rylan

Wow way to go DL making it substantially more complicated for those standby upgrades. Notice how the cost is up across the board too.

AirTheory

Oy vey. Is there any indication about order/priority/fare class? Or is it the first person to the gate with the availability gets the upgrade? This is going to turn into a zoo. I would gladly buy a 189 dollar V fare (standardish for this route) and upgrade for 239. That's less than the Q+ fare I use to buy to try and have a good shot at a medallion upgrade.

ddng

I'm booking a flight I usually would take with Delta. But you know what, I'm going American this time and probably for the rest of em. Might as well start building the transfer now.

JBJ2435

And it doesn't say whether said upgrade costs will count toward MQD...

tschmans

With complimentary's no longer on these routes does the upgrade list still appear on the Delta Mobile App with your positioning? How are they determining who gets first chance at the DOD $$ upgrade opportunity? Did they just announce it to everyone? Or is it available for purchase on the App or website?

HongKonger

This is going to be a great thread as time goes on. I'm going to love hearing from the privileged few who spend their flights in near-empty BE cabins far from the unwashed masses with a personal FA. No cheap kettle upgrades or non-revs will ever be there with them. That's what the elitists told us, and they're always right.

cfw

This thread has gone far off topic...

Thankfully, I do not fly this route. How could anyone in the New York area willingly fly DL to the west coast nonstop, given all the other options, knowing that you have no chance for an upgrade, and instead, that DL staff on vacation will be getting them?

I've switched to laughing, it hurts less.

ajg276

I wonder what the availability is on weekends versus weekdays. I do the JFK/SFO flight during the week a fair bit, and, from my observations, BE is often sold out completely or substantially.

Looking forward to the observations on the buy up option. I wouldn't hesitate for a second to pull the trigger -- it is far, far cheaper than the business tickets.

355F1

When I purchased EC for a CDG-SLC trip last year when I was a GM they counted it towards my 2015 MQDs when I took the trip a few weeks ago.

I would imagine they would count it as it is pure profit.

Oakshadow

I always found it odd that the premium service BE flights allowed UGs while the standard domestic service Hawaii flights didn't. That situation is now reversed. Perhaps the thread should be re-titled "The Official 'I Got Upgraded': HNL/OGG-LAX/SFO/SEA/SLC Thread"

nepaltnf

I am on the 7pm JFK to SFO today. I had a FLL-MSP-SFO leg all in first this evening, but they told me I could grab a much earlier seat on an FLL-JFK (sat in first) and then a JFK SFO where there were 8 Biz still available. I switched up and was upgraded on both legs ahead of time. Then my FLL flight was delayed an hour and I missed my initial 4pm SFO departure, now I am on the 7, and the folks at Skyclub here were having trouble getting me onto the upgrade list, 8 biz class seats open again they say.

Just looked this up after having no luck with sky club and sure enough I am seeing this change now, should have kept my legs in first!

Will report back on any findings. (I imagine on oversold flights they will start doing op up's. Interested to see if anything happens with my Diamond status on this trip, luckily I don't fly this leg often anymore!

misinfobuster

Yes. I will be sure to report how great it is. I am so sick of the whining about all these changes. After diluting skyclubs, first class and the elite ranks for the past 15-20 years, I am happy to see Skymiles going the direction it is. It will finally be like it was in the mid 90s....quieter skyclubs and less people to bother me up front. If we could go back to those 800 mile certificates that would be even better and help rid of the upgrade entitlement mentality that is ingrained in this freaking forum.

When I travel it's always last minute and high priced fares. The changes are perfect for me.

Carl Johnson

I go to SEA, and I don't see any nonstops out of JFK other than AA, and not nearly as many. I travel to JFK from Connecticut and getting to EWR would be a gigantic pain.

And for that route Delta is usually cheap like you would not even believe, for my tickets. I understand, though, that other people have a lot more choices.

krlcomm

I am SOOOOO glad that I punted DL last year... best travel decision I have ever made, by far. That said I am sure that the other legacy carriers aren't far behind with numerous "enhancements"...

DeltaWings

The GIDS has always noted that paid UGs at the gate require K-class or higher. I'd be surprised if they changed that for these transcons. I don't see these paid UG opportunities often because it has previously required all Medallions to clear first. Obviously the transcons don't require that any longer.