Originally Posted by
happydad100
There is some incorrect info in this thread. Here is the deal:
1) Award bucket is "N" for coach and "R" for first
2) If you try to change an award ticket outside of the 3 hour window, the agent will need to look for "N" or "R" inventory on your desired flight (and the same tier for N ... there are "low", "medium" and "high" in N).
3) If you try to change an domestic award ticket within the 3 hour window this is SDC. The agent (or kiosk) will only need to find one Y seat for sale on the flight. Net, if Delta is selling one full Y coach seat on the desired flight (Y1), then you can SDC to this flight. The computers treat an award ticket exactly like a revenue ticket for SDC.
4) You can't do SDC on any reservation that has an international segment (even changing just the domestic segment). There have been some reports of agent doing a manual override, but the system by default does not allow it
5) If you are booked on a first class award ticket (R) you can do SDC to another flight (within 3 hours) that is selling F seats (even if R class is not available). Remember if you are upgraded (V or G) you loose your upgrade if you SDC to a different flight
Hopes this helps.
Happydad
Everything you said is exactly how I thought it worked before I talk to this agent last week. Of course she could be wrong or I misunderstood her but it would be hard to find a flight that had a seat to sell but would not have any award seats left at any level. DL says that if there is a seat for sale on the plane you can use your miles for it.
I had purchased three tickets and one award seat for my family which are all GMs. I was on expert flyer when I was talking to this agent about something else for our flight. I then asked her about our chances of being SDC on an earlier flight the next day. I see 9+. She said she knew of a scenario that the reward seat would not make it but the rest of us would. To me, it felt like it happened to here before, but who knows.
I had an agent tell me last week that DL does not have SDS, so anything is possible.
I wish I never brought this one up
I really can't see how it would ever happen. If she is correct, it could only happen one in a million. I would suggest that everyone just carry on with what they know and if anyone ever sees this strange scenario work either way, report back here.
In the end the 3 flights to STT went from around 20 seats for sale to 0 overnight. So no SDC on this one.