Why "Not Upgrade Eligible"?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2012
Programs: Delta Sky Miles Gold
Posts: 43
Why "Not Upgrade Eligible"?
Still trying to figure this all out, I am a GM and I am flying from MSP->AMS later this week. The ticket is an H fare (still not sure what that means) and online it says "Not Upgrade Eligible"... why? Can I not get an upgrade with an H fare? Or can GM not get upgrades on international flights? The seat map shows a pretty empty plane
#2
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,427
Still trying to figure this all out, I am a GM and I am flying from MSP->AMS later this week. The ticket is an H fare (still not sure what that means) and online it says "Not Upgrade Eligible"... why? Can I not get an upgrade with an H fare? Or can GM not get upgrades on international flights? The seat map shows a pretty empty plane
#4
Join Date: Jul 2012
Programs: Delta: Gold, Marriott: Silver
Posts: 188
Y,B,M international for complementary upgrades, H,K,Q require a SWU (System Wide Upgrade) or a Miles upgrade, however the miles required for upgrade are 2x the normal (so for instance most TATL flights are 25,000 RDMs for a BE upgrade, instead of 12,500 if you had a Y,B,M).
#5
Join Date: Sep 2011
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Originally Posted by sethmac86:19752818
Thanks, whats an SWU?
On domestic flights, you can use it on a K fare or higher to get upgraded (if available inventory, Z fare). On international flights, they can only be used with Y, B, or M fares.
The only way for a medallion to get upgraded on an intl flight is if the flight is overbooked, then they might opup (operational upgrade) you. Don't fly expecting opus, though
#6
Join Date: Jul 2009
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Y,B,M international for complementary upgrades, H,K,Q require a SWU (System Wide Upgrade) or a Miles upgrade, however the miles required for upgrade are 2x the normal (so for instance most TATL flights are 25,000 RDMs for a BE upgrade, instead of 12,500 if you had a Y,B,M).
#7
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: MSP
Programs: Delta PM, 1MM
Posts: 3,784
Y,B,M international for complementary upgrades, H,K,Q require a SWU (System Wide Upgrade) or a Miles upgrade, however the miles required for upgrade are 2x the normal (so for instance most TATL flights are 25,000 RDMs for a BE upgrade, instead of 12,500 if you had a Y,B,M).
#8
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: DFW...at the moment
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SystemWide Upgrade. Upon qualifying for Platinum or Diamond, you can choose SWUs as a choice benefit. For flights with BE (typically), these can be used for a one way upgrade to BusinessElite from an expensive coach ticket (YBM fares). For domestic flights, they can be used on slightly lower fare buckets, though still not on LUTE classes.
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2012
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Posts: 43
ok so then a follow up question:
How do I know if I'm booking a Y,B or M fare? I know what Y is, but what about B & M? I normally purchase fully refundable but that seems to still be an H fare?
How do I know if I'm booking a Y,B or M fare? I know what Y is, but what about B & M? I normally purchase fully refundable but that seems to still be an H fare?
#10
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Y,B,M international for complementary upgrades, H,K,Q require a SWU (System Wide Upgrade) or a Miles upgrade, however the miles required for upgrade are 2x the normal (so for instance most TATL flights are 25,000 RDMs for a BE upgrade, instead of 12,500 if you had a Y,B,M).
You can upgrade domestic H Q K fares with SWUs or the same number of miles as M and restricted B fares.
#11
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If you're going through a travel agent, you'd have to ask them to book an M or higher fare to be able to use miles for an upgrade to AMS.
I've never seen an international fare that is refundable in H... usually that requires a B or Y, although strange things do happen.
Domestic refundable fares are all over the place, so I wouldn't be too surprised to see an H that is refundable.
#12
Join Date: Jul 2012
Programs: Delta: Gold, Marriott: Silver
Posts: 188
I don't know where you're getting this infromation but it is wrong. For international long-haul upgrades into BE, Y B M fares and SWUs or miles are required. Period. No upgrades from H Q K fares with any number of miles.
You can upgrade domestic H Q K fares with SWUs or the same number of miles as M and restricted B fares.
You can upgrade domestic H Q K fares with SWUs or the same number of miles as M and restricted B fares.
#13
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2012
Programs: Delta Sky Miles Gold
Posts: 43
Wow, ok I see it now, I checked for my flight and M & higher are at $4K+?? may as well get business then but I'm not allowed to get business... go figure...
So unless I have the SWU I'm pretty much outta luck getting an upgrade on international as a GM?
So unless I have the SWU I'm pretty much outta luck getting an upgrade on international as a GM?
#14
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Besides domestic, H,Q,K is allowed to be used for upgrades with an SWU to the Carribbean/Mexico/Hawaii. Miles to the carib are Y/B/M, same as international.
#15
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Even with an SWU you'd still have to pay the 4k M fare. Your only shot would be to pay that fare and use 25k miles, assuming there is upgrade space available... or hope for the slim chance that Y is very overbooked and you get an op-up to business.