Dec 4, 2015, 7:08 am
Last edit by: Bowgie
Delta Comfort+ FAQs
Delta Comfort+ - A New Domestic Branded Fare Product
Summary (effective November 14, 2015, for travel on or after May 16, 2016, in the U.S.50 and Canada):
No selecting C+ seats at time of booking. Eligible pax must request a C+ upgrade by checking the box in the UPGRADE REQUEST section or calling Delta. If upgrade inventory is available, DM and PM may clear after booking. If upgrade inventory is not available, you will remain in your C- seat until such time that DL either releases inventory, or it goes to the airport for gate upgrade.
GM and FO window remains the same at T-72 and T-24 hrs respectively.
Upgrades may automatically place you in any C+ seat, including middle.
F and C+ are separate checkboxes, so you can request an F upgrade without requesting a C+ upgrade. "Double upgrades" from Y to C+ followed by C+ to F are possible.
In your My Delta Preferences page there is a new box where you can choose the default setting for 1st class upgrades and C+ upgrade preferences.
Pax with a companion will be ranked for a C+ upgrade according to the highest level... ie a DM + general member companion in the same PNR will clear after booking..
Maximum of 1 companion may request a C+ upgrade. Per DL FAQ: "If you have three or more passengers in your reservation, all passengers in the reservation must have Medallion status in order for any passengers to be eligible for Delta Comfort+."
Amex Companion Cert flyers are eligible for C+ upgrades.
To "downgrade" to C- seats (exit, other preferred seats) you must call Delta.
Complimentary upgrades to C+, once on board the aircraft, are not allowed regardless of status.
C+ currently not available with corporate discounts, because C+ currently uses ticket designator /WCOM and corporate discounts also use ticket designators. A fare code can only have one ticket designator. This limitation is apparently temporary.
So far Delta is saying this does not impact upgrades to F.
Delta Comfort+ - A New Domestic Branded Fare Product
Summary (effective November 14, 2015, for travel on or after May 16, 2016, in the U.S.50 and Canada):
No selecting C+ seats at time of booking. Eligible pax must request a C+ upgrade by checking the box in the UPGRADE REQUEST section or calling Delta. If upgrade inventory is available, DM and PM may clear after booking. If upgrade inventory is not available, you will remain in your C- seat until such time that DL either releases inventory, or it goes to the airport for gate upgrade.
GM and FO window remains the same at T-72 and T-24 hrs respectively.
Upgrades may automatically place you in any C+ seat, including middle.
F and C+ are separate checkboxes, so you can request an F upgrade without requesting a C+ upgrade. "Double upgrades" from Y to C+ followed by C+ to F are possible.
In your My Delta Preferences page there is a new box where you can choose the default setting for 1st class upgrades and C+ upgrade preferences.
Pax with a companion will be ranked for a C+ upgrade according to the highest level... ie a DM + general member companion in the same PNR will clear after booking..
Maximum of 1 companion may request a C+ upgrade. Per DL FAQ: "If you have three or more passengers in your reservation, all passengers in the reservation must have Medallion status in order for any passengers to be eligible for Delta Comfort+."
Amex Companion Cert flyers are eligible for C+ upgrades.
To "downgrade" to C- seats (exit, other preferred seats) you must call Delta.
Complimentary upgrades to C+, once on board the aircraft, are not allowed regardless of status.
C+ currently not available with corporate discounts, because C+ currently uses ticket designator /WCOM and corporate discounts also use ticket designators. A fare code can only have one ticket designator. This limitation is apparently temporary.
So far Delta is saying this does not impact upgrades to F.
I have two separate flights on May 16, on two separate itineraries. As a PL, I was able to choose C+ seats shortly after booking months ago, by going through the new rigamarole... Today I was notified of upgrades to F on both itineraries, at the upgrade window. So for those who were wondering if a "double upgrade" can happen, yes, it can.
Delta Comfort for flights on/after May 16, 2016
May 19, 2016, 9:16 pm
#2027
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And remember that, by definition, higher-tier elites who are flying with lower- or no-status pax are far less frequent than those folks flying solo.
Unless there's a DM out there flying around with a different companion each week. To each their own.
May 19, 2016, 9:24 pm
#2028
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It means a DM who is traveling with an FO on a X fare will trump a solo DM on a V fare. So, basically the FO gets the FC upgrade, and you, as a DM on the V fare won't get it.
This updated policy not only negatively affects me as a DM who usually travels solo, it also really devalues PM, GM, and FO chances at an UG...
This updated policy not only negatively affects me as a DM who usually travels solo, it also really devalues PM, GM, and FO chances at an UG...
May 19, 2016, 9:51 pm
#2029
Join Date: Jul 2006
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Perhaps a DM on a K fare with a lower status pax will only clear once all solo DMs have cleared. I see this as a much better alternative: solo DMs would clear as usual, and DM (regardless of fare class) with lower status companion would clears before all PMs.
May 19, 2016, 9:56 pm
#2030
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You're right: there isn't any mention of fare class. Because fare class is a factored into UG priority, I'm assuming that if a DM on X fare clears before a DM on a V fare, then the DM on the X fare would have his/her companion clear alongside him/her. Again, this assumes that the pecking order for UGs remains the same.
Perhaps a DM on a K fare with a lower status pax will only clear once all solo DMs have cleared. I see this as a much better alternative: solo DMs would clear as usual, and DM (regardless of fare class) with lower status companion would clears before all PMs.
Perhaps a DM on a K fare with a lower status pax will only clear once all solo DMs have cleared. I see this as a much better alternative: solo DMs would clear as usual, and DM (regardless of fare class) with lower status companion would clears before all PMs.
According to the thread on this though, it's ANY companion not necessarily those with status. So a DM on an X fare travelling with a companion flying Delta for the first time would clear before a diamond who flies 200K+ miles a year on a V fare.
I'm surprised they aren't making this strictly a 360 benefit. FO's travelling solo are never going to clear now.
May 19, 2016, 10:48 pm
#2031
Join Date: Aug 2008
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Sorry was thinking a V fare was higher than an X fare. Would make sense that a diamonds and silver on X fare would trump a solo V traveler.
According to the thread on this though, it's ANY companion not necessarily those with status. So a DM on an X fare travelling with a companion flying Delta for the first time would clear before a diamond who flies 200K+ miles a year on a V fare.
I'm surprised they aren't making this strictly a 360 benefit. FO's travelling solo are never going to clear now.
According to the thread on this though, it's ANY companion not necessarily those with status. So a DM on an X fare travelling with a companion flying Delta for the first time would clear before a diamond who flies 200K+ miles a year on a V fare.
I'm surprised they aren't making this strictly a 360 benefit. FO's travelling solo are never going to clear now.
May 20, 2016, 7:22 am
#2033
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Maybe a "same PNR" restriction wouldn't so bad...
May 20, 2016, 7:25 am
#2034
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May 20, 2016, 7:58 am
#2035
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Or someone in my office who is a lower tier or no status could book a T or other discount fare for a conference or work trip in advance. Turns out I find out I am needed at the last minute and only thing available are expensive B fares. It would be pretty unfair if my non-status employee on a T fare jumps over a diamond on a B fare.
Or what would happen if a diamond is in the skyclub and a flight is severely delayed and it's a Gate Agent who won't clear the upgrade listuntil t-30 from actual departure time and diamond decides to drink in the skyclub during the delay and becomes friends with a no status on the same flight on a cheap fare. Can he go up to the agent to the skyclub and ask the agent to link the PNR's and suddenly no status new friend is sitting up front passing over other elites?
May 20, 2016, 8:02 am
#2036
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: DL PM, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 8,414
I'm sure delta will require a same PNR restriction and hope they do. Otherwise you could have a silver (or sounds like no-status even if I'm understanding the rules correctly) book an X fare far out for a business trip. Diamond spouse is able to go at the last minute and only fare available is an M fare. If two seats are available up front I sure hope Delta wouldn't give them to a diamond on an M fare and their spouse on an X fare over a diamond on an S fare.
Or someone in my office who is a lower tier or no status could book a T or other discount fare for a conference or work trip in advance. Turns out I find out I am needed at the last minute and only thing available are expensive B fares. It would be pretty unfair if my non-status employee on a T fare jumps over a diamond on a B fare.
Or what would happen if a diamond is in the skyclub and a flight is severely delayed and it's a Gate Agent who won't clear the upgrade listuntil t-30 from actual departure time and diamond decides to drink in the skyclub during the delay and becomes friends with a no status on the same flight on a cheap fare. Can he go up to the agent to the skyclub and ask the agent to link the PNR's and suddenly no status new friend is sitting up front passing over other elites?
Or someone in my office who is a lower tier or no status could book a T or other discount fare for a conference or work trip in advance. Turns out I find out I am needed at the last minute and only thing available are expensive B fares. It would be pretty unfair if my non-status employee on a T fare jumps over a diamond on a B fare.
Or what would happen if a diamond is in the skyclub and a flight is severely delayed and it's a Gate Agent who won't clear the upgrade listuntil t-30 from actual departure time and diamond decides to drink in the skyclub during the delay and becomes friends with a no status on the same flight on a cheap fare. Can he go up to the agent to the skyclub and ask the agent to link the PNR's and suddenly no status new friend is sitting up front passing over other elites?
May 20, 2016, 8:17 am
#2037
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May 20, 2016, 8:25 am
#2038
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Hopefully it won't have too much of an impact on me right now but it will if I ever drop back down to PM and it will definitely impact upgrades for PM's and lower.
May 20, 2016, 9:34 am
#2039
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: DL PM, Bonvoy Gold
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And with good reason. There used to be routes I used to almost always clear on when I was gold years ago (or even FO sometimes) like LAS/DTW that I'm not even clearing on as a DM. I remember sometimes they would advertise gate upgrades for $150 on LAS/DTW because the agent was able to clear every elite and their companion into first and seats would go out empty in first. There's been times on that route in the past year where I've been number 3 or lower on the list with no seats as a DM and I'm not even on a discounted fare. Last time I flew MSY/DTW I was number 3 as a DM and wasn't even on a discount fare and I remember clearing that route easily when I was an FO or GM and they would routinely sell upgrades at the gate.
Hopefully it won't have too much of an impact on me right now but it will if I ever drop back down to PM and it will definitely impact upgrades for PM's and lower.
Hopefully it won't have too much of an impact on me right now but it will if I ever drop back down to PM and it will definitely impact upgrades for PM's and lower.
May 20, 2016, 10:06 am
#2040
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 2,881
I checked "Window" and have never since been put in an aisle, either at booking or upgrade. Prior to that, I was always put in an aisle at booking, and typically in an aisle at UG if one was available. Their code has the assumption that people prefer aisles, unless explicitly told not.
