Best strategy to silver upgrade???
 

if threads exists please direct me...

I apprecaite any help.

Ive got a MR on sat. PHX-PVD-PHX, connection in DTW. been upgraded the DTW-PVD-DTW flights (in typical NW style- about two days before the flight :D), but not the PHX-DTW-PHX legs.

those are the long ones, with meals and what not. there are still seats up front but not R class.

what's better? check-in at the 24 hour mark and get on list, or possibly snag a newly released seat, or wait to check in and let the system sweap again in hopes of the getting the EUA. i know on CO, this concept is highly contested. not sure about NW. this would be my first NW flights without early EUA's in nearly 5 years.

Thanks.

I haven't had to do this in awhile since I am Plat now with a 100 percent upgrade rate but when I was a Silver/Gold and had not been updated, I would go to the online check-in once an hour and let it ask me if I wanted and upgrade. Sometimes an R seat would open up and I would get it. Typically this happened more on the day of departure as people used FlyNow (or other methods) to change their flights.

On PHX-DTW vv that is your only hope.

that's what i figured.

I didnt realize that flight was going to be so full on a sat. i thought i would be a shoe in for a RT FC MR. oh well. ill try my best. Lunesta and Nintendo DS will be my friends on the 5 hour Y journey.

I was upgraded in the BF on PHX-DTW in and out (thursday and saturday morning) in November last year when they had 757 service as SE, so its not such a lost case. Keep the hope!

You should do a search on OLCI and 23:59...

http://flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=492351

I read the thread you cited and it just made my head hurt. Is there any definative best strategy?

Silver EUA on a hub-westcoast with meal? I'm listening to Sirius Raw Dog, and I laughed harder at that... ;)

Since you're Silver, enjoy not paying most fees, secure a bulk-head seat (5 or 16 window), bring some noise cancelling headphones, drink heaviliy in the terminal, and sleep while you can.

Steve B.

What if Colleen or Yolanda from WN are around? :D

As a Silver on that particular flight, I would say your best bet is to check-in at 23:59

PHX-DTW is a route, where they are more likely to hold back R inventory in the hopes that they may actually get someone to buy an F seat or paid upgrade. I've noticed it seems on any of the West Coast runs they generally hold back a decent number of seats from R inventory.

Since it is likely a morning departure, I would not expect much movement in terms of other F passenger doing stand-by / Fly-Now for earlier flights.
Very doubtful they would release additional R inventory within 24 hours on this route.

It has been debated that there have been some recent changes to the EUA process where it may no longer matter if you have checked-in or not should R inventory open-up.

As a Silver your best bet is to be at the top of the Upgrade List and hope for a BF. It will likely come down to Fare Class, so if you're on a K-fare even then 23:59 may not necessarily help.

I've had good luck this year at getting upgraded on DTW-PHX, DTW-LAS routes as a Silver. EUA on DTW-PHX, PHX-DTW, BF on DTW-LAS, EUA on LAS-DTW

Well it should because there are multiple strategies and there is no one right answer. The best decision is an educated one so make sure you understand all the implications/possibilities and hope for the best.

I agree with sbagdon, chances are slim - esp with the DL-inflated elite ranks out there. While my EUA percentage has been relatively good late (like 80%), class avail after the EUA's have run have been like P2F2 at best and I've been seeing mostly PE/GE;s clear at the gate.

If I were a SE, I would base my decision on fare availability. If it's P4F4 or above, I'd probably stay unchecked in but anything less I'd check in. The probability of all GE/PE's who haven't been EUA'd not checking in is probably high. And if all PE/GE's have cleared, it's unlikely that all SE's will clear overnight.

I have actually been EUA'd on all legs now except PHX-DTW. DTW-PHX (yes, silver with meal) EUA'd last night.

I went ahead and checked in at 23:59. however, i think i may have screwed up. I clicked yes for the upgrade. it told me no, and that i was on the SB list. but i did not check in. i checked the stsanby list, though and it said i was listed.

I ended up checking in and printing a few hours later.

I have 16A on the 757, so its not that bad.

I am still shocked that a 7am sat flight is so full.