Originally Posted by
Hankle
Hi! Thanks for the info/help. I'm glad to know (now) that that's the policy, but if it truly is the policy, Delta really shouldn't publish on their site that GUCs can be used on _any_ Delta-operated flight, when the truth is that they can only be used on Delta-operated flights ON Delta ticket stock or, in a few select cases, on a few SkyTeam partners' ticket stock. That Ticket Eligibility section you pointed out still doesn't specifically say that Delta ticket stock is required, as far as I can tell. I'm pretty sure I've done this before on KLM ticket stock on a Delta-operated flight which is why I was especially confused.
Anyway, this is not at all a criticism of your response all -- just a criticism of the byzantine way Delta has implemented and explained (or not explained adequately) GUC rules.
-Hank
The ticket eligibility section links to added terms. Those terms require that it be a fare that is upgradeable on Delta, which is not the case with your ticket.
As flyerCO has pointed out, that is because DL cannot reissue VA tickets. They can reissue KL and AF tickets, and it sounds like they made an exception for you in doing so.
Originally Posted by
Hankle
This is helpful, and I'll take a shot. Is the GA the only one who could do this? Or could a check-in agent be able to do it (I hate to bother the gate agents whose lives are so hectic)? Or could a Delta phone-rep do it _on the day of departure_? And how many hours before the flight leaves can I try to do it with the GA/check-in agent?
-Hank
Anyone at the airport could do it in theory, but let me repeat: LAX-SYD is one of the top 5 if not top 2 hardest routes to use a GUC on. They rarely clear people in advance and usually only at the gate. Those are Diamonds who are properly added to the upgrade list.
That, and the fact that this route has recently gone from 37J seats to 28 or 29J seats, further depleting upgrade chances. There is absolutely no chance a check in agent will do it for you because there won't be open OY space for them to clear you; only the gate agent could do it, but my guess is they won't get through everyone properly on the upgrade list, let alone worry about someone on different stock that wants to get on the list at the last minute.