Grouchy

Generally the DOD upgrade will be done at the baggage drop off desk. I had M fares so didn't have to buy up. On Asia flights like those 10+ hour flights from HKG etc i always used a GUC since imo it's good deal (northeast and southeast Asia upgrades to/from AMS requires 40.000 SkyMiles vs 25.000 SkyMiles on a TATL flight. Better to use miles on the TATL flights and GUC's on the Asia ones)

If you use a GUC on the DoD at DEL and your upgrade for the AMS-MSP isn't cleared it might already be closed/used by the time you arrive at AMS.

flyerCO

It'll be closed as soon as ticket is reissued for first flight. However being closed doesn't mean it can't be used for the connecting flight. Agent just needs to reissue the ticket again once the next flight clears.

crazyhorse

Good point! That means I need to make sure that the KLM agent at DEL is willing and able to process both upgrades (DEL-AMS & AMS-MSP) at the same time. I definitely do not want to redeem 2 GUCs for the trip.

Does anyone have any experience with doing anything remotely similar to what I am attempting to do? Or better still does anyone know how its done in their system so that I can potentially walk the agent through the steps in the very likely event that s/he doesn't know how to process the upgrade?

flyerCO

See my post. Being closed does not prevent the GUC from being extended to the connecting flight. It's what allows you to choose to waitlist a DL LH flight, then later extend to connecting SH flights once LH clears.

crazyhorse

I hear you but isn't that the case when you have applied the GUC and are waiting for it to clear versus trying to apply it on DoD at the KLM counter or lounge?

I remember reading that a person travelling from JNB (IIRC) to the US via AMS had to end up redeeming 2 GUCs because the KLM agent at AMS was unable to apply a closed GUC to the AMS-US leg.

flyerCO

It's doable. However some KLM agents don't know/understand how. Most I find do, those that don't can call their ticketing support for help.

crazyhorse

Thanks! That's good to know that it's possible and not prohibited by the system. Although I am not holding my breath on a hassled KLM agent in DEL knowing how to do it.

My situation is a bit complicated. We are 3 people - wife (who is DM), our child and myself travelling from US to IND and we have already upgraded 2 of the passengers (wife and child) both ways from MSP-AMS-DEL and back using the 4 GUCs from the 2016 choice benefits that I selected in end-Jan 2017. I understand that DL will not allow a 3rd passenger to get upgraded using GUCs so am hoping that I could do that with a KLM agent who is less likely to know all about DL's rules and will simply apply the GUC in the event that there is any availability left. I havent made the 2017 Choice Benefits selection yet and will only do that once I have a reasonable shot at getting the upgrade.

Any suggestions on how to play this?

Grouchy

Follow both flights with a seat inventory tool and if there is availability be there in time to apply that GUC in DEL and again in AMS.
If there is no availability close to departure no need to select those 2017 Choice benefits and print them out yet.

SkyTeam777

Im showing 8 seats Z class upgrade with SWU on ExpertFlyer for DL-coded KL-operated flight. DL agent says no seats...so frustrated that they don't know how to process this. Is the agent right? or is ExpertFlyer right?

flyerCO

You see Z under the KLM flight number? Even though booked as DL, Z on the DL flight number isn't what is needed. Also are you searching the route as a whole. Ie JFK-JNB, not just AMS-JNB.

Give us the date, and whole routing we can help.

SkyTeam777

Booked Delta 9387 IAH-AMS and can't apply GUC despite Z being available!?

flyerCO

What date? Also is there any connections or just the obe flight?

SkyTeam777

DL agent telling me KL requires Y,B, or M fare...yawn, this is getting so old. Why is this so hard!?

crazyhorse

HUCA. I tracked inventory on expertflyer for a number of days till I firmed up my plans. Then when I was ready to book called the DM line, and first time around got an agent who gave me the same YBM crap. I simply said thank you and hung up not being in a mood to impart knowledge at that time. Second time around I asked clearly whether the agent knew how to apply GUCs to flights that had KLM segments and then proceeded to make the bookings and confirmed the upgrades all in one go. Took approx 45 mins or so but all was done in a single call. Gave the agent one of those appreciation certificates too.

caliform

Yeah, either HUCA or ask for someone with experience in it. It shouldn't be this hard, but... ah, airlines.