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Old Oct 15, 2016, 9:00 am
FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides
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
  • 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.


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Using Regional Upgrades on Delta (pre 2/1/2022)

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Old May 29, 2017, 11:47 pm
  #796  
C W
 
Join Date: Sep 2016
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Originally Posted by Zorak
I've never tried/needed to myself, just suggesting it based on what I've read. Googling for recent experiences implies highly variable outcomes. One suggests better chances of success once travel has begun.

If you can get it split, you'd be comp Medallion upgrade eligible, although if I had to guess I'd guess JFK-LAS on a Friday is tough. OTOH if you do manage to get it split in advance you could monitor EF or the upgrade list after check-in and decide whether to use an RUC at that point.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/delta...-eligible.html

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/delta...ht-number.html

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/delta...seats-dms.html

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/delta...de-list-f.html

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/delta...l#post28254486
Thanks for the very thorough answer. Seems like there's a chance, but certainly not a guarantee of the split.

Originally Posted by flyerCO
Correct t it must be number three in order to be eligible. Same holds true for the upgrade question. Though you can ask the gate agent at JFK and they may place you on the list. They're not required to do it. If they do, note by that point others including lower elites may have been upgraded.

Finally you'll earn MQM/MQS for FRA-LAS not for both.
Thank you for all the help. I knew about the crappy MQM/MQS earning rule, but not the upgrade restrictions. Very odd and hard to see how it benefits DL unless they're regularly selling the direct with-stop flights for less than other itineraries?
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Old May 31, 2017, 9:43 am
  #797  
 
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Had my first RUC failure this week. Purchased SAT-JFK roundtrip ~4 months out and waitlisted RUCs at booking. SAT-JFK cleared one day before complimentary window opened. JFK-SAT went to the gate where we were #1 and #2 of 7 for 0 seats. DL was selling 3 F seats when the DM/PM window opened, so I don't think anyone was upgraded.
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Old May 31, 2017, 10:58 am
  #798  
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Originally Posted by mattp1987
Had my first RUC failure this week. Purchased SAT-JFK roundtrip ~4 months out and waitlisted RUCs at booking. SAT-JFK cleared one day before complimentary window opened. JFK-SAT went to the gate where we were #1 and #2 of 7 for 0 seats. DL was selling 3 F seats when the DM/PM window opened, so I don't think anyone was upgraded.
With KFK-SAT being once daily I've found either you buy or most likely don't make it to FC.
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Old May 31, 2017, 11:55 am
  #799  
 
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Originally Posted by C W
I'm afraid I don't completely understand your answer. I know they're entirely different flights and I would be on both of them as I would be traveling from FRA-LAS. So is the answer no to applying a JFK-LAS RUC?
I accidentally booked a "direct" flight LAX-JFK-DUB earlier this year. Couldn't apply RUC to the LAX-JFK. Even worse, I couldn't upgrade to C+ (though I was in C+ JFK-DUB). Called and was told that involved splitting the segment and they would have to rebook and the new cost was about double what I paid (I had a *very* cheap fare )

So I tweeted to @Delta asking for help in selecting a C+ seat and they came thru. I ended up not applying an RUC (did so on the return JFK-LAX)
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Old Jun 2, 2017, 8:35 am
  #800  
 
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I'm sure this is answered somewhere in the thread above, but I don't have time to go through the entire thing, so here's a quick question:

If I clear a RUC on one or both flights of a 2-leg F itinerary prior to T-24, can I do a SDC to a 2-leg D1 flight? Do both legs have to have cleared?

Dennis
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Old Jun 2, 2017, 8:50 am
  #801  
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Originally Posted by Dennis88
If I clear a RUC on one or both flights of a 2-leg F itinerary prior to T-24, can I do a SDC to a 2-leg D1 flight? Do both legs have to have cleared?
Yes and yes. You may have to HUCA.

See also the wiki at the top of the SDC thread:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/delta...y-options.html
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Old Jun 2, 2017, 11:05 am
  #802  
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Originally Posted by Dennis88
I'm sure this is answered somewhere in the thread above, but I don't have time to go through the entire thing, so here's a quick question:

If I clear a RUC on one or both flights of a 2-leg F itinerary prior to T-24, can I do a SDC to a 2-leg D1 flight? Do both legs have to have cleared?

Dennis
Yes if you clear on both. However even then it is a fight at times with agents.
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Old Jun 2, 2017, 11:28 am
  #803  
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Presumably if you'd only cleared one leg, you could still SDC if the requisite coach inventory was available on the relevant segment, but I bet it'd be a hassle...
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Old Jun 2, 2017, 11:38 am
  #804  
 
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Thanks; I just booked a flight from SMF to JFK where the redeye through SLC cleared immediately (both legs). Hoping for a SDC to the redeye through LAX in D1.
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Old Jun 2, 2017, 12:22 pm
  #805  
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Originally Posted by Dennis88
Thanks; I just booked a flight from SMF to JFK where the redeye through SLC cleared immediately (both legs). Hoping for a SDC to the redeye through LAX in D1.
If you just want lieflats for the redeye (the D1 redeye meal service is of reduced scope anyway, see the meals thread) you can also consider SMF-SEA-JFK redeye on the 75S (although the seating is 2x2)
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Old Jun 2, 2017, 12:26 pm
  #806  
 
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Originally Posted by Zorak
If you just want lieflats for the redeye (the D1 redeye meal service is of reduced scope anyway, see the meals thread) you can also consider SMF-SEA-JFK redeye on the 75S (although the seating is 2x2)
Yes, I was thinking about that one too. I only care about the sleep, and won't have the meal in D1 anyway.

I guess it depends what's available that day. Still about 10 days before the flight.
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Old Jun 15, 2017, 6:49 am
  #807  
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The "Upgrade Waitlisted" language seems to have returned to my PNR on DL.com for a future flight where I have RUCs waitlisted. This was previously removed when they introduced the "SU" fare class for medallion C+ upgrades and "enhanced" visibility of the full seat map.
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Old Jun 29, 2017, 1:18 pm
  #808  
 
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If it says "upgrade available" when I book, I should be able to call and have them apply the RU and get it, correct? Not be waitlisted?
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Old Jun 29, 2017, 1:32 pm
  #809  
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you should, but right now everything is showing "upgrade available" regardless of upgrade inventory
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Old Jun 29, 2017, 1:39 pm
  #810  
 
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Originally Posted by pvn
you should, but right now everything is showing "upgrade available" regardless of upgrade inventory
I didn't realize that. How longs has that been going on?
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