Elite Upgrade Helpful Tips
Sep 9, 2007, 10:24 am
#16
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Floating around
Programs: UA 1K (1MM), DL Gold (1MM), Marriott LTT
Posts: 10,346
Well with 139k eqm's this year I have rarely paid more than a K fare (maybe once or twice) on all very elite heavy routes BOS-SFO/LAX and have only missed 2 UG all year. I realize that fare class likely plays a role in BF's but the quote you cite does not say fare classes but rather "class of service" which is the cabin not the fare. It is my belief from experience that the date of booking is the tie breaker not the fare class (other than Y and B)
Help me?
-RM
PS - I did just arrive in London after flying all night so I'm a bit tired and might be missing what you're saying.
Sep 9, 2007, 12:18 pm
#17
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: TPA, PHL
Programs: NW: SE & WC
Posts: 2,136
Even if fare basis is a factor in determining EUA priority within an Elite level, I have seen a situation in which Gold or, I imagine, a Silver with the same fare basis can trump a Platinum. In fact a gold can trump not just a platinum but platinums even if the the gold purchases his ticket at the same time as the platinums and with the same farebasis. This is a quiz guys. Does anyone know the answer?
Last edited by ed1; Sep 9, 2007 at 12:29 pm
Sep 9, 2007, 12:55 pm
#18
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 22,778
This (lower level elite trumps higher level elite) should only happen in a few circumstances: if it's a full Y fare, -26, -27, -UP fare (even a non-elite goes up on a -UP), they're a PE companion on the same PNR, purchased UG or F/P ticket, received an UG at EUA before the higher level elite's ticket was in the system, or the were booked into F (from VDB, etc.) by CSA. I think I covered all the exceptions, not just those that fit your example.
Sep 10, 2007, 3:18 pm
#19
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: DTW
Programs: NW Platinum Elite, *Wood Platinum, HHonors Diamond, Hertz PC, National Exec Elite
Posts: 1,644
Sep 10, 2007, 3:22 pm
#20
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: SYD+TYO+GFK
Programs: UA 1K, QF Plat, VA Gold, IHG Spire Ambassador, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold, Coles FlyBuys
Posts: 2,805
Sorry to interject, but I'd like to post my thanks to NW Scoop for continuing to positively contribute... the page is a step in the right direction!
I sure would like to know more about what MNAudiS4 posted, because I've seen it too (Silvers on non-full-fare tickets trumping Plats who purchased in advance of the 5-day window but in a lower fare class).
I sure would like to know more about what MNAudiS4 posted, because I've seen it too (Silvers on non-full-fare tickets trumping Plats who purchased in advance of the 5-day window but in a lower fare class).
Sep 10, 2007, 6:12 pm
#21
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: TPA, PHL
Programs: NW: SE & WC
Posts: 2,136
Fare class, when you book all come into play.
I have seen silvers and golds on 800 dollar tickets to San jose upgraded 4/5 days out while i have to fight for a battlefield on a 425 dollar ticket.
They can admit it or deny it, but i have seen it 5 times now going to our corporate headquarters in san jose.
They buy B fares i buy the H fare and fight for the upgrade,
I have seen silvers and golds on 800 dollar tickets to San jose upgraded 4/5 days out while i have to fight for a battlefield on a 425 dollar ticket.
They can admit it or deny it, but i have seen it 5 times now going to our corporate headquarters in san jose.
They buy B fares i buy the H fare and fight for the upgrade,
Sep 10, 2007, 6:58 pm
#22
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: MSP
Programs: Lapsed DL North PE, now nothing
Posts: 701
I got a F upgrade on a V fare along with a "Thank you for being such a good customer of our airline" last Saturday night DTW-DUS. Completely unasked for, completely exciting, and completely wonderful! It must have been oversold, but still...my gosh! I must have done something right.
Sep 10, 2007, 8:55 pm
#23
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 447
I have seen this as well. I was flying with a co-worker who was a silver on a M-fare who was upgraded before me (Platinum on a H-fare) in May. In fact, when I was a Silver a few years ago, I was the beneficiary of this a few times.
Sep 11, 2007, 5:00 am
#24
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 22,778
Ha Ha. Really, there is a scenario in which a PE can be passed over for upgrades although their time of purchase or farebasis was no worse or better than that of a the junior elite who passed them over.
Sep 11, 2007, 6:24 am
#25
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: DTW
Programs: NW Platinum Elite, *Wood Platinum, HHonors Diamond, Hertz PC, National Exec Elite
Posts: 1,644
What is, timing OLCI when R is released inside 24 hours and hitting it before a plat.
Sep 11, 2007, 7:53 am
#26
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: MSP
Programs: DL DM, Marriott Plat, National Exec Elite
Posts: 1,357
Silver / Gold UPgrade before Plat
Everytime i have other co-workers that book different fare classes that are gold/silver and they get upgraded before me. I have sat next to a number of people from XYZ that bought a 8xx dollar ticket 10 days out and that was silver or gold and got upgraded, 3-5 days out. While i got a battlefield upgrade.
Just look at all the silver/gold tags when you don't get your upgrade sitting up in first class.
It is what it is, it happens more on the routes that tend to have the high B/M fares within 2 weeks of departure
Sep 11, 2007, 8:02 am
#27
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: MSP
Programs: DL DM, Marriott Plat, National Exec Elite
Posts: 1,357
Sep 11, 2007, 3:47 pm
#28
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: AUS
Programs: AA Exec Platinum/MM, DL Gold/MM, Hilton Diamond, Accor Platinum, Hertz Presidents Circle
Posts: 6,978
Everytime i have other co-workers that book different fare classes that are gold/silver and they get upgraded before me. I have sat next to a number of people from XYZ that bought a 8xx dollar ticket 10 days out and that was silver or gold and got upgraded, 3-5 days out. While i got a battlefield upgrade.
Sep 12, 2007, 8:30 am
#29
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: MEL
Programs: DL, QF, QR Gold, MR Lifetime Gold
Posts: 7,004
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Sep 12, 2007, 1:11 pm
#30
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 22,778
That's not always a good indication. On my last 2 AMS-DTW flights I thought it was raining gold tags, but when I started to look more carefully I noticed that most of them were from previous years. (I even saw a AF Frequence Plus tag, and that program has been discontinued for a while now.)
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