Operational Upgrades, or “OpUps” on International Flights: The Definitive Thread
Oct 10, 2011, 3:22 pm
#407
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 82
International Operational Upgrade - Post Mortem
Apologies if I am posting inefficiently here.
I seem to have noticed threads where somebody on here can, after the fact, look at how seats were assigned on an oversold international flight. For example, they can identify the fare class/medallion status of people who may have been bumped up to BE on an operational upgrade and identify flyers still in economy but with high level medallion status and/or high fare class that might have qualified them for an operational upgrade. However, as I try to search for these threads I had read a while back, I cannot seem to find them.
Is there a way to find this info publicly, or is it only available to people in the know? I am curious about Delta flight 31 today (10/10) from SVO to JFK. They were saying originally it was oversold. However, no telling in the end if it was oversold or not (seemed full in the back, but not sure if that means it was oversold or not). Would be curious if there were operational upgrades granted or not and what fare class or medallion status was required to qualify for an op up if one was in fact granted. I fully realize operational upgrades are a privilege not a right. Just trying to understand better how the "system" works. Thank you anybody who pays attention to this.
I seem to have noticed threads where somebody on here can, after the fact, look at how seats were assigned on an oversold international flight. For example, they can identify the fare class/medallion status of people who may have been bumped up to BE on an operational upgrade and identify flyers still in economy but with high level medallion status and/or high fare class that might have qualified them for an operational upgrade. However, as I try to search for these threads I had read a while back, I cannot seem to find them.
Is there a way to find this info publicly, or is it only available to people in the know? I am curious about Delta flight 31 today (10/10) from SVO to JFK. They were saying originally it was oversold. However, no telling in the end if it was oversold or not (seemed full in the back, but not sure if that means it was oversold or not). Would be curious if there were operational upgrades granted or not and what fare class or medallion status was required to qualify for an op up if one was in fact granted. I fully realize operational upgrades are a privilege not a right. Just trying to understand better how the "system" works. Thank you anybody who pays attention to this.
Oct 10, 2011, 3:28 pm
#409
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: LHR
Programs: DL DM 2MM, BA Bronze, Various Hotels
Posts: 10,187
I do not think the info is publicly available. That said, I've had online check in state that a flight was oversold (more coach seats sold than available) when they did not need volunteers or need to Op Up people to J...this has even happened when Y was about 1/3 empty!
For Op Up's, status and fare class affect decisions to put a Y passenger up front. I've had this happen twice as a Diamond Medallion on a low-tier Y fare and once as a Platinum.
For Op Up's, status and fare class affect decisions to put a Y passenger up front. I've had this happen twice as a Diamond Medallion on a low-tier Y fare and once as a Platinum.
Oct 10, 2011, 4:07 pm
#410
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2001
Programs: DL 1 million, AA 1 mil, HH lapsed Diamond, Marriott Plat
Posts: 28,190
For example, they can identify the fare class/medallion status of people who may have been bumped up to BE on an operational upgrade and identify flyers still in economy but with high level medallion status and/or high fare class that might have qualified them for an operational upgrade.
Anyone who has followed procedure to be on the waitlist for an upgrade - from a qualifying fare - with miles or an SWU who is left sitting in back has a right to fume when operational upgrades are granted. For anyone else, if you bought a coach ticket that is where you belong.
Oct 10, 2011, 4:19 pm
#411
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: NYC
Programs: DL -DM, CO - PM
Posts: 73
My wife just got upgraded on JFK - Madrid on a miles ticket I bought for her and a GM status I gifted her as a DM. It was her first solo international flight. In the past 5 years, I have been upgraded once internationally and I fly about 15 international roundtrips a year. Ha.
Oct 10, 2011, 6:58 pm
#412
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 82
One does not qualify for an operational upgrade. It is a gift.
Anyone who has followed procedure to be on the waitlist for an upgrade - from a qualifying fare - with miles or an SWU who is left sitting in back has a right to fume when operational upgrades are granted. For anyone else, if you bought a coach ticket that is where you belong.
Anyone who has followed procedure to be on the waitlist for an upgrade - from a qualifying fare - with miles or an SWU who is left sitting in back has a right to fume when operational upgrades are granted. For anyone else, if you bought a coach ticket that is where you belong.
Again, I did not explain myself well, but all I am trying to get at is to understand the "game" or the "system" on how Delta decides which customers to give gifts to when it is giving out gifts. In other words, assume all people entitled to an upgrade have been given one....but still the back is oversold and there are empty seats up front.........Delta is either bumping somebody from economy off the plane or to the front of the plane....just trying to understand better how that particular type of situation is determined. If economy is not checked in over capacity (regardless of the status of the front cabin), then the scenario I am asking about is not triggered (I agree with you there should be no operational upgrades in such a situation).
Oct 10, 2011, 8:04 pm
#413
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: ATL
Programs: Delta PlM, 1M
Posts: 6,367
They will never bump off before up.
As to how to game it. I don't think there is much you can do other than:
. travel by yourself or split the PNR.
. do not order a special meal
Of course it is possible that getting to the gate early and chatting up the GA can work.
Fake a leg injury?
As to how to game it. I don't think there is much you can do other than:
. travel by yourself or split the PNR.
. do not order a special meal
Of course it is possible that getting to the gate early and chatting up the GA can work.
Fake a leg injury?
Oct 10, 2011, 9:02 pm
#414
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Minneapolis
Programs: Delta Gold
Posts: 622
I fly internationally about 2 or 3 times a year, often with a child or two. I'm usually silver, sometimes gold medallion. In the past year I've been op-upped three times on transatlantic Delta flights, once together with my non-medallion toddler son, once when flying on an award ticket. Before this year, never. Doesn't seem to have any rhyme or reason behind it.
Oct 10, 2011, 9:11 pm
#415
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: LAS
Programs: VS Gold, UA Silver, IHG Plat / Bonvoy Gold / Hilton Gold / Hyatt Disc, National+, GE / CLEAR
Posts: 142
I've been able to 'finagle' op-ups (upgrades, right? still learning the vocab) on smaller regionals or on large wide body transcons and intl's simply by asking the GAs if they were having a nice day and if they could use some coffee from someone who appreciates their hard work.
90% of the time, I make a specific Starbucks run for the GAs, and magically I get upgraded.
This has been true on UA, Frontier, DL, CO... but *never* on any foreign carriers.
90% of the time, I make a specific Starbucks run for the GAs, and magically I get upgraded.
This has been true on UA, Frontier, DL, CO... but *never* on any foreign carriers.
Oct 10, 2011, 9:15 pm
#416
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: AL
Programs: All of the Above
Posts: 1,374
I've been able to 'finagle' op-ups (upgrades, right? still learning the vocab) on smaller regionals or on large wide body transcons and intl's simply by asking the GAs if they were having a nice day and if they could use some coffee from someone who appreciates their hard work.
90% of the time, I make a specific Starbucks run for the GAs, and magically I get upgraded.
This has been true on UA, Frontier, DL, CO... but *never* on any foreign carriers.
90% of the time, I make a specific Starbucks run for the GAs, and magically I get upgraded.
This has been true on UA, Frontier, DL, CO... but *never* on any foreign carriers.
