Delta to change 1st/C+ upgrades for two based on highest medallion level
Aug 13, 2016, 2:21 pm
#391
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: UA 1K, Delta PM, AA EXP, Marriott AMB, IHG Gold
Posts: 448
In most cases, the DM is silently swapping their upgrade under the table for their companion's Y seat. Back in the days when C+ upgrades for companions were easy, that was no big deal - I'd happily settle in to a coach bulkhead aisle and let my wife enjoy the F seat, as she has fewer opportunities to experience it than I do. Now that the C+ upgrade policy limits the time of clearance with companions, this is a tough strategy - it usually results in the DM sitting in 44E, since splitting the res for an upgrade to F would need to happen before C+ "upgrades" clear for a GM (assuming you used your choice benefit on status for your SO).
Look, I'm affected poorly by this maybe more acutely than anyone: after the C+ changes, our family dropped real money this year to drag both people to Diamond status, when in the past DM/GM was sufficient. Unless there is a tiebreaker DL hasn't announced, we will now be losing out to companions of other elites even though we both have status.
But I still think it's the right move. It's an acknowledgement that an unintended consequence of the C+ booking changes has been DMs stuck in ordinary economy seats when traveling for leisure, and that real decisions to book away from DL have occurred as a result.
This year, when traveling together domestically we chose AS and internationally we chose AF/KL; it wasn't until my wife hit Platinum that we returned to flying DL again.
That said, if I was designing this policy, I would have tiered it: clear all single DMs by fare class, then after that clear all DM pairings with companions by fare class. That prevents a single DM from losing out to a companion with no status at a slightly higher fare on competitive routes, but still ensures most couples will be able to travel together at least in C+.
Look, I'm affected poorly by this maybe more acutely than anyone: after the C+ changes, our family dropped real money this year to drag both people to Diamond status, when in the past DM/GM was sufficient. Unless there is a tiebreaker DL hasn't announced, we will now be losing out to companions of other elites even though we both have status.
But I still think it's the right move. It's an acknowledgement that an unintended consequence of the C+ booking changes has been DMs stuck in ordinary economy seats when traveling for leisure, and that real decisions to book away from DL have occurred as a result.
This year, when traveling together domestically we chose AS and internationally we chose AF/KL; it wasn't until my wife hit Platinum that we returned to flying DL again.
That said, if I was designing this policy, I would have tiered it: clear all single DMs by fare class, then after that clear all DM pairings with companions by fare class. That prevents a single DM from losing out to a companion with no status at a slightly higher fare on competitive routes, but still ensures most couples will be able to travel together at least in C+.
I also completely agree with tiering (can DL's IT systems handle it?)
Aug 13, 2016, 3:10 pm
#392
Join Date: Jan 2008
Programs: DL Diamond; Marriott Silver
Posts: 109
Not very many at all is the answer. Most DMs I know have at least one (usually two) DL Reserve Cards (my wife and I have four; each of us has the consumer and the business in our own name). So you just allocate the MQMs so your spouse is at least PM.
Aug 14, 2016, 8:42 pm
#393
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, MM, NR; HH Diamond, Bonvoy LT Gold, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Diamond, others
Posts: 12,159
DL is giving out the same number of upgrades either way. The only thing that changes is who gets them.
As a DM, I'd much rather have upgrades for myself and my wife on vacation, than more upgrades for myself alone on business. Delta apparently believes that a majority of DMs feel similarly, hence their new policy.
As a DM, I'd much rather have upgrades for myself and my wife on vacation, than more upgrades for myself alone on business. Delta apparently believes that a majority of DMs feel similarly, hence their new policy.
Aug 14, 2016, 8:44 pm
#394
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, MM, NR; HH Diamond, Bonvoy LT Gold, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Diamond, others
Posts: 12,159
Aug 14, 2016, 8:47 pm
#395
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, MM, NR; HH Diamond, Bonvoy LT Gold, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Diamond, others
Posts: 12,159
I have no Reserve Cards, and my wife has no status. (We discussed it, it wasn't worth gifting her Gold his year for various reasons.)
Aug 14, 2016, 9:02 pm
#396
Join Date: Jan 2013
Programs: Delta Skymiles, hilton Honors, Marriott Rewards, Hyatt
Posts: 156
Aug 15, 2016, 2:42 am
#397
Join Date: Jan 2015
Programs: delta dm
Posts: 1,677
+1. Excellent post: after this change all my domestic leisure and business travel (with my wife with me) went to United instead even if DL was cheaper or more convenient. Also, my wife and I don't actually care about domestic first - those seats and additional food/service are nothing worth fighting (or paying) for. I do care about having extra legroom in Comfort +.
I also completely agree with tiering (can DL's IT systems handle it?)
I also completely agree with tiering (can DL's IT systems handle it?)
Aug 15, 2016, 1:44 pm
#398
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: DTW
Programs: DL DM, 3.3 MM Miler, Lifetime Hilton Diamond VIP, United, American, National ExecElite
Posts: 201
Not sure when it's official, but last month, a phone agent cleared comfort(+) 'upgrade' for a trip my non-status husband and I are taking in October...agent also put my husband on the upgrade list linked with me. These weren't even the same PNRs (though our records were linked), so you might be able to call and have it taken care of now.
Aug 15, 2016, 1:51 pm
#399
FlyerTalk Evangelist & Ambassador: China
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: DEN
Programs: DL DM/MM, UA 1K, AA Exp, HH Dia, WOH Glob, IHG Plat, Marriott Gold, NA EE, Hertz PC
Posts: 17,423
So just booked tix for companion and I on same PNR. Seat assignments were given side by side in regular Y.
Go to my PNR on DL.com and no place to manage upgrades etc.
When does this go live? Tix is for Oct.
Go to my PNR on DL.com and no place to manage upgrades etc.
When does this go live? Tix is for Oct.
Aug 15, 2016, 3:14 pm
#400
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: SLC
Programs: DL PM
Posts: 63
Like everything else, the system will be gamed and DM's will be adding anyone in their travel group as their companion booked on a different reservation getting their friends with no status or low status free upgrades. Meanwhile the upgrades the PM's used to see will be gone. Bad policy for anyone but DM's.
Aug 15, 2016, 4:30 pm
#402
Join Date: Jan 2015
Programs: delta dm
Posts: 1,677
Like everything else, the system will be gamed and DM's will be adding anyone in their travel group as their companion booked on a different reservation getting their friends with no status or low status free upgrades. Meanwhile the upgrades the PM's used to see will be gone. Bad policy for anyone but DM's.
Last edited by dzflyer; Aug 15, 2016 at 9:07 pm
Aug 15, 2016, 6:30 pm
#403
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: SLC
Programs: DL PM,1MM
Posts: 690
I called yesterday re: a Thanksgiving flight and the agent at the Plat desk didn't know. Spoke with a supervisor who said "Autumn" whatever that means . . . .
Aug 16, 2016, 4:28 pm
#404
Join Date: Jul 2016
Posts: 106
Like everything else, the system will be gamed and DM's will be adding anyone in their travel group as their companion booked on a different reservation getting their friends with no status or low status free upgrades. Meanwhile the upgrades the PM's used to see will be gone. Bad policy for anyone but DM's.
Aug 16, 2016, 11:32 pm
#405
Join Date: May 2004
Location: formerly Gold now Diamond, formerly MSY, now LAX, formerly NW, now DL
Programs: Hyatt Plat, Hilton Gold, SPG Gold, Delta Diamond/1MM
Posts: 4,635
The agent today knew of the change but stated it was a Fall date that has yet to be announced. So I split the upcoming SFO trip in 10 days....I'm now in C+ and he's still in the exit row. Unless I decline upgrades or stay in the same PNR, we are separated, which is certainly annoying. I'm for this change even as a Plat that might suffer a bit.
What happens when say there's one seat, but you and your companion are linked. Does that pass you over to the next one down the list? Or does one get it and not the other??
What happens when say there's one seat, but you and your companion are linked. Does that pass you over to the next one down the list? Or does one get it and not the other??