"Subject To Availability"
 

I am fairly seasoned. I am usually pretty smart. This time, I fell to the trap. The trap based on FCM.

I know that RU inventory is released at different times. I did not think it applied to Y class fares.

I just booked a trip with my return segments being on Y class. Segment 2 upgraded but 1 did not. I called and they said there is no availability (but 6 seats available in first).

The wording on this page: https://www.delta.com/content/www/en...-upgrades.html suggests under Priority 1, all Y class get upgraded at time of ticketing. Priority 2 and 3 are what we all know as UG priority yet do not even include Y in the fare class list.

It is not clearly stated about Y class but it was explained to me that all 'Unlimited Complimentary Upgrades' are based on the T&C below on that page that limit the UGs to 'Availability' of the 'R' fare and inventory.

I know I have zero leg to stand on. Do I?

The upgrade inventory is different from the available-for-sale inventory. With that, you better be at (or close to) the very top of the upgrade list - you would only be displaced by paid F passengers trying to get on your desired flight...

You can ask them to see if they would open up RU for you - but I doubt that is likely... as a Y fare though, can you change to an F if a cheaper option opens up?

If Y did not require upgrade inventory to be upgraded and all it took was F=1, there really wouldn't be much, if any, difference between Y and F. Why would anyone buy an F fare if a Y fare instantly became F at time of purchase?

The title of your linked page is: "Unlimited Complimentary Medallion® Upgrades"

On that page: "Complimentary Upgrade Terms & Conditions

Availability:
Medallion Complimentary Upgrades are subject to availability and may not be available on all flights"

The Y fare upgrade is a complimentary medallion upgrade, and is not an instant upgrade such as CO used to offer.

The court finds in favour of the fine print. Summary judgement in favour of defendant (Delta). :D

David

I'm confused by the second paragraph about Segment 1. Did you write this (a) after booking the tickets but before flying, or (b) after you had already flown Segment 1?

If it's (a), and the flight is still some point off in the future, then you're close to the top of the list for the upgrade (higher medallions on Y fares, medallions using GUC/RUC, and displaced F pax would all be higher than you). It means that you are eligible for the F upgrade when RU inventory is released. It could be at any time after ticketing and not necessarily at the medallion upgrade window. Of course, if Delta keeps RU=0 until the upgrade list is transferred to the gate, you won't get upgraded until it's a battlefield upgrade. For example, I've had Y fares upgrade pretty much instantly, and others not upgrade for several days. I fortunately have never had to wait for a battlefield upgrade.

On the other hand, if it's (b), you're pretty much SOL.

I had this happen this fall, when flying DFW-ATL-XXX the day after a major sporting event being held in DFW. I purchased Y, was not UGed, called, and was told that even though no Y seats had yet sold, the UG was subject to availability and there were currently no seats available for UG.

It gets worse...

Something happened, my plans changed. Luckily, I had purchased a fully refundable fare, right? Wrong! It seems there are two classes of full Y tickets, one of which is NOT refundable without penalty. I had purchased the ticket over the phone, and would have remembered if I had been told it was not refundable. Since neither the phone agent nor his supervisor had previously heard of non-refundable Y, they allowed me a full refund anyway.

So Y fares are only instantly upgradeable and fully refundable unless they're not, which seems to be totally at DL's whim.

It is all (a).

I do understand how it works and that there would not be much incentive to book full F if Y did the same. My responses to this are 1) I agree for general flying public. For medallions (maybe even restrict to GM+) it could be our perk to book Y knowing that it gives the UG and 2) per my post to the delta page, the wording in the priority section is sneaky. Priority 1 says "AT TIME OF BOOKING" whereas priority 2 and 3 list out the order of upgrades at the windows by fare class and EXCLUDE Y in that list which means Y only applies to priority 1....at time of booking.

Full Y is only upgradeable for elites, not the general public. That's a big difference.