DL167 SEA-NRT-SIN Upgrades
Dec 7, 2016, 7:35 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Programs: Delta Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Titanium Elite
Posts: 54
DL167 SEA-NRT-SIN Upgrades
I'm a DM with the Delta AmEx Reserve card and recently flew DL 167 from SEA to NRT to SIN and, the next week, back. On the way there, I successfully used a Global Upgrade Certificate, and though it didn't clear until I was at the gate (so stressful!), the Delta One experience was great all the way to Singapore, and I got a ride in a red Delta Porsche too on the Seattle tarmac! It was a great Delta experience!
On the way back, I didn't have a GUC and wasn't upgraded (as expected). However, I did notice on the Delta app that the GA processed and upgraded eight people into Delta One/business class (see attached screenshot). I was surprised. Is it possible/likely that there were eight (!) Diamonds with GUCs on that route? If it was an op-up situation, is it really likely that eight DM w/ Reserve were ahead of me on the secret list? Or, is there another way that people get upgraded on these routes that I'm unaware of? I'm not annoyed or mad -- I'm just curious, because if there's something else I should be doing to help me get a int'l upgrade, I'd love to do it.
-Hank
On the way back, I didn't have a GUC and wasn't upgraded (as expected). However, I did notice on the Delta app that the GA processed and upgraded eight people into Delta One/business class (see attached screenshot). I was surprised. Is it possible/likely that there were eight (!) Diamonds with GUCs on that route? If it was an op-up situation, is it really likely that eight DM w/ Reserve were ahead of me on the secret list? Or, is there another way that people get upgraded on these routes that I'm unaware of? I'm not annoyed or mad -- I'm just curious, because if there's something else I should be doing to help me get a int'l upgrade, I'd love to do it.
-Hank
Dec 7, 2016, 9:04 pm
#5
Join Date: Mar 2015
Programs: DL DM MM
Posts: 184
Not so strange
Assuming OP is talking about the SIN-NRT leg, that route is full of DMs. In fact, I often take the non-Sky line for security (security screening is the the gate in SIN) because the line can be shorter than the Sky lane! On top of that, that route is notorious for not clearing GUCs until at the gate even on empty flights so 8 DMs on GUCs total would not be surprising.
Dec 7, 2016, 10:58 pm
#7
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: 27,042
Non-revs, DMso are all possible. OP-UPS don't have a set upgrade list priority. They could upgrade a nobody and leave a DM in Y.
Dec 7, 2016, 11:02 pm
#8
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 2,881
They are not space-available nonrevs if their seat assignment is showing cleared on the Upgrade tab shown in the OP's attachment. All NRSA seat assignments are in the standby list tab.
In the OP's pic it looks like there were still people remaining on the upgrade list. Only confirmed passengers are on the upgrade list (this can include NRPS passengers).
In the OP's pic it looks like there were still people remaining on the upgrade list. Only confirmed passengers are on the upgrade list (this can include NRPS passengers).
Dec 8, 2016, 2:37 am
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Programs: Delta Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Titanium Elite
Posts: 54
Dec 8, 2016, 2:40 am
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Programs: Delta Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Titanium Elite
Posts: 54
Assuming OP is talking about the SIN-NRT leg, that route is full of DMs. In fact, I often take the non-Sky line for security (security screening is the the gate in SIN) because the line can be shorter than the Sky lane! On top of that, that route is notorious for not clearing GUCs until at the gate even on empty flights so 8 DMs on GUCs total would not be surprising.
Last edited by Hankle; Dec 8, 2016 at 2:45 am
Dec 8, 2016, 2:45 am
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Programs: Delta Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Titanium Elite
Posts: 54
They are not space-available nonrevs if their seat assignment is showing cleared on the Upgrade tab shown in the OP's attachment. All NRSA seat assignments are in the standby list tab.
In the OP's pic it looks like there were still people remaining on the upgrade list. Only confirmed passengers are on the upgrade list (this can include NRPS passengers).
In the OP's pic it looks like there were still people remaining on the upgrade list. Only confirmed passengers are on the upgrade list (this can include NRPS passengers).
Dec 8, 2016, 2:46 am
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Programs: Delta Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Titanium Elite
Posts: 54
Dec 8, 2016, 3:20 am
#13
In memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2005
Location: PIT
Programs: DM life is over 2MM PM now & NW MillionAir Wyndham Rewards Plat -Hotels.com Silver -Accor Silver
Posts: 15,408
1) Non-revs aren't upgraded into Delta One seats. They will clear directly into Delta One as an employee benefit. Since free (non certificate or mileage based) upgrades are not a published benefit for Medallions, Delta employees flying up front have have no bearing anything related to paying customers. Employees flying in domestic F ahead of paying Medallions is a whole different story.
2) Op-ups when overbooked in Y: Again, since free upgrades are not a published Medallion benefit, when Y is overbooked, a GA can move anyone up front that they want to, but they usually do go in the normal pecking order. For example, if Y is overbooked by 5, and the GA is running very close to departure time, the GA might UG a non-Medallion family of 5 to save time. It's unfortunate for top tier Medallions, but, that's just the way it is.
2) Op-ups when overbooked in Y: Again, since free upgrades are not a published Medallion benefit, when Y is overbooked, a GA can move anyone up front that they want to, but they usually do go in the normal pecking order. For example, if Y is overbooked by 5, and the GA is running very close to departure time, the GA might UG a non-Medallion family of 5 to save time. It's unfortunate for top tier Medallions, but, that's just the way it is.
Dec 8, 2016, 7:07 am
#14
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: 100,413
Okay, I guess that's totally possible. It's just that having 8 DMs with GUCs from SIN-NRT seemed very unlikely to me, but maybe I'm totally wrong. I guess could understand how filers could rack up a lot of miles if they fly SIN-SEA frequently for business since it's 17k roundtrip every time. Thanks for your input.