839
Deleted
Aug 12, 2008, 11:32 am
#14
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,688
Just to fully explain the situation to the OP... There are lots of people in line for upgrades. First are people willing to pay miles or Platinum upgrade certificates; must be booked in YBMHQK. Then are medallions; can be booked in YBMHQK or LUT. After that come "no status" folks who are willing to pay a fee to upgrade at the gate; must be booked in YBMHQK. After that, are non-revs.
So, since you're on a T fare, you're out of options. You could buy up to K and then try miles.
The operational upgrade (op up) that was mentioned would happen if coach were oversold and they needed to move some people up front to get everyone into coach. It's a bit unclear how they would do the op ups in this case, since any medallion would already be up front, but it's a very long shot anyway, so...
P.S. There are two uses of OP, just to avoid confusion..."OP" can be "original poster" or part of "op up" meaning "operational upgrade."
So, since you're on a T fare, you're out of options. You could buy up to K and then try miles.
The operational upgrade (op up) that was mentioned would happen if coach were oversold and they needed to move some people up front to get everyone into coach. It's a bit unclear how they would do the op ups in this case, since any medallion would already be up front, but it's a very long shot anyway, so...
P.S. There are two uses of OP, just to avoid confusion..."OP" can be "original poster" or part of "op up" meaning "operational upgrade."
Aug 12, 2008, 12:52 pm
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: About 45 miles NW of MCO
Programs: Acapulco - Gold, Panama - Red, Timothy Leary 8 Mile High Club
Posts: 29,246
Just to fully explain the situation to the OP... There are lots of people in line for upgrades. First are people willing to pay miles or Platinum upgrade certificates; must be booked in YBMHQK. Then are medallions; can be booked in YBMHQK or LUT. After that come "no status" folks who are willing to pay a fee to upgrade at the gate; must be booked in YBMHQK. After that, are non-revs.
So, since you're on a T fare, you're out of options. You could buy up to K and then try miles.
The operational upgrade (op up) that was mentioned would happen if coach were oversold and they needed to move some people up front to get everyone into coach. It's a bit unclear how they would do the op ups in this case, since any medallion would already be up front, but it's a very long shot anyway, so...
P.S. There are two uses of OP, just to avoid confusion..."OP" can be "original poster" or part of "op up" meaning "operational upgrade."
So, since you're on a T fare, you're out of options. You could buy up to K and then try miles.
The operational upgrade (op up) that was mentioned would happen if coach were oversold and they needed to move some people up front to get everyone into coach. It's a bit unclear how they would do the op ups in this case, since any medallion would already be up front, but it's a very long shot anyway, so...
P.S. There are two uses of OP, just to avoid confusion..."OP" can be "original poster" or part of "op up" meaning "operational upgrade."