Jul 14, 2015, 4:38 pm
Last edit by: Zorak
Summary of SkyMiles Upgrade Changes
Effective Aug 1, 2015, DM's on paid fares and no companions will no longer receive complimentary upgrades JFK-LAX/SFO. Delta's reps failed to disclose this in their June 14 announcement.
For travel on or after June 1, 2016, additional fare classes are eligible for SkyMiles upgrades:
Within North American and northern South America, L/U/T fares are now eligible. (Previously only Y/B/M/H/Q/K)
For all other markets, H/Q/K fares are now eligible. (Previously only Y/B/M)
SkyMiles Upgrade Awards will also require more miles. Prices for the following markets as quoted by multiple reservations agents: (Pricing is one-way)
(current chart based on observations has been moved to this thread: Upgrading with miles)
Effective Aug 1, 2015, DM's on paid fares and no companions will no longer receive complimentary upgrades JFK-LAX/SFO. Delta's reps failed to disclose this in their June 14 announcement.
For travel on or after June 1, 2016, additional fare classes are eligible for SkyMiles upgrades:
Within North American and northern South America, L/U/T fares are now eligible. (Previously only Y/B/M/H/Q/K)
For all other markets, H/Q/K fares are now eligible. (Previously only Y/B/M)
SkyMiles Upgrade Awards will also require more miles. Prices for the following markets as quoted by multiple reservations agents: (Pricing is one-way)
(current chart based on observations has been moved to this thread: Upgrading with miles)
SkyMiles July Announcements
Jun 8, 2017, 6:42 am
#379
Join Date: Mar 2006
Programs: DL Plat, Hertz Pres, National Exec, IHG Amb, SPG/Marriott Gold
Posts: 62
Got on the upgrade waitlist using my miles for an upcoming ATL-BCN flight (H fare). Can confirm the rate is still 60k miles. There are two seats available but of course not RP/UP. Is there any pattern to when the waitlist clears? T-72/24 hours or is it random? Should I be holding off on checking-in early to maximize my chances?
Jun 8, 2017, 6:59 am
#380
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: BOS
Programs: DL DM 2MM, Marriott LT Titanium, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 15,182
If there are only 2 seats left, then they aren't going to open up any upgrade space and its possible those may sell out. Any upgrades will end up going to the gate... and the other issue is that mileage upgrades don't officially get transferred to the gate upgrade list. Even then, you'd be behind and DMs trying to use an upgrade cert.
Jun 8, 2017, 7:28 am
#382
Join Date: Mar 2006
Programs: DL Plat, Hertz Pres, National Exec, IHG Amb, SPG/Marriott Gold
Posts: 62
Thanks for the quick response rylan. The flight is this weekend so I am holding my breath on them selling out last minute. As far as inventory going to the gate, does that happen on an international flight? I haven't heard of DL offering paid upgrades at the gate and comp upgrades of course are not applicable. Hoping there are no DMs going to Barcelona this weekend. 😀
If there are only 2 seats left, then they aren't going to open up any upgrade space and its possible those may sell out. Any upgrades will end up going to the gate... and the other issue is that mileage upgrades don't officially get transferred to the gate upgrade list. Even then, you'd be behind and DMs trying to use an upgrade cert.
Jun 8, 2017, 11:35 am
#383
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: 16,269
Thanks for the quick response rylan. The flight is this weekend so I am holding my breath on them selling out last minute. As far as inventory going to the gate, does that happen on an international flight? I haven't heard of DL offering paid upgrades at the gate and comp upgrades of course are not applicable. Hoping there are no DMs going to Barcelona this weekend. ��
Jun 8, 2017, 11:39 am
#384
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: BOS
Programs: DL DM 2MM, Marriott LT Titanium, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 15,182
Thanks for the quick response rylan. The flight is this weekend so I am holding my breath on them selling out last minute. As far as inventory going to the gate, does that happen on an international flight? I haven't heard of DL offering paid upgrades at the gate and comp upgrades of course are not applicable. Hoping there are no DMs going to Barcelona this weekend. ��
Your biggest issue will be getting your mileage upgrade request to go to the upgrade list at the airport, as there is no official or automatic method to do this. I suggest checking in online and then calling or sending a tweet to delta and ask that your waitlist for mileage upgrade be transfered/activated on the airport list. Otherwise I'd bet that if you just check in normally and thats it, you won't have an upgrade request or be on the list.
Normally for international you need to be a DM using an upgrade certificate to be on the upgrade list at the gate for any remaining seats.
Jun 8, 2017, 11:58 am
#385
Join Date: Mar 2006
Programs: DL Plat, Hertz Pres, National Exec, IHG Amb, SPG/Marriott Gold
Posts: 62
If you are flying on Sat, DL114 ATL-BCN is showing J0 for inventory with 5 unassigned seats. On Sun, it is J2 with 2 unassigned.
Your biggest issue will be getting your mileage upgrade request to go to the upgrade list at the airport, as there is no official or automatic method to do this. I suggest checking in online and then calling or sending a tweet to delta and ask that your waitlist for mileage upgrade be transfered/activated on the airport list. Otherwise I'd bet that if you just check in normally and thats it, you won't have an upgrade request or be on the list.
Normally for international you need to be a DM using an upgrade certificate to be on the upgrade list at the gate for any remaining seats.
Your biggest issue will be getting your mileage upgrade request to go to the upgrade list at the airport, as there is no official or automatic method to do this. I suggest checking in online and then calling or sending a tweet to delta and ask that your waitlist for mileage upgrade be transfered/activated on the airport list. Otherwise I'd bet that if you just check in normally and thats it, you won't have an upgrade request or be on the list.
Normally for international you need to be a DM using an upgrade certificate to be on the upgrade list at the gate for any remaining seats.
Jul 8, 2017, 1:10 pm
#386
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Brooklyn
Programs: Delta Diamond, Bonvoy something good; sometimes other things too
Posts: 5,050
How do mileage upgrades work for multiple segment trips? For example -- I know this is an unlikely route to clear, but best example I can come up with for my question -- if one wanted to use miles to upgrade on JFK-LAX-SYD, is it in theory just the one US-South Pacific amount of miles, if you did somehow find availability? And can you waitlist segment-by-segment or do both segments need to be available for it to clear? If one segment clears and the other segment clears later do you have to pay twice?
Jul 8, 2017, 1:45 pm
#387
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: San Antonio
Programs: DL DM, Former AA EXP now AY Plat, AC 75K, NW Plat, Former CO Gold, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 27,042
How do mileage upgrades work for multiple segment trips? For example -- I know this is an unlikely route to clear, but best example I can come up with for my question -- if one wanted to use miles to upgrade on JFK-LAX-SYD, is it in theory just the one US-South Pacific amount of miles, if you did somehow find availability? And can you waitlist segment-by-segment or do both segments need to be available for it to clear? If one segment clears and the other segment clears later do you have to pay twice?
If however you book DL41 then it would need to clear the whole way. In this case while it's two different planes, its a direct flight number, thus its like one flight the whole way.
Jul 8, 2017, 1:48 pm
#388
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Brooklyn
Programs: Delta Diamond, Bonvoy something good; sometimes other things too
Posts: 5,050
DL awards cover one fare component. Thus as long as JFK-LAX-SYD is one fare component then you just need one mileage award. As long as its booked as different flight numbers you can clear separately for each flight. No additional fee if the other then clears.
If however you book DL41 then it would need to clear the whole way. In this case while it's two different planes, its a direct flight number, thus its like one flight the whole way.
If however you book DL41 then it would need to clear the whole way. In this case while it's two different planes, its a direct flight number, thus its like one flight the whole way.
Aug 10, 2017, 5:36 pm
#389
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: LAX
Programs: UA MM | BA Silver
Posts: 7,192
Hey folks,
I found a great Virgin Atlantic Premium Economy (G) fare LAX-LHR-LAX in October. I booked it as a DL codeshare and the upgrade to Upper Class is 20k SM each way. Of course no availability at the moment.
Unfortunately I can't waitlist, but is there a way to use expertflyer or award nexus to set an alert if it becomes available? If not, are there any indicators on the DL or VS website if I have to manually check each day?
TIA
I found a great Virgin Atlantic Premium Economy (G) fare LAX-LHR-LAX in October. I booked it as a DL codeshare and the upgrade to Upper Class is 20k SM each way. Of course no availability at the moment.
Unfortunately I can't waitlist, but is there a way to use expertflyer or award nexus to set an alert if it becomes available? If not, are there any indicators on the DL or VS website if I have to manually check each day?
TIA
Last edited by anc-ord772; Aug 10, 2017 at 5:44 pm
Aug 10, 2017, 5:54 pm
#390
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Brooklyn
Programs: Delta Diamond, Bonvoy something good; sometimes other things too
Posts: 5,050
Hey folks,
I found a great Virgin Atlantic Premium Economy (G) fare LAX-LHR-LAX in October. I booked it as a DL codeshare and the upgrade to Upper Class is 20k SM each way. Of course no availability at the moment.
Unfortunately I can't waitlist, but is there a way to use expertflyer or award nexus to set an alert if it becomes available? If not, are there any indicators on the DL or VS website if I have to manually check each day?
TIA
I found a great Virgin Atlantic Premium Economy (G) fare LAX-LHR-LAX in October. I booked it as a DL codeshare and the upgrade to Upper Class is 20k SM each way. Of course no availability at the moment.
Unfortunately I can't waitlist, but is there a way to use expertflyer or award nexus to set an alert if it becomes available? If not, are there any indicators on the DL or VS website if I have to manually check each day?
TIA