Originally Posted by
javabytes
It is pretty consistent. IF INVENTORY IS AVAILABLE:
-Upgrades clear at the time of booking on a full Y fare
-Upgrades clear starting at 5:00 PM Eastern Time 6, 4, or 2 days before departure depending on your medallion tier
The BE routes (JFK-SFO, JFK-LAX, etc.) essentially never have any inventory released before the gate, as it is a premium product and DL does quite well selling those seats. If inventory is not available, the upgrades will not clear at the windows, and instead will clear immediately whenever it does become available within the windows - which could be at random times leading up to departure or could be at the gate.
I have been Diamond since delta started the new class and it is far form consistent.
Has very little to do with inventory. There are other elements at play here.
I have been on flights this year, that over 50% of the bussiness class cabin was empty at boarding time, and I was holding a Y class fare, and NEVER pre-cleared unitl the gate. They cleared everyone at the gate.
Yet I have other flights that with a Y ticket I get upgraded at time of purchase. Its is never consistent.