With the merger, it's been a lot more difficult on MSP-ATL. Used to clear on a battlefield on this flight on a weeknight, but now with NW Plats in the mix on higher fares, I've been double digits down on the upgrade list lately.

Fuller F flights have been rare for me lately. I did ANC-MSP on Sunday and got the upgrade on an award ticket, and they cleared AS MVPs into F (who are lower than DL/NW Silvers). MSP-FAI on Friday had more empties in F than fulls. I had 3 flights the previous weekend (out of 4) where non-revs cleared into F; my trip before that had non-revs in F on all three flights (MSP-CVG-LAS-MSP over Memorial Day), and my trip before that (MSP-ATL-MSP for Greasy Spoon DO) had nonrevs in F on both those flights.

 

Wait a second! Does this mean that the next time I take an LUT fare I can not be 100% certain of being upgraded on all my segments, despite the fact that I will be a Silver Medallion?

Will I at least get the upgrades on the TLV-ATL and ATL-TLV segments? How about when I fly on AZ to Milan?

 

Does not necessarily apply for flights out of PVD, CHO, or MHT....

 

I had some good successes with flights into MHT - even on the NW MHT-DTW flights...

 

Maybe it's because I am usually on the flights into JFK at 6 am....

 

I just wish MHT still had the JFK flights - was nice to take those and have them as an option.

On another note, we just got DL's version of Channel 9 - our pilot was making communications to ATC and forgot he still had the PA system on. Overheard quite a few pax wonder why he was saying "Kansas City" and a bunch of numbers.

At least I know we're now at 33,000 ft...

 

All you need now is the open door to the cockpit (like the B1900) and you would be all set for an interesting flight.

 

Alas, I'm all the way back here in 22A :-(

 

So, the 5 year old in front of me right now thinks it's fun to recline his seat, bring it back up a minute later, then recline it again. Especially when I'm using my laptop.

 

On the B1900, there is nothing over row 5 (22 is right out), but that last row is quite cozy....

...In fact, I get to take one of those tomorrow morning into LGA (no F/A, no IFE, no amenities). It makes a CRJ look like a 737....

 

I think monitor is helped by being PM ... I'm helped by the Tier 2 airport.

 

I wouldn't call that airport Tier 2 exactly (just flew over BNA too...nice view of downtown Nashville tonight)

 

I apologize in advance for being on US Airways tomorrow. At least it's a USX carrier (which I often find better than US mainline)

 

If BNA is Tier 2, then PVD is Tier 3?

 

Good question.

I guess we could consider Tier 1 to be megahubs (ATL, DFW, MIA, etc.), tier 2 to be large cities that are huge (BNA, RDU, SLC, STL, etc.) and tier 3 to be smaller airports, still with mainline service (MHT, PVD, ALB, etc.). Tier 4 would be larger regionals (PWM maybe?) and tier 5 would be the rest (GNV, etc.). Tier 6 could be those cities with a few EAS props a day.

Then again, I am just making up my own definitions here.