First off, this post is simply a lengthy reflection of how my “flying life” has changed over the past three years. I’m sure many of you are far, far more qualified to write such an anecdote, but after describing a recent r/t to some colleagues who took the same trip, their sense of disbelief gave me pause. As I write this, I wonder: does all the knowledge we gain from participating on this board and all the experience we gain from frequent flying, really make our travel experiences less stressful?

So here is my story

I attended a conference in New Orleans this past weekend (Wed-Sat). I was scheduled to fly PIT/ATL/MSY on Wednesday afternoon, and return MSY/ATL/PIT on Saturday evening. I checked on the status of my upgrade (GM) throughout the normal time that upgrades clear; but neither leg did.

Preparing to Depart

On Tuesday, at exactly 24 hours, I used the OLCI. I then proceeded to refresh the upgrade list over and over. For some reason, the list never showed up for my PIT/ATL segment, but I continued to drop for my ATL/MSY segment. Given this, the forecast for T-storms in ATL, and the fact that my lay-over was 3 hours, I began to check around for alternate flights. When I woke up on Wednesday, the weather and upgrade lists still didn’t look good. I opted to SDC to a flight through DTW which had an RJ for the 1st leg, and an A319 for the 2nd leg.

Wednesday - The Outbound

As I left for the airport I was 5/14 on the upgrade list with 7 seats open. I got to PIT, checked at the gate to see if I could do better than 13A on the RJ. The GA told me there was only one other seat open, and it was also in the back of the plane. I boarded to discover that the other seat was 13B, lucky me. After sitting on the tarmac for 25 minutes (often happens to get worked into the pattern for DTW), we took off, and landed in DTW about 30 minutes late.

I immediately went to the kiosk and saw that I was still in 17B (no upgrade at T-50 minutes), but that several really good seats were now open (upgrades had been processed). I switched to 15C, then headed from the B to A terminal. I got to the gate, opened my laptop, pulled up Delta.com and checked the upgrade list. I was 2/12, but F was now showing full. I walked up to the GA, asked if there was any likely misconnects in F, and she said no. Boarding began at T-30, and I watched only 5 people get on when they called for First. I also watched Zone 1 and 2 board, and only 3 people in this group got new seats when their BPs were scanned. Thinking there were still 4 seats left in F, I told the GA I was going to wait, and sat by the desk. I checked the list again, and I was now 1/5. Another GA had come along, and she asked if I needed help. I told her my plan and she said she would let me know when they were ready to bust the seats. A couple showed up at T-15 and dropped the number of seats in F to 2. At T-11, a guy came running up and halved that number. Finally, the two GAs said that a local passenger hadn’t shown, and that I could have the seat. I took my new boarding pass, walked down the jet bridge, and into the cabin. All 12 F seats were full. The GA came in behind me, asked the guy sitting in the seat I had been given who he was, and then told me it was the missing guy; he had been there all along. So I went back to Y and took my seat, with my carry-on 10 rows behind me. 3 drink coupons later, we arrived at MSY.

Saturday - The Return

I went off to my conference. By the time I arrived, my upgrade for the ATL/PIT return leg had cleared, but my MSY/ATL leg hadn’t. When I used OLCI, again exactly 24 hours before departure, I was 1/1 with 13 seats left. When I left for the airport I was 2/2; this one would be no problem.

I got to the airport early because I split a cab with some friends. I planned to go to the Skyclub, but before clearing security, I decided to check the kiosk to see if I could change my seat ATL/PIT to an aisle. Then I realized my MSY/ATL flight was delayed, and I would only have 22 minutes in ATL. After going back in forth with 3 agents, I finally got them to put me on an earlier flight out of MSY. The agent told me that Y was full, but that there were 4 seats in F and no Medallions on the list. I had to hurry through security, and I got to the gate just as they were calling Zone 1. I went to board and was told I was on standby. I asked about the open seats in F, and was told to wait and see. I finally was given 1A after all had boarded. I got on, put my luggage somewhere circa row 5, and took my seat. I asked the FA who helped me find a spot for my luggage for a drink, and she said no PFB service as it was a full flight (we left early).

I got to Atlanta and went to another kiosk to see if I could change my window seat to an aisle. I noticed that every seat was taken (according to the map at least). I got to the gate for my ATL/PIT flight, and as soon as the GA cycled over to that flight I saw that 0 seats were unassigned in F or Y. The flight didn’t leave until 10, and I had a 2 hour drive home from PIT, so I asked the GA if the flight was oversold – he said that it was. I went to my netbook, picked out a flight for the next morning, wrote my name, seat number, and the Sunday flight I’d like to take on a slip of paper, handed it to him, and told him I’d like to volunteer. About 20 minutes later another GA called my name, told me I would defiantly be needed, and asked me to stay close by. I waited as the entire flight boarded; towards the very end, a few folks running from their MSY flight (the one I was originally on) got on the plane. The GAs made a few name calls, and then the GA handling the VDB requests told me to board; they ended up taking a party of 2 and letting me and the other guy on the list board (saved them a hotel room I suppose). I got on the plane, and again an FA found me some room for my carry-on, this time about 3 rows behind my seat. I asked for a coffee, and was told that there was no PFB as we were pressed for time (we left on time). I got to PIT and drove home.

Reflections

Three years ago, I would have never changed my flights, tried to get bumped, worried about upgrades, etc. It would have been: fly to Atlanta, eat at Friday’s, wait at the gate, and on to MSY. Return would have been: get on the plane, walk quickly to my connection, get on the plane and go home. All of my understanding of the system and the options afforded to me netted me a crappy seat on an RJ, 3 crappy luggage location flights, one upgrade I would have gotten anyway, and a lot of wasted effort spent wondering and waiting.

So if you haven’t fallen asleep yet, does reading this, or your own experiences ever make you wonder: is it easier to just fly like everyone else, or in the end, does all this posturing and gaming and stress worth it?

On how hard one wants to work.

I usually fly Delta but had to fly to SAT on Thursday. Had to change a $370 reservation to later in the day which cost me $350. It was Spring break weekend so my choices were ugly.

I get there, do what I was supposed to do, and then get to the airport at 9:15 Sunday with a ticket but no seat assignment. Since I'm not a elite with AA, I've been sitting in row 30+. About 20 minutes before boarding, they announce they're looking for volunteers.

I go up and ask about alternatives if I take the deal, I ask to "sit up front." No problem the gate agent says.

Well, to me, the front is in first, but he didn't do it. He did get me in the exit row on both legs and I did get a $300 voucher. I knew how to get further up and partially succeeded. The $300 voucher WILL come in handy if I have to go to the Virgin Islands again next Feb. 10 years ago I would have been lost, now.. it's no big deal - even on a airline I don't have status on.

It's all because of FT.

TBF

Interesting post.

I can safely and honestly say that in some ways, I agree with you. I work to improve my odds (of everything) before booking, at the airport, before the flight, in flight if there's WiFi, and even after I land (to make sure the miles posted before shredding the BP).

Yet, 99% of the time, what I've learned in FT has vastly improved my travel experience and that of anyone who listens to me. Do I know I know more about travel than the average flyer? You bet. A little OCD about my travels? Perhaps. But well worth it overall and FT gets the majority of the credit for "upgrading" this FFs travel happiness.

PS: Before anyone flames you, I'd encourage you to edit your post and create some paragraphs or sections. It makes my eyes hurt as it reads now. Thanks.

As a relative newcomer to the "system" as you call it, I can't really speak from experience. I'm probably somewhat like you were around 3 years ago and, reading your post, I don't even have the understanding to take all the steps you describe. Not yet at least. So it's possible that your post could serve as a fair warning that 'ignorance is bliss' in my attempt to educate myself. Nevertheless, I find that I actually enjoy the hunt - whether it's for a domestic upgrade or the elusive low tier business elite award ticket flight across the Atlantic/Pacific - even if it sometimes involves a lot of work for no gain.

I believe that the OP's reflections are more suited for the TravelBuzz Forum than solely DL.
Please continue to follow this thread in TravelBuzz.
Thanks..
Obscure2k
Delta Moderator

It depends on the level of stress one receives in playing the game. I travel mostly for pleasure and choose to do far worse things than that to myself. I get a little bit stressed on the final return if I have to be somewhere at a specific time, but otherwise, game on - definitely thanks to FT. Almost six years and counting.

Now, OP, find a way to give back for all those upgrades! Nice post.

I learned a long time ago that these games can be really rewarding or really frustrating. It seems that, these days, it's more frustrating than rewarding. But, like Pavlov's dogs, FT has trained me to play the game.

I find having status gets me much more than any of the other tactics I've heard employed.

Some year back, a friend of mine had a baby. She believed that disposable diapers were way too expensive, and instead used cloth diapers on her kid. That meant she had to wash and fold the diapers on a daily basis.

Being the nerdy analyst that I am, I calculated that she was working for 13 cents/ hour.

Lesson to Self: I think in terms of how much money am I saving if I go to heroic efforts to save money on a per-hour basis. Sometimes it just ain't worth it.

I get "stickers" from AA to upgrade. I put in for an upgrade when I have enough stickers. If I get it, great. If not, great. It's not worth my time and hassle to expend any more energy than simply clicking the "upgrade requested" box on the website.

Yea, sometimes knowing all the possibilities become a burden instead of a blessing.

I myself have tried to let go of certain �searches for better�. Could be an emergency exit seat, or an upgrade, or the possibility to be bumped�

I still play the game, but try to mark a timeframe where if things don�t turn as searched for, I just relax, let it go, and try to enjoy the trip as it is. No more pushing the GA, or desperately searching for wifi signal to insist on something that was just not intended to happen.

And I took this approach after seen myself in the mirror of another FF and I didn�t liked what I saw; irritating insistence, prepotently challenging agents to try different approaches that could work even if they are not totally procedure-ethical.

So, yes, I�m a better traveller if I play the game, but I�m even better when I manage to stop the frenetic search for �betterness� and avoid �bitterness� in what can be a lovely trip if I focus on the gains and not on the perks I wasn�t able to achieve.


Cheers

Let's forget the work you did worrying about Upgrades for a moment. By being experienced, you anticipated and successfully avoided problems on both your outbound (storms) and return (delays) legs. Had you done nothing else, by being "smart" about your travels, anticipating problems, and knowing how to investigate alternatives, you made it your destination and back without delays, without running through airports, without worry and stress.

Unfortunately, you didn't stop there, and instead you spent more time worrying about Upgrades. I understand that's a big deal for most FTers, but with each of your flight legs being about 2 hours, I wouldn't have bothered. Of course I understand my hindsight is 20/20

Same here. The biggest thing I've learned is that status with at least one airline is key, and I'll do what I can (reasonably) to earn that just to give me a slight edge whenever I encounter travel-related issues. I've also learned never to accept the first answer I get (if it's not the one I want). I'll call and call and call until I either identify the pattern or get the answer I prefer.

I know what you're trying to get at, but it just doesn't make sense - UNLESS her folding of diapers was taking her away from a paid job. In other words, if the diaper-folding was just replaced with sitting on the couch watching TV, then cloth diapers is still the correct choice. If diaper-folding means one less hour per day spent earning money, then a different decision might be in order...

When it becomes too much info?

Well, it's an issue of your own burden and willingness to accept error and return. I find it very helpful (and time consuming) to use FT, but also cost and stress saver, here are few recent examples-

(a) I would fly tomorrow to FCO and back for less than $1800, business class, versus 800 in coach, or 6,700+ in business. I also got away without paying the luxury taxes. I did not know how to do it before I started being a FT reader. Since then, I assert that I saved more than $10K on Business Class seats. Yes, some of those flights were additional spending (I would not have flown if not BE), but still
(b) I am on top of the flight changes equipment and knows how to use them to get better/blocked/exit seats when they take place.
(c) I fly alot of codeshare flights, and FT was great resource at knowing all the trouble one may ran into, and for most of them- how to get over:
Get the access to lounges,
ensure preferred seats,
etc.
(d) I became a specialist (though not a master) of SDC to get double miles, triple miles, better seats, etc. I think that 80% of my flights now have some SDC twist to them. The best part? I can book into a cheap flight, and SDC to the one I wanted. Did not know that before my FT days. That alone was worth the medallion status.
(e) the company and fellows: nothing like a DO to get people together, and all of a sudden, you have friends on the roads. Oh, and during the DO, I learned that I deserved a compensation for a IRROPS I never received. So, there goes another 500 or so I saved
(f) max the marketplace: most deals in marketplace sucks, let's be honest. But due to FT tips I was able to get a last minute 'steal' to overbook hotel (and convert miles at 4.5cpm) and got even another deal where I got a deal at a return value at 7cpm.
(g) I flew TPAC for less than $2,000 RT, in BE, twice. Combination of PMU, and M fare errors. Thank you FT!
(h) still learning: how to get 'stuck' in the place you want to get stuck in (i.e. how to miss the last flight if you wish to extend the vacation, and yet get the hotel, re-accomodation, miles, etc.). This one is more risky, so I follow before I'd get my feet wet.
(i) I am a researcher by training, so the FT world is a set of time/space/opprotunity problems for me... I enjoy it.

But, I agree with OP. sometimes it is TMI. It's a matter of learning and screening.

For me, any worries of upgrades or wondering how things will work out don't bother me. The rewards I've reaped from acting on info here far outweigh having too much info. For me, it's fun and a kind of game then anything that I need to be stressed over. The worst thing that could happen is that I get stuck in coach. The best thing? Going to places I never dreamed I could go to before.

Yes. I am probably going to get off the domestic status treadmill and just fly WN, which offers a coach nonstop as opposed to a 2 segment upgradable trip on mainline for the routes I fly.. I have a 7 figure mileage balance to burn on longhaul F/J when I actually do fly internationally.