Delta to change 1st/C+ upgrades for two based on highest medallion level
Nov 3, 2016, 7:04 pm
#736
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: missing YX more every day
Programs: Delta KM/PM/MM, Nexus, CLEAR, Sharriott Plat, IHG Plat, Hilton Gold, Hertz PC
Posts: 1,105
If two seats are still available at the same mileage (assuming you bought them both with miles), cancel (no charge for redeposit as PM) and rebook (not necessarily in that order).
If seats are not available (at least for the same miles), you're stuck. Revel in the fact that your companion is guaranteed a seat in C+ (and you aren't).
If seats are not available (at least for the same miles), you're stuck. Revel in the fact that your companion is guaranteed a seat in C+ (and you aren't).
I have the instant "UG" to C+; I used 10k extra miles for my companion to sit in C+. I know in some cases the fares on purchased tix can go back to the day of issue (though I've never been clear how that becomes an option).
Nov 3, 2016, 8:21 pm
#737
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: GA
Programs: DL DM
Posts: 33
No, there is no more being dragged down to the lowest status. I do think the award upgrades are processed after paid tickets, so in a sense your are "dragged down" but this is about fare class (award in this case) not medallion status. In the case of C+ this is less of an issue because, currently, they just process right away when you are in your window.
Officially, DL.com says that there are NO companion upgrades for award tickets. However, above it as discussed that while on an award ticket with a general member companion, neither of you are eligible for an upgrade. It was also discussed that there is an exception (intentional or not) that if you companion is a medallion (FO or higher) that you know can be upgraded based on the higher status of the 2 who share the same award PNR.
Obviously if a DM and GM are traveling on one PNR (award seats) they are eligible for upgrades simply as medallions. However, it has not yet been established if the priority would be that of the DM or GM status.
I called the DM desk and she first quickly told me that if I was traveling on award with a DM or PM, we would clear at Diamond status level (ahead of any PL and lower). I then asked, "What about GM". She put me on hold then came back and said that we would clear at the lowest level of the two medallions as "Award seats are not eligible for companion upgrades, so your not getting that, you just get your normal Medallion upgrade, and since you are on the same PNR, it would be the one with the lowest status."
However, what .com and the agents say isn't always how it works in the real world.
Has anyone been on award travel yet (since Oct 13) with a lower tier companion and been able to determine whose status you were given?
Nov 4, 2016, 4:31 pm
#738
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: DL PM, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 8,414
. She put me on hold then came back and said that we would clear at the lowest level of the two medallions as "Award seats are not eligible for companion upgrades, so your not getting that, you just get your normal Medallion upgrade, and since you are on the same PNR, it would be the one with the lowest status."
Medallions are eligible for companion upgrades on award tickets, this is a medallion benefit, now available to all medallions. I do not think there is a special upgrade order for award seats. All eligible upgrades now follow the higher level elite. If what is described above were true, then the two people would be upgraded at their own windows, not together. But since they are being upgraded together, it's a companion upgrade, and those happen with the higher level elite.
Nov 4, 2016, 5:12 pm
#739
Join Date: Feb 2016
Programs: DL DM, SPG Plat 100/LT Gold, Marriott Plat, National Executive Elite
Posts: 2,988
The DM agents are poorly trained on this.
I am flying LAX-OAK next week. The DM window comes around. Its me and a general member companion, both on V fares.
9 seat CRJ F cabin. 1 was sold. 4 upgrades cleared. We did not clear.
I call and get Chisholm. Agent insists that for F, upgrades clear at the LOWEST status level. He asks for the web address (every character) with the post 10/13 policy. Put on hold. Says SLC Supervisor also thought higher status clearing was only C+. NOT F. And that's not how they were trained.
They call me back later and say all 4 who cleared were DMs on a higher than V fare. So they say me and my companion are at the DM + V fare level, and that 2 RU slots have to be available at the same time, otherwise we won't clear and it will look to the next individual in line.
The agent thanked me profusely because he claimed rampant mis-training and that the "higher ups" were going to send out a communication to all agents so hopefully they are clear.
Moral: IT seems to be working as DL.com states. Agents may be mis-trained.
I am flying LAX-OAK next week. The DM window comes around. Its me and a general member companion, both on V fares.
9 seat CRJ F cabin. 1 was sold. 4 upgrades cleared. We did not clear.
I call and get Chisholm. Agent insists that for F, upgrades clear at the LOWEST status level. He asks for the web address (every character) with the post 10/13 policy. Put on hold. Says SLC Supervisor also thought higher status clearing was only C+. NOT F. And that's not how they were trained.
They call me back later and say all 4 who cleared were DMs on a higher than V fare. So they say me and my companion are at the DM + V fare level, and that 2 RU slots have to be available at the same time, otherwise we won't clear and it will look to the next individual in line.
The agent thanked me profusely because he claimed rampant mis-training and that the "higher ups" were going to send out a communication to all agents so hopefully they are clear.
Moral: IT seems to be working as DL.com states. Agents may be mis-trained.
Nov 5, 2016, 11:29 am
#740
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
I find this interesting. I would agree with 1-3, but I'm not as confident about #4. I'd guess it is either this way or the old "dragged down to member of lowest status", since even a DM + GM is entitled to an out right upgrade (rather than "companion").
Can anybody confirm this #4?
Can anybody confirm this #4?
Officially, DL.com says that there are NO companion upgrades for award tickets. However, above it as discussed that while on an award ticket with a general member companion, neither of you are eligible for an upgrade. It was also discussed that there is an exception (intentional or not) that if you companion is a medallion (FO or higher) that you know can be upgraded based on the higher status of the 2 who share the same award PNR.
Obviously if a DM and GM are traveling on one PNR (award seats) they are eligible for upgrades simply as medallions. However, it has not yet been established if the priority would be that of the DM or GM status.
I called the DM desk and she first quickly told me that if I was traveling on award with a DM or PM, we would clear at Diamond status level (ahead of any PL and lower). I then asked, "What about GM". She put me on hold then came back and said that we would clear at the lowest level of the two medallions as "Award seats are not eligible for companion upgrades, so your not getting that, you just get your normal Medallion upgrade, and since you are on the same PNR, it would be the one with the lowest status."
However, what .com and the agents say isn't always how it works in the real world.
Has anyone been on award travel yet (since Oct 13) with a lower tier companion and been able to determine whose status you were given?
Obviously if a DM and GM are traveling on one PNR (award seats) they are eligible for upgrades simply as medallions. However, it has not yet been established if the priority would be that of the DM or GM status.
I called the DM desk and she first quickly told me that if I was traveling on award with a DM or PM, we would clear at Diamond status level (ahead of any PL and lower). I then asked, "What about GM". She put me on hold then came back and said that we would clear at the lowest level of the two medallions as "Award seats are not eligible for companion upgrades, so your not getting that, you just get your normal Medallion upgrade, and since you are on the same PNR, it would be the one with the lowest status."
However, what .com and the agents say isn't always how it works in the real world.
Has anyone been on award travel yet (since Oct 13) with a lower tier companion and been able to determine whose status you were given?
That being said the question still remains, was this just a way that DL IT was programmed and they didn't intend it or they did intend it and they just haven't updated the website. Agents don't seem to know and the old T&C on the website do nothing but to further the confusion.
Nov 8, 2016, 10:52 pm
#741
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: CHA
Programs: DL-DM (1.75MM), Bonvoy LifeTi, Hertz-PC
Posts: 618
Additional data point.
Flight coming up this weekend. Originally booked as 2x DM + general member.
Rebooked about 3 weeks ago after the announcement to get upgrades: 1x DM = general member and separate res for 1xDM.
Instantly got C+ upgrades upon that rebooking (Delta did the rebooking after screwing up the records, splitting out the general member instead of one of the DMs)
Last weekend, I noticed that the 1x DM got upgraded to FC on the long leg (5 days out).
It wasn't for about another 12 hours that the DM+gm got upgraded.
So there seems to be a bias toward single travelers.
Flight coming up this weekend. Originally booked as 2x DM + general member.
Rebooked about 3 weeks ago after the announcement to get upgrades: 1x DM = general member and separate res for 1xDM.
Instantly got C+ upgrades upon that rebooking (Delta did the rebooking after screwing up the records, splitting out the general member instead of one of the DMs)
Last weekend, I noticed that the 1x DM got upgraded to FC on the long leg (5 days out).
It wasn't for about another 12 hours that the DM+gm got upgraded.
So there seems to be a bias toward single travelers.
Nov 12, 2016, 8:24 am
#742
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Santo Domingo, Dom. Rep. / Washington, DC
Programs: AA PPro/DL PLT, PPass, Marriott / Hilton Gold, JetBlue Mosaic, Hertz Presidents Circle, Amex Plat
Posts: 4,630
Just checked in for a flight tomorrow. We are a GM and a FO on the same PNR. Due to technical reasons (App not allowing me to check in due to visa requirements) my spouse (FO) checked in first and went to the bottom of the upgrade list (3/3). When I checked in, I went to the top of the list (1/4), but she remained at the bottom (4/4). This is very strange, as last week we were #1 and #2 out of 12 or so.
Nov 12, 2016, 8:28 am
#743
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Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
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Posts: 100,417
Just checked in for a flight tomorrow. We are a GM and a FO on the same PNR. Due to technical reasons (App not allowing me to check in due to visa requirements) my spouse (FO) checked in first and went to the bottom of the upgrade list (3/3). When I checked in, I went to the top of the list (1/4), but she remained at the bottom (4/4). This is very strange, as last week we were #1 and #2 out of 12 or so.
Nov 12, 2016, 8:49 am
#744
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Santo Domingo, Dom. Rep. / Washington, DC
Programs: AA PPro/DL PLT, PPass, Marriott / Hilton Gold, JetBlue Mosaic, Hertz Presidents Circle, Amex Plat
Posts: 4,630
Yes, as indicated on my previous post. Contacted DL via twitter and their solution was to speak to the gate agent at the airport. I asked them to uncheck us in, and when I did the check-in again, she jumped to #2.
So, it seems that the upgrade order is determined when the passenger checks in. If the lower status passenger checks in before the higher status passenger, the new policy is not applied.
OT: It's been 3 years since I first had issues with International check-in, and DL has not bothered to fix this simple issue. In the past, the problem was that they wanted a return date (even when flying to my country of residence) but now on top of that they ask me for a visa number and don't have the option to select Residence Permit instead.
So, it seems that the upgrade order is determined when the passenger checks in. If the lower status passenger checks in before the higher status passenger, the new policy is not applied.
OT: It's been 3 years since I first had issues with International check-in, and DL has not bothered to fix this simple issue. In the past, the problem was that they wanted a return date (even when flying to my country of residence) but now on top of that they ask me for a visa number and don't have the option to select Residence Permit instead.
Nov 12, 2016, 10:24 am
#745
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
Earlier this week I saw the new companion upgrade priority rule at work. A domestic A320 flight with 16 FC seats had 4 FC seats available when check in opened and then one disappeared that morning, probably a SDC from a FC ticket, but it also could have been a last minute FC ticket purchase or FCM offer during OLCI.
By the gate, the FC upgrade list had about twenty names, with a married couple in the #1 and #2 positions. Sure enough, they were upgraded after PREM boarding, probably during zone SKY. On board, they proceeded to insist that people change seats so that Mr. and Mrs. SIL could sit together. I refused to swap my aisle for a bulkhead, but after annoying several other people, they managed to find someone who was willing to swap with them out of a bulkhead seat to take a nonbulkhead window and become my seatmate. Not surprisingly, they first tried to offer to swap their less desirable seat for a better seat.
BTW, I was upgraded several days before the flight, although not at the DM window. No upgrades were done at the DM window and mine was then the first upgrade that cleared, with maybe a half dozen upgrades clearing after me (none at the same time) and before the day of departure.
By the gate, the FC upgrade list had about twenty names, with a married couple in the #1 and #2 positions. Sure enough, they were upgraded after PREM boarding, probably during zone SKY. On board, they proceeded to insist that people change seats so that Mr. and Mrs. SIL could sit together. I refused to swap my aisle for a bulkhead, but after annoying several other people, they managed to find someone who was willing to swap with them out of a bulkhead seat to take a nonbulkhead window and become my seatmate. Not surprisingly, they first tried to offer to swap their less desirable seat for a better seat.
BTW, I was upgraded several days before the flight, although not at the DM window. No upgrades were done at the DM window and mine was then the first upgrade that cleared, with maybe a half dozen upgrades clearing after me (none at the same time) and before the day of departure.
Based on how many people boarded I'm thinking the GA didn't clear the upgrade list until after SKY had boarded but a couple came on board with their little slips with the new seat assignments. I was in 2B and husband had 2A and wife was in 1D.
Husband walks up to my seat with his wife asked me if I would switch with his wife and I asked what seat she was in since 3C was still empty and I wouldn't have an issue with that seat and when he said 1D I flat out refused (why do people in that situation always ask you to switch with the person with the worst seat?). I told him he may want to ask seat 1C to switch with him and 1C said he wanted an aisle.
They went to the FA and claimed they had to sit together because the wife had medical issues LOL. FA was pleasant and asked a couple passengers to move and none would. Strange this was if she had medical issues like he claimed they didn't ask to be moved back to coach
It was a pain though because wife came over a couple times to talk to hubby and was talking over me and he got up to talk to her a couple times.
FWIW I was on a paid first ticket. My wife and I are both diamonds but if we can't sit together we just accept it. Our kids are both GM and we will start doing a separate rervaton on family trips now with one of them on each of our tickets in case of an upgrade (they are both old enough they won't be UM if they don't clear and we do) and I'm sure not going to make an issue if we can't sit together
Nov 12, 2016, 12:12 pm
#746
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Dayton, OH/CVG
Programs: DA Diamond(1 MM), Marriott Bonvoy Ambassador/Charter Ambassador, Hyatt Glob, Hertz Presidents Circle
Posts: 886
Additional data point.
Flight coming up this weekend. Originally booked as 2x DM + general member.
Rebooked about 3 weeks ago after the announcement to get upgrades: 1x DM = general member and separate res for 1xDM.
Instantly got C+ upgrades upon that rebooking (Delta did the rebooking after screwing up the records, splitting out the general member instead of one of the DMs)
Last weekend, I noticed that the 1x DM got upgraded to FC on the long leg (5 days out).
It wasn't for about another 12 hours that the DM+gm got upgraded.
So there seems to be a bias toward single travelers.
Flight coming up this weekend. Originally booked as 2x DM + general member.
Rebooked about 3 weeks ago after the announcement to get upgrades: 1x DM = general member and separate res for 1xDM.
Instantly got C+ upgrades upon that rebooking (Delta did the rebooking after screwing up the records, splitting out the general member instead of one of the DMs)
Last weekend, I noticed that the 1x DM got upgraded to FC on the long leg (5 days out).
It wasn't for about another 12 hours that the DM+gm got upgraded.
So there seems to be a bias toward single travelers.
Stupid question: what is a 2X DM? Is that someone with >250,000 MQMs in a year? If so, does that matter? I thought that, with the exception of Delta 360, a DM was a DM? Or maybe I am missing the entire point of BHammy's post
Nov 12, 2016, 12:15 pm
#747
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: San Antonio
Programs: DL DM, Former AA EXP now AY Plat, AC 75K, NW Plat, Former CO Gold, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 27,045
He is saying how many were on the reservation. 2 DMS and 1 non-status.
Nov 12, 2016, 1:13 pm
#749
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: San Antonio
Programs: DL DM, Former AA EXP now AY Plat, AC 75K, NW Plat, Former CO Gold, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 27,045
Nov 12, 2016, 3:02 pm
#750
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 23,063
Worked fine last night for me (DM) and spouse (GM). Flying on mileage trip from my account and I checked us both in. Were 2 and 3 on upgrade list on DTW-ATL flight and were both upgraded. 1 and 2 on upgrade list for ATL-SXM this morning. Unfortunately, only 1 seat left. We decided not to split our res and let number 3 have it. Got upgraded to the front row special needs C+ seats (which were blocked out on the seat map).