GUC Use > Banging Head vs. Wall (Rant)
#31
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That's going to be one of my next steps, although IIRC you can check the ticket there and not the reservation.
I'll also need to do something to get the KLM PNR as one receipt says ARPT rather than OPEN for that segment, with no seat assignment.
I'll also need to do something to get the KLM PNR as one receipt says ARPT rather than OPEN for that segment, with no seat assignment.
#32
#33
I haven't tried any others because lately I haven't had any other tickets issued by other airlines.
#34
#35
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: NJ
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I ran into a similar issue a few months ago trying to use GUCs to upgrade JFK-AMS-DXB and DXB-AMS-EWR, with all but the AMS-EWR segments DL-coded/KL-operated. After 6 phone calls to the DM line, I did some digging around on FT and found an old thread complaining about frustration using GUCs where someone suggested calling Singapore reservations (you can find the number on DL.com).
Sure enough, with just one phone call (and some time on hold), the agent understood my request and was able to apply the GUC to the KL flights where Z class was available. Might be worth a shot!
Sure enough, with just one phone call (and some time on hold), the agent understood my request and was able to apply the GUC to the KL flights where Z class was available. Might be worth a shot!
#36
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I just checked my 006- ticket number on the Saudia website and it looks OK to me, with all O booking class for the business class segments. From this, I would assume that the ticket has been reissued, I hope successfully.
My receipt on delta.dumb is showing all seat assignments again, including for the ARPT segment. My next internet exercise will be to try the DL PNR on the KLM website and see whether there's any agreement about what I have.
My receipt on delta.dumb is showing all seat assignments again, including for the ARPT segment. My next internet exercise will be to try the DL PNR on the KLM website and see whether there's any agreement about what I have.
#37
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It gets better!
First, glad to know I'm not alone on this. Second, here's another endorsement of HUCA.
So I realized after the ticket was reissued that the first leg of my return which had been a DL-codeshare was changed to a KL-coded flight in the agent's attempt to apply the GUC. I called back (now 24 hours after initial issue) and explained to an agent what had happened. Eleven minutes later, she had it all fixed and the GUC applied for the whole return trip back. As she said, lots of people just don't know how to use the Deltamatic system to get the GUCs confirmed. She was aghast when I told her I'd been on the phone for 2+ hours the day prior.
I suppose the moral of the story here is, we must persist in order to get the full value of GUCs!
First, glad to know I'm not alone on this. Second, here's another endorsement of HUCA.
So I realized after the ticket was reissued that the first leg of my return which had been a DL-codeshare was changed to a KL-coded flight in the agent's attempt to apply the GUC. I called back (now 24 hours after initial issue) and explained to an agent what had happened. Eleven minutes later, she had it all fixed and the GUC applied for the whole return trip back. As she said, lots of people just don't know how to use the Deltamatic system to get the GUCs confirmed. She was aghast when I told her I'd been on the phone for 2+ hours the day prior.
I suppose the moral of the story here is, we must persist in order to get the full value of GUCs!
#38
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Join Date: Sep 2009
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It gets better!
First, glad to know I'm not alone on this. Second, here's another endorsement of HUCA.
So I realized after the ticket was reissued that the first leg of my return which had been a DL-codeshare was changed to a KL-coded flight in the agent's attempt to apply the GUC. I called back (now 24 hours after initial issue) and explained to an agent what had happened. Eleven minutes later, she had it all fixed and the GUC applied for the whole return trip back. As she said, lots of people just don't know how to use the Deltamatic system to get the GUCs confirmed. She was aghast when I told her I'd been on the phone for 2+ hours the day prior.
I suppose the moral of the story here is, we must persist in order to get the full value of GUCs!
First, glad to know I'm not alone on this. Second, here's another endorsement of HUCA.
So I realized after the ticket was reissued that the first leg of my return which had been a DL-codeshare was changed to a KL-coded flight in the agent's attempt to apply the GUC. I called back (now 24 hours after initial issue) and explained to an agent what had happened. Eleven minutes later, she had it all fixed and the GUC applied for the whole return trip back. As she said, lots of people just don't know how to use the Deltamatic system to get the GUCs confirmed. She was aghast when I told her I'd been on the phone for 2+ hours the day prior.
I suppose the moral of the story here is, we must persist in order to get the full value of GUCs!
In retrospect, my biggest mistakes in the process have been not following my gut and doing a HUCA when I've skeptical about an agent; at best, it's a waste of my time as the inventory I need might be rapidly disappearing. Also, if CVG answers, hang up ASAP and try again.
#39
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 4,112
At least I educated myself here, and as usual, it seems things have gotten worse .
Last edited by HeadInTheClouds; Jun 22, 2017 at 1:53 am Reason: Add that KL flights were V class.
#40
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A major advantage of trying to upgrade KLM marketed and KLM operated segments is that you can see business class upgrade inventory on EF. This includes the ability to search a range of dates at once and to save such searches for later use. It's very slick and EF even reminds you of the correct inventory you want.
For DL segments, we must call DL and be at the mercy of phone agents who might be experts at this and know exactly what to do or might be clueless but adamant.
For DL segments, we must call DL and be at the mercy of phone agents who might be experts at this and know exactly what to do or might be clueless but adamant.
#41
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#42
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 1,876
Well, I guess I'm glad I stumbled upon this thread and trudged through it as I assume this just recently changed... just in January of this year I did two KL-coded (V class) KL-operated US-EU tickets and upgraded them to Z inventory using DL GUCs. The process was shockingly easy actually. It was so painless that I had tagged that as the "ideal usage" pattern for future DL-GUC redemptions.
At least I educated myself here, and as usual, it seems things have gotten worse .
At least I educated myself here, and as usual, it seems things have gotten worse .
Originally Posted by Delta, Nov 2016
Valid on all KLM-marketed, KLM-operated flights from published Main Cabin fares in Y, B, M, S, H, Q, K, L, U, T, X, or V class to Business Class.
Originally Posted by Delta, Feb 2017
Valid on all KLM-marketed, KLM-operated flights from published Main Cabin fares in Y, B, or M class to Business Class.
A major advantage of trying to upgrade KLM marketed and KLM operated segments is that you can see business class upgrade inventory on EF. This includes the ability to search a range of dates at once and to save such searches for later use. It's very slick and EF even reminds you of the correct inventory you want.
For DL segments, we must call DL and be at the mercy of phone agents who might be experts at this and know exactly what to do or might be clueless but adamant.
For DL segments, we must call DL and be at the mercy of phone agents who might be experts at this and know exactly what to do or might be clueless but adamant.
- It ignores that fact that you can now only upgrade Y, B, or M fares on KL-marketed, KL-operated segments
- It implies that you can't identify upgrade inventory via ExpertFlyer for DL-marketed, KL-operated segments (you can, simply by finding Z inventory on the KL-marketed equivalent flight)
So, to recap:
#43
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Brooklyn
Programs: Delta Diamond, Bonvoy something good; sometimes other things too
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Well, I guess I'm glad I stumbled upon this thread and trudged through it as I assume this just recently changed... just in January of this year I did two KL-coded (V class) KL-operated US-EU tickets and upgraded them to Z inventory using DL GUCs. The process was shockingly easy actually. It was so painless that I had tagged that as the "ideal usage" pattern for future DL-GUC redemptions.
At least I educated myself here, and as usual, it seems things have gotten worse .
At least I educated myself here, and as usual, it seems things have gotten worse .
The other main challenge is whether KLM Z space is available at all, and possible complications due to married segment availability, and especially how married segment availability works across mixed DL/KL-operated segments. But if you find a routing that's all-KL-operated and shows Z space on ExpertFlyer, it still seems to work pretty well, occasional HUCA requirements notwithstanding.
#44
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Could O be relevant when married segments apply with the DL segments using OY? I'm thinking of my own ticket here.
#45
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My more general observation on married segments is that when I was booking, I saw (not for my dates, but for other dates) lots of NYC-AMS-CPT options where the routings with KL-operated JFK-AMS flights showed 0 Z on both sectors, but the routings with DL-operated JFK/EWR-AMS flights showed available Z space on both sectors. But it's not clear if that's "real" space since you're not actually booking Z space on the DL sector, you're booking OY space, but does the married segment logic still create Z availability on the KL sector? And if it doesn't, does Z availability for an independent AMS-CPT trip govern upgrade availability on that sector?