I'm traveling with a bunch of colleagues who are kettles on DL. I'm a DM and hooked them up with C+ seats. I have an opportunity to use a RUC to be upgraded, but, as mentioned in another post, I have to split my reservation so that I have my own PNR. I originally put my colleagues under my reservation so that they'd be more comfortable. That being said, because we're flying across the country, it'd be nice to get upgraded and burn a RUC. Obviously I don't want to come off as a jerk and possibly leave everyone behind. Then again, they decided to fly under my name so that they could get C+, even though they would get home an hour later than the other flight that my other colleagues are on. I did get them better seats, better snack selection, free booze, etc.

What would you do? Should I split my PNR, and pray that there's no equipment change? That way, they remain in C+? Or, should I keep my PNR as is and basically be resigned to sitting in C+ with zero shot of an UG? I'd appreciate whatever collective wisdom you FTers might have.

(For what it's worth, I talked to a DM agent, and she said that because my colleagues' tickets all show "$0.00 balance" for C+, they should be able to remain in C+ even if there's an equipment or schedule change. If the routing changes (e.g., LAX-ATL-DCA to LAX-DTW-DCA), however, all bets are off because the cost of C+ is based on distance.)

Split your reservation before the five day medallion upgrade window

If C plus were that important to your buddies, they would get their own damn status on Delta. 😀

That's actually a good compromise: split the PNRs at the five-day window. It just feels a little awkward to leave my colleagues behind, so to speak. I blame my conscience

For me this would depend on roles. If you are traveling with your superiors, this might come off the wrong way, otherwise I would think it would not be an issue, aside from some jokes that you will certainly get.

If you're not on a tcon, why burn a RUC for the upgrade? If the upgrade is available now, you'll almost certainly get it later for free. (The same problem applies, of course; but the later you split, the safer your companions are.)

One question is whether this is a good career move. A lot depends on your relationship to the colleagues and the customs at your company.

If you're thinking of using a RUC, you could call and ask about upgrade availability. If OP/RP space isn't available now on your flights, there might not be much advantage in splitting the PNR and applying the RUC until several hours before departure, in time for gate upgrades (and to check that the RUC has been coded correctly). OTOH, you could split the PNR just before T-6 and hope that your upgrade clears at the DM/PM window as a free elite upgrade.

In either scenario, requesting the upgrade earlier might move you up the priority list slightly, but perhaps not enough to matter.

If you split the record, on the return trip if any Irrops involved you as a DM are one of the first to be rebooked. The rest of your party in the other record is on their own according to their medallion statuses. Could get ugly if you work closely with them.

Take this with a grain of salt as I am a college student with no real work experience or "colleagues". But I agree with MSPEconomist, will it change your work relationship? When I fly out of college with friends, I always give up my first class(either paid for by my parents or comp upgrade) seat to sit with my friend, because my parents told me that it is rude otherwise. I think that your offer to get C+ for them was kind, but may put you in an awkward situation if they were thinking you would be sitting with them?

Yeah, that's my biggest concern: the potential awkwardness that might ensue. I don't think that they know that I travel as much as I do. Right now, no one is actually sitting with each other because everyone seems to want an aisle. At best, people are across from each other. TBH, I rarely talk on planes and plan on doing work and/or watching DL Studio.

This whole thing feels a lot more stressful than it should be.