upgrades on Delta?
 

Maybe I've missed it, but I can't recall any discussion here on how the OnePass elite upgrade program will work on Delta. It seems like there may be NO upgrades, or they will be restricted to the higher fare tickets -- just like Delta does to its own elite customers. CO has already announced that OnePass Elite qualification will follow Delta's complicated fare classification rules.

Personally, as a CO Platinum, Delta will only be a "last resort" back up carrier for me if they don't offer the upgrade opportunity.

Upgrades will not be included in the alliance at this time.



------------------
Thank you for choosing Continental Airlines, a proud member of the SkyTeam Alliance.

Unless Delta changes their upgrade policy for their own Elites, complimenatry upgrades for CO passengers will never be implemented on Delta metal.

The only changes Delta has made to its skymiles program is to take away benefits...I highly doubt continental ff will get any perks besides mileage accrual.

Ok, so no CO folks will be getting upgrades on Delta ... but will Delta elites be getting upgraded on CO flights??

Nope...as I understand it only upgrades will be CO/NW elites on CO/NW equipment, DL is not part of this

Will it be okay, then to secure an upgrade (although doubtful) using my DL Skymiles number and then switch to OP number at the gate?

No, as check-in agents are supposed to rescind the upgrade if the FF# used to upgrade the flight is removed.



------------------
Thank you for choosing Continental Airlines, a proud member of the SkyTeam Alliance.

This would be a suicide for Delta - Fly Delta, pay for upgrades (with miles, points or money), fly Continental, get it for free ...

It's been years since I've paid close attention to DL's Skymiles, but I recall their benefits aren't too "beneficial" for folks who tend to buy the cheapo tickets. Would there now be some incentive for these "cheapo travellers" -- particularly those stuck in DL hubs -- to switch their allegiance to CO or NW? Seems like they wouldn't lose too much, and might gain a little. I don't see any incentive for ANY CO/NW frequent flyers to change programs, however.

It's too early to tell how CO/NW/DL will streamline the upgrade part of their FF programs in the coming months.

As a CO Platinum, I hope they will keep the complimentary upgrades on CO/NW. However my gut feeling tells me this benefit may be on the wane as CO/NW becomes part of the "SKY TEAM". SKY TEAM is DL's turf and I doubt that DL will allow CO/NW to siphon off its members with the free upgrade policy that DL certainly does not offer.

I hope I'm wrong on this matter.

I fly over 300 flights a year on CO and Delta, split pretty evenly. I can tell you that neither airline will ever be able to offer any upgrades other than a possible "space available, day of, at airport upgrade, IF we have upgraded our elites". But I can't even figure out how you could get that to work. Delta SELLS upgrades for those seats at the gate. So how could they give them away? Just can't happen.

Ok, ok I understand about the reasons for no complimentary upgrades, but what about playing a Delta form of HoKeY?? As a Platinum with lots of CO miles, I'm more interested in "how/& if" mileage upgrades on DL international flights would work. Say I wanted to do a JFK-NCE or ATL-SCL on DL, it sure would be nice to upgrade on whatever their upgradeable/HoKeY'ish fare's were using miles. Any chance of that happening, do we suppose??? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

No way that CO gets rid of free upgrades. That is CO bread and butter. I hope they don't get rid of them.

If it's not already part of the program, I'm sure we will be able to redeem CO miles for reward tix/upgrades on DL flights. It's the complimentary elite upgrades on domestic flights that will likely never cross over.