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)
Jul 13, 2017, 7:54 am
#841
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Big Muddy Mile Marker 332
Programs: Delta-PM, HHonors-Diamond, Hyatt-Explorist, Hertz - Presidents
Posts: 335
Jul 13, 2017, 8:03 am
#842
Join Date: May 2015
Location: DCA
Programs: AA EXP, DL FO, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 6,712
Jul 21, 2017, 12:13 pm
#843
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Seattle
Programs: DL DM; Hyatt Globalist; etc
Posts: 540
I just had the oddest experience try to apply my (first ever) RUC:
Flying JFK-SFO-JFK, the SFO-JFK return is a red-eye, so I thought it'd be a great opportunity to get into D1 and get some real sleep. I chose my choice benefit a couple of hours ago, and the certs showed up in my wallet about 30 minutes ago.
As soon as I saw them, I called the Plat line and specifically asked them to "Apply my RUC to the August 11th SFO-JFK Red Eye flight". Customer Service representative had no problem doing that - first asked to make sure that I didn't want to do it on both the outbound and the return, and I confirmed that I only wanted it on the return leaving SFO.
Just checked the website about 5 minutes ago and it says I'm waitlisted on the JFK-SFO flight, which is not what I wanted - oh well! Mistakes happen! Here's where it gets weird.
I called the Plat line back to ask them to remove the cert on that flight and apply it to the SFO-JFK leg. Representative tells me that "Because this is a transcon, you can only use GUCs, but because we said we'd do it, we'll honor it, and we have confirmed space so I will get you on that right now"
Am I crazy? Are reps this wrong often? Either way, it looks like I'm properly in D1 right now according to the website, so it's all good. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like I have a confirmed seat, and it still wants to upsell me (at a cost of $858!) to pick a D1 seat.
ARG!
Flying JFK-SFO-JFK, the SFO-JFK return is a red-eye, so I thought it'd be a great opportunity to get into D1 and get some real sleep. I chose my choice benefit a couple of hours ago, and the certs showed up in my wallet about 30 minutes ago.
As soon as I saw them, I called the Plat line and specifically asked them to "Apply my RUC to the August 11th SFO-JFK Red Eye flight". Customer Service representative had no problem doing that - first asked to make sure that I didn't want to do it on both the outbound and the return, and I confirmed that I only wanted it on the return leaving SFO.
Just checked the website about 5 minutes ago and it says I'm waitlisted on the JFK-SFO flight, which is not what I wanted - oh well! Mistakes happen! Here's where it gets weird.
I called the Plat line back to ask them to remove the cert on that flight and apply it to the SFO-JFK leg. Representative tells me that "Because this is a transcon, you can only use GUCs, but because we said we'd do it, we'll honor it, and we have confirmed space so I will get you on that right now"
Am I crazy? Are reps this wrong often? Either way, it looks like I'm properly in D1 right now according to the website, so it's all good. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like I have a confirmed seat, and it still wants to upsell me (at a cost of $858!) to pick a D1 seat.
ARG!
Jul 21, 2017, 12:17 pm
#844
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: ATL
Programs: DL Scattered Smothered Covered Medallion, Some hotel & car stuff, Kroger Plus Card
Posts: 10,745
Am I crazy? Are reps this wrong often? Either way, it looks like I'm properly in D1 right now according to the website, so it's all good. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like I have a confirmed seat, and it still wants to upsell me (at a cost of $858!) to pick a D1 seat.
ARG!
ARG!
It sounds like your booking was confirmed into D1 but you have not yet been reticketed (you can check to see if the ticket # on the website still matches the one on your original purchase receipt).
It may be worth yet another call to have them go ahead and push the reticketing through, just to make sure you don't have any problems later on.
Jul 21, 2017, 7:00 pm
#845
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: SAN
Programs: DL DM, Marriott LT Titanium, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 351
Just checked the website about 5 minutes ago and it says I'm waitlisted on the JFK-SFO flight, which is not what I wanted - oh well! Mistakes happen! Here's where it gets weird.
I called the Plat line back to ask them to remove the cert on that flight and apply it to the SFO-JFK leg. Representative tells me that "Because this is a transcon, you can only use GUCs, but because we said we'd do it, we'll honor it, and we have confirmed space so I will get you on that right now"
Am I crazy? Are reps this wrong often? Either way, it looks like I'm properly in D1 right now according to the website, so it's all good. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like I have a confirmed seat, and it still wants to upsell me (at a cost of $858!) to pick a D1 seat.
ARG!
I called the Plat line back to ask them to remove the cert on that flight and apply it to the SFO-JFK leg. Representative tells me that "Because this is a transcon, you can only use GUCs, but because we said we'd do it, we'll honor it, and we have confirmed space so I will get you on that right now"
Am I crazy? Are reps this wrong often? Either way, it looks like I'm properly in D1 right now according to the website, so it's all good. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like I have a confirmed seat, and it still wants to upsell me (at a cost of $858!) to pick a D1 seat.
ARG!
Hope this helps,
ab
Jul 21, 2017, 7:37 pm
#846
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Seattle
Programs: DL DM; Hyatt Globalist; etc
Posts: 540
So many problems here potentially. First, are you sure there was immediate RUC availability for those flights? If not, you were properly waitlisted. The way that typically comes up is exactly what you are describing: you can't select a seat. As someone who has done this flight nearly 30x this year, this is what it sounds like to me, but of course I would call and check to clarify whether you already cleared or whether you are on the waitlist.
Hope this helps,
ab
Hope this helps,
ab
I appreciate the help!
I was expecting to be waitlisted given that it's ~3 weeks out and I know rev management doesn't love giving seats away. The issue started with me being originally waitlisted for the wrong flight (outbound instead of return), which is what started the need to call back a second time (and have a rep tell me that I should not be able to use a RUC on a D1 tcon). This was just a fat finger by the first person I called, which I totally understand happens (lord knows I do it at work often enough).
Beyond that, the second CSR told me that there was immediate UG space available, and I was properly showing as being ticketed in OY space when I was looking to select my seat. In the end, I was able to pick a seat on the mobile app, and I'm now happily confirmed in 1D. Surprising, but the seatmap shows all but 4 seats taken (including me), so it's definitely looking like a light load.
Jul 30, 2017, 11:37 am
#847
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 2
I seem to have run into a new RUC IT issue...
Have a flight booked from LAX to JFK to LHR. Return is actually AMS to JFK to LAX. Tweeted Delta for assistance applying RUC to the LAX/JFK leg and JFK/LAX leg. They said applied to waitlist
Log in and flight info shows 5 legs -- it only doubled the LAX to JFK leg and shows " Upgrade Waitlisted" and "First Class (RY)" as the cabin/fare class for the duplicated leg. For the JFK to LAX leg it shows "Request Complimentary Upgrade" then "Upgrade Status:Upgrade Waitlisted" and Main Cabin.
However, once I click on the seat maps, I get 6 legs (duplicated both LAX/JFK leg seatmaps) with two blank seat maps.
Ooof ... no idea how this one will work out.
Have a flight booked from LAX to JFK to LHR. Return is actually AMS to JFK to LAX. Tweeted Delta for assistance applying RUC to the LAX/JFK leg and JFK/LAX leg. They said applied to waitlist
Log in and flight info shows 5 legs -- it only doubled the LAX to JFK leg and shows " Upgrade Waitlisted" and "First Class (RY)" as the cabin/fare class for the duplicated leg. For the JFK to LAX leg it shows "Request Complimentary Upgrade" then "Upgrade Status:Upgrade Waitlisted" and Main Cabin.
However, once I click on the seat maps, I get 6 legs (duplicated both LAX/JFK leg seatmaps) with two blank seat maps.
Ooof ... no idea how this one will work out.
Jul 30, 2017, 11:42 am
#848
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Now in SLC
Programs: DL GM 1MM, MR LT Titanium
Posts: 4,119
This is also wrong, though it used to be correct. When DL changed the upgrade policy on JFK-SFO/LAX to no medallion upgrades, they also made it so that you could only use a GUC, and not an RUC, to upgrade. But that got changed a couple of years ago so RUCs are eligible to upgrade the transcon D1 flights.
Jul 30, 2017, 3:38 pm
#849
Join Date: Nov 2009
Programs: DL PM 1MM
Posts: 3,441
I seem to have run into a new RUC IT issue...
Have a flight booked from LAX to JFK to LHR. Return is actually AMS to JFK to LAX. Tweeted Delta for assistance applying RUC to the LAX/JFK leg and JFK/LAX leg. They said applied to waitlist
Log in and flight info shows 5 legs -- it only doubled the LAX to JFK leg and shows " Upgrade Waitlisted" and "First Class (RY)" as the cabin/fare class for the duplicated leg. For the JFK to LAX leg it shows "Request Complimentary Upgrade" then "Upgrade Status:Upgrade Waitlisted" and Main Cabin.
However, once I click on the seat maps, I get 6 legs (duplicated both LAX/JFK leg seatmaps) with two blank seat maps.
Ooof ... no idea how this one will work out.
Have a flight booked from LAX to JFK to LHR. Return is actually AMS to JFK to LAX. Tweeted Delta for assistance applying RUC to the LAX/JFK leg and JFK/LAX leg. They said applied to waitlist
Log in and flight info shows 5 legs -- it only doubled the LAX to JFK leg and shows " Upgrade Waitlisted" and "First Class (RY)" as the cabin/fare class for the duplicated leg. For the JFK to LAX leg it shows "Request Complimentary Upgrade" then "Upgrade Status:Upgrade Waitlisted" and Main Cabin.
However, once I click on the seat maps, I get 6 legs (duplicated both LAX/JFK leg seatmaps) with two blank seat maps.
Ooof ... no idea how this one will work out.
Jul 31, 2017, 2:17 pm
#850
Join Date: May 2014
Location: PWM
Programs: Delta PM
Posts: 822
Came in here to post a RUC success story!
Have PWM-MBJ and return booked for annual vacation (T & V fares purchased). Hit PM for 2018, selected upgrade certs, called in and all 4 segments had available inventory for both myself and companion! Some might argue to roll the dice and sweat out comp upgrades but I'm happy to use my benefits to "lock it in" now and avoid the anxiety of waiting to see.
Have PWM-MBJ and return booked for annual vacation (T & V fares purchased). Hit PM for 2018, selected upgrade certs, called in and all 4 segments had available inventory for both myself and companion! Some might argue to roll the dice and sweat out comp upgrades but I'm happy to use my benefits to "lock it in" now and avoid the anxiety of waiting to see.
Aug 1, 2017, 12:18 pm
#851
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: missing YX more every day
Programs: Delta KM/PM/MM, Nexus, CLEAR, Sharriott Plat, IHG Plat, Hilton Gold, Hertz PC
Posts: 1,105
no sweat
Not the kind of sweat I'd want for my vacation, either. You chose the seats you want, together, and you're all set. I think it's a good play; you never know what kind of FCM deal DL will offer to fill the cabin and freeze you out.
Aug 2, 2017, 10:17 am
#853
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: ATL
Programs: DL DM, Hyatt LT DM, Wyndham DM, Hertz PC, HH Gold, SPG Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 2,038
I feel like there should be SOME sort of transparency to this. Dec flights to LAX and no one is in FC either flight. No instant clears for a RUC usage. It's 4+ months from now.
On a second note if I waitlist and some comes available and I am 1st in line does it upgrade then? Or is waitlist means it clears at gate?
On a second note if I waitlist and some comes available and I am 1st in line does it upgrade then? Or is waitlist means it clears at gate?
Aug 2, 2017, 10:20 am
#854
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Now in SLC
Programs: DL GM 1MM, MR LT Titanium
Posts: 4,119
Waitlist means it should clear immediately if rev management opens up space in advnace. But I emphasize the word should--so often, it doesn't automatically clear when space is opened, which is why it's important to call regularly about whether upgrade space has opened up or not.
Aug 2, 2017, 10:25 am
#855
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: ATL
Programs: DL DM, Hyatt LT DM, Wyndham DM, Hertz PC, HH Gold, SPG Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 2,038
Waitlist means it should clear immediately if rev management opens up space in advnace. But I emphasize the word should--so often, it doesn't automatically clear when space is opened, which is why it's important to call regularly about whether upgrade space has opened up or not.