Operational Upgrades, or “OpUps” on International Flights: The Definitive Thread
Oct 11, 2011, 5:37 am
#422
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 82
I was not so much looking at the tricks of how to finagle one - I am happy to just be polite and just let them do what they think is right. Hopefully, they will hew somewhat in the vicinity of some corporate guidelines whatever they are.
I have been on a lot of trans-atlantic and trans-pacific flights that have been way overbooked since Delta has gone into its "cut capacity, fill planes -- yield management mode" over the last 18-24 months and have noticed during this period a fair amount of operational upgrading. (I am diamond and a million miler -- so I have been quite fortunate to scotch these from time to time). I used to regularly fly using YBM fares and the system-wide upgrades. However, close in time to when they went into "cut capacity, fill planes mode," they also way way elevated the YBM fares. Again, no complaint, they are entitled to do that and they should do what they need to do to make money. However, a consequence of that is that flyers who would be on the YBM fares are now on lower fares AND the back of the planes are filling up much more and the front less so. This is fertile ground for increasing the quantity of OPUPs that must be granted if passengers are not to get kicked off the plane.
I agree that nobody is entitled to the gift of an OPUP. However, if Delta is in a position where it must be granting these to somebody, it would seem they should like to use such gifts to reward something that a passenger has done for Delta. The goodwill that can be "bought" by giving gifts belongs to Delta and one would think they would want to use that goodwill to encourage certain customer behavior (whether that behavior is buying coffee for the GA or flying on Delta planes a lot). I also understand that it can be chaotic at the last minute in overbooked situations and people on the ground need a certain amount of flexibility to deal with challenging situations, so whatever corporate guidelines there are are only guidelines, not rules or requirements.
The purpose of my original post is that I had noticed on this forum, that there are some participants who can do a post mortem of a flight and see what ended up happening. I was on a flight that was said to have been very overbooked. I do not know if any opups were granted or not, but I am curious. If opups were granted, I am curious what the status was of the flyers receiving them versus the status of guys sitting in the back of the plane. No matter what the answer is (for example, if a gold on a T fare got an opup and I did not get one as a Diamond (mm) on a "K" fare, then so be it), I have zero plans to complain. I agree that these are gifts and nobody is entitled to them. (I do know there was one other Diamond on the plane because he and I were met in the JFK meet and greet and he and I both flew economy). Just trying to see how one finds out the information, that is all.
I have been on a lot of trans-atlantic and trans-pacific flights that have been way overbooked since Delta has gone into its "cut capacity, fill planes -- yield management mode" over the last 18-24 months and have noticed during this period a fair amount of operational upgrading. (I am diamond and a million miler -- so I have been quite fortunate to scotch these from time to time). I used to regularly fly using YBM fares and the system-wide upgrades. However, close in time to when they went into "cut capacity, fill planes mode," they also way way elevated the YBM fares. Again, no complaint, they are entitled to do that and they should do what they need to do to make money. However, a consequence of that is that flyers who would be on the YBM fares are now on lower fares AND the back of the planes are filling up much more and the front less so. This is fertile ground for increasing the quantity of OPUPs that must be granted if passengers are not to get kicked off the plane.
I agree that nobody is entitled to the gift of an OPUP. However, if Delta is in a position where it must be granting these to somebody, it would seem they should like to use such gifts to reward something that a passenger has done for Delta. The goodwill that can be "bought" by giving gifts belongs to Delta and one would think they would want to use that goodwill to encourage certain customer behavior (whether that behavior is buying coffee for the GA or flying on Delta planes a lot). I also understand that it can be chaotic at the last minute in overbooked situations and people on the ground need a certain amount of flexibility to deal with challenging situations, so whatever corporate guidelines there are are only guidelines, not rules or requirements.
The purpose of my original post is that I had noticed on this forum, that there are some participants who can do a post mortem of a flight and see what ended up happening. I was on a flight that was said to have been very overbooked. I do not know if any opups were granted or not, but I am curious. If opups were granted, I am curious what the status was of the flyers receiving them versus the status of guys sitting in the back of the plane. No matter what the answer is (for example, if a gold on a T fare got an opup and I did not get one as a Diamond (mm) on a "K" fare, then so be it), I have zero plans to complain. I agree that these are gifts and nobody is entitled to them. (I do know there was one other Diamond on the plane because he and I were met in the JFK meet and greet and he and I both flew economy). Just trying to see how one finds out the information, that is all.
Oct 20, 2011, 8:18 pm
#425
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Earth. Residency:HKG formerly:YYZ
Programs: CX, DL, Nexus/GE, APEC
Posts: 10,732
Even before the capacity cut you can plan your flying around Y oversold dates to get your op-ups. I think I got the TPAC schedule figured out.
Jan 4, 2012, 6:49 am
#426
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: LHR
Programs: DL DM 2MM, BA Bronze, Various Hotels
Posts: 10,187
DL2 - LHR-JFK- Advance OpUp today!
Hi All,
Just got a call from my sister (a GM). She checked in at LHR and they gave her a BP with 5A instead of 30G for her LHR-JFK flight this evening.
First time I've seen an OpUp at the check in desk vice the departure gate at LHR.
NICE way to start 2012!
^
Just got a call from my sister (a GM). She checked in at LHR and they gave her a BP with 5A instead of 30G for her LHR-JFK flight this evening.
First time I've seen an OpUp at the check in desk vice the departure gate at LHR.
NICE way to start 2012!
^
Jan 4, 2012, 7:21 am
#429
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: LHR
Programs: DL DM 2MM, BA Bronze, Various Hotels
Posts: 10,187
I'll call and ask...
Jan 4, 2012, 8:00 am
#430
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Washington, DC, Chapel Hill, NC (RDU)
Programs: DL Plat (won't hit DM again) 2MM (2.5), HH Gold, PC Gold, Hyatt Plat
Posts: 5,636
Jan 4, 2012, 8:49 am
#431
formerly known as daveland
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: NY, NY, USA
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Marriott LTP, Delta Platinum, Hilton Honors Diamond, Wyndham Diamond
Posts: 2,969
I had a DUB-JFK upgrade that was done before I even got to the airport (saw it online). And they upgraded my non-status companion with me! (I was Gold at the time)
Jan 4, 2012, 9:30 am
#433
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Location: LHR
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Jan 4, 2012, 9:41 am
#434
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2009
Programs: Delta skymiles DM + 1MM
Posts: 8,144
which is why I'm not spending the money this summer to fly J TATL. Im gonna roll the dice and fly coach and hope for op-ups. flights are gonna be jfk-fra and jfk-mad.
Jan 4, 2012, 9:44 am
#435
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: LHR
Programs: DL DM 2MM, BA Bronze, Various Hotels
Posts: 10,187
I don't blame you. I figure for far less $$ I am in an EC bulkhead...if I end up in J, great, if not, well, that's a couple of more trips!