Upgrading to Hawaii - Where Delta stands vs. the others
Apr 24, 2011, 12:02 pm
#62
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Delta and US Airways are the only airlines that do not do complimentary elite upgrades to Hawaii (though US does if on a Y/B fare). Continental (at this time) does not though that could change with the merger, especially if the PMUA Domestic 777s take over IAH/EWR-HNL.
Apr 24, 2011, 12:16 pm
#63
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Being based in CA, it's seems ridiculous that there are no free upgrades on SFO-HNL into Domestic F, but BusinessElite upgrades SFO-JFK are complimentary.
I have avoided DL on some of our recent Hawaii trips in favor of UA because of the upgrade policy. That despite DL having lower fares.
Apr 24, 2011, 12:44 pm
#64
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That depends on one's perspective. This may be the case for ATL-HNL, but CA-Hawaii is a totally different ballgame.
Being based in CA, it's seems ridiculous that there are no free upgrades on SFO-HNL into Domestic F, but BusinessElite upgrades SFO-JFK are complimentary.
I have avoided DL on some of our recent Hawaii trips in favor of UA because of the upgrade policy. That despite DL having lower fares.
Being based in CA, it's seems ridiculous that there are no free upgrades on SFO-HNL into Domestic F, but BusinessElite upgrades SFO-JFK are complimentary.
I have avoided DL on some of our recent Hawaii trips in favor of UA because of the upgrade policy. That despite DL having lower fares.
I could understand HNL-ATL being left off (same as CO's IAH/EWR-HNL) but SLC/LAX/SEA/SFO-Hawaii make little to no sense.
Apr 24, 2011, 2:30 pm
#65
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: DTW
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For the people going to Hawaii on business, Delta's policy is brutal.
Buy a sLUT fare and it does not matter if you are a DM/MM, once they see the fare code you are treated like a Kettle and yes I see DM's in coach all the time. You can't use SWU's, Miles or sweet talking to get a FC seat.
They also dropped the DTW (Dec last year) and MSP (Feb this year) so the only realistic way to get to Hawaii from the old NW hubs is LAX (I say realistic because of the schedules of ATL, SLC are enough of a deterrent for me at least).
100% agree that west coast needs to be a domestic upgrade, the only difference on those flights are the mai-ties, very expensive mai-tie at 15K miles or burning a SWU.
Buy a sLUT fare and it does not matter if you are a DM/MM, once they see the fare code you are treated like a Kettle and yes I see DM's in coach all the time. You can't use SWU's, Miles or sweet talking to get a FC seat.
They also dropped the DTW (Dec last year) and MSP (Feb this year) so the only realistic way to get to Hawaii from the old NW hubs is LAX (I say realistic because of the schedules of ATL, SLC are enough of a deterrent for me at least).
100% agree that west coast needs to be a domestic upgrade, the only difference on those flights are the mai-ties, very expensive mai-tie at 15K miles or burning a SWU.
Apr 24, 2011, 3:43 pm
#66
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I don't mind forking over miles or an upgrade instrument to go to Hawaii, but the upgrade inventory on ATL-HNL has become so tight that you almost always have to go via the west coast now, or play a waitlist game. That did not used to be the case.
With no other gateway to HNL east of rockies, and all of the former NW customers now in the family who have no other option since MSP-HNL is gone, ATL-HNL has become very problematic to upgrade on. It would help if DL would go back to the double-daily service one deployed on this route, or bring back the 744, or come up with one other viable east coast gateway city.
With no other gateway to HNL east of rockies, and all of the former NW customers now in the family who have no other option since MSP-HNL is gone, ATL-HNL has become very problematic to upgrade on. It would help if DL would go back to the double-daily service one deployed on this route, or bring back the 744, or come up with one other viable east coast gateway city.
Apr 27, 2011, 11:16 pm
#67
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: CONUS
Posts: 474
For the people going to Hawaii on business, Delta's policy is brutal.
Buy a sLUT fare and it does not matter if you are a DM/MM, once they see the fare code you are treated like a Kettle and yes I see DM's in coach all the time. You can't use SWU's, Miles or sweet talking to get a FC seat.
They also dropped the DTW (Dec last year) and MSP (Feb this year) so the only realistic way to get to Hawaii from the old NW hubs is LAX (I say realistic because of the schedules of ATL, SLC are enough of a deterrent for me at least).
100% agree that west coast needs to be a domestic upgrade, the only difference on those flights are the mai-ties, very expensive mai-tie at 15K miles or burning a SWU.
Buy a sLUT fare and it does not matter if you are a DM/MM, once they see the fare code you are treated like a Kettle and yes I see DM's in coach all the time. You can't use SWU's, Miles or sweet talking to get a FC seat.
They also dropped the DTW (Dec last year) and MSP (Feb this year) so the only realistic way to get to Hawaii from the old NW hubs is LAX (I say realistic because of the schedules of ATL, SLC are enough of a deterrent for me at least).
100% agree that west coast needs to be a domestic upgrade, the only difference on those flights are the mai-ties, very expensive mai-tie at 15K miles or burning a SWU.
Yes, Delta to Hawaii ought to be Delta to Siberia. They suck. No other way around it.
I have no problem with the A330 out of ATL being held to a higher standard. But the plain jane domestic birds from the rest of the West Coast with a ridiculous fare requirement are laughable.
Fortunately I went Platinum on Continental and have flown to Hawaii twice using CO/UA out of LA and SFO. I've been upgraded on all flights - and paid several hundred dollars less per trip than flying Dulta.