COACH redeption sure. Forget FC redemption. Delta is actually harder than CO for a non elite. Virtually impossible. That fare bucket is always empty.

Delta also capacity controls international upgrades. Only a set number per flight. THEY NEVER RELEASE MORE THAN THAT NUMBER. Even if the seats fly empty. YES really.

Here is Deltas "HoKeY" System: You can only upgrade the 3 highest Economy classes Y, B & M internationally with miles ( or SWU for DL PM's ).No exceptions, even for top tier members. In $ that means upgradebale fares starting at around $ 1200 transatlantic.

Sad to say, but that is basically the same deal as CO, which also means I'll 'pay to play' their game. As a Platinum on CO, I generally pay anywhere from $900-1300 + miles to upgrade on European flights, and so far have been 100% successful (in approximately 25 r/t overseas). So if DL's upgradable fares are similar (which seems to be the case), I don't have a problem. As far as DL's bucket of seats, it can't be any worse than CO's policy of no seats released prior to 30 days, and non at all released within 72 hrs of flight--so in that regard CO also flys BF with 'empties'. As long as I am aware of the stipulations, I'll make my early, high priced DL reservations and take my chances for that seat up front to NCE or SCL

Continental does so too. I had many cases where I was waitlisted for BF upgrade that never cleared, and BF was 1/2 empty on the flight.
This will usualy happen when coach is less than 3/4 full.

Postaed by mauld:
"As far as DL's bucket of seats, it can't be any worse than CO's policy of no seats released prior to 30 days, and non at all released within 72 hrs of flight--so in that regard CO also flys BF with 'empties'."

Actually, Delta's system is better ( at least for Plat's ):BusinessElite Upgrades ( fare bucket Z )are realesed up to 331 days out, and will be immediately confirmed at time of booking, even if months out! If you're flexible with routing/dates you should be able to get these most of the time, even on DL codeshare flights with AF/CZ. You don't have to play the lottery that often, except when you're looking into flights with an 75% BE load and only a week to go. But even in those cases i clear the waitlist for 50% of the flights. Unfortunaly DL does not clear upgrades on the day of departure, but surely closer then 72h out.

No... Delta is WORSE! (tastes great less filling!)
As a CO platinum I always clear BF. On Delta I have weeks where I want to buy and upgrade and they Have all the upgrade seats gone. On every flight. And the cabins are empty. That super firm cap, just doesn't exist the same way at CO. They don't hold as many seats for sale at 3 days. Delta is TOUGHER to get by far. And don't forget the seats are crap in comparison to CO.

Have to agree with Cigarman. When I was an elite on DL, I cleared businesselite most of the time but not every time. So far, in 3 years as an elite on CO, I have cleared every single time (sometimes they've made me sweat it all the way to the 72hr mark but in the end I've always gotten it). Also, on CO every fare is upgradeable (for the lower fare buckets you have to pay a fee plus the miles if the upgrade confirms) so you can always take the lowest available coach fare. On DL, you feel like real schmuck if you paid several hundred dollars extra to be in Y,B,M but your upgrade never cleared.

Cheers,

Brooklynflyer

It's also been my experience that you'll find more non-revers in DL's premium cabins than in CO's, especially on Hawaiian and European service. Those that have issues with empty trans-oceanic seats up-front (or worse --filled with non-revers) will probably have an issue there.

As a CO Platinum, I'm fine with this. And as someone who also has DL NRSA perks, I'm also fine with this