Originally Posted by
cestmoi123
I don't know what the actual rule for nonrevs is. If, however, they're entitled to best available, it would be easy to see the rule being similar to someone who's paid for a first ticket, got their flight canceled, and can only be accommodated on coach on the next flight, unless there's a no-show - they're actually entitled to a first seat, it's not a courtesy being provided to them by the airline.
It's certainly not great PR, but it isn't necessarily a policy violation.
Many crews are vicious about upgrading nonrevs they know are FAs. Even to the extreme of skipping over non-FA nonrevs. Onboard crew upgrades are shady af.
Edit: If I were on the revenue upgrade list and saw a Delta employee (careful to know it's a Delta employee) upgraded, I would definitely talk to a flight attendant and ask why it's okay to skip all the revenue customers? I'd be to say verify the working FA's name a couple times to subtly suggest I might follow-up. All being polite, of course.