Originally Posted by
Weekend Away
You bought a basic economy ticket with AF/KL flight numbers. That's what you did. You know that, I know that, the rest of the forum knows that. You shouldn't have expected an upgrade doing this. You even called it a "hack" implying a way to get around the rules. Worst, you publicized a way to get around the rules, argued with a Delta rep about it, and likely hastened the closure of this loophole. So no, I don't have sympathy for you for not getting your "entitled upgrade".
Not fully correct. When you buy these via AF/KL you are buying an "Light" fare, that is NOT the same as an basic economy ticket from Delta. They use different names for these fares for a reason. A "light" fare does exclude baggage but does INCLUDE advance seat selection. You just don't get any upgrades on DL as these have been booked as AF/KL marketed flights as Delta does not sell "light" fares. The reason for that is the competetive FF program structure here in europe: as the other two large FF programs/ Alliances are offering seat selection for their version of luggage free light fares AF/KL had to offer the same therefore any light fare bought from them does include advance seat selection. That is not a Hack or loophole. So buying an AF light fare will allow you seat selection on DL operated flights as soon as ticketed but no access to their E+ seats before OLCI.