Direct Flight Upgrades
Feb 6, 2006 | 10:00 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: IND
Programs: DL 2M DM; Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 888
Direct Flight Upgrades
Good evening--question for you all. I am looking at flying NW1577 on 19 FEB that is listed as a direct CLT-IND flight but does stop in DTW. Does anyone know if your chances for an upgrade are generally worse for flights such as this because it requires the same seat to be open on both legs or better because you get on the plane at the flight's originating point? Just curious 
Feb 6, 2006 | 10:06 pm
#2
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Astoria, NY: LGA, JFK
Programs: Delta PM; Sheraton's Vistana BOD; SPG Gold
Posts: 2,036
As a general rule, it is good to avoid "direct" flights. You lose mileage and, as you say, there must be upgrade availability on both legs
Feb 6, 2006 | 10:10 pm
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Floating around
Programs: UA Plat (1MM), DL Gold (1MM), Marriott LTT
Posts: 11,218
Furthermore, I believe upgrade availability is different for "direct" flights that have a stop. Having R availability on both CLT-DTW and DTW-IND isn't enough...there must be specific R availability throughout. Just because there's EUA seats on both flight separately doesn't mean it's available for the combined flight.
-RM
-RM
Feb 6, 2006 | 10:39 pm
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: IND
Programs: DL 2M DM; Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 888
Unfortunately there's slim pickin' left for this trip, which has been a pain to plan. I do try to avoid the direct option but in this case, the 918a departure sure beats a 600am when you hope to have a bit of fun Saturday night. I think I'll save the time, $100 and if I find myself less than 200 miles short of Gold or Plat, make a year end MR.
Feb 7, 2006 | 6:13 am
#5
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: NYC
Posts: 8,688
Originally Posted by RobOnLI
Furthermore, I believe upgrade availability is different for "direct" flights that have a stop. Having R availability on both CLT-DTW and DTW-IND isn't enough...there must be specific R availability throughout. Just because there's EUA seats on both flight separately doesn't mean it's available for the combined flight.
Feb 7, 2006 | 2:30 pm
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Floating around
Programs: UA Plat (1MM), DL Gold (1MM), Marriott LTT
Posts: 11,218
Originally Posted by themicah
Even worse, assuming both legs are on the same equipment, I'm pretty sure the SAME seat (i.e., 2A, 4B, etc.) has to be free on both legs, since I don't think the computer can assign you to different seats numbers on the two legs of the "direct" flight. You might find a GA who can override that on the battlefield, but I don't think EUA will.
e.g. NW212 runs LGA-DTW-SEA, I've taken it rarely but never had a problem upgrading it at the 5/6 day window.
-RM