Deltahater

Celtic, it appears to me that Columbia is a DL employee and given the annoucement yesterday under a fair amount of stress and upheaval, so maybe we can cut him/her some slack for the unneccesary personal comments.

DL, IME, will not give a seat to a non-rev when an elite is elligible for an upgrade and asked for it. Non-revs are those that come on board last, dressed nicely. So if people are seated before you, they are revenue pax. If people are in BE with jeans or tank tops or generally sloppy outfits, revenue pax. If you are entitled to an upgrade as a Plt, and space is available, Dl will give it to you. Non-revs are litterally last.

But, I thought you were also suggesting that DL should upgrade Y-class people over non-revs, which would be a different discussion. To me the question is should Y-class be upgraded to F if seats available as a general policy as done by CO? As a pax, that makes sense to me. Let's hoist a Guinness and find a way to fly to a sunny, warm destination

CelticFlyer

Slack already cut........ as for Delta's international upgrade policy, particularly their same day policy, I suggest you search this forum and you'll see why it generates such annoyance!

Deltahater

Celtic:

I am the last person to support or endorse DL. I don't agree with their policies most of the time and am I not defending their int'l upgrade policy. It is very obvious that is offends/irritates most Elites.

All I am saying is that I don't believe that DL upgrades non-revs to BE before Elites. I spoke again today with a DL insider (who dislikes the company almost as much as I do) and s/he confirmed that non-revs are always last. But maybe a DL lurker can shed light on this.

wanaflyforless

My 4/4 segments on DL flying on a buddy pass were not upgraded. And I left Sept 11, 2002 - supposedly a low travel day. I flew both domestic and international segments - I am sure DL upgraded others instead. I am sure friends sometimes upgrade friends - but don't think buddy pass travellers often take precedence over supported upgrades for elites.

CelticFlyer

It happens. I've seen it happen and so have others. It also happens with upgrades to first on domestic flights. Maybe it is happening less domestically with the introduction of the automated gate systems and automated upgrades. If and when they introduce same day upgrades on international flights we'll see how well it works then.

indufan

It doesn't have to be time critical to be a trip that you will indeed take. I just went to the US Open for 3 days, it's a two week event that I could have went on any of the days.

But it does happen for business purposes. I asked a guy when his flight home was once and his reply was that he wasn't exactly sure. He was going from SLC to ATL. Actually I sat down with him and found out that he probably wasn't going to make it for several days on the non-stops but suggested that he route to LAS. He did and he made it.

DeltaAgent

I know there are a few FlyerTalkers that use Buddy Passes from time to time. Just wanted to advise you of an important change coming January 1, 2005. No more travel on codeshare flights.

The following quote is from a Memo dated October 19, 2004.

USCGamecock

Bummer. Will they still be good if DL goes into bankruptcy?

DeltaAgent

Sorry, I do not have information about how things will be handled in a bankruptcy-type scenario.

Deltahater

I wonder how many Buddy pass riders will be stuck at their overseas destination with a hang-over and no way to come back home???

Hopefully People get the message before they fly out....

andymo99

Well they are giving over two months notice. Not sure people can claim ignorance after New Years.

Flying_Duck

I do realize that I may be beating a dead horse, and pushing somebody's botton here, and that there are several threads dealing with buddy passes

Since it seems everyone and his grandmother - except us paying FF's of course - can get a buddy pass, I still have to express my puzzlement that an airline struggling for survival is handing out buddy passes enabling peripheral aquiantices of Delta employees to go i.e. Transatlantic in BE for around $200.

Is there a limit to the number of buddy passes each employee can hand out? Am I the only one who believes this "perk" to be archaeic and somewhat offensive in times of teetering on bankrupcy?

HRRMMMPHH!!

Deltahater

I am not sure how DL is giving notice to the flyers. DL is probably doing all they can do, but it seems that is upon the employee to inform the friends and family flyer.

Often these are sold (even though illegal) and sometimes DL employees quit and do not get the message that I presume was posted on the DL intranet.

I was not faulting DL, I was just feeling bad for pax who think they are getting a deal for a trip of a lifetime and then get stuck...

flyupfrnt

My mother in a 30 year Delta Employee, Yes they are limited. In her case we only recieve 4 per year, down from 8 a couple years ago.

Frankly, getting anywhere in the DL system (atleast from SEA) on a buddy pass is a Gamble at best in this post 9/11 environment.

By post 911, i refer to the fact that DL cut back so many flights, trying to fill the planes up more and leave less seats empty.

Last year 2003 i dont think i used a single pass, this year i have yet to book one either.

I pay significantly more money to Fly AS or CO with a confirmed seat.

The benefit used to be valuable, IMO it isnt anymore

CHRIS

The Juiceman

I was recently told by a Delta employee that she receives 7 passes per year. I would imagine it varies according to senority.