Mileage upgrade doesn't clear, flight goes with empty seats
May 29, 2017, 12:27 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: SEA
Programs: DL GM/MM; AS MVP-G
Posts: 600
Mileage upgrade doesn't clear, flight goes with empty seats
Hi-
Booked a K fare JFK-SFO; waitlisted an upgrade to Delta One using miles.
The upgrade didn't ever clear and the flight went out with 6 empty seats in Delta One.
Does anyone have ideas behind why DL won't clear mileage upgrades up to departure? From what I understand (please correct if wrong), it will only clear up to 3 hours prior to departure; after that, you're SOL.
Booked a K fare JFK-SFO; waitlisted an upgrade to Delta One using miles.
The upgrade didn't ever clear and the flight went out with 6 empty seats in Delta One.
Does anyone have ideas behind why DL won't clear mileage upgrades up to departure? From what I understand (please correct if wrong), it will only clear up to 3 hours prior to departure; after that, you're SOL.
May 29, 2017, 12:38 pm
#2
Join Date: May 2015
Location: DCA
Programs: AA EXP, DL FO, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 6,712
Hi-
Booked a K fare JFK-SFO; waitlisted an upgrade to Delta One using miles.
The upgrade didn't ever clear and the flight went out with 6 empty seats in Delta One.
Does anyone have ideas behind why DL won't clear mileage upgrades up to departure? From what I understand (please correct if wrong), it will only clear up to 3 hours prior to departure; after that, you're SOL.
Booked a K fare JFK-SFO; waitlisted an upgrade to Delta One using miles.
The upgrade didn't ever clear and the flight went out with 6 empty seats in Delta One.
Does anyone have ideas behind why DL won't clear mileage upgrades up to departure? From what I understand (please correct if wrong), it will only clear up to 3 hours prior to departure; after that, you're SOL.
Maybe the elite line could have helped you. It's always possible that the request wasn't properly coded initially, or that it was hung up in the mess that is DL's IT.
May 29, 2017, 12:43 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: SEA
Programs: DL GM/MM; AS MVP-G
Posts: 600
That's ridiculous. I would have pressed the GA and/or redcoat hard to pull the miles and clear the upgrade at the gate. Not all know how to do it, but a PM shouldn't have to sit in the back with empty seats up front, and a listed upgrade request.
Maybe the elite line could have helped you. It's always possible that the request wasn't properly coded initially, or that it was hung up in the mess that is DL's IT.
Maybe the elite line could have helped you. It's always possible that the request wasn't properly coded initially, or that it was hung up in the mess that is DL's IT.
I asked the gate agents, who also called a redcoat over, and they explained there was no way they could do anything and had me call the GM line. I called the GM line and the woman said only the gate had control over the situation. At one point, the redcoat even attempted to talk to the GM line (via my cell phone) to try to work something... but they kept coming to the same conclusion, that it couldn't be done.
May 29, 2017, 1:03 pm
#4
Join Date: May 2015
Location: DCA
Programs: AA EXP, DL FO, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 6,712
I should clarify, I'm not a PM...just a GM (haven't updated that ol' profile in awhile).
I asked the gate agents, who also called a redcoat over, and they explained there was no way they could do anything and had me call the GM line. I called the GM line and the woman said only the gate had control over the situation. At one point, the redcoat even attempted to talk to the GM line (via my cell phone) to try to work something... but they kept coming to the same conclusion, that it couldn't be done.
I asked the gate agents, who also called a redcoat over, and they explained there was no way they could do anything and had me call the GM line. I called the GM line and the woman said only the gate had control over the situation. At one point, the redcoat even attempted to talk to the GM line (via my cell phone) to try to work something... but they kept coming to the same conclusion, that it couldn't be done.
There's no reason why mileage upgrades shouldn't go to the gate. If they're worried about GAs not being able to see that there's enough miles in your account, DL should just pull the miles when you make the request. If it doesn't clear, you get them back. Not sure why it has to be this difficult.
May 30, 2017, 12:32 am
#5
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May 30, 2017, 4:56 am
#6
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I've also heard here a number of times that mileage upgrades can't be cleared at the gate. Was trying to use a GUC at the gate a few weeks ago and the GA was having issues and had to call-in and I overheard the discussion a bit. The person on the line apparently thought I was trying to use miles to upgrade and said that could not be done at the gate. The GA explained that I was trying to use a GUC, not miles, and that it should be possible at the gate. So this seemed another confirmation that mileage upgrades can't be done at the gate.
May 30, 2017, 4:59 am
#7
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Published rules for mileage upgrades demand clearance into inventory >3 hours before flight. RUCs, GUCs (and non-revs) clear into empty seats. As for why the rules are written that way... ijgordon has a point.
Last edited by 3Cforme; May 30, 2017 at 5:15 am
May 30, 2017, 7:04 am
#8
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,426
Correct. Three hours before the flight. Doesn't "OP" fare class have to show availability? And, last but not least...."Upgrade Awards can only be processed by a Delta specialist" which. in my opinion would be a res agent, medallion line or the like and not the GA or redcoat on day of travel.
May 30, 2017, 9:46 am
#10
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: DL PM, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 8,414
When the transcon flights first stopped allowing complimentary medallion upgrades, I seem to recall that there were several reports of mileage upgrades clearing at the gate.
Delta really needs to fix this, especially for routes like this where they often sell a full cabin and so don't want to release inventory in advance. Either that or someone needs to do a better job of clearing all the mileage requests at the 3 hour mark (so that there are only one or two seats left for sale at that point, or however many they might reasonably sell at they very last moment).
Delta really needs to fix this, especially for routes like this where they often sell a full cabin and so don't want to release inventory in advance. Either that or someone needs to do a better job of clearing all the mileage requests at the 3 hour mark (so that there are only one or two seats left for sale at that point, or however many they might reasonably sell at they very last moment).
May 31, 2017, 11:20 pm
#11
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Delta really needs to fix this, especially for routes like this where they often sell a full cabin and so don't want to release inventory in advance. Either that or someone needs to do a better job of clearing all the mileage requests at the 3 hour mark (so that there are only one or two seats left for sale at that point, or however many they might reasonably sell at they very last moment).
Jun 1, 2017, 6:38 am
#12
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When the transcon flights first stopped allowing complimentary medallion upgrades, I seem to recall that there were several reports of mileage upgrades clearing at the gate.
Delta really needs to fix this, especially for routes like this where they often sell a full cabin and so don't want to release inventory in advance. Either that or someone needs to do a better job of clearing all the mileage requests at the 3 hour mark (so that there are only one or two seats left for sale at that point, or however many they might reasonably sell at they very last moment).
Delta really needs to fix this, especially for routes like this where they often sell a full cabin and so don't want to release inventory in advance. Either that or someone needs to do a better job of clearing all the mileage requests at the 3 hour mark (so that there are only one or two seats left for sale at that point, or however many they might reasonably sell at they very last moment).
Jun 1, 2017, 8:01 am
#13
Join Date: Feb 2015
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Jun 1, 2017, 8:26 am
#14
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Jun 1, 2017, 8:56 am
#15
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Your post that I quoted specifically said that *mileage* upgrades should be cleared at T-3 hours. It didn't say that GUC and RUC supported upgrade requests should also be cleared before the gate.