Orion316

Flying SFO-JFK recently, show up at the airport, not on the upgrade list. Ask the GA about the policy she confirms that DM and PMs should be on the list. Checks her computer says "you're added but not activated." Does the magic, I show #3 for 3 seats, and proceed to snag the last upgrade.

Anyone have any idea about the "activation" ?

cheesewhiz

At this point it isn't really anecdotal, at least internally.

When I called the PM line last weekend for clarification, the agent said in no uncertain terms that it is official policy. She stated that is has been in effect since June 20. Additionally, she verified with a supervisor. When I pressed the matter, she stated that she was reading right off the screen and that it was in black and white. She read to me the official policy statement. And that if anyone told me differently, like at the airport, to ask for a redcoat.

The confusion is due to Delta not publicly announcing the change.

But that appears to be a fairly common thing with Delta. Their corporate communications leave much to be desired, along with their website and IT, which could all be related...

sethb

Or don't think it's worth the extra cost, but like to get it when it's available according to DL's policy anyway.

But some people think the extra money I spend to fly DL in order to get/keep status doesn't matter, for some reason; perhaps if I choose not to fly on a DL flight, someone will magically be created to buy the seat I didn't (but he didn't otherwise exist, because he only wanted my seat, not one of the dozen empty seats on that flight).

sethb

Once again, we see that sarcasm doesn't play on the net.

cheesewhiz

Fare class does not appear to be a criteria (though I believe that award tickets are not eligible), other than for ranking in the upgrade list. For that, yes, it does matter, along with the usual factors.

stencil

Well, he tried this joke twice. The first time it was silly. The second time it was just lame.

Should it "play" the third time?

mnredfox

So if you don't ask at the gate, you may be on the list but not able to get UG? I thought the board and you don't get your UG process was a mess...

DLATL777

Flew JFK-LAX today in paid J. 5 seats open 1 hour prior, guy next to me was a PM who got a gate upgrade (his slip was sitting on my console) and then 3 well behaved delta Non-revs took the other 3. 1 went out empty.

leelee543

Platinum Medallion here. I typically do NOT take nonstop flights to LAX, SFO, or SEA, because 1. I would rather fly out of LGA instead of the monster that is JFK, and 2. I like to increase my chances of getting an upgrade by going through a hub. However, due to work time constraints, I had to take JFK-SEA on July 29th. To my absolute surprise, I was upgraded to first class right as boarding started. I'm not sure how many seats were available, since I was not checking due to the fact that I did not think for a second I was eligible for an upgrade, but I thought I would post my success!

P.S. those Business Elite seats are AMAZING.

rwoman

See this thread for pertinent discussion - http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/delta...de-policy.html

leelee543

I'm aware, but I wanted to post my success in this thread as an FYI.

tkey75

Upgrade just came through for tomorrow using an SWU, but I'm confused as EF still shows O=0. Not complaining, just wondering how it happened.

rylan

O became available (possibly only O=1), then you got upgraded shortly after inventory was released consuming it so it was back at zero. EF didn't see availability as its auto check occurs at various intervals so wasn't in the short period of time that O>0.

Not an unusual occurrence on routes where DL doesn't release much and if there are pax on the waitlist.

j.bell

As an update on mileage upgrades transferring to gate list:
I just made plat, and now they are back to transferring. I had been told as a GM last month that they *would* do it but *couldn't* for a non PM/DM, because the system would under no circumstances allow anyone but a PM/DM to be added to the list at all.

rylan

Its not that its mileage upgrades transferring... its that a recent policy change allows DM and PM to be placed on the upgrade list for these premium t-con flights near the departure time.