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
Nov 9, 2015, 1:22 pm
#91
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Berlin, Germany
Programs: DL DM/2MM, UA PE, HH Gold
Posts: 1,080
DM agent on the phone said today 'nothing changes for you guys'.
4/2 confirmed upgrades are nice for the GM/SM. Curious what the effects for Gold and Silver SM are. -ie will they still have free access to the seats 3 days (Gold) out, and Silver Medallions 1 day out.
Furthermore now Comfort Plus will become a W fare class the consequences for
a) AF/KL plats trying to book a free EC seat on a DL operated flight
b) KL flights in the future. Before you know it KL will also introduce a W fare class with all the consequences.
4/2 confirmed upgrades are nice for the GM/SM. Curious what the effects for Gold and Silver SM are. -ie will they still have free access to the seats 3 days (Gold) out, and Silver Medallions 1 day out.
Furthermore now Comfort Plus will become a W fare class the consequences for
a) AF/KL plats trying to book a free EC seat on a DL operated flight
b) KL flights in the future. Before you know it KL will also introduce a W fare class with all the consequences.
Nov 9, 2015, 1:27 pm
#92
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: RDU (formerly CVG, DAY)
Programs: DL PM
Posts: 89
The original article posted has been updated to say no chances AT THIS TIME for DM's and PM's and mentions the certificates:
http://pointsmilesandmartinis.boardi...or-medallions/
If they eliminate C+ seating for diamonds and PM's I wonder if they will make premium seats like exit rows and other choice non-E+ seats available only to DM's and PM's for free at time of booking like with the C+ changes last year.
This an downgrade for DM's and PM's since that will take inventory out of C+ but a true enhancement for FO's and GM's.
I'm hoping the FO and GM certificates are only good for domestic. It's hard enough finding a seat in C+ as it is on international. I wonder if they will exclude LAX/JFK from being eligible for certificate use the way they took the free upgrades to Delta One away for PM's and DM's
http://pointsmilesandmartinis.boardi...or-medallions/
If they eliminate C+ seating for diamonds and PM's I wonder if they will make premium seats like exit rows and other choice non-E+ seats available only to DM's and PM's for free at time of booking like with the C+ changes last year.
This an downgrade for DM's and PM's since that will take inventory out of C+ but a true enhancement for FO's and GM's.
I'm hoping the FO and GM certificates are only good for domestic. It's hard enough finding a seat in C+ as it is on international. I wonder if they will exclude LAX/JFK from being eligible for certificate use the way they took the free upgrades to Delta One away for PM's and DM's
It doesn't say no chances, it says no CHANGES for Diamond and Platinum Medallions.
Nov 9, 2015, 1:27 pm
#93
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,369
W is a Premium Economy fare class on AF, including for flights sold as codeshares with DL flight numbers.
Nov 9, 2015, 1:40 pm
#95
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: DL PM, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 8,414
I wonder if this is really the cause of all of this. Maybe they have pressure from AF to offer W service on domestic connections. It would be very frustrating form a customer perspective to pay for W for the TATL portion and then connect to a 4 hour domestic flight in the back of the plane. In the very least a W fare should entitle you to confirmed C+ seating if you are paying $2K or more for the ticket.
Nov 9, 2015, 1:46 pm
#96
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: BWI
Programs: DL FO
Posts: 312
So here's a question... Where will W fares fall in upgrade priority for F? Currently, if you book W for an international trip with domestic segments, the domestic segments are coded as Y. I can't imagine that W fare on a domestic ticket will garner upgrades at time of booking the way a full fare Y tickets do.
Nov 9, 2015, 1:49 pm
#97
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: San Francisco, CA
Programs: DL PM/MM, Hilton Silver, SPG+, Hertz PC
Posts: 7,899
I wonder if this is really the cause of all of this. Maybe they have pressure from AF to offer W service on domestic connections. It would be very frustrating form a customer perspective to pay for W for the TATL portion and then connect to a 4 hour domestic flight in the back of the plane. In the very least a W fare should entitle you to confirmed C+ seating if you are paying $2K or more for the ticket.
So here's a question... Where will W fares fall in upgrade priority for F? Currently, if you book W for an international trip with domestic segments, the domestic segments are coded as Y. I can't imagine that W fare on a domestic ticket will garner upgrades at time of booking the way a full fare Y tickets do.
Nov 9, 2015, 1:50 pm
#98
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: DL PM, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 8,414
So here's a question... Where will W fares fall in upgrade priority for F? Currently, if you book W for an international trip with domestic segments, the domestic segments are coded as Y. I can't imagine that W fare on a domestic ticket will garner upgrades at time of booking the way a full fare Y tickets do.
I wonder if the "paid/flown" would come into play. Perhaps a paid W fare would be the highest coach fare (and then we can say goodbye to anyone every buying up to it) but PMs/DMs would get automatic upgrades at time of purchase if space is available, but they would get upgrade priority or MQM bonus based on the fare paid, not flown.
Nov 9, 2015, 1:56 pm
#99
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: San Francisco, CA
Programs: DL PM/MM, Hilton Silver, SPG+, Hertz PC
Posts: 7,899
I don't think that's necessarily true. Y is unrestricted coach fare, W designates a cabin ("cabin" in delta's case).
it doesn't make sense if delta goes to a single fare code for C+ service
it doesn't make sense if delta goes to a single fare code for C+ service
Nov 9, 2015, 2:03 pm
#100
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Minneapolis, originally from Cincinnati
Programs: Diamond with Delta, Hyatt and Hilton. 2 MM and Plat with America (thank you citi:))
Posts: 2,345
Nov 9, 2015, 2:12 pm
#101
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: ATL
Programs: DL - PM (Sky Priority);HH - Gold; Marriott - Silver; National - Executive; DL Reserve AMEX
Posts: 5,232
Do you think that I, as a GM, will get 4 certs to use before December 31st and then another 4 to use for next year (as I've re-qualified for GM next year)? Just curious because I have some holiday travel that I'd love to use this on.
Nov 9, 2015, 2:17 pm
#103
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Pagus Bracbatensis, Kingdom of the Netherlands
Programs: DL SPlat, KLM Bump, Privium Plus, GOES
Posts: 2,065
Looks like DAL is moving away from some of their 'partners/TATL JV' and going to follow their own course more and more...DAL stake in Virgin Atlantic, DL and AA ending their interline agreement, DL leaving A4A etc.
Nov 9, 2015, 2:40 pm
#104
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,369
I wonder if this is really the cause of all of this. Maybe they have pressure from AF to offer W service on domestic connections. It would be very frustrating form a customer perspective to pay for W for the TATL portion and then connect to a 4 hour domestic flight in the back of the plane. In the very least a W fare should entitle you to confirmed C+ seating if you are paying $2K or more for the ticket.
BTW, AF has three Premium Economy fare classes. IIRC as through fares they're not booking into the same class on DL. Also, if you buy an AF flight in Premium Economy on delta.com, sometimes the domestic connecting segments are coach and sometimes FC.
Nov 9, 2015, 2:42 pm
#105
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Mostly living in the basement
Programs: Newly minted free agent; MR LT(!)TE, HH SE, BA SECM, DL MM, UA PS, 2V Fanboi, CBP GE
Posts: 5,106
The original posted mentioned better inventory control or something. This change would, eg, allow them to oversell C+ ("your C+ seat will be assigned at the gate"), though I suspect that's not the primary cause. Dynamic pricing seems more likely, though that's also plausible without separate fare buckets.