The Official “I Got Upgraded” Thread: JFK-LAX/SFO/SEA
Apr 9, 2014, 4:55 am
#481
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: CT
Programs: DL DM 2MM, MR LTT, Hilton D, Hertz PC. National Emerald Exec, UA Silver(thanks to Marriott)
Posts: 2,026
And starting 2015 that K fare is technically costing more miles since you will only earn 7645 RDM's instead of 10K back as a DM and even worse (6255) as a PM .
Apr 9, 2014, 4:59 am
#482
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Charlotte, NC, USA | CLT, formerly LHR & AMS (with just a bit of PSP)
Programs: BAEC Gold, Hilton Diamond, BonVoy Titanium, (soon former) Caesars7*, (former) Wynn Black, HR "Icon"
Posts: 8,172
What would your choice be on JFK to LAX RT:
1 A Delta K fare for $695.00 +25K miles with upgrade inventory available or,
2 A Jetblue Mint fare for $1200.00 RT and no miles/points required.
I'll go with option #1. A $695.00 K fare +25K miles still isn't a bad deal to get confirmed into J. Your also saving $500 over the jetblue fare plus your getting a much better experience and a direct aisle access seat. Sucks to burn the miles. Another way to do this is this: Buy a DL H fare which is about the same amount as a MINT ticket. Your skymiles earning will net you about 15,600 miles, almost enough to cover the cost of the upgrade.
1 A Delta K fare for $695.00 +25K miles with upgrade inventory available or,
2 A Jetblue Mint fare for $1200.00 RT and no miles/points required.
I'll go with option #1. A $695.00 K fare +25K miles still isn't a bad deal to get confirmed into J. Your also saving $500 over the jetblue fare plus your getting a much better experience and a direct aisle access seat. Sucks to burn the miles. Another way to do this is this: Buy a DL H fare which is about the same amount as a MINT ticket. Your skymiles earning will net you about 15,600 miles, almost enough to cover the cost of the upgrade.
Assuming that inventory does open up. We know you can't buy up at the gate, and there are posts here of people still not clearing until the gate on SWU's, so in those cases a mileage UG would be sitting in the back.
And starting 2015 that K fare is technically costing more miles since you will only earn 7645 RDM's instead of 10K back as a DM and even worse (6255) as a PM .
And starting 2015 that K fare is technically costing more miles since you will only earn 7645 RDM's instead of 10K back as a DM and even worse (6255) as a PM .
This is a major annoyance; and makes mileage upgrades quite risky. Considering that KLM will clear a mileage upgrade in AMS (day of departure, at the lounge or transfer desk); it's unacceptable, IMO, that Delta can't figure out how to do this, at minimum for Medallions.
Apr 9, 2014, 5:07 am
#483
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: CT
Programs: DL DM 2MM, MR LTT, Hilton D, Hertz PC. National Emerald Exec, UA Silver(thanks to Marriott)
Posts: 2,026
Apr 9, 2014, 5:59 am
#484
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2009
Programs: Delta skymiles DM + 1MM
Posts: 8,144
Its not a great deal but at least its an option that allows you to fly up front with DL. Paying $1200 for the JB MINT experience is not an option. Thats to much loot to pay for a 5 1/2 hour flight.
Apr 9, 2014, 8:20 am
#485
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: DC
Programs: DL PM
Posts: 148
That would be my concern, since unlike an SWU, Gate Agents are not required to clear mileage upgrades at the gate (day of departure).
This is a major annoyance; and makes mileage upgrades quite risky. Considering that KLM will clear a mileage upgrade in AMS (day of departure, at the lounge or transfer desk); it's unacceptable, IMO, that Delta can't figure out how to do this, at minimum for Medallions.
This is a major annoyance; and makes mileage upgrades quite risky. Considering that KLM will clear a mileage upgrade in AMS (day of departure, at the lounge or transfer desk); it's unacceptable, IMO, that Delta can't figure out how to do this, at minimum for Medallions.
Apr 9, 2014, 8:28 am
#486
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: LHR
Programs: DL DM 2MM, BA Bronze, Various Hotels
Posts: 10,187
I have a JFK-SFO tomorrow in K that I have a mileage upgrade in for. All agents have assured me that if there is space, it will clear at the gate. Going to be sure to get there early to talk to the GA and club agents. The 10am (serviced by 76W) looks very very open in front (J9, only a handful of seats taken), and my flight (DL432) is J8. Will let you all know how it goes... For the flights I needed, K was the lowest fair available so I wasn't standing to lose much.
Apr 9, 2014, 8:35 am
#487
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: DC
Programs: DL PM
Posts: 148
mine too (from int'l experience), which is why i was so surprised when the phone agent who put me on the wait list for it said that for TCON they will do it at the gate (a seemingly reasonable and appropriate policy! gasp!)
Apr 9, 2014, 8:38 am
#488
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: LHR
Programs: DL DM 2MM, BA Bronze, Various Hotels
Posts: 10,187
Apr 9, 2014, 9:00 am
#489
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: San Jose, CA
Programs: DL DM, HH Gold, SPG Gold, Hyatt Plat
Posts: 2,874
Someone earlier in the thread said the bought K and used miles to request an UG, and ended up clearing at the gate. I asked about it a little further but never heard back. Perhaps there's been a change? I'm flying on Monday next week SFO-JFK on a Q fare with miles UG requested, so I'll definitely report back on that experience.
Apr 9, 2014, 9:02 am
#490
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: HKG
Programs: DL FO, UA, AA, AsiaMiles, SPG, HHonors
Posts: 7,982
I have a JFK-SFO tomorrow in K that I have a mileage upgrade in for. All agents have assured me that if there is space, it will clear at the gate. Going to be sure to get there early to talk to the GA and club agents. The 10am (serviced by 76W) looks very very open in front (J9, only a handful of seats taken), and my flight (DL432) is J8. Will let you all know how it goes... For the flights I needed, K was the lowest fair available so I wasn't standing to lose much.
Apr 9, 2014, 9:06 am
#492
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: San Jose, CA
Programs: DL DM, HH Gold, SPG Gold, Hyatt Plat
Posts: 2,874
Apr 9, 2014, 9:32 am
#493
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: HKG
Programs: DL FO, UA, AA, AsiaMiles, SPG, HHonors
Posts: 7,982
Flew JFK to LAX today - Business class was 1/8 full (of that, half non-rev). Absolutely teed off passengers in Economy comfort, some quotes:
- I'm a Diamond and this is the first time I've had to fly Economy on this route - ....
- This is disgusting that they have those seats empty.
However, was amazed that people actually seemed to be surprised by this.
Here's an idea - is there something like a flyer we can print out, and in it:
a) Tell people how to complain on Delta.com
b) Give them some ideas of how to switch via status math to another airline
c) Also give them some idea of the looming mileage program changes of Delta, should they need to be convinced what a crappy airline it is?
I thought I would find a bunch of guys like you on-board, but it's amazing that the general mass of FFs don't know that much about what's going on - and we need to get those guys informed/protesting to affect any changes....
- I'm a Diamond and this is the first time I've had to fly Economy on this route - ....
- This is disgusting that they have those seats empty.
However, was amazed that people actually seemed to be surprised by this.
Here's an idea - is there something like a flyer we can print out, and in it:
a) Tell people how to complain on Delta.com
b) Give them some ideas of how to switch via status math to another airline
c) Also give them some idea of the looming mileage program changes of Delta, should they need to be convinced what a crappy airline it is?
I thought I would find a bunch of guys like you on-board, but it's amazing that the general mass of FFs don't know that much about what's going on - and we need to get those guys informed/protesting to affect any changes....
I prefer to think of this as the revenge of KingOfVegas. Remember that poster who flew non-rev with his FA girlfriend and bragged about benefiting from Shena and taunted the paying customers? And I remarked that his presence was good for the forum because it reminds us how DL really views their customers. And verily, it came to pass. And these won't be the last routes to lose complimentary UGs.
Apr 9, 2014, 9:51 am
#494
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: DL PM, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 8,414
Please do report back on this. And, if you have the chance and the GA is not too busy....if they do end up processing it at the gate, it would be great to ask the GA exactly what the policy is for processing mileage upgrades at the gate, and even what the process is for them to do it.
Apr 9, 2014, 9:54 am
#495
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: DL PM, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 8,414
True, but for people who fly this route all the time, weekly, etc, this could end up burning too many miles to make this workable longterm plan. For the occasional trip it's fine, but if you fly weekly this would be over 1 million miles a year--at a time when miles are about to become more valuable.