Complimentary Medallion upgrade to Iceland (JFK-KEF | MSP-KEF)
 

Does anyone know if DL's JFK-KEF and MSP-KEF service this summer will be eligible for complimentary Medallion upgrades?

DL usually flies int'l configured 757s but this summer is putting domestic birds on the route. DL page doesn't mention Iceland specifically but given the service is First Class rather than Delta One I'd expect the complimentary upgrade.

http://www.delta.com/content/www/en_...tml#firstclass

http://onemileatatime.boardingarea.c...d-this-summer/

I doubt it. I could be wrong though

I just checked two random dates for June. Neither route is being marketed as D1 trips. The front cabin is simply listed as "First".

You might find it worthwhile to give DL a call.

KEF is upgrade eligible. Just like destinations in Northern South America that don't get D1 service. Regardless of aircraft the service is domestic first level. Though will get lounge access.

They used 75H/Ds for most of the peak summer season last year as well.

Interesting that it's upgrade eligible. I don't remember hearing that last year.

KEF has never gotten D1 service regardless of aircraft used.

I believe KEF is the only TATL (well TATLish) destination that doesn't have lie-flats year round.

Assume then that it is RUC eligible too? If so, that might be one of the better value routes for RUC usage.

A handful of years ago I flew JFK-KEF close to when it first started. It was full BE service with both dinner and breakfast (granted, breakfast was only cereal or something like that and was served about 2.5 hours after dinner!).

I have never heard that either KEF route is upgrade eligible and have never experienced this, but I certainly could be wrong. I know it wasn't eligible when I took it years ago, but that could have changed. I don't see any sort of exemption for it on dl.com, but that doesn't mean it doesn't exist. Especially during the summer though, there seems to be a lot of paid J traffic on these routes so even if they are upgrade eligible, I think it probably isn't likely that very many medallions get upgraded anyway.

Not sure but from a few spot checks you can get F for ~$2k from MSP or JFK.

Anywhere from $650-950 for Y.

I'd say a decent return on a RUC if you're not able to take advantage of the Transcon. Although with BOS-SFO and LAX-DCA going to D1 there are definitely a few more opportunities, but still not much for anyone who doesn't live on a coast.

Now I feel like a sucker paying for a business class ticket JFK-KEF in August.

I have coworkers who have done this in the past and it was never complimentary upgrade eligible. Did something change? Even doing a dummy booking it shows no upgrade to first class.

That's what I was thinking too, but I couldn't find anything that said definitively. Assuming that this route is considered TATL though (and I'm relatively certain it is), it is not listed as an exemption and so would not be upgrade or ruc eligible (regardless of what kind of aircraft flies it).

Known issue with the booking system. It sees J instead of F and says no upgrades. Once it's booked it'll show as eligible.

Sorry to burst your bubble. From "My Trips"

Tell you what, though, I'll call and try to apply a RUC.

[Added] DM Line says "Has to be a Global (GUC) as it is determined by area, not class/aircraft."