Jul 14, 2015, 4:38 pm
Last edit by: Zorak
Summary of SkyMiles Upgrade Changes
Effective Aug 1, 2015, DM's on paid fares and no companions will no longer receive complimentary upgrades JFK-LAX/SFO. Delta's reps failed to disclose this in their June 14 announcement.
For travel on or after June 1, 2016, additional fare classes are eligible for SkyMiles upgrades:
Within North American and northern South America, L/U/T fares are now eligible. (Previously only Y/B/M/H/Q/K)
For all other markets, H/Q/K fares are now eligible. (Previously only Y/B/M)
SkyMiles Upgrade Awards will also require more miles. Prices for the following markets as quoted by multiple reservations agents: (Pricing is one-way)
(current chart based on observations has been moved to this thread: Upgrading with miles)
Effective Aug 1, 2015, DM's on paid fares and no companions will no longer receive complimentary upgrades JFK-LAX/SFO. Delta's reps failed to disclose this in their June 14 announcement.
For travel on or after June 1, 2016, additional fare classes are eligible for SkyMiles upgrades:
Within North American and northern South America, L/U/T fares are now eligible. (Previously only Y/B/M/H/Q/K)
For all other markets, H/Q/K fares are now eligible. (Previously only Y/B/M)
SkyMiles Upgrade Awards will also require more miles. Prices for the following markets as quoted by multiple reservations agents: (Pricing is one-way)
(current chart based on observations has been moved to this thread: Upgrading with miles)
SkyMiles July Announcements
Feb 10, 2016, 5:24 am
#346
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Nashville -Past DL Plat, FO, WN-CP, various hotel programs
Programs: DL-MM, AA, SW w/companion,HiltonDiamond, Hyatt PLat, IHF Plat, Miles and Points Seeker
Posts: 11,074
I looked at the Delta link and pages and could not find rates for upgrades, but the Wiki above does have some indications.
These upgrades are not cheap. My price for an actual seat (not upgrade) for CDG-JNB on AF-biz was 70k and ICN-DTW in D1 at 65k
For example - from the Wiki:
US-Europe:
Y/B/M: 60,000 miles
S/H/Q/K: 80,000 miles
These upgrades are not cheap. My price for an actual seat (not upgrade) for CDG-JNB on AF-biz was 70k and ICN-DTW in D1 at 65k
For example - from the Wiki:
US-Europe:
Y/B/M: 60,000 miles
S/H/Q/K: 80,000 miles
Mar 7, 2016, 12:06 pm
#347
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: DUS
Programs: DL, HHonors, Bonvoy, Hyatt
Posts: 2,072
I just called to book a EU-JFK r/t, with the return (overnight) in K so that I could use miles to upgrade. I can price it out on ITA with V for the outbound and K return, but the agent said her computer was forcing the outbound to Q, causing the price to jump $200. Can it be that you cannot combine V and K?
The extra $200 will get me more RDM and lower the co-pay for an AMS DoD upgrade by €300, but it's not guaranteed it will be available anyway, so I might rather just have a V-class ticket.
FWIW, making the return M added yet another $200, but would drop the miles required to upgrade by 20k, which might be a good move, since I always get more than 1cpm out of my miles. The extra $200 should net at least 2k more RDM too, effectively dropping the upgrade to "only" 58k. Either way I'm not sure that these rates are worth it for the upgrade, when one can find J seats for 62.5k. Might make more sense to use a GUC or hope for an OpUp (given that it's during high summer travel).
The extra $200 will get me more RDM and lower the co-pay for an AMS DoD upgrade by €300, but it's not guaranteed it will be available anyway, so I might rather just have a V-class ticket.
FWIW, making the return M added yet another $200, but would drop the miles required to upgrade by 20k, which might be a good move, since I always get more than 1cpm out of my miles. The extra $200 should net at least 2k more RDM too, effectively dropping the upgrade to "only" 58k. Either way I'm not sure that these rates are worth it for the upgrade, when one can find J seats for 62.5k. Might make more sense to use a GUC or hope for an OpUp (given that it's during high summer travel).
Last edited by EZEDoesIt; Mar 7, 2016 at 12:15 pm
May 18, 2016, 8:23 am
#348
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 61
Bringing this topic back up since it still seems to be a giant mystery what the new post-6/1 mileage upgrade awards chart looks like. The one that was leaked last year may not be accurate based on my experience last night.
So I called GM desk to purchase a late-June one-way LAX-JFK flight for my mother and upgrade her to transcon D1 with miles. To my surprise, there was literally one upgrade available so of course I pounced. The rep quoted me 20K miles to upgrade + K class fare (7.5K more than the previous 12.5K). I asked if I could upgrade on a lower-tier fare but she told me it had to be K.
Here's the rub: The leaked chart says 35K to upgrade a K class ticket on a Premium Transcon Route which is substantially more than the 20K I got.
Has Delta come to their senses? 20K+K class seems much more reasonable than the chart that leaked last year.
Either way, feel like this needs some investigating.
So I called GM desk to purchase a late-June one-way LAX-JFK flight for my mother and upgrade her to transcon D1 with miles. To my surprise, there was literally one upgrade available so of course I pounced. The rep quoted me 20K miles to upgrade + K class fare (7.5K more than the previous 12.5K). I asked if I could upgrade on a lower-tier fare but she told me it had to be K.
Here's the rub: The leaked chart says 35K to upgrade a K class ticket on a Premium Transcon Route which is substantially more than the 20K I got.
Has Delta come to their senses? 20K+K class seems much more reasonable than the chart that leaked last year.
Either way, feel like this needs some investigating.
May 18, 2016, 9:00 am
#350
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: DUS
Programs: DL, HHonors, Bonvoy, Hyatt
Posts: 2,072
May 18, 2016, 9:32 am
#351
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Bye Delta
Programs: AA EXP, HH Diamond, IHG Plat, Hyatt Plat, Marriott Plat, Nat'l Exec Elite, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 16,278
I've updated the wiki with a note that the amounts may have changed since last year. If anyone is able to obtain more information please do share. I published the original charts, which have been consistent with actual quotes to FTers over the past year. I will also try to get an update.
May 18, 2016, 9:37 am
#352
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: SEA once more (previously CDG and NRT)
Programs: Former DL DM and UA 1k, now a J class free agent (UA Gold, AS MVP Gold)
Posts: 2,450
I expect that the next redemption chart will have two levels:
Level 1 - All of your SkyMiles
Level 2 - More SkyMiles than you have.
Level 1 - All of your SkyMiles
Level 2 - More SkyMiles than you have.
Jun 14, 2016, 10:00 pm
#353
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Bye Delta
Programs: AA EXP, HH Diamond, IHG Plat, Hyatt Plat, Marriott Plat, Nat'l Exec Elite, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 16,278
I have confirmed the mileage upgrade prices have, in fact, dropped. I don't have a full list yet but it is still a 2-tier chart (3 for domestic and shorter int'l).
US to Europe
Y/B/M: 30k
S/H/Q/K: 60k
US to Northern South America
Y/B/M: 25k
S/H/Q/K: 30k
L/U/T: 45k
US to Southern South America
Y/B/M: 30k
S/H/Q/K: 60k
US to Southwest Pacific
Y/B/M: 35k
S/H/Q/K: 80k
US to Europe
Y/B/M: 30k
S/H/Q/K: 60k
US to Northern South America
Y/B/M: 25k
S/H/Q/K: 30k
L/U/T: 45k
US to Southern South America
Y/B/M: 30k
S/H/Q/K: 60k
US to Southwest Pacific
Y/B/M: 35k
S/H/Q/K: 80k
Last edited by javabytes; Jun 14, 2016 at 10:39 pm
Jun 14, 2016, 10:28 pm
#355
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: 18,947
Y/B/M: 15,000 miles
S/H/Q/K: 20,000 miles
L/U/T: 30,000 miles
although it took them forever to find the info; I don't know if the info is difficult to locate in whatever internal system or it was in a place they weren't expecting/mental block or what.
Jun 14, 2016, 10:40 pm
#356
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Bye Delta
Programs: AA EXP, HH Diamond, IHG Plat, Hyatt Plat, Marriott Plat, Nat'l Exec Elite, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 16,278
FWIW a phone agent recently (maybe 2 weeks ago, I forget exactly) quoted me domestic non-D1 pricing consistent with the wiki at all 3 levels:
Y/B/M: 15,000 miles
S/H/Q/K: 20,000 miles
L/U/T: 30,000 miles
although it took them forever to find the info; I don't know if the info is difficult to locate in whatever internal system or it was in a place they weren't expecting/mental block or what.
Y/B/M: 15,000 miles
S/H/Q/K: 20,000 miles
L/U/T: 30,000 miles
although it took them forever to find the info; I don't know if the info is difficult to locate in whatever internal system or it was in a place they weren't expecting/mental block or what.
Jul 8, 2016, 9:30 am
#358
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: OKC
Programs: DL DM/2.768MM, Global Entry, Titanium_Marriott, GHertz
Posts: 6,752
I have confirmed the mileage upgrade prices have, in fact, dropped. I don't have a full list yet but it is still a 2-tier chart (3 for domestic and shorter int'l).
US to Europe
Y/B/M: 30k
S/H/Q/K: 60k
US to Northern South America
Y/B/M: 25k
S/H/Q/K: 30k
L/U/T: 45k
US to Southern South America
Y/B/M: 30k
S/H/Q/K: 60k
US to Southwest Pacific
Y/B/M: 35k
S/H/Q/K: 80k
US to Europe
Y/B/M: 30k
S/H/Q/K: 60k
US to Northern South America
Y/B/M: 25k
S/H/Q/K: 30k
L/U/T: 45k
US to Southern South America
Y/B/M: 30k
S/H/Q/K: 60k
US to Southwest Pacific
Y/B/M: 35k
S/H/Q/K: 80k
B fares are the same as Z while M is $2.8K and K is $2K. I have not called to check for OP inventory but unfortunately I need to not go with an award ticket as the MQMs are in short supply for 2017. I wish EF would let me sort out options before having to call DL.
It seems pretty stiff to put out even $2K + 120K SM for a 9 hour ride to SLC on a 763. Am I missing an option?
Jul 8, 2016, 10:08 am
#359
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Bye Delta
Programs: AA EXP, HH Diamond, IHG Plat, Hyatt Plat, Marriott Plat, Nat'l Exec Elite, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 16,278
I am looking at an April 2017 trip to Chile (SCL). D1 fares on preferred day of travel are north of $8K and drop to $5.6K if I go with alternate days.
B fares are the same as Z while M is $2.8K and K is $2K. I have not called to check for OP inventory but unfortunately I need to not go with an award ticket as the MQMs are in short supply for 2017. I wish EF would let me sort out options before having to call DL.
B fares are the same as Z while M is $2.8K and K is $2K. I have not called to check for OP inventory but unfortunately I need to not go with an award ticket as the MQMs are in short supply for 2017. I wish EF would let me sort out options before having to call DL.
GUC? But otherwise this seems to be the new reality.
Jul 8, 2016, 10:13 am
#360
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: San Diego
Programs: IHG Spire Amb, HH Diamond, DL Diamond and 1MM
Posts: 3,611
I am looking at an April 2017 trip to Chile (SCL). D1 fares on preferred day of travel are north of $8K and drop to $5.6K if I go with alternate days.
B fares are the same as Z while M is $2.8K and K is $2K. I have not called to check for OP inventory but unfortunately I need to not go with an award ticket as the MQMs are in short supply for 2017. I wish EF would let me sort out options before having to call DL.
It seems pretty stiff to put out even $2K + 120K SM for a 9 hour ride to SLC on a 763. Am I missing an option?
B fares are the same as Z while M is $2.8K and K is $2K. I have not called to check for OP inventory but unfortunately I need to not go with an award ticket as the MQMs are in short supply for 2017. I wish EF would let me sort out options before having to call DL.
It seems pretty stiff to put out even $2K + 120K SM for a 9 hour ride to SLC on a 763. Am I missing an option?
A few months ago, I paid about $950 for a rt LAX-ATL-SCL over Labor Day. GUC's cleared at booking on the long leg for the two of us in both directions.
At the prices you are seeing, I'd buy coach. It isn't that bad on a Delta 767 if one pick a seat on one of the "two across" benches. Applying, even wait-listing a GUC, is even better.
I think Delta's new slightly lower upgrade mileage costs are STILL absurdly high. It is a better value to use Skymiles on outright long-haul awards in biz-class.