Janus

I recently earned Silver Elite on Northwest and (so far) have received first class upgrades 100% of the time (8/8). My flights have been primarily Sundays: MSP>SEA and Fridays: SEA>MSP. I also have one Sunday: MSP>MDW, and one Sunday: MSP>EWR. All fare were cheapest possible (not priceline cheap, but not full Y either). And most booked between 1-4 weeks before departure.

So my question is, am I just lucky enough to be picking routes that are elite light, or is this a common success rate for all Silvers? Also, I am a little over 6,000 EQM from Gold, if I am just experiencing a little luck, is there a significant upgrade difference once gold?

BTW: I just got a text about today’s EWR>MSP flight: "F class full/Standby full"

hw711

Don't know about the other routes but Sunday MSP->MDW is REALLY easy to get upgraded on. Often time, there are empty seats in F even after all the elites are upgraded. Sometimes I'd get in MSP early enough to run to catch the flight before my schedule flight (ie showing up at the gate 10 minutes before take off) and I'm still 100% on that route on Sundays.

Monday morning first MSP->MDW flight is a totally different story. I have yet to be upgraded on that flight.

But generally speaking (random routes over long period of time), I'd say SE get upgraded about 50% of the time and GE gets upgraded about 75% of the time. I'll let you know how PE is like in 2 weeks.

Alpha Golf

You've been incredibly lucky, I'd say. Minnie-SEA is very elite-heavy, and looks like you'e flying busy times.

Gold should definitely help.

sryan2k1

It's just based on the routes you fly and the times you fly them, when I was silver (and gold now) everywhere I go besides LAX I've seen almost a 90% UG rate.

hnewman

Unless Alpha Golf is buying Y fares then I would expect it.

cfischer

MSP-SEA is crazy to get through all the time as a SE. Congrats!

FlyTheFriendlyMonkey

What fare class did you book?

mnredfox

Congrats you are lucky, MSP-SEA is elite heavy. MSP-MDW does go out with F empty a lot. Keep that route.

Janus

Here is the list:
4xQ
3xL
1xH


BTW: what is better for upgrades, MDW or ORD? Destination wise, airport does not matter.

And before anyone gets too envious, my 100% streak is broken, EWR-MSP last Friday, 17 of 19 on the upgrade list. Tomorrow's MSP-EWR is also on the standby list.

hw711

Probably about the same. I avoid ord like a plague. Mdw is closer to the city and ord's security line takes forever.

tvnwz

This year has been a bumper year for Silver and Gold upgrades. I would guess that fully 30% or more of my flights go out with empty FC seats. That means it is upgrade time for those who usually sit in the back. I have met a guy who last year never got an upgrade as Silver on the TPA>DTW run. This year he is 5 for 5.

We all know that won't last, but it will last until the economy improves and business travel resumes anything near normal levels.

avidflyer

Lucky but now you will suffer the FlyerTalk curse. Mention your luck here and it will surely go away just long enough for you to say " I will never open my mouth about UG luck again"