So many upgrades...at Silver?!
 

Since I switched to Delta for almost every flight last summer, I've been incredibly surprised with how often they upgrade me. I made Silver last year since I switched late summer. I honestly didn't expect as many upgrades as I've been getting. Thrilled with it, but trying to understand how/why so I can learn this mileage program I've never really used before. I've hit Silver again this year already, and am going to reach Gold by the end of April.

I book economy exclusively. Usually full fare/unrestricted (gov YCA fares and once or twice a month a direct SFO-JFK at non-refundable economy market prices), but still always economy.

Excluding upgrades I know happened because Delta felt bad for messing up a flight, on average, I'm getting upgraded from E to F about 20% of my flights, and from E to C+ about another 30% of my flights. At Silver, that's a heck of a lot more than I expected.

Almost every single flight I've been on has been totally sold out. 90% of my flights are SJC-MSP-DCA, returning DCA-ATL-SJC. The rest are all SFO-JFK-SFO. Busy flights. Packed full.

But here's the real kicker. Two days ago (Friday), I left on my usual SJC-MSP-DCA. I'm sitting here at the gate in ATL waiting to board for my last leg home. On the trip out, I was upgraded to F the entire way, from SJC to MSP, and MSP to DCA. For the return, I was upgraded to F for DCA to ATL, and C+ (#3 on the upgrade list, with only one F left) for ATL to SJC. What surprises me is that Delta confirmed my F and C+ upgrades on these legs more than TWO WEEKS ago. I booked the fare back in December.

Not at all complaining -- at Silver, I didn't honestly expect a lot of upgrades. Hell, at 50k I almost never got anything on United.

Just curious...is this the norm for people?

And confirming F upgrades so far out for someone only Silver, is that normally how Delta rolls or did I luck out on this one?

It's the YCA fare, which is treated as a Full Y fare that is helping you see all those upgrades. I too have gotten upgrades on routes that PMs would otherwise likely have no shot of an upgrade on because I was on a YCA fare.
Upgrade Priority is:
UG request using a GUC
UG request using a RUC
DM on a Full Y fare
PM on a Full Y fare
GM on a Full Y fare
FO on a Full Y fare
DM on all other fare buckets: B, M, S, H, Q, K, L, U, T, X, V, Award Ticket
PM on all other fare buckets: B, M, S, H, Q, K, L, U, T, X, V, Award Ticket
GM on all other fare buckets: B, M, S, H, Q, K, L, U, T, X, V, Award Ticket
FO on all other fare buckets: B, M, S, H, Q, K, L, U, T, X, V
Medallions with non-status companions requesting upgrades

Wow. That's awesome. Just given the price of these YCAs--they're a fraction of a commercial refundable ticket--I wouldn't have ever assumed it'd be treated the same. Sweet.

BTW -- is there any way to book YCA fares directly through Delta.com? I usually do it through a travel agent because military travel rules require I use their travel agents. However, on most of these flights, I actually pay it myself. Weird situation -- traveling for official reasons, but I get the bill. If they're reimbursing, I have to use it and that's fine. But when I'm paying, I'd rather avoid the agent's processing fees and horrible booking system (GetThere). Can YCA be booked directly?

There isn't a way to book these fares via Delta.com.

YCA fares are only available for official business and cannot be booked outside of official military/government channels. Orders/proof of official travel is required for the tickets to be issued.

Assume you're using a GTCC? All part of the process of official travel; if using the GTCC, airfare should be paid directly once you file your travel claim.

Is there a published rule anywhere saying that GUCs have priority over RUCs? Also, you've forgotten upgrades paid with miles.

Had a rare instance happen last week:
One of my daughters at Silver, with her sister (no status) as companion, BOTH got upgraded last week from CHA-ATL on L fare.
My wife and I are Diamond and are usually on the fence getting upgrades to/from cha/atl

Did they have time to finish their drink before arriving in ATL? I don't even think they retract the landing gear on that flight. ;)

:D

The Gogo announcement of availability and discontinuing service is all made in once announcement ;)

I reckon I'll be the first to point out (the obvious) that YCA fares are NOT even close to "full Y fares". They're deeply discounted Y fares. Not sure where that fits into the above matix.

The cost is deeply discounted. The treatment is full Y.

This ^

Anyone have any idea what the theory is behind airlines offering YCA fares?

Government contract fares. Each fiscal year, the government awards certain city pairs to different airlines. Saves the US gov't a lot of money.

http://www.gsa.gov/portal/category/27075