Generally, how does a complimentary first class elite upgrade work for U.S. airlines, such as Delta, Continental, United, USAir and American?

For example, I am silver medallion on Delta. So 24 hours before my flight, i check-in, and if there is a first class seat available, then i am upgraded? always?

Is that true? If so, that means its first come first serve right?

What about other airlines I mentioned, is it the same?

Thank you-

i believe that on aa, it is status first, then request time......then it goes to the gate people about 4 hrs before flight time....you cen request an ug when you buy the flight and you can request that you be put on the gate list.....

Every airline has at least slightly different policies, some are vastly different. You'd be best served looking in specific airline forums for any sticky FAQ threads.

AA and UA require some form of purchase, miles or instrument (500-milers, SWU's) for an upgrade. Though it happens, it's generally not assumed that an elite traveler with receive an upgrade on these airlines without these or some other reason.

DL, CO and US all provide complimentary upgrades to elites. Not exactly sure how DL and CO work on timing but US works like this: On North American flights only, provided the proper inventory is available, elites are upgraded automatically at the 7, 4, 3 or 2 day windows depending on status level. A single companion is upgraded at the same time if two seats are available, otherwise I believe they are skipped over. Also, members with more than one companion are not automatically upgraded.

I don"t know too much about other airlines but on UA. The upgrade is requested using 4 different instruments. With Miles, SWU, CR1's they clear as soon as there is availability. With e500's it clears based on status.

"e500s clear based on status. If upgrade space exists, upgrades clear according to [UA]:

* GS: 120 hours
* 1K: 100 hours
* 1P: 72 hours
* 2P: 48 hours
* 3P: 36 hours
* GM: 24 hours"
Quoted from http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...-upgrades.html

If you are Delta silver you now have Gold,Platinum, and Diamond in front of you. Also the airline can hold seats for a full fare customers up to departure time. Employees who are going to work can jump in front of you on seats. Go to the Delta forum and read. Some Flyertalker actually posted at fatastic Matrix chart on another web site showing who can upgrade in front of you....even what breaks it takes to break a tie if both of you are silver... In that case if you had a Delta Surpass(or super duper delta credit card) you win.

Welcome to FT!

As you can see, it varies considerably between airlines. (I'm somewhat surprised at how many people aren't familiar with how other airlines do this--you'd think FlyerTalkers would be general experts on everything...or at least have done research so they know which upgrade style--with instruments or complimentary free-for-all--will work best for them! )

Since it's so vastly different between carriers, I'd reiterate the suggestion to look in the individual forums of each airline and ask clarifying questions there.

BTW, add AS to the list of those offering complimentary upgrades.

Also, a hint: if you edit your profile to add your current location, fellow FTers can help you choose a program better, since different carriers are stronger in different parts of the country. If you're already a program member (and/or an elite of a particular program), posting that can help us know how best to recommend things to you.

Or possibly the OP is one of those rara avis around here who selects an airline on the basis of its going where he needs to go and then figures out one FF plan to make it work for him.

"Always?" No way. The F cabin has a finite size. You have your priority in the airline's pecking order. You will only get an upgrade if all those ahead of you, including anyone who buys an F ticket, didn't fill it before your turn came around.

Not exactly correct. On AA, top-tier (Executive Platinum) travelers get free upgrades. Others have to give something in return, perhaps not money.

Also on AA, and I believe on other airlines, there are a variety of ways to upgrade. For example, one can use miles (perhaps with a co-pay, depending on fare class), SWUs (sometimes called eVIPs in AA-speak), or 500-mile upgrade credits (aka "stickers," not needed by EXPs) and perhaps others. These, too, have their priority order. Details are in each airline's forum.

Both excellent suggestions, +1.

Also, as a lower tier member there is lots of competition for those few F seats. In some ways, programs like United's make it more feasible for lower tier members to upgrade because everyone with higher status is not automatically ahead of you unless they have decided to "pay" for the upgrade with some sort of currency.

The tradeoff for that as far as many of the 1Ks are concerned are the SWUs (system wide upgrade certificates) and the markedly better service they get from UA. From what I can gather, many of them are international business travelers whose companies buy the front cabin and leisure travelers who utilize the SWUs for long trips and who do not do much short-haul domestic. But the lower tier members do have a better shot at the upgrades on domestic flights than they do at some of the other airlines.

Those of us who travel on business and whose companies insist that we buy the cheapest ticket find that the airline that upgrades domestically strictly by status is the best choice. Most of us qualify for top tier and those who do run well in excess of 80% upgrades from such companies as Delta, even on the lowest fare ticket. On those airlines, complementary upgrades for lower tier and base members are few and far between.