So 2 international upgrades is HUGE game changer?

But you've been able to use at least a SINgle one, right?

I don't understand why the PM's are complaining. It's not like UA/AA gives anything better to a 75k flyer......

I think that this is obviously a positive, assuming that there is indeed consistent availability for the upgrades. JFK makes no sense...but if one wants the upgrade, just connect in ATL. WFBF if you don't want to connect.

I always never understood why people were so loyal to DL that they would go buy an M fare just to use a SWU. This makes it actually reasonable sensible to remain loyal to DL.

PMs are not just 75K flyers. Delta PMs are anywhere from 75k to 124K! Plenty of PMs would qualify for AA/UA 100k level at 1K and EXP.

So, my questions:

1. As a PM I can select the "old" SWU's prior to February 2014 and use them on JFK-LAX/SFO/SEA upgrades on K+ fare (under existing rules)?

2. If I select regional upgrades and assuming your upgrade does not clear at the gate do they get re-deposited?

4 international upgrades. 2 roundtrips.

By your metric, UA only has 3, and only on W+ fares.

because no international SWUs are a huge devaluation for many of us. I honestly don't care if I miss the upgrade on a 2hr domestic flight, but I want to be able to use upgrade certs internationally, even if it means on an B or M fare.

On what fare though can you UPG HNL to the west coast? Is it all or Y B M? From the T & C

Mileage upgrades on international itineraries including Mexico, Caribbean, Bermuda and Hawaii are eligible on Y, B, M.

These routes are way out of the price range to WFBF for most people except those traveling on OPM, and connecting takes what are already some of the longest domestic routes and makes them longer. No thanks.

B6 EMS, B6 Mint, and VX DoD upgrades are way more appealing. Or maybe even AA but let's see what happens there.

I really don't get this move from the PM side - HUGE blow which really only affects the highest of HVC's, effectively those who DL should be looking to please.

The new PM Regional Upgrades are a plus for anyone who bought sub-K fares domestically, which I would imagine is the majority of PMs (those who previously had no use for SWUs) who can now get a confirmed upgrade ahead of DMs on hard-to-get flights, say ATL-SFO. Not sure what this accomplishes for DL, other than pissing off DMs, and especially considering their new push to recognize spending - seems pretty counter-intuitive to reward flyers in low fare classes.

Clearly a minus for the few who were prepared to shell out for Y/B/M internationally (high margin leisure flyers who can get a last minute shot at business class usually for more than a Z fare would have cost in advance thanks to the certificate - this is by experience and would not have otherwise flown DL) OR those who specifically shell out extra for the same seat to buy up to K domestically on hard-to-upgrade flights specifically to trump DMs on a few rare occasions per year with the certificates (read JFK-SFO/LAX/SEA)...

With about 80% of my travel for business (all paid J/F and mostly full fare) having clocked in $38k in MQD this year (would be nearly $50k if we counted an Alitalia ticket) this is a huge disappointment. I'm not going to threaten leaving DL as a result as I have to admit I recognize the efforts over the past couple of years and must say that the hard and soft products are now far and away above the other options (AA/UA, even some European carriers like BA/VS/LH/AZ/LX...). HOWEVER, this WILL impact my DL spending very directly. DL will still get my business trips, but on a leisure trip to the west coast or Europe when it comes out of my pocket, I'll have no problem considering Jetblue's new Mint service for JFK-SFO to the extent they'll surely under-price businesselite at $4k on this route (lost K+ fare for DL), would buy the lowest business class ticket on another airline internationally (lost Y/B/M fare for DL) or would simply buy the lowest economy ticket (difference between V and K+) and confirm a new Regional Upgrade with a connection thru SLC or ATL rather than paying more for a direct flight as I do now to have a shot at the SWU waitlist. DL can therefore have the pleasure of flying a non-rev in the otherwise empty businesselite seat, and lose a bunch of goodwill from my side...

In terms of competitiveness though with other airline programs while I understand the decision to cut complimentary unlimited upgrades on JFK-SFO/LAX/SEA (though have always admired DL for giving a seat domestically when it's available to its best customers...) they are now significantly below market on the inability to at least use an earned regional upgrade instrument on these flights. Again, for me personally, I'd love to see the ability to continue upgrading on JFK-SFO with the new Regional certificates as currently possible with SWUs even if it's only on higher fare classes like K+ so PMs can at least retain the benefit to have SOME way to fly upfront a few times per year on leisure when they clearly are not shelling out the insane biz fares which never get discounted (I did note the fare over the holidays for JFK-SFO is 2x JFK-LHR). Would be a good compromise which i don't think would cost anything extra from DL (again, at least on my end it would retain the K fare rather than me flying V with a connex or on another airline)...

This is huge devaluation if this is true. Up until recently you could upgrade K fares and higher to HNL. Seem counterintuitive to make mileage upgrades harder at the same time as giving away medallion upgrades. . . .

I'm also not sure what to make of that note...

https://www.delta.com/content/www/en...tificates.html

Disagree that B6 EMS is "way more appealing." I don't believe there is any way to upgrade into B6 Mint, so not sure what that has to do with anything. And VX is still flying?

Glad to see that the DL board has managed to complain about what is, frankly, an overall positive change.

As a Diamond out of NYC who takes 20+ transcons a year, this is a big devaluation. Using 4 "global" upgrades would last me 3 weeks and the only other way to upgrade would to still be subject to K class+ and burn 50k miles for a roundtrip if the inventory even exists.
Positives are using global upgrades for my long-haul vacations but with no transparency and inventory that will most likely be lacking, it nets out at a loss.

I took two transcons in the last 2 weeks and was upgrade on all legs. What I found really odd was that my JFK-LAX free upgrades cleared a few days prior to flight on an V fare, that has never happened before.

The good news is that not requiring a fare class for international upgrades might keep other airlines like AA competitive in the same department since there is speculation that with the merger they will require one in the future. I'd do a status match with AA with upcoming flights to China, Australia etc expect there are a lot of unknowns.

Companion pass can be combined with these upgrades now? They are paid tickets...

Dwayne...I am Diamond and the bulk of my travel is SFO-JFK. I will blow through those 4 global upgrades in one month. Nice to offer comps to Hawaii, but I don't go there for business...only for leisure once or twice a year! The point of looking forward to the comp upgrades for transcon is to be able to WORK, or at least it is in my case. The premium in-flight dining "experience" while nice, is secondary to me. If we can't use regional upgrades on these transcon routes, yet as a Diamond we would still enjoy comp upgrades on other routes most of the time, what would be the point of selecting regional upgrades over global then? Or am I missing something...RW