Battlefield upgrade while using Upgrade Certificate?
Oct 23, 2014, 7:13 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: New York City
Programs: DL Diamond
Posts: 124
Battlefield upgrade while using Upgrade Certificate?
I'm flying JFK - LAS tomorrow. Last week I called the platinum line to use upgrade certificates on both flights. They were able to upgrade me immediately for the trip back to JFK, but on the trip to LAS, they said there were no upgrades available and I just had to wait and see.
The person on the phone also said that if it comes down to the battlefield, to call up and have them remove the Upgrade Certificate off of this flight, because by the time the upgrade list appears on the screen at the gate, Upgrade Certificates no longer matter and they will only be upgrading in order of highest medallion first. Is this really the case? Has anyone ever removed a certificate at the battlefield?
The person on the phone also said that if it comes down to the battlefield, to call up and have them remove the Upgrade Certificate off of this flight, because by the time the upgrade list appears on the screen at the gate, Upgrade Certificates no longer matter and they will only be upgrading in order of highest medallion first. Is this really the case? Has anyone ever removed a certificate at the battlefield?
Oct 23, 2014, 7:27 am
#2
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: BOS/MHT (Lakes Region)
Programs: DL PM(sigh)/2.3MM & a bunch of other programs...
Posts: 692
This is incorrect. A SWU, RU, or GU puts you ahead of Medaillion complimentary upgrades. I forget the exact coding, but I know a DM on one of those should be UP2A. I've even added one to a trip at T-60 or less and jumped to the top of the list.
Oct 23, 2014, 7:30 am
#3
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: 100,373
IIRC the upgrade priority codes have recently changed, but using a SWU/GUC/RUC should still put you at the top of the list.
Oct 23, 2014, 8:02 am
#5
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Seattle
Programs: Delta DM; *A FO. UG since(1/1/15): 11/14
Posts: 683
I applied a RUC about 1 hour before departure of my first segment. I called delta, and they had to take me off the 'normal' upgrade list, then add me back on with the RUC. I immediately jumped to #1 on the list on both segments.
Oct 23, 2014, 8:08 am
#6
Join Date: Sep 2011
Programs: Delta DM, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 1,493
Glad this worked out but it seems risky doing this just an hour prior to departure. Wouldn't it have been possible for the GA to have processed all medallion upgrades around the same time and then just seconds later your RUC is applied, moving you to #1 but with no remaining FC seats left? I'm thinking 2 hours before is a good balancing between seeing whether you'll really need a RUC and applying it in time to actually jump the list. I haven't used one of these yet so would appreciate hearing others' strategies.
Oct 23, 2014, 8:15 am
#7
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Seattle
Programs: Delta DM; *A FO. UG since(1/1/15): 11/14
Posts: 683
Glad this worked out but it seems risky doing this just an hour prior to departure. Wouldn't it have been possible for the GA to have processed all medallion upgrades around the same time and then just seconds later your RUC is applied, moving you to #1 but with no remaining FC seats left? I'm thinking 2 hours before is a good balancing between seeing whether you'll really need a RUC and applying it in time to actually jump the list. I haven't used one of these yet so would appreciate hearing others' strategies.
I would agree about the 2 hours, but this was my first ever use of a RUC, and was only gonna use it if I got the actual upgrades. Before applying the RUC I asked the delta rep on the phone if applying the RUC would put me on top of the list (as in: no other RUC's applied at that point). She did, so I put in the RUC. Happy all worked as intended.
Oct 23, 2014, 8:34 am
#8
Join Date: May 2011
Location: NYC
Programs: DL PM. 1MM
Posts: 2,045
Glad this worked out but it seems risky doing this just an hour prior to departure. Wouldn't it have been possible for the GA to have processed all medallion upgrades around the same time and then just seconds later your RUC is applied, moving you to #1 but with no remaining FC seats left? I'm thinking 2 hours before is a good balancing between seeing whether you'll really need a RUC and applying it in time to actually jump the list. I haven't used one of these yet so would appreciate hearing others' strategies.
Also by waiting until T-60 minutes, you have the advantage of seeing where you land (hah!) on the complimentary medallion upgrade list. If you're out of the money, you can call up and apply the RU.
Oct 23, 2014, 9:46 am
#9
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
There is a small risk sure but 99% of the time the GA working the flight doesn't even arrive at the gate until T-60 minutes. So there is no one at the gate to process the upgrade list.
Also by waiting until T-60 minutes, you have the advantage of seeing where you land (hah!) on the complimentary medallion upgrade list. If you're out of the money, you can call up and apply the RU.
Also by waiting until T-60 minutes, you have the advantage of seeing where you land (hah!) on the complimentary medallion upgrade list. If you're out of the money, you can call up and apply the RU.
Oct 23, 2014, 10:25 am
#10
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Williamsburg, VA
Programs: DL DM, Bonvoy LTT, HH Diam, UA Silver, USAF million miler ;)
Posts: 1,596
Glad this worked out but it seems risky doing this just an hour prior to departure. Wouldn't it have been possible for the GA to have processed all medallion upgrades around the same time and then just seconds later your RUC is applied, moving you to #1 but with no remaining FC seats left? I'm thinking 2 hours before is a good balancing between seeing whether you'll really need a RUC and applying it in time to actually jump the list. I haven't used one of these yet so would appreciate hearing others' strategies.
Billy's advise is sound. 7 AM TCON flight - wish I had followed it.
Oct 23, 2014, 10:36 am
#11
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AA EXP, IHG Diamond, IC Amb
Posts: 5,508
Oct 23, 2014, 12:33 pm
#12
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Minneapolis
Programs: DL DM
Posts: 2,233
I'm flying JFK - LAS tomorrow. Last week I called the platinum line to use upgrade certificates on both flights. They were able to upgrade me immediately for the trip back to JFK, but on the trip to LAS, they said there were no upgrades available and I just had to wait and see.
The person on the phone also said that if it comes down to the battlefield, to call up and have them remove the Upgrade Certificate off of this flight, because by the time the upgrade list appears on the screen at the gate, Upgrade Certificates no longer matter and they will only be upgrading in order of highest medallion first. Is this really the case? Has anyone ever removed a certificate at the battlefield?
The person on the phone also said that if it comes down to the battlefield, to call up and have them remove the Upgrade Certificate off of this flight, because by the time the upgrade list appears on the screen at the gate, Upgrade Certificates no longer matter and they will only be upgrading in order of highest medallion first. Is this really the case? Has anyone ever removed a certificate at the battlefield?
Oct 23, 2014, 12:49 pm
#13
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Huntsville, AL
Programs: DL DM 1.929MM, Hilton Lifetime Diamond, IHG Platinum, Avis CHM, Marriott Titanium (lifetime gold)
Posts: 7,857
David
Oct 23, 2014, 2:09 pm
#14
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: NYC
Programs: DL PM, DL MM
Posts: 4,245
I'm flying JFK - LAS tomorrow. Last week I called the platinum line to use upgrade certificates on both flights. They were able to upgrade me immediately for the trip back to JFK, but on the trip to LAS, they said there were no upgrades available and I just had to wait and see.
The person on the phone also said that if it comes down to the battlefield, to call up and have them remove the Upgrade Certificate off of this flight, because by the time the upgrade list appears on the screen at the gate, Upgrade Certificates no longer matter and they will only be upgrading in order of highest medallion first. Is this really the case? Has anyone ever removed a certificate at the battlefield?
The person on the phone also said that if it comes down to the battlefield, to call up and have them remove the Upgrade Certificate off of this flight, because by the time the upgrade list appears on the screen at the gate, Upgrade Certificates no longer matter and they will only be upgrading in order of highest medallion first. Is this really the case? Has anyone ever removed a certificate at the battlefield?
Very important to look at your spot on the upgrade list using the app. Often times even though it is applied it isn't done correctly.
If you're not #1, you should send DeltaTwitter a message and ask them to confirm you are applied correctly. (yes, you aren't necessarily #1, but in most cases you will be, so if I'm not #1 I call and let them confirm)