Only 4 systemwide upgrades for Diamonds
Dec 17, 2014, 12:03 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2009
Programs: Delta Diamond 1MM, Marriott Plat
Posts: 503
Only 4 systemwide upgrades for Diamonds
So I finally reached Diamond, and I had been planning to choose the 4 systemwide upgrades, twice, as my two "choice" benefits.
Learned the hard way this is not possible -- you can only choose ONE of each benefit on the list.
Everyone else on here probably already knew that but I am steaming mad about it. I didn't realize Delta's international upgrade policy was so miserly! So earning 125,000 MQMs yields you just FOUR upgrades.
On American Airlines by comparision, 100,000 MQMs get you EIGHT upgrades. Quite a difference.
Are there any other ways to get systemwide upgrades that I don't know about? (Besides the obvious choice of buying a business ticket.)
:: sigh ::
Learned the hard way this is not possible -- you can only choose ONE of each benefit on the list.
Everyone else on here probably already knew that but I am steaming mad about it. I didn't realize Delta's international upgrade policy was so miserly! So earning 125,000 MQMs yields you just FOUR upgrades.
On American Airlines by comparision, 100,000 MQMs get you EIGHT upgrades. Quite a difference.
Are there any other ways to get systemwide upgrades that I don't know about? (Besides the obvious choice of buying a business ticket.)
:: sigh ::
Dec 17, 2014, 12:09 pm
#2
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Ireland, UnderH20, AUA, Brooklyn
Programs: Delta Charter KM, DM180, RW, DM, SC, SkyBonus; HH Diamond, IHG Plt Amb, Global Ent, TWIC
Posts: 2,191
So I finally reached Diamond, and I had been planning to choose the 4 systemwide upgrades, twice, as my two "choice" benefits.
Learned the hard way this is not possible -- you can only choose ONE of each benefit on the list.
Everyone else on here probably already knew that but I am steaming mad about it. I didn't realize Delta's international upgrade policy was so miserly! So earning 125,000 MQMs yields you just FOUR upgrades.
On American Airlines by comparision, 100,000 MQMs get you EIGHT upgrades. Quite a difference.
Are there any other ways to get systemwide upgrades that I don't know about? (Besides the obvious choice of buying a business ticket.)
:: sigh ::
Learned the hard way this is not possible -- you can only choose ONE of each benefit on the list.
Everyone else on here probably already knew that but I am steaming mad about it. I didn't realize Delta's international upgrade policy was so miserly! So earning 125,000 MQMs yields you just FOUR upgrades.
On American Airlines by comparision, 100,000 MQMs get you EIGHT upgrades. Quite a difference.
Are there any other ways to get systemwide upgrades that I don't know about? (Besides the obvious choice of buying a business ticket.)
:: sigh ::
However, you can get systemwide upgrade certs through SkyBonus if you are in that program.
Dec 17, 2014, 2:02 pm
#4
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Brooklyn
Programs: Delta Diamond, Bonvoy something good; sometimes other things too
Posts: 5,050
Agreed it is stingier than AA, but that is the way it is unfortunately. It's also annoying that you can't choose 4 GUCs as one benefit and 8 RUCs as the second.
The one upside is that while AA has some notoriously long international upgrade lists (I've heard of the DFW-HKG flight having dozens of people trying to upgrade), DL GUCs truly are a rare commodity, so your chances of an upgrade clearing when you try to use one are higher than on AA. (It's always possible that J will sell out and nobody gets upgraded, but at least you don't often see more than 2-3 people waiting on an upgrade list for an international flight.)
The one upside is that while AA has some notoriously long international upgrade lists (I've heard of the DFW-HKG flight having dozens of people trying to upgrade), DL GUCs truly are a rare commodity, so your chances of an upgrade clearing when you try to use one are higher than on AA. (It's always possible that J will sell out and nobody gets upgraded, but at least you don't often see more than 2-3 people waiting on an upgrade list for an international flight.)
Dec 17, 2014, 2:53 pm
#7
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2009
Programs: Delta skymiles DM + 1MM
Posts: 8,144
Dec 17, 2014, 3:04 pm
#8
Join Date: Sep 2012
Programs: DL DM, MM
Posts: 2,970
Dec 17, 2014, 3:13 pm
#9
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: New York, western US
Programs: DM/3MM
Posts: 4,246
Dec 17, 2014, 4:14 pm
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2008
Location: CHA, MAN;
Programs: Delta DM 1 MM; Hz PC
Posts: 11,169
So I finally reached Diamond, CONGRATULATIONS
I didn't realize Delta's international upgrade policy was so miserly! So earning 125,000 MQMs yields you just FOUR upgrades.
Well I think it is wonderful - I know what a TATL costs in Economy - I know what they cost in BE. You get 4 of these - wow - that is a few thousand dollars in benefit- for only spending 12500 MQD - brilliant. But hey if you prefer AA, it is a free country, change your allegiance to them.
Are there any other ways to get system-wide upgrades that I don't know about? (Besides the obvious choice of buying a business ticket.)
Look for Z fares well in advance - it can be done- I have purchased 3 in the last year.
:: sigh ::
^
I didn't realize Delta's international upgrade policy was so miserly! So earning 125,000 MQMs yields you just FOUR upgrades.
Well I think it is wonderful - I know what a TATL costs in Economy - I know what they cost in BE. You get 4 of these - wow - that is a few thousand dollars in benefit- for only spending 12500 MQD - brilliant. But hey if you prefer AA, it is a free country, change your allegiance to them.
Are there any other ways to get system-wide upgrades that I don't know about? (Besides the obvious choice of buying a business ticket.)
Look for Z fares well in advance - it can be done- I have purchased 3 in the last year.
:: sigh ::
^
Dec 17, 2014, 4:29 pm
#13
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Charlotte
Programs: Hilton Diamond, Marriott Platinum Elite, AA Platinum Pro, Hertz Presidents
Posts: 1,214
Agreed it is stingier than AA, but that is the way it is unfortunately. It's also annoying that you can't choose 4 GUCs as one benefit and 8 RUCs as the second.
The one upside is that while AA has some notoriously long international upgrade lists (I've heard of the DFW-HKG flight having dozens of people trying to upgrade), DL GUCs truly are a rare commodity, so your chances of an upgrade clearing when you try to use one are higher than on AA. (It's always possible that J will sell out and nobody gets upgraded, but at least you don't often see more than 2-3 people waiting on an upgrade list for an international flight.)
The one upside is that while AA has some notoriously long international upgrade lists (I've heard of the DFW-HKG flight having dozens of people trying to upgrade), DL GUCs truly are a rare commodity, so your chances of an upgrade clearing when you try to use one are higher than on AA. (It's always possible that J will sell out and nobody gets upgraded, but at least you don't often see more than 2-3 people waiting on an upgrade list for an international flight.)
Dec 17, 2014, 5:09 pm
#14
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
All carriers do what is known as an OPUP. That is an upgrade for the operational necessity of the carrier. It could be because the Y cabin was at risk of oversale, there was seating problem or whatever. But, bottom line is that AA doesn hand out staus UG's as freebies any more than UA or DL. Bluntly, none of them do.
Dec 17, 2014, 7:23 pm
#15
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: MCO
Programs: DL DM/MM, Marriott Plat Premier, HH Diamond, Hyatt Plat, Hertz PC
Posts: 4,081
So I finally reached Diamond, and I had been planning to choose the 4 systemwide upgrades, twice, as my two "choice" benefits.
Learned the hard way this is not possible -- you can only choose ONE of each benefit on the list.
Everyone else on here probably already knew that but I am steaming mad about it. I didn't realize Delta's international upgrade policy was so miserly! So earning 125,000 MQMs yields you just FOUR upgrades.
On American Airlines by comparision, 100,000 MQMs get you EIGHT upgrades. Quite a difference.
Learned the hard way this is not possible -- you can only choose ONE of each benefit on the list.
Everyone else on here probably already knew that but I am steaming mad about it. I didn't realize Delta's international upgrade policy was so miserly! So earning 125,000 MQMs yields you just FOUR upgrades.
On American Airlines by comparision, 100,000 MQMs get you EIGHT upgrades. Quite a difference.
Yes, AA does give their EXP’s 8 certs and arguably they are more valuable to some than DL’s 4 GUC’s and 4 RUC’s. If they are more valuable to you than what DL offers, switch airlines. People do that every day. Meanwhile, enjoy your DL bennies and congrats on hitting Diamond.