First time posting..love reading the forum though!

Husband is a SM and I have no status. Flew MEM-ATL-STT on LUT fares and were well aware that any upgrade chance was slim. MEM-ATL leg had one seat in First, but we decided to stay together.

In ATL, we were told that SM could not even be put on the upgrade list for the STT flight (even though seats were available). One GA said it was because "SM aren't even eligible for upgrade" (eyes rolling), another said it was because the upgrade would be considered B/E and not first.

We boarded flight and got in our exit row seats only to see gate agent find couple in front of us and move them up (needed seats for minors). Husband gets permission to exit plane..returns to gate....gets the upgrade.

Needless to say, we were confused...yes, we got the upgrade, but should he have to fight so hard for it when inventory was available and no one was on the UG list? Who was right...GA #1, GA #2, or us?

You don't get upgraded on international flights. You were lucky to get the upgrade as you didn't deserve it.

Your Medallion membership entitles you to enjoy unlimited complimentary upgrades, subject to availability, on most published coach fares on Delta and certain Delta-designated codeshare flights in North America within or between the United States (excluding Hawaii) and:

Bermuda
Canada
Central and South America1
the Caribbean
Mexico

http://www.delta.com/skymiles/about_...ades/index.jsp

The GA was right but should of said you are not eligible for international upgrades instead of saying BE as there are domestic routes that are BE.

You may not want to be posting that story here. There are no upgrades on International flights (except as noted by HWGeeks)
and the fact that you did get one = the "S" word round here. We don't like the S-word round here! (S word = Shenanigans = Upgrades going to those who do not deserve them).

But Welcome to FlyerTalk! and don't wory about what anyone here thinks.

But, doesn't "within and between North America (excl. Hawaii) and Caribbean, Mexico, Latin America, etc.." seem to imply that these routes are eligible for an upgrade.

Guess that's why we were confused....DL specifically excludes some S. American cities from upgrades, but the wording seems to imply that other S. American cities would be eligible.

We were happy to have the UG..especially considering that our return flight was a disaster. Flight cx because gate gourmet truck hit the airplane while loading in STT..barely made next flight (overbooked), almost missed connection in ATL, and then arrived in MEM to lost luggage.

Thanks for the info..even though I am admittedly still a little confused!

STT is eligible for upgrades, as are all other Caribbean destinations.

You were eligible for an upgrade.

Not sure why the GAs were saying that STT isn't eligible for upgrades. Just because it's "international" doesn't mean you can't get elite upgrades. I've taken that flight and it's domestic FC service, and it is clearly stated that flights to the Caribbean are eligible. Also, just because a plane has B/E seating doesn't mean you can't get upgraded on a domestic segment. A good example is when the 777 flew from ATL to LAX and then on to SYD. If you had a domestic reservation as far as LAX and are lucky enough to get the 777, you are eligible for a medallion upgrade. My boss got upgraded on that flight at least once.

First, to the posters who keep claiming it's an international flight - STT is in the US (which is why it's not eligible for SC visits)

And, to the OP, as has been stated, you were definitely misinformed and should have been eligible for the upgrade.

Yes you are correct. For some reason I had Stuttgart (STR) on my brain. That combined with the term BE had me thinking true INT.

The B/E issue becomes relevant when the international flight, which would otherwise be eligible for a Medallion upgrade, is a route serviced by the B/E product. Those inter-Americas flights are not eligible for the complimentary upgrade.

Your husband was eligible for the upgrade, but you (as general member on LUT) were not. I'm guessing that that's where te confusion came in (assuming you were on the same PNR), since FOs are not eligible for companion upgrades IIRC.

Companion UGs are now allowed on LUT fares for companions of all Medallion members. Award companion upgrades are (will be?) limited to DM, PM, and GM.

https://www.delta.com/skymiles/about...ance/index.jsp

I believe that only applies to full BE product flights to and from S and C America, so the flight to STT would be eligible regardless of ac type.

You're right... My bad.

It's funny to read how this thread played out. So many experienced FT'ers got some/all of this wrong. Many people give gate agents a hard time...it took FT almost 10 posts to square this away.

Yes, the pax were eligible for an upgrade...though would have been extremely low on the priority list.