Oct 15, 2016, 9:00 am
Last edit by: Utskicat
FEB 1, 2022 New GUC/RUC Inventory Rules
*****GUC*****
Flight has First Class
MC/C+ = Purchased
First = Last Seat J (Old Policy = OY)
Flight has DPS only
MC/C+ = Purchased
DPS = Last Seat (GUC=P / RUC=G) (Old Policy = RY)
Flight has D1 with no DPS
MC/C+ = Purchased
D1 = Z (Old Policy = OY)
Flight has D1 with DPS
MC/C+ = Purchased
DPS = Last Seat (GUC=P / RUC=G) (Old Policy = RY)
D1 = OY @ T-24h15m
Flight has D1 with DPS
DPS = Purchased
D1 = Z (Old Policy = OY)
Note: If GUC applied to domestic flight, it has better inventory than RUC (better chance for D1 transcon or to Hawaii)
*****RUC*****
Flight has First Class
MC/C+ = Purchased
First = Z (Old Policy = OY)
Flight has D1 with no DPS
MC/C+ = Purchased
D1 = OY (no change in old policy = OY)
New Delta.com Upgrade Availability Indicators that appeared 2/1/22 and what they mean
Dom D1 Tag meaning:
Global Upgrade Certificate Available = GUC in Z (OY = 0 for RUC)
Upgrade Certificate Available = GUC in Z /or/ RUC in OY both available
Dom F Tag meaning:
Global Upgrade Certificate Available = GUC in Last Seat J (Z = 0 for RUC)
Upgrade Certificate Available = GUC in last seat J /or/ RUC in Z both available
Example D1 Flights from JFK - LAX (flight numbers are fictitious)
DL 01
Dom D1 flight
Actual Availability: J5 C4 D4 Z3
Hidden Availability: OY2
Website indicator: Upgrade Certificate Available
Actual decode: (2 RUC (OY) open, 3 GUC (Z) open)
DL 02
Dom D1 flight
Actual Availability: J5 C4 D4 Z3
Hidden Availability: OY0
Website indicator: Global Upgrade Certificate Available
Actual decode: (0 RUC (OY) open, 3 GUC (Z) open)
DL 03
Dom D1 flight
Actual Availability: J3 C2 D2 Z0
Hidden Availability: OY0
Website indicator: No flag - neither is available GUC (Z0) and RUC (OY0)
DL 04
Dom First flight
Actual Availability: J3 C2 D2 Z1
Hidden Availability: n/a
Website indicator: Upgrade Certificate Available
Actual decode: (1 RUC (Z) open, 3 GUC (J) open)
DL 05
Dom First flight
Actual Availability: J3 C2 D2 Z0
Hidden Availability: n/a
Website indicator: Global Upgrade Certificate Available
Actual decode: (0 RUC (Z) open, 3 GUC (J) open)
DL 06
Dom First flight
Actual Availability: J0 C0 D0 Z0
Hidden Availability: n/a
Website indicator: No flag - neither is available
Actual decode: (0 RUC (Z) open, 0 GUC (J) open)
Apparently Delta is using public inventory buckets J Z P G (and non-public bucket OY in some cases) to determine GUC/RUC availability. However once they have confirmed you the system converts the segment in your reservation to a different bucket. Here is the class mapping:
GUC Usage
MC or C+ purchased / Upgrade to DPS / P class needed / Books into RV (Clears at T-24.15 into D1 as OX if OY available)
MC or C+ purchased / Upgrade to D1 (no DPS) / Z class needed / Books into OK
DPS purchased / Upgrade to D1 / Z class needed / Books into OK
MC or C+ purchased / Upgrade to FC (no D1/DPS) / J class needed / Books into OV
RUC Usage
MC or C+ purchased / Upgrade to DPS / G class needed / Books into RX (Clears at T-24.15 into D1 as OX if OY available)
MC or C+ purchased / Upgrade to D1 (no DPS) / OY class needed / Books into OX
DPS purchased / Upgrade to D1 / OY class needed / Books into OX
MC or C+ purchased / Upgrade to FC (no D1/DPS) / Z class needed / Books into OL
PRE FEB 1, 2022 WIKI
More information and discussion about using same-day change after applying regional upgrades can be found in this thread: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/delta-air-lines-skymiles/1709826-sdc-while-using-regional-upgrade-certificates-ruc-definitive-thread.html
While the RUC process is almost entirely opaque, there are a couple of "hints" of a correctly applied waitlist.
1a) When viewing a waitlisted segment on the DL.com web site (not the app), there may be two seat maps for the same flight. The first seat map shows the coach seat you are currently in, and the second seat map for the same flight says "you may not select seats for this flight" or something like that. This second seat map corresponds to a part of the waitlist process, and indicates that at least one step of the multi-step process to add an RUC waitlist was actually done. Unfortunately, this does NOT indicate that the other manual steps of the RUC waitlist process were successfully completed by the agent (i.e. even if you see the second seat map, there still could be something wrong. There is simply no way for the customer to tell.)
1b) The status for a waitlisted segment should say something like "Upgrade Waitlisted"
2) Assuming the waitlist does not clear prior to check-in, the second hint is the upgrade waitlist. If the RUC waitlist request was coded correctly, you should show up at or very near the top of the upgrade waitlist that you can see on DL.com or the app. If you find yourself at your "usual" spot on the upgrade waitlist, this is a clue that the RUC waitlist request was not coded correctly.
3) The RUC is a form of "payment". Until the RUC clears, it remains "unused" so a waitlisted RUC will still show in your wallet as "open".
You may also wish to peruse the wiki for the GUC success thread as some of the considerations/logistics are similar between RUCs and GUCs.
*****GUC*****
Flight has First Class
MC/C+ = Purchased
First = Last Seat J (Old Policy = OY)
Flight has DPS only
MC/C+ = Purchased
DPS = Last Seat (GUC=P / RUC=G) (Old Policy = RY)
Flight has D1 with no DPS
MC/C+ = Purchased
D1 = Z (Old Policy = OY)
Flight has D1 with DPS
MC/C+ = Purchased
DPS = Last Seat (GUC=P / RUC=G) (Old Policy = RY)
D1 = OY @ T-24h15m
Flight has D1 with DPS
DPS = Purchased
D1 = Z (Old Policy = OY)
Note: If GUC applied to domestic flight, it has better inventory than RUC (better chance for D1 transcon or to Hawaii)
*****RUC*****
Flight has First Class
MC/C+ = Purchased
First = Z (Old Policy = OY)
Flight has D1 with no DPS
MC/C+ = Purchased
D1 = OY (no change in old policy = OY)
New Delta.com Upgrade Availability Indicators that appeared 2/1/22 and what they mean
Dom D1 Tag meaning:
Global Upgrade Certificate Available = GUC in Z (OY = 0 for RUC)
Upgrade Certificate Available = GUC in Z /or/ RUC in OY both available
Dom F Tag meaning:
Global Upgrade Certificate Available = GUC in Last Seat J (Z = 0 for RUC)
Upgrade Certificate Available = GUC in last seat J /or/ RUC in Z both available
Example D1 Flights from JFK - LAX (flight numbers are fictitious)
DL 01
Dom D1 flight
Actual Availability: J5 C4 D4 Z3
Hidden Availability: OY2
Website indicator: Upgrade Certificate Available
Actual decode: (2 RUC (OY) open, 3 GUC (Z) open)
DL 02
Dom D1 flight
Actual Availability: J5 C4 D4 Z3
Hidden Availability: OY0
Website indicator: Global Upgrade Certificate Available
Actual decode: (0 RUC (OY) open, 3 GUC (Z) open)
DL 03
Dom D1 flight
Actual Availability: J3 C2 D2 Z0
Hidden Availability: OY0
Website indicator: No flag - neither is available GUC (Z0) and RUC (OY0)
DL 04
Dom First flight
Actual Availability: J3 C2 D2 Z1
Hidden Availability: n/a
Website indicator: Upgrade Certificate Available
Actual decode: (1 RUC (Z) open, 3 GUC (J) open)
DL 05
Dom First flight
Actual Availability: J3 C2 D2 Z0
Hidden Availability: n/a
Website indicator: Global Upgrade Certificate Available
Actual decode: (0 RUC (Z) open, 3 GUC (J) open)
DL 06
Dom First flight
Actual Availability: J0 C0 D0 Z0
Hidden Availability: n/a
Website indicator: No flag - neither is available
Actual decode: (0 RUC (Z) open, 0 GUC (J) open)
Apparently Delta is using public inventory buckets J Z P G (and non-public bucket OY in some cases) to determine GUC/RUC availability. However once they have confirmed you the system converts the segment in your reservation to a different bucket. Here is the class mapping:
GUC Usage
MC or C+ purchased / Upgrade to DPS / P class needed / Books into RV (Clears at T-24.15 into D1 as OX if OY available)
MC or C+ purchased / Upgrade to D1 (no DPS) / Z class needed / Books into OK
DPS purchased / Upgrade to D1 / Z class needed / Books into OK
MC or C+ purchased / Upgrade to FC (no D1/DPS) / J class needed / Books into OV
RUC Usage
MC or C+ purchased / Upgrade to DPS / G class needed / Books into RX (Clears at T-24.15 into D1 as OX if OY available)
MC or C+ purchased / Upgrade to D1 (no DPS) / OY class needed / Books into OX
DPS purchased / Upgrade to D1 / OY class needed / Books into OX
MC or C+ purchased / Upgrade to FC (no D1/DPS) / Z class needed / Books into OL
PRE FEB 1, 2022 WIKI
More information and discussion about using same-day change after applying regional upgrades can be found in this thread: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/delta-air-lines-skymiles/1709826-sdc-while-using-regional-upgrade-certificates-ruc-definitive-thread.html
The clock begins ticking on RUC expiration when you make your choice benefit selection, so it's possible to time your selection when there is a specific need to use them.You can select your 2017 choice benefit as soon as DL recognizes your Plat status. Certificates expire 12 months from date of issue. 2019 choice benefits (earned based on how much one flew in 2018) must be selected by Jan 31, 2020.- If you select certificates as your choice benefit late in your Medallion tenure, it will still be valid after your status expires -- so for example if you earn Platinum Medallion in 2018, which is valid through Jan 31, 2020, but then only earn Silver Medallion in 2019, which becomes effective Feb 1, 2020 when your Platinum Medallion status expires, RUCs selected in January 2020 would be valid through January 2021 and could be used once you were only a Silver Medallion member, giving you a much higher upgrade list position on those flights where you attempt to use them.
- If you request to use a RUC on a flight and do not receive the upgrade, it is returned to your account for future use, but check your account to make sure.
- RUC may be redeemed for the named Medallion member and up to one travel companion traveling on the same flight (the companion officially no longer needs to be in the same reservation, though that rule was not actually enforced even when it was the official rule). The named member and the companion will each require a separate certificate.
While the RUC process is almost entirely opaque, there are a couple of "hints" of a correctly applied waitlist.
1a) When viewing a waitlisted segment on the DL.com web site (not the app), there may be two seat maps for the same flight. The first seat map shows the coach seat you are currently in, and the second seat map for the same flight says "you may not select seats for this flight" or something like that. This second seat map corresponds to a part of the waitlist process, and indicates that at least one step of the multi-step process to add an RUC waitlist was actually done. Unfortunately, this does NOT indicate that the other manual steps of the RUC waitlist process were successfully completed by the agent (i.e. even if you see the second seat map, there still could be something wrong. There is simply no way for the customer to tell.)
1b) The status for a waitlisted segment should say something like "Upgrade Waitlisted"
2) Assuming the waitlist does not clear prior to check-in, the second hint is the upgrade waitlist. If the RUC waitlist request was coded correctly, you should show up at or very near the top of the upgrade waitlist that you can see on DL.com or the app. If you find yourself at your "usual" spot on the upgrade waitlist, this is a clue that the RUC waitlist request was not coded correctly.
3) The RUC is a form of "payment". Until the RUC clears, it remains "unused" so a waitlisted RUC will still show in your wallet as "open".
You may also wish to peruse the wiki for the GUC success thread as some of the considerations/logistics are similar between RUCs and GUCs.
Using Regional Upgrades on Delta (pre 2/1/2022)
Aug 13, 2021, 12:45 pm
#2011
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: ATL
Programs: Delta PlM, 1M
Posts: 6,365
I have a RUC that looks re-issued. Certs are cCLOSED. The class on the receipt is OY (domestic DL flight), but under status all I see is OPEN.
Do appreciate the expert knowledge in thus DL torture process. :-)
EDIT: I would guess that the status of OK/APRT means that it is OK to checkin at the AirPoRT.. I could see that this might not be set till near day of departure.
Last edited by exwannabe; Aug 13, 2021 at 12:53 pm
Aug 14, 2021, 5:34 am
#2012
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: San Antonio
Programs: DL DM, Former AA EXP now AY Plat, AC 75K, NW Plat, Former CO Gold, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 27,046
This is correct. However what you're misunderstanding is this doesn't mean everything was entered correctly. You can show waitlisted even for a KLM flight, for which you will never clear as waitlists aren't a thing for KLM flights.
The issue is when it goes to process the waitlist for the DL flight, if the text-field that is used isn't typed into exactly correctly, the upgrade automation will fail and you will be skipped. There's no validation that they've typed a valid certificate number, certificate type, that they haven't entered an extra space, forgotten a / or ; , or put in an extra / or ; .
Aug 14, 2021, 5:39 am
#2013
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: San Antonio
Programs: DL DM, Former AA EXP now AY Plat, AC 75K, NW Plat, Former CO Gold, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 27,046
If you do not mind, could you explain the OK/ARRT status?
I have a RUC that looks re-issued. Certs are cCLOSED. The class on the receipt is OY (domestic DL flight), but under status all I see is OPEN.
Do appreciate the expert knowledge in thus DL torture process. :-)
EDIT: I would guess that the status of OK/APRT means that it is OK to checkin at the AirPoRT.. I could see that this might not be set till near day of departure.
I have a RUC that looks re-issued. Certs are cCLOSED. The class on the receipt is OY (domestic DL flight), but under status all I see is OPEN.
Do appreciate the expert knowledge in thus DL torture process. :-)
EDIT: I would guess that the status of OK/APRT means that it is OK to checkin at the AirPoRT.. I could see that this might not be set till near day of departure.
Aug 15, 2021, 9:26 pm
#2014
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: At an Airport
Programs: DL MM 3.2, DM; UAL; AAL
Posts: 438
OPEN is what I meaning. (OK is a reservation status, not ticket) When click receipt it should show OPEN or ARPT and OY. If it shows OY in reservation, but NX on recipet the ticket hasn't been reissued. You need it to say OY in both reservation and receipt. Since the RUC is now CLOSED, it sounds like the ticket has been reissued. (As this shouldn't happen till ticket is reissued)
have you experienced or has anyone experienced lately doing same-day confirmed changes on domestic trips into first class after an RUC has been used/re-issued into domestic first class? I know there has been a lot of discussion about this but wondering if anybody has been able to succeed lately in making this same day confirmed change—OY to OY? I have done it a number of times in the past but I understand reservations agents these days aren’t aware of that benefit. I appreciate your thoughts and experiences And any tutorial as to how to get it done – – LOL
Aug 15, 2021, 9:32 pm
#2015
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: San Antonio
Programs: DL DM, Former AA EXP now AY Plat, AC 75K, NW Plat, Former CO Gold, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 27,046
flyerCO – – thank you For all the information. I just had a re-issue today after having put an RUC on a reservation and it finally came through with the reissue.
have you experienced or has anyone experienced lately doing same-day confirmed changes on domestic trips into first class after an RUC has been used/re-issued into domestic first class? I know there has been a lot of discussion about this but wondering if anybody has been able to succeed lately in making this same day confirmed change—OY to OY? I have done it a number of times in the past but I understand reservations agents these days aren’t aware of that benefit. I appreciate your thoughts and experiences And any tutorial as to how to get it done – – LOL
have you experienced or has anyone experienced lately doing same-day confirmed changes on domestic trips into first class after an RUC has been used/re-issued into domestic first class? I know there has been a lot of discussion about this but wondering if anybody has been able to succeed lately in making this same day confirmed change—OY to OY? I have done it a number of times in the past but I understand reservations agents these days aren’t aware of that benefit. I appreciate your thoughts and experiences And any tutorial as to how to get it done – – LOL
Aug 16, 2021, 10:59 am
#2016
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: At an Airport
Programs: DL MM 3.2, DM; UAL; AAL
Posts: 438
Aug 16, 2021, 11:09 am
#2017
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: San Antonio
Programs: DL DM, Former AA EXP now AY Plat, AC 75K, NW Plat, Former CO Gold, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 27,046
Yes, that's why I was suggesting it. One hang up, you'll need to be within 24hrs of new flight.
Aug 16, 2021, 8:38 pm
#2018
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Toledo, OH
Programs: Delta DM & MM, Hilton DM, Marriott gold, Hyatt Globalist, Alaska 75K, Wyndham Diamond,
Posts: 15,399
Another issue with a FC ticket I've had is co-terminaling. A couple times I took advantage of a reasonable first class fare on flights I didn't care if I got the upgrade on just for the flexibility of same day confirming. No issues if it' was the same airport doing it online but had to call delta if I was using a co-terminal to do the SDC
Aug 16, 2021, 8:42 pm
#2019
Moderator: Hyatt; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: WAS
Programs: :rolleyes:, DL DM, Mlife Plat, Caesars Diam, Marriott Tit, UA Gold, Hyatt Glob, invol FT beta tester
Posts: 18,939
Another issue with a FC ticket I've had is co-terminaling. A couple times I took advantage of a reasonable first class fare on flights I didn't care if I got the upgrade on just for the flexibility of same day confirming. No issues if it' was the same airport doing it online but had to call delta if I was using a co-terminal to do the SDC
Aug 16, 2021, 11:54 pm
#2020
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: San Antonio
Programs: DL DM, Former AA EXP now AY Plat, AC 75K, NW Plat, Former CO Gold, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 27,046
Have done it without issue multiple times in one day across all three bay area airports. OAK->SFO->SJC->OAK again all on one ticket with RUC. The app seems to be more reliable than website.
Aug 24, 2021, 2:33 pm
#2021
Join Date: Dec 2016
Programs: DL GM
Posts: 12
D1 Upgrade No Longer Showing
Applied an RUC to a Transcon JFK-LAX and it properly showed waitlisted and D1 upgrade requested (including the phantom second seatmap). But it is now only showing upgrade requested to C+. Should I be concerned?
Also, I don't ever see the "Upgrade Available" for RUC space when browsing for flights. Anyone else having this issue?
Also, I don't ever see the "Upgrade Available" for RUC space when browsing for flights. Anyone else having this issue?
Aug 24, 2021, 2:46 pm
#2022
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: San Antonio
Programs: DL DM, Former AA EXP now AY Plat, AC 75K, NW Plat, Former CO Gold, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 27,046
Applied an RUC to a Transcon JFK-LAX and it properly showed waitlisted and D1 upgrade requested (including the phantom second seatmap). But it is now only showing upgrade requested to C+. Should I be concerned?
Also, I don't ever see the "Upgrade Available" for RUC space when browsing for flights. Anyone else having this issue?
Also, I don't ever see the "Upgrade Available" for RUC space when browsing for flights. Anyone else having this issue?
Aug 25, 2021, 12:25 am
#2024
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Seattle WA
Programs: DL DM, Marriott Titanium, AA PLT for Life
Posts: 398
It's really unacceptable that they now:
1) reveal availability
2) don't let the customer just clear or waitlist
Every excuse that will follow this rant is wrong.
Thanks for coming to my ED talk.
1) reveal availability
2) don't let the customer just clear or waitlist
Every excuse that will follow this rant is wrong.
Thanks for coming to my ED talk.
Aug 31, 2021, 11:43 am
#2025
FlyerTalk Evangelist & Ambassador: China
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: DEN
Programs: DL DM/MM, UA 1K, AA Exp, HH Dia, WOH Glob, IHG Plat, Marriott Gold, NA EE, Hertz PC
Posts: 17,423
Strategy for Family UGs
Going to be traveling with my wife and kid. Wondering if this strategy will work:
1. Book PNR with three passengers
2. Use RUC for my wife
3. Split wife off from PNR (need to be on same PNR to use RUC in #2) leaving me a child
4. Wait for EUA UG with kid and I
Thoughts? Willing to take the risk on not getting UG so as to minimize RUC usage and maximize benefit from auto elite upgrade.
1. Book PNR with three passengers
2. Use RUC for my wife
3. Split wife off from PNR (need to be on same PNR to use RUC in #2) leaving me a child
4. Wait for EUA UG with kid and I
Thoughts? Willing to take the risk on not getting UG so as to minimize RUC usage and maximize benefit from auto elite upgrade.