The Official - GLOBAL UPGRADE CERT success thread - Yay! I got it!
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#3046
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: SFO/SJC, BWI
Programs: :rolleyes:, DL DM, Mlife Plat, TR 7*, SPG/MR Plat, UA 1K
Posts: 8,998
Booked mid-July, V fare
Aug 28 SFO-JFK 75S red-eye, ended up 2/30+ for only 1 seat at the gate, did not clear
Aug 29 JFK-ATL-EZE cleared at booking
Sep 3 EZE-ATL cleared at booking
Sep 4 ATL-SFO I was shocked when this cleared at T-3d, had expected it to go to the gate
Aug 28 SFO-JFK 75S red-eye, ended up 2/30+ for only 1 seat at the gate, did not clear
Aug 29 JFK-ATL-EZE cleared at booking
Sep 3 EZE-ATL cleared at booking
Sep 4 ATL-SFO I was shocked when this cleared at T-3d, had expected it to go to the gate
#3047
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2005
Location: PIT
Programs: DM life is over 2MM PM now & NW MillionAir Wyndham Rewards Plat -Hotels.com Silver -Accor Silver
Posts: 15,279
#3048
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Orange County, CA
Programs: DL DM, HH Gold, IHG Plat Amb
Posts: 72
Just cleared for LAX-SYD for tomorrow, 9/13. 8 seats left at time of clearing; most in the rear cabin. Waitlisted but as of this morning, I was getting the 'seat map is view only' note with an additional leg showing so gave it a couple hours thinking it was processing. Being nervous, I called and super friendly, knowledgable agent said yes but let me get ticket reissued. Shocking it's not seamless. Curious what would have happened if I didn't call in. Given I'm still +24H before departure, will I get the pre-select meal email? Fingers crossed to clear on the return but SYD-LAX for me has always gone to gate.
#3049
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: SEA
Programs: DL DM
Posts: 105
EX-AMS, Delta metal
I called Delta 2 days prior to check-in to apply my GUC. Upon check-in, and also at KLM lounge, the staff could not see me on the wait list. They said it probably meant it was full.
At the gate I asked the staff there and they could see my GUC but currently flight was full. Anecdotal, but Delta app said 3 D1 available so I'm guessing that's not correct. 5 minutes after I asked gate they called my name and put me in 3C. 😎
At the gate I asked the staff there and they could see my GUC but currently flight was full. Anecdotal, but Delta app said 3 D1 available so I'm guessing that's not correct. 5 minutes after I asked gate they called my name and put me in 3C. 😎
#3050
Join Date: Jun 2005
Programs: Delta Diamond, Marriott Ambassador & Lifetime Titanium, Hertz President's Circle, United Silver
Posts: 5,545
I called Delta 2 days prior to check-in to apply my GUC. Upon check-in, and also at KLM lounge, the staff could not see me on the wait list. They said it probably meant it was full.
At the gate I asked the staff there and they could see my GUC but currently flight was full. Anecdotal, but Delta app said 3 D1 available so I'm guessing that's not correct. 5 minutes after I asked gate they called my name and put me in 3C. 😎
At the gate I asked the staff there and they could see my GUC but currently flight was full. Anecdotal, but Delta app said 3 D1 available so I'm guessing that's not correct. 5 minutes after I asked gate they called my name and put me in 3C. 😎
I always ask about upgrades just because there seems to be no rules in Amsterdam. I've used both miles and certificates and also been upgraded complimentary just for asking. That happened a year ago. The KLM agent in the lounge said she could use my certificate and clear me, but the main cabin was overbooked and she would just put me in business-class as an operational upgrade for free. Who knows. Maybe I would have received that upgrade at the gatehouse with a different KLM agent, but you never know.
I suppose you also have to determine if it makes more sense to use miles for an upgrade or one of four global upgrade certificates. Personally, I'd rather save my global upgrade certificates for longer flights to/from Asia than relatively short flights between Western Europe and the East Coast.
#3051
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: BOS
Programs: DL DM 1MM, Marriott LTPlat, Hertz PC
Posts: 11,851
Per the GUC terms and conditions, waitlist does not transfer to the airport at certain stations including AMS. So if you don't clear ahead of departure day, you have to go to the ticket counter, transfer desk, or skyclub at AMS to upgrade with a GUC. And yes out of AMS they are also selling upgrades for cash+miles if somebody inquires as well. They do have rules on how many miles and cash for an upgrade based on your fare bucket, and are able to process GUCs on request but they don't have an tracked upgrade list.
The thing with AMS and a upgrade cert is if you don't clear the Delta waitlist in advance before KLM takes control of the ticket (about T-24), you want to get there a few hours early to get it processed.
The thing with AMS and a upgrade cert is if you don't clear the Delta waitlist in advance before KLM takes control of the ticket (about T-24), you want to get there a few hours early to get it processed.
#3052
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: SEA
Programs: DL DM
Posts: 105
Per the GUC terms and conditions, waitlist does not transfer to the airport at certain stations including AMS. So if you don't clear ahead of departure day, you have to go to the ticket counter, transfer desk, or skyclub at AMS to upgrade with a GUC. And yes out of AMS they are also selling upgrades for cash+miles if somebody inquires as well. They do have rules on how many miles and cash for an upgrade based on your fare bucket, and are able to process GUCs on request but they don't have an tracked upgrade list.
The thing with AMS and a upgrade cert is if you don't clear the Delta waitlist in advance before KLM takes control of the ticket (about T-24), you want to get there a few hours early to get it processed.
The thing with AMS and a upgrade cert is if you don't clear the Delta waitlist in advance before KLM takes control of the ticket (about T-24), you want to get there a few hours early to get it processed.
This is a 10hr flight AMS-SEA. I would rather use my certs when I can for fear of missing out and having them expire. 😀
#3053
FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: San Antonio
Programs: DL DM, AA EXP, NW Plat, Former CO Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 14,165
Do you, or anyone, know whether you could go to the ticket office the night before to try to purchase an upgrade? I did show up about 180 mins before departure and asked check-in agent if any seats were available for purchase.
This is a 10hr flight AMS-SEA. I would rather use my certs when I can for fear of missing out and having them expire. 😀
This is a 10hr flight AMS-SEA. I would rather use my certs when I can for fear of missing out and having them expire. 😀
#3054
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: SEA
Programs: DL DM
Posts: 105
I always ask about upgrades just because there seems to be no rules in Amsterdam. I've used both miles and certificates and also been upgraded complimentary just for asking. That happened a year ago. The KLM agent in the lounge said she could use my certificate and clear me, but the main cabin was overbooked and she would just put me in business-class as an operational upgrade for free. Who knows. Maybe I would have received that upgrade at the gatehouse with a different KLM agent, but you never know.
Maybe 8 years or so ago, before SEA-AMS had Delta One, and I had no status whatsoever; there was a period where I had repeated success in upgrading EX-AMS just by simply asking at the gate, even if it was me +1. I always wondered what the heck was going on in AMS. Finally after joining FlyerTalk did I find the answers.

#3055
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Westchester county, NY
Programs: DL DM, SPG Gold, IHG Spire
Posts: 128
Booked the following (departure Thurs-Fri in June, return Sat-Sun in July) $1,200 each including taxes for two 
LGA-ATL waitlisted (go figure)
ATL-EZE cleared at booking
GIG-ATL cleared at booking
ATL-JFK cleared at booking (am happy about this as pricing was great only for long layover for this flight - now I should be able to SDC to a good connection)

LGA-ATL waitlisted (go figure)
ATL-EZE cleared at booking
GIG-ATL cleared at booking
ATL-JFK cleared at booking (am happy about this as pricing was great only for long layover for this flight - now I should be able to SDC to a good connection)
#3056
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: DL Diam 2MM, HH Gold, PC Gold, Hyatt Plat
Posts: 4,853
I always ask about upgrades just because there seems to be no rules in Amsterdam. I've used both miles and certificates and also been upgraded complimentary just for asking. That happened a year ago. The KLM agent in the lounge said she could use my certificate and clear me, but the main cabin was overbooked and she would just put me in business-class as an operational upgrade for free. Who knows. Maybe I would have received that upgrade at the gatehouse with a different KLM agent, but you never know.
#3057
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: ATL
Programs: DL PM 1 Mil Miler, HZ PC, Marriott LT PM, Hilton DM
Posts: 244
#3058
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: MEM
Programs: Starbucks Green Card
Posts: 5,431
There's some other undocumented tiebreaker (perhaps alphabetical name, or which passenger had the GUC applied first, etc) that causes the companion to sometimes show up ahead of the "primary" passenger.
#3059
#3060