are the new upgrades only good for paid tickets?
other than using more miles for first class tickets, are there any other ways to get upgraded on a skymiles ticket?
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Changes to Systemwide Upgrades (SWUs):
We are always looking for opportunities to fine-tune the Medallion program and weve received a lot of valuable feedback about the SWUs component of our Medallion benefits.
On March 1, 2014, were replacing SWUs with two new certificate types: Global Upgrades and Regional Upgrades. Global Upgrades will be available on all routes and Regional Upgrades will be available on the same routes as Medallion Complimentary Upgrades, but have a higher priority.
Both Global and Regional Upgrades will be valid on Delta flights for all paid Economy class fares except for E, providing you even more options and convenience.
The current SWUs will still be available as Choice Benefits selections through February 28, 2014 and all the terms and conditions of the existing certificates continue to apply.
Added Choice Benefits:
There will also be two new Choice Benefits options available for selection beginning March 1, 2014:
Global Entry application vouchers Diamond Medallion members can select 2 and Platinum Medallion members can select one
Tiffany & Co. Diamond Medallion premium luggage tags (2 for Diamond Medallions only)
Unlimited Complimentary Upgrades:
Starting with the new Medallion program year on March 1, 2014, Medallion members will enjoy Complimentary Upgrades on flights between Hawaii and Los Angeles, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, or Seattle. However, in light of significant investments in our coast-to-coast BusinessElite experience - including premium amenities like fully flat-bed seats, Westin Heavenly In-Flight Bedding, on-demand entertainment, and premium dining - we will no longer offer Medallion Complimentary Upgrades on flights between New York-JFK and Los Angeles, San Francisco, or Seattle beginning March 1, 2014.
More information about the program changes for the 2014 Medallion year are available on the SkyMiles News and Updates section of delta.com. Well be following your comments here and look forward to reading your feedback.
Originally Posted by SkyMilesTeam
As we come to the end of the calendar year, well be sending out emails this week to tell you about some upcoming changes to the SkyMiles program many of which will begin at the start of the new Medallion program year on March 1, 2014.Changes to Systemwide Upgrades (SWUs):
We are always looking for opportunities to fine-tune the Medallion program and weve received a lot of valuable feedback about the SWUs component of our Medallion benefits.
On March 1, 2014, were replacing SWUs with two new certificate types: Global Upgrades and Regional Upgrades. Global Upgrades will be available on all routes and Regional Upgrades will be available on the same routes as Medallion Complimentary Upgrades, but have a higher priority.
Both Global and Regional Upgrades will be valid on Delta flights for all paid Economy class fares except for E, providing you even more options and convenience.
- Diamond Medallion members can choose either four Global Upgrades or eight Regional Upgrades as one of their Choice Benefits selections
- Platinum Medallion members can choose four Regional Upgrades
The current SWUs will still be available as Choice Benefits selections through February 28, 2014 and all the terms and conditions of the existing certificates continue to apply.
Added Choice Benefits:
There will also be two new Choice Benefits options available for selection beginning March 1, 2014:
Global Entry application vouchers Diamond Medallion members can select 2 and Platinum Medallion members can select one
Tiffany & Co. Diamond Medallion premium luggage tags (2 for Diamond Medallions only)
Unlimited Complimentary Upgrades:
Starting with the new Medallion program year on March 1, 2014, Medallion members will enjoy Complimentary Upgrades on flights between Hawaii and Los Angeles, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, or Seattle. However, in light of significant investments in our coast-to-coast BusinessElite experience - including premium amenities like fully flat-bed seats, Westin Heavenly In-Flight Bedding, on-demand entertainment, and premium dining - we will no longer offer Medallion Complimentary Upgrades on flights between New York-JFK and Los Angeles, San Francisco, or Seattle beginning March 1, 2014.
More information about the program changes for the 2014 Medallion year are available on the SkyMiles News and Updates section of delta.com. Well be following your comments here and look forward to reading your feedback.
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If you are GM or above, your award ticket is eligible for a complimentary medallion UG on routes where such UGs are available.Originally Posted by ptguard
other than using more miles for first class tickets, are there any other ways to get upgraded on a skymiles ticket?
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Just bought a bunch of tickets on Southwest for my kid in college for the coming year. On average about $300 RT for long trips with one stop. (Avg on DL - $500) He doesn't care about seat size, or upgrades or telephone support. He does bring and take a lot of stuff when he comes home for a month and gets 2 free bags. And for me, I can buy these tix a year ahead with impunity because there are no change fees whatsoever - a key advantage with a 19 y.o. Originally Posted by sethb
Delta will lose passengers to other airlines than those 3 (the other 2 of them) if passengers lose loyalty to Delta. That's my point.
Completely different markets in this case and no question who wins here. I have some loyalty but not blind loyalty.
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And those other airlines will lose passengers to Delta (or AA or UA or WN or...) if they lose "loyalty" to those airlines for whatever reason.Originally Posted by sethb
Delta will lose passengers to other airlines than those 3 (the other 2 of them) if passengers lose loyalty to Delta. That's my point.
Passengers are "won" and "lost" every single day and this fixation with "loyalty" and perceived potential effects of changes to FF programs on overall loads pretty well misreads the industry.
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Completely different markets in this case and no question who wins here. I have some loyalty but not blind loyalty.
And that suits your needs. But good luck if the flights get delayed or cancel. WN can't put you on a AA/UA flight, you have to wait for the next WN flight.Originally Posted by flyerslc
Just bought a bunch of tickets on Southwest for my kid in college for the coming year. On average about $300 RT for long trips with one stop. (Avg on DL - $500) He doesn't care about seat size, or upgrades or telephone support. He does bring and take a lot of stuff when he comes home for a month and gets 2 free bags. And for me, I can buy these tix a year ahead with impunity because there are no change fees whatsoever - a key advantage with a 19 y.o. Completely different markets in this case and no question who wins here. I have some loyalty but not blind loyalty.
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Sure, passengers move around from airline to airline all the time, for lots of different reasons. But one of those reasons is frequent-flyer programs. They aren't the only reason, but airlines would be crazy to believe that they don't matter at all -- and airlines are certainly not crazy.Originally Posted by pbarnette
...Passengers are "won" and "lost" every single day and this fixation with "loyalty" and perceived potential effects of changes to FF programs on overall loads pretty well misreads the industry.
Bruce
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Bruce
I'll respond as I often do... If FF programs were that important, then WN and B6 wouldn't be successful. They may "matter", but they aren't that important.Originally Posted by bdschobel
Sure, passengers move around from airline to airline all the time, for lots of different reasons. But one of those reasons is frequent-flyer programs. They aren't the only reason, but airlines would be crazy to believe that they don't matter at all -- and airlines are certainly not crazy.Bruce
FWIW, I don't really agree with your last statement and would recast it as "US airlines currently seem to be enjoying a period of sanity compared to the reckless and destructive strategies they adopted for most of the post-deregulation era."
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Passengers are "won" and "lost" every single day and this fixation with "loyalty" and perceived potential effects of changes to FF programs on overall loads pretty well misreads the industry.
Agree 100%. Yet RA seems to think it is a good PR strategy, to somehow get people to believe in loyalty to and from an airline. People are loyal (sometimes) to their spouses, family and country. Not to corporations - and corporations are rarely loyal to the customers except when it is profitable to do so. Corporations are not people, and do not operate out of human motivations or under moral rules - they are governed primarily by profit and government laws and regulations.Originally Posted by pbarnette
And those other airlines will lose passengers to Delta (or AA or UA or WN or...) if they lose "loyalty" to those airlines for whatever reason.Passengers are "won" and "lost" every single day and this fixation with "loyalty" and perceived potential effects of changes to FF programs on overall loads pretty well misreads the industry.
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FWIW, I don't really agree with your last statement and would recast it as "US airlines currently seem to be enjoying a period of sanity compared to the reckless and destructive strategies they adopted for most of the post-deregulation era."
Last I knew, WN and B6 have FF programs.Originally Posted by pbarnette
I'll respond as I often do... If FF programs were that important, then WN and B6 wouldn't be successful. They may "matter", but they aren't that important.FWIW, I don't really agree with your last statement and would recast it as "US airlines currently seem to be enjoying a period of sanity compared to the reckless and destructive strategies they adopted for most of the post-deregulation era."
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I think he is trying to get people to buy miles, even if indirectly.Originally Posted by flyerslc
Agree 100%. Yet RA seems to think it is a good PR strategy, to somehow get people to believe in loyalty to and from an airline.
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And they have FF programs which would lead to stern warnings of impending doom were a legacy carrier to adopt them.Originally Posted by RobertS975
Last I knew, WN and B6 have FF programs.
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I'd love it if Delta offered a companion pass.Originally Posted by pbarnette
And they have FF programs which would lead to stern warnings of impending doom were a legacy carrier to adopt them.
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And when WN had RR1, they use to get most of my business due to that loyalty program (I had a companion pass and I know I flew more on free tickets than paid ones). When they adopted RR2 my business went to Delta because their program worked better.Originally Posted by RobertS975
Last I knew, WN and B6 have FF programs.
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I'd love it if WN actually flew anywhere I wanted to go... Spending up to $18k just so my wife could fly free to Pensacola ain't that appealing to me. Originally Posted by javabytes
I'd love it if Delta offered a companion pass.
