Can you use a regional cert on someone else?
May 22, 2015, 10:56 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 8
Can you use a regional cert on someone else?
Wife and I have separate bookings. I am platinum and have already got the upgrade 6 days out. If I added her to my booking would I lose the upgrade? Could I use a regional upgrade cert on her? She has no status.
May 22, 2015, 11:06 am
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Bye Delta
Programs: AA EXP, HH Diamond, IHG Plat, Hyatt Plat, Marriott Plat, Nat'l Exec Elite, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 16,273
You cannot combine your reservations. Technically you must be on the same reservation to apply an RUC or GUC to a companion as per the T&Cs, but I and many others have had success with separate reservations.
What I have never done personally though is upgrade a companion using an RUC when I have already received a Medallion upgrade... I've only ever applied RUCs to both me and the companion at the same time. I believe I recall reading that others have done this - not 100% sure though.
Although now that the upgrade window is open, the chances that RUC upgrade inventory still exists are much smaller... even if they allow this, you may have to waitlist.
What I have never done personally though is upgrade a companion using an RUC when I have already received a Medallion upgrade... I've only ever applied RUCs to both me and the companion at the same time. I believe I recall reading that others have done this - not 100% sure though.
Although now that the upgrade window is open, the chances that RUC upgrade inventory still exists are much smaller... even if they allow this, you may have to waitlist.
May 22, 2015, 11:14 am
#3
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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: 100,413
You cannot add a person to your PNR. You can only split a PNR or link different PNRs.
You can request a free companion upgrade for your wife. You might be able to use one of your RUCs for her upgrade. IIRC officially she must be on your PNR (check the T&C on your RUC) but unofficially people seem to have done this successfully by calling DL.
You can request a free companion upgrade for your wife. You might be able to use one of your RUCs for her upgrade. IIRC officially she must be on your PNR (check the T&C on your RUC) but unofficially people seem to have done this successfully by calling DL.
May 22, 2015, 6:06 pm
#4
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: MCO
Programs: DL DM/MM, Marriott Plat Premier, HH Diamond, Hyatt Plat, Hertz PC
Posts: 4,081
May be redeemed for the named Medallion member and up to one travel companion in the same reservation. The named member and the companion will each require a separate certificate.
May 25, 2015, 9:43 pm
#6
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May 25, 2015, 10:40 pm
#7
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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: 100,413
This is covered by the rule that RUCs and GUCs are not transferable. It prevents them from being sold through brokers or on eBay and craigslist, so this is a good thing.
May 26, 2015, 7:37 am
#9
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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: 100,413
I don't want to lose upgrades to someone who bought an upgrade cert from a broker, etc. Nor do I want to see elite benefits cut back further because the breakage rate on upgrade certs goes down as people sell their unused upgrades.
If people would rather have the case, they should probably fly UA/CO (or possibly AA/US until they get caught).
If people would rather have the case, they should probably fly UA/CO (or possibly AA/US until they get caught).
Oct 26, 2023, 11:07 am
#10
Join Date: Oct 2023
Posts: 1
Yes you can!
My sister is flying into JFK, meeting me there, and I'm flying in from ATL. We are spending the day in the city with our aunt and then flying back to SFO. We are on separate reservations. I was able to use my RUC for my sister's return flight so she can sit up in first class with my aunt and I.
Oct 26, 2023, 12:31 pm
#11
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 5,185
You cannot combine your reservations. Technically you must be on the same reservation to apply an RUC or GUC to a companion as per the T&Cs, but I and many others have had success with separate reservations.
What I have never done personally though is upgrade a companion using an RUC when I have already received a Medallion upgrade... I've only ever applied RUCs to both me and the companion at the same time. I believe I recall reading that others have done this - not 100% sure though.
Although now that the upgrade window is open, the chances that RUC upgrade inventory still exists are much smaller... even if they allow this, you may have to waitlist.
What I have never done personally though is upgrade a companion using an RUC when I have already received a Medallion upgrade... I've only ever applied RUCs to both me and the companion at the same time. I believe I recall reading that others have done this - not 100% sure though.
Although now that the upgrade window is open, the chances that RUC upgrade inventory still exists are much smaller... even if they allow this, you may have to waitlist.
I’ve had no problems adding someone on a different PNR as long as I was already on the flight and it doesn’t matter if I paid for FC or used a certificate myself. Zero issues if you are both on the same flight.
Oct 26, 2023, 12:32 pm
#12
Join Date: Jan 2017
Programs: Delta PM
Posts: 890
Not quite sure how this one got dug up!
Oct 26, 2023, 2:01 pm
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 23,057
T&C's were changed several years back to allow RUCs to be applied to companions on a separate res as long as they are on same flight.
Oct 26, 2023, 6:49 pm
#14
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: LAX
Programs: DL DM, 2 MM; OW Emerald; MVP Gold 100k;Marriott/SPG LTPlat; HH Diamond
Posts: 968
Thread is from 2015, someone joined FT just to answer the question 8 years later! 
Oct 26, 2023, 8:39 pm
#15
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: NYC
Programs: Delta DM, 2MM
Posts: 1,254
For example, in two weeks, I'm flying JFK-HNL. My husband and I booked in one PNR JFK-HNL in Y. Our friend booked his own reservation in Y on the same flight. I used three of my RUCs to upgrade all three of us at booking (inventory was available).
Last edited by iflyalexair; Oct 26, 2023 at 8:47 pm