Platinum vs. Diamond
#62
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: BDU
Programs: DL:MM, Marriott:LTT
Posts: 8,779
I decided to go for DM this year, and am basically happy with the decision, but I haven't experienced any IROPS handling that would never have happened to me as a PM.
What you describe sounds like what would have happily been done for a general member, unless I'm missing something.
What you describe sounds like what would have happily been done for a general member, unless I'm missing something.
I held back last year, staying below the DM number of segments, thinking I was gaming the rollover system. It didn't pan out, and I had no rollover miles. Rollover worked differently in 2011 than in 2010. My point to the OP is that you shouldn't depend on the rules working the same way next year as the rules worked this year or last year. One in the hand is worth two in the bush here. I'd take DM now, rather than risking that you may have held off for nothing.
#63
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 102
Diamond vs Platinum Upgrade Question
Please help me settle a big debate:
At the at the five-day upgrade window, who gets an upgrade first:
- A Diamond who has bought an LUT fare.
- A Platinum who has bought a fare higher than LUT.
I could swear that a Diamond at any fare trumps a Platinum at any fare, but after I called Delta, and didn't get a straightforward answer, now I'm not sure.
Does anyone know for sure?
In advance, thanks for your help.
At the at the five-day upgrade window, who gets an upgrade first:
- A Diamond who has bought an LUT fare.
- A Platinum who has bought a fare higher than LUT.
I could swear that a Diamond at any fare trumps a Platinum at any fare, but after I called Delta, and didn't get a straightforward answer, now I'm not sure.
Does anyone know for sure?
In advance, thanks for your help.
#64
In memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2005
Location: PIT
Programs: DM life is over 2MM PM now & NW MillionAir Wyndham Rewards Plat -Hotels.com Silver -Accor Silver
Posts: 15,408
All Diamonds should be coded to UG before Platinums, except something like a full Y fare.
Even a DM on an award ticket should UG before a Platinum on an M or B fare.
What, exactly, did they tell you that left you wondering?
Even a DM on an award ticket should UG before a Platinum on an M or B fare.
What, exactly, did they tell you that left you wondering?
#65
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: ATL
Programs: Delta PM, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 212
#66
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: CT
Programs: DL DM 2MM, MR LTT, Hilton D, Hertz PC. National Emerald Exec, UA Silver(thanks to Marriott)
Posts: 2,026
As stated except for the Y fare which trumps others it is base on elite level and if has AMEX reserve credit card (tie breaker time upgrade requested) so:
DM Y fare
PM Y fare
GM Y fare
FO Y fare
DM B AMEX Reserve
DM B
DM M Amex Reserve
etc
DM on Award (PNR not attached to lower or non-elite)
PM B Amex Reserve
....
you get the idea.
So the ONLY time a Plat trumps a Diamond is if the Plat buys full Y and Diamond does not
DM Y fare
PM Y fare
GM Y fare
FO Y fare
DM B AMEX Reserve
DM B
DM M Amex Reserve
etc
DM on Award (PNR not attached to lower or non-elite)
PM B Amex Reserve
....
you get the idea.
So the ONLY time a Plat trumps a Diamond is if the Plat buys full Y and Diamond does not
Last edited by BusTrav8yrs; Oct 17, 2012 at 2:48 pm
#67
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2001
Programs: DL 1 million, AA 1 mil, HH lapsed Diamond, Marriott Plat
Posts: 28,190
http://www.delta.com/skymiles/about_...ades/index.jsp
#68
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 102
fantastic resource!
Thanks for posting this resource. It's great.
My partner and I are both Diamonds and the last four or five flights from JFK - SEA; ATL - SEA/PDX we were not upgraded. We thought for sure that something was amiss. When I tried to check it out, the awards chart said that Diamond Discounted fares upgraded before Platinum fares. This made me wonder if a higher fare platinum would be upgraded. The person I talked with, when I read this, didn't know what it meant. The information she had didn't specifically address my question.
My partner and I are both Diamonds and the last four or five flights from JFK - SEA; ATL - SEA/PDX we were not upgraded. We thought for sure that something was amiss. When I tried to check it out, the awards chart said that Diamond Discounted fares upgraded before Platinum fares. This made me wonder if a higher fare platinum would be upgraded. The person I talked with, when I read this, didn't know what it meant. The information she had didn't specifically address my question.
#69
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Treasure Coast of FL (MCO/MLB/PBI)
Programs: AS MVP, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 844
Thanks for posting this resource. It's great.
My partner and I are both Diamonds and the last four or five flights from JFK - SEA; ATL - SEA/PDX we were not upgraded. We thought for sure that something was amiss. When I tried to check it out, the awards chart said that Diamond Discounted fares upgraded before Platinum fares. This made me wonder if a higher fare platinum would be upgraded. The person I talked with, when I read this, didn't know what it meant. The information she had didn't specifically address my question.
My partner and I are both Diamonds and the last four or five flights from JFK - SEA; ATL - SEA/PDX we were not upgraded. We thought for sure that something was amiss. When I tried to check it out, the awards chart said that Diamond Discounted fares upgraded before Platinum fares. This made me wonder if a higher fare platinum would be upgraded. The person I talked with, when I read this, didn't know what it meant. The information she had didn't specifically address my question.
#70
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,335
Thanks for posting this resource. It's great.
My partner and I are both Diamonds and the last four or five flights from JFK - SEA; ATL - SEA/PDX we were not upgraded. We thought for sure that something was amiss. When I tried to check it out, the awards chart said that Diamond Discounted fares upgraded before Platinum fares. This made me wonder if a higher fare platinum would be upgraded. The person I talked with, when I read this, didn't know what it meant. The information she had didn't specifically address my question.
My partner and I are both Diamonds and the last four or five flights from JFK - SEA; ATL - SEA/PDX we were not upgraded. We thought for sure that something was amiss. When I tried to check it out, the awards chart said that Diamond Discounted fares upgraded before Platinum fares. This made me wonder if a higher fare platinum would be upgraded. The person I talked with, when I read this, didn't know what it meant. The information she had didn't specifically address my question.
#71
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Philadelphia
Programs: DL - Silver, AA - EXP, Marriott - Platinum Premier
Posts: 200
Thanks for posting this resource. It's great.
My partner and I are both Diamonds and the last four or five flights from JFK - SEA; ATL - SEA/PDX we were not upgraded. We thought for sure that something was amiss. When I tried to check it out, the awards chart said that Diamond Discounted fares upgraded before Platinum fares. This made me wonder if a higher fare platinum would be upgraded. The person I talked with, when I read this, didn't know what it meant. The information she had didn't specifically address my question.
My partner and I are both Diamonds and the last four or five flights from JFK - SEA; ATL - SEA/PDX we were not upgraded. We thought for sure that something was amiss. When I tried to check it out, the awards chart said that Diamond Discounted fares upgraded before Platinum fares. This made me wonder if a higher fare platinum would be upgraded. The person I talked with, when I read this, didn't know what it meant. The information she had didn't specifically address my question.
DM K fare w/SWU
GM K fare w/12,500 miles
DM Y fare
PM Y fare
GM Y fare
FO Y fare
DM B AMEX Reserve
DM B
DM M Amex Reserve
etc
DM on Award (PNR not attached to lower or non-elite)
PM B Amex Reserve
#72
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,335
Yes, but these aren't free upgrades. Also, you can't upgrade even a domestic flight, on a T fare with miles or a SWU.
There can also be people ahead on the list who have paid for F but don't have a FC seat assignment, but that wouldn't be considered to be an upgrade.
ADDED. I see that csdripps edited his/her post above to correct the point that miles or SWUs cannot be used to upgrade T (or U or L) fares. the first two lines on the list previously were stated as follows:
DM T fare w/SWU
GM T fare w/12,500 miles
There can also be people ahead on the list who have paid for F but don't have a FC seat assignment, but that wouldn't be considered to be an upgrade.
ADDED. I see that csdripps edited his/her post above to correct the point that miles or SWUs cannot be used to upgrade T (or U or L) fares. the first two lines on the list previously were stated as follows:
DM T fare w/SWU
GM T fare w/12,500 miles
Last edited by MSPeconomist; Oct 17, 2012 at 5:41 pm Reason: clarify confusion due to someone else editing a post
#73
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Philadelphia
Programs: DL - Silver, AA - EXP, Marriott - Platinum Premier
Posts: 200
Yes, but these aren't free upgrades. Also, you can't upgrade even a domestic flight, on a T fare with miles or a SWU.
There can also be people ahead on the list who have paid for F but don't have a FC seat assignment, but that wouldn't be considered to be an upgrade.
There can also be people ahead on the list who have paid for F but don't have a FC seat assignment, but that wouldn't be considered to be an upgrade.
I just thought the answer wasn't really complete without noting the second scenario.
#74
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Mostly living in the basement
Programs: Newly minted free agent; MR LT(!)TE, HH SE, BA SECM, DL MM, UA PS, 2V Fanboi, CBP GE
Posts: 5,106
SWUs do transfer to the gate upgrade list, and trump all EUAs.
#75
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,335
The OP's question was about upgrades at the DM/PM window.