dreaming for an upgrade
Apr 17, 2012, 12:06 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: central Wisconsin
Programs: DL-FO, amex platinum, ducks unlimited, pheasants forever
Posts: 154
dreaming for an upgrade
Leaving DTW to CDG next Friday,
I'm Delta Gold, wife is Silver.
We are booked in PV and noticed a lot of empty J space at this point.
Wondering if and when AF opens J for upgrades?
I was previously told to check within 24hrs of departure as they may free up some J in this window.
Booked the PV seats in I believe A and was told if upgrade was available in it would cost 25k in Skymiles.
Just wondering if there are any other recommendations on how to snag the elusive J upgrade... or am I just dreaming....
I'm Delta Gold, wife is Silver.
We are booked in PV and noticed a lot of empty J space at this point.
Wondering if and when AF opens J for upgrades?
I was previously told to check within 24hrs of departure as they may free up some J in this window.
Booked the PV seats in I believe A and was told if upgrade was available in it would cost 25k in Skymiles.
Just wondering if there are any other recommendations on how to snag the elusive J upgrade... or am I just dreaming....
Apr 17, 2012, 1:30 pm
#2
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Rotterdam
Programs: AMEX Platinum, BA Gold, Flying Blue Platinum, Marriott Platinum Elite, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 1,280
Leaving DTW to CDG next Friday,
I'm Delta Gold, wife is Silver.
We are booked in PV and noticed a lot of empty J space at this point.
Wondering if and when AF opens J for upgrades?
I was previously told to check within 24hrs of departure as they may free up some J in this window.
Booked the PV seats in I believe A and was told if upgrade was available in it would cost 25k in Skymiles.
Just wondering if there are any other recommendations on how to snag the elusive J upgrade... or am I just dreaming....
I'm Delta Gold, wife is Silver.
We are booked in PV and noticed a lot of empty J space at this point.
Wondering if and when AF opens J for upgrades?
I was previously told to check within 24hrs of departure as they may free up some J in this window.
Booked the PV seats in I believe A and was told if upgrade was available in it would cost 25k in Skymiles.
Just wondering if there are any other recommendations on how to snag the elusive J upgrade... or am I just dreaming....
Apr 17, 2012, 11:41 pm
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Paris, France
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Apr 18, 2012, 1:24 am
#4
Join Date: Dec 2004
Programs: FB Plat for life
Posts: 730
You can only hope for an operational upgrade if PV and Y are overbooked. To give you a little hope as it is easter vacation now in Europe (not sure about US) the planes are quite full in Y usually and less crowded in J. On the other side Friday evening flight is usually quite full in J out of DTW from my past experience.
Apr 18, 2012, 3:21 am
#5
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Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Hong Kong, France
Programs: FB , BA Gold
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The most common way to upgrade now is to receive a message from AF offering you to upgrade for (little) cash. You then reply if you are interested and AF will call you if they do have opportunities.
AF do not have programs to facilitate upgrade with miles by elite members as common on US airlines. They only allow it on the most expensive fares and it costs a lot of miles (compared to simply booking an award in J).
Free Opup process is mysterious and with AF new policy of offering upgrades for cash to selected pax, the probability of free opups are small.
However, during holidays flights are overbooked in Y and low load in premium cabins, so you stand a better chance of opup or paid upgrade.
AF do not have programs to facilitate upgrade with miles by elite members as common on US airlines. They only allow it on the most expensive fares and it costs a lot of miles (compared to simply booking an award in J).
Free Opup process is mysterious and with AF new policy of offering upgrades for cash to selected pax, the probability of free opups are small.
However, during holidays flights are overbooked in Y and low load in premium cabins, so you stand a better chance of opup or paid upgrade.
Apr 18, 2012, 4:00 am
#6
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: SUX
Programs: BA Silver; HHonors Gold; SPG Gold; Points but dirt with everyone else
Posts: 8,050
But they do allow upgrading from S and W fares with partner program miles. (and not just DL miles, it's part of the published SkyTeam Upgrade Program). With DL miles, it's 15K each way for TATL, which is a pretty good deal. There are even some tricks to get cheaper PV fares upgraded, but I think if the OP booked into an AF A fare, the only hope is to get an offer for a paid upgrade or an op-up.
Apr 18, 2012, 7:11 am
#7
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But they do allow upgrading from S and W fares with partner program miles. (and not just DL miles, it's part of the published SkyTeam Upgrade Program). With DL miles, it's 15K each way for TATL, which is a pretty good deal. There are even some tricks to get cheaper PV fares upgraded, but I think if the OP booked into an AF A fare, the only hope is to get an offer for a paid upgrade or an op-up.
Are you sure that the upgrade is only 15K with DL miles? I think that it is more for FB miles (but the upgrade info is not published). And the OP mentioned 25K.
Apr 18, 2012, 8:21 am
#8
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: SUX
Programs: BA Silver; HHonors Gold; SPG Gold; Points but dirt with everyone else
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Apr 18, 2012, 1:45 pm
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: central Wisconsin
Programs: DL-FO, amex platinum, ducks unlimited, pheasants forever
Posts: 154
This may be mis-information but was told by my T/A that since it is A fare class the upgrade if available would be 25k skymiles not the lower 15k Not so sure now as
I am hearing A is not upgradable....
I am hearing A is not upgradable....
Apr 19, 2012, 1:29 am
#10
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Seoul, Korea
Programs: Flying Blue, Mileage Plus
Posts: 65
Is it really now "the most common way"?
Do you have to sing up somewhere to receive these emails?
Apr 19, 2012, 1:44 am
#11
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It's definitely 15K SkyMiles to upgrade W or S on AF to O, as shown here. There are numerous reports of people doing it on the DL forum. Some agents have broken the rules and upgraded A and charged 25K for doing it since it's a cheaper fare, but that seems to either be stopped at the ticket reissue or the reissue goes through and a follow-up question about the mileage level gets 10K refunded. Upgrading BM on DL to Z or BMU on KL to U takes 25K miles (15K for Y), so maybe the agent isn't used to doing upgrades from PV and just quoted the TATL upgrade mileage.
Apr 19, 2012, 2:05 am
#12
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: SUX
Programs: BA Silver; HHonors Gold; SPG Gold; Points but dirt with everyone else
Posts: 8,050
I'd say the TA is misinformed, since there is nothing published about A being upgradable. Doesn't hurt to try if there is upgrade space, but I wouldn't get my hopes up.
Apr 21, 2012, 6:35 am
#13
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next time make sure you buy the Delta W-fare and not the AF A-fare, then it is easy to upgrade once AF opens up the O bucket.
Apr 22, 2012, 6:03 am
#14
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: central Wisconsin
Programs: DL-FO, amex platinum, ducks unlimited, pheasants forever
Posts: 154
When we booked this, checked out delta and did not see a way to book
PV on delta using AF as a codeshare. Finally had my T/A book it thru AF
Hate when I can't do something myself.
PV on delta using AF as a codeshare. Finally had my T/A book it thru AF
Hate when I can't do something myself.
Apr 22, 2012, 7:08 am
#15
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Search for W-class or higher on Delta.com or go to e.g. Expedia and use prem eco as the search criteria. Should be available in all TATL markets.