Need advice: Getting into First - KOA to MSP 4/1/16
Jul 23, 2015, 1:30 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: SAN
Programs: DL DM / 2MM - Marriott Ambassador
Posts: 1,515
Need advice: Getting into First - KOA to MSP 4/1/16
DL 1305 / 2440: I am a Diamond travelling with my family (4 total). I see I have 5 options here and looking for your opinions! I called an no upgrades for Regional or GUCs have been released yet.
1) Buy the First seat at $1063 which is a reasonable rate.
2) Buy L fares ($565) and can upgrade with Regional or GUC - but can only do 2ea
3) Buy K fares ($625) and use miles (15k) for upgrades.
4) Miles @ 90k each (I don't have enough)
5) Some combination of above.
I realize there is no right answer but most of you do this much more often than I do. My gut tells me #2 but I am concerned that the upgrades would not clear and I would have "wasted" $60ea on a higher fare.
Do GUCs / Regionals carry more weight than mileage upgrades? Or if I am Diamond are they all considered the same?
THANK YOU!!
1) Buy the First seat at $1063 which is a reasonable rate.
2) Buy L fares ($565) and can upgrade with Regional or GUC - but can only do 2ea
3) Buy K fares ($625) and use miles (15k) for upgrades.
4) Miles @ 90k each (I don't have enough)
5) Some combination of above.
I realize there is no right answer but most of you do this much more often than I do. My gut tells me #2 but I am concerned that the upgrades would not clear and I would have "wasted" $60ea on a higher fare.
Do GUCs / Regionals carry more weight than mileage upgrades? Or if I am Diamond are they all considered the same?
THANK YOU!!
Jul 23, 2015, 2:58 pm
#2
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Northern California
Programs: DL DM Charter, 2.9MM; 2019 PM and falling; Kettle everywhere else
Posts: 243
Jul 23, 2015, 3:00 pm
#4
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Minneapolis
Programs: DL DM
Posts: 2,234
Strictly an educated guess, but my sense would be that the first
class upgrade space will not ever open up. That is still high
season to and from Hawaii and Delta has plenty of history and knows
that there likely be more than enough people who are willing to pay cash for first class. (Especially East bound when it is an overnight flight) Even if they do open up some space, it won't likely be four seats. If the fare difference for an upgradeable fare is only, as you say, $60.00, I would be willing to spend the extra money, but of course, it isn't for me.
class upgrade space will not ever open up. That is still high
season to and from Hawaii and Delta has plenty of history and knows
that there likely be more than enough people who are willing to pay cash for first class. (Especially East bound when it is an overnight flight) Even if they do open up some space, it won't likely be four seats. If the fare difference for an upgradeable fare is only, as you say, $60.00, I would be willing to spend the extra money, but of course, it isn't for me.
Jul 23, 2015, 3:02 pm
#5
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Minneapolis
Programs: DL DM
Posts: 2,234
Jul 23, 2015, 3:51 pm
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, MM, NR; HH Diamond, Bonvoy LT Gold, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Diamond, others
Posts: 12,159
DL 1305 / 2440: I am a Diamond travelling with my family (4 total). I see I have 5 options here and looking for your opinions! I called an no upgrades for Regional or GUCs have been released yet.
1) Buy the First seat at $1063 which is a reasonable rate.
2) Buy L fares ($565) and can upgrade with Regional or GUC - but can only do 2ea
3) Buy K fares ($625) and use miles (15k) for upgrades.
4) Miles @ 90k each (I don't have enough)
5) Some combination of above.
I realize there is no right answer but most of you do this much more often than I do. My gut tells me #2 but I am concerned that the upgrades would not clear and I would have "wasted" $60ea on a higher fare.
Do GUCs / Regionals carry more weight than mileage upgrades? Or if I am Diamond are they all considered the same?
THANK YOU!!
1) Buy the First seat at $1063 which is a reasonable rate.
2) Buy L fares ($565) and can upgrade with Regional or GUC - but can only do 2ea
3) Buy K fares ($625) and use miles (15k) for upgrades.
4) Miles @ 90k each (I don't have enough)
5) Some combination of above.
I realize there is no right answer but most of you do this much more often than I do. My gut tells me #2 but I am concerned that the upgrades would not clear and I would have "wasted" $60ea on a higher fare.
Do GUCs / Regionals carry more weight than mileage upgrades? Or if I am Diamond are they all considered the same?
THANK YOU!!
(1) costs $500, guarantees F
(2) costs 2 RUCs/GUCs (which do you have? You can get 8 RUCs as DM if you haven't chosen yet), high priority upgrade if released
(3) costs $60 + 15K miles, high priority upgrade if released
If it has to be all or none, (1) is may be your only option; I don't know if you can link itineraries for other types of upgrades. If you think they will all clear, I'd say (3) is probably cheapest (providing you have other uses for the certs).
Jul 23, 2015, 4:13 pm
#9
Join Date: Sep 2013
Programs: DL PM, 1MM, DL SC, Kimpton Inner Circle
Posts: 2,416
Consider if it's really worth it to spend the $ or use the certs for FC on one of those 757s. Having received a few UGs to/from the islands (not HNL-ATL, of course) on those birds my $0.02 is it's OK for free, but I wouldn't pay for it.