Sep 12, 2017, 8:39 pm
Last edit by: Bowgie
Note: This thread is about Mileage Upgrade Awards, which are Sky Miles upgrades that upgrade your coach seat to First Class, Delta One or Premium Select.
These are no longer available on domestic routes and have been replaced with using miles for FCM buy-ups at slightly over 1 cpm -- see the FCM thread
They are also no longer available from North America to Mexico, Caribbean, Central and South America.
Important Details:
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How to Upgrade with Delta Sky Miles
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Prices for the following markets as quoted by multiple reservations agents.
Other thread of potential interest:
Current Pricing (may be out of date, updates appreciated)
international main cabin to PS
Y/B/M: 25,000
H/Q/K: 35,000
US to Europe
Main Cabin (fare class Y, B, M) to Delta One - requires OY - 35,000 miles
Main Cabin (fare class H, Q, K) to Delta One - requires OY - 65,000 miles
Premium Select (fare class P, A, G) to Delta One - requires OY - 45,000 miles
US to South Asia/Oceania
Main Cabin (fare class Y, B, M) to Delta One - requires OY - 45,000 miles
Main Cabin (fare class H, Q, K) to Delta One - requires OY - 90,000 miles
Premium Select (fare class P, A, G) to Delta One - requires OY - 45,000 miles
LAX-SYD
PS (A) to D1: 17,500 miles
Historical pricing
(for curiosity/comparison, this section is a mix of really old and not so old pricing so may not make a lot of sense)
US/Canada/Mexico/Caribbean First Class (Most North America routes except for flights that offer Delta One)
Y/B/M: 15,000 miles
H/Q/K: 20,000 miles
L/U/T: 30,000 miles
Domestic Delta One Routes (domestic transcon & Hawaii routes that offer Delta One service such as JFK-LAX, LAX-DCA, ATL-HNL, etc)
Y/B/M: 23,000 miles
H/Q/K: 28,000 miles
L/U/T: 40,000 miles
NOTE: It *might* be possible to upgrade domestic segments of a PS fare (G A P) ticket to either FC or domestic D1 (unclear which) for 17,500 miles. *Unconfirmed*
US-Hawaii (Except for Delta One routes MSP/ATL/JFK/DTW-HNL. For these routes, see Domestic Transcontinental Premium Routes )
Y/B/M: 15,000 miles
H/Q/K: 20,000 miles
L/U/T: 30,000 miles
US-Northern South America
Y/B/M: 30,000 miles
H/Q/K: 45,000 miles
L/U/T: 55,000 miles
US-Southern South America
Y/B/M: 40,000 miles
H/Q/K: 60,000 miles
US-Europe:
Main Cabin to Delta One:
Y/B/M: 35,000 miles
H/Q/K: 65,000 miles
Main Cabin to Premium Select:
Y/B/M: 25,000 miles
H/Q/K: 35,000 miles
Premium Select to Delta One:
P/A/G: 40,000 miles
(NOTE: Confirmed on Aug 28, 2022 at this rate from JFK-AMS. Confirms books into OY class)
US-Northern Asia (Japan/Korea/China):
Main Cabin to Delta One:
Y/B/M: 45,000 miles
H/Q/K: 70,000 miles
Premium Select to Delta One
P/A/G: 45,000 miles
US-Southeast/Southwest Asia, Micronesia, Southwest Pacific:
Y/B/M: 35,000 miles
H/Q/K: 80,000 miles
US-Africa (incl. South Africa)
Y/B/M: 35,000 miles
H/Q/K: 80,000 miles
US-Middle East
Y/B/M: 35,000 miles
H/Q/K: 80,000 miles
US to TLV:
Main Cabin to Delta One:
Y/B/M: 45,000 miles
H/Q/K: 90,000 miles
Main Cabin to Premium Select:
Y/B/M: 25,000 miles
H/Q/K: 40,000 miles
These are no longer available on domestic routes and have been replaced with using miles for FCM buy-ups at slightly over 1 cpm -- see the FCM thread
They are also no longer available from North America to Mexico, Caribbean, Central and South America.
Important Details:
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- Your underlying fare class remains Economy, and you are technically still booked as an economy passenger.
- You are granted all inflight & airport benefits of having that upgraded seat (i.e. Premium security line, Sky Club access on international flights, etc).
- You earn miles based on your original Main Cabin fare.
- Mileage Upgrade Award prices are set by route and do not fluctuate based on the cash price of the upgrade.
- Delta no longer publishes the miles required by route to upgrade, and the numbers below is a FT best attempt to collect this data; it may not be accurate.
- Mileage Upgrade Awards are confirmed after your coach ticket is booked (though could be in the same phone call with an agent who has checked for upgrade space before booking)
- The only way to use Mileage Upgrade Awards is by calling Delta--there is no online option.
- This Wiki contains only minimal information about upgrading to and from Premium Select; please share information as you gather it, either by updating the wiki or posting in the thread.
- You must be booked in an upgradeable fare class to upgrade. It is possible to buy up to an upgradeable coach fare class and then upgrade with miles.
How to Upgrade with Delta Sky Miles
- You can Either:
- Call Delta and ask to book a flight that has Mileage Upgrade Awards available and then purchase and upgrade the flight at the same time with that agent. Inventory is highly limited.
- OR, call Delta to upgrade a flight you have already booked. When you call they will either process the upgrade or tell you that there are no upgrades available.
- If an upgrade is not available, it is possible to waitlist.
- Mileage Upgrade Awards that are waitlisted do not transfer to the Airport Upgrade List (for gate upgrade) and cannot be cleared at the gate.
- There have been rare exceptions reported to this rule. If you want to attempt to clear your upgrade at the airport on day of departure, speak with a red coat. This is against policy and will not usually work, but some have reported success.
- If an upgrade is not available, it is possible to waitlist.
- If you want to upgrade a flight that you have already booked the change fee should be waived for this upgrade. Ask for a supervisor if this is challenged.
- The Delta agent may offer you either Delta Upgrade Awards or Upgrade with Miles (see details below). Confirm you are getting the lowest mile option.
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NOTE: Delta offers an additional upgrade option which is called Upgrade with Miles. These upgrades are available on US Domestic flights only and are a pay with miles type of upgrade. (meaning that, unlike Mileage Upgrade Awards, the amount of miles needed fluctuates based on the cash price of an upgrade). When you use Upgrade with Miles you will earn miles for your flight based on the cabin flown, as you have now paid (with miles) to change your ticket to a premium cabin ticket (vs an upgraded coach ticket). The mileage amounts listed in this thread are not for this program. To use Upgrade with Miles you need to log into your reservation and check for an upgrade offer or call Delta and ask. Upgrade with Miles typically requires more miles to upgrade than Mileage Upgrade Awards.
In order to use Mileage Upgrade Awards from Main Cabin or Comfort+ to First Class or Delta One, you need to be booked in the correct fare class:- Mileage Upgrade Awards are no longer available for flights within North America and South America. These routes generally have variable online mileage upgrade offers which are based on the cash upgrade offer at the rate of 1 CPM (less 7.5% US excise tax for domestic flights).
- For all other markets you can upgrade when booked in: Y/B/M//H/Q/K
- You can see your booking class by logging into your reservation. Directly under your seat assignment it will say your cabin and your booking class. For example: MAIN CABIN (Q)
Prices for the following markets as quoted by multiple reservations agents.
Other thread of potential interest:
- Use Sky Miles to upgrade on VS (Virgin Atlantic upgrades with Sky Miles)
Current Pricing (may be out of date, updates appreciated)
international main cabin to PS
Y/B/M: 25,000
H/Q/K: 35,000
US to Europe
Main Cabin (fare class Y, B, M) to Delta One - requires OY - 35,000 miles
Main Cabin (fare class H, Q, K) to Delta One - requires OY - 65,000 miles
Premium Select (fare class P, A, G) to Delta One - requires OY - 45,000 miles
US to South Asia/Oceania
Main Cabin (fare class Y, B, M) to Delta One - requires OY - 45,000 miles
Main Cabin (fare class H, Q, K) to Delta One - requires OY - 90,000 miles
Premium Select (fare class P, A, G) to Delta One - requires OY - 45,000 miles
LAX-SYD
PS (A) to D1: 17,500 miles
Historical pricing
(for curiosity/comparison, this section is a mix of really old and not so old pricing so may not make a lot of sense)
US/Canada/Mexico/Caribbean First Class (Most North America routes except for flights that offer Delta One)
Y/B/M: 15,000 miles
H/Q/K: 20,000 miles
L/U/T: 30,000 miles
Domestic Delta One Routes (domestic transcon & Hawaii routes that offer Delta One service such as JFK-LAX, LAX-DCA, ATL-HNL, etc)
Y/B/M: 23,000 miles
H/Q/K: 28,000 miles
L/U/T: 40,000 miles
NOTE: It *might* be possible to upgrade domestic segments of a PS fare (G A P) ticket to either FC or domestic D1 (unclear which) for 17,500 miles. *Unconfirmed*
US-Hawaii (Except for Delta One routes MSP/ATL/JFK/DTW-HNL. For these routes, see Domestic Transcontinental Premium Routes )
Y/B/M: 15,000 miles
H/Q/K: 20,000 miles
L/U/T: 30,000 miles
US-Northern South America
Y/B/M: 30,000 miles
H/Q/K: 45,000 miles
L/U/T: 55,000 miles
US-Southern South America
Y/B/M: 40,000 miles
H/Q/K: 60,000 miles
US-Europe:
Main Cabin to Delta One:
Y/B/M: 35,000 miles
H/Q/K: 65,000 miles
Main Cabin to Premium Select:
Y/B/M: 25,000 miles
H/Q/K: 35,000 miles
Premium Select to Delta One:
P/A/G: 40,000 miles
(NOTE: Confirmed on Aug 28, 2022 at this rate from JFK-AMS. Confirms books into OY class)
US-Northern Asia (Japan/Korea/China):
Main Cabin to Delta One:
Y/B/M: 45,000 miles
H/Q/K: 70,000 miles
Premium Select to Delta One
P/A/G: 45,000 miles
US-Southeast/Southwest Asia, Micronesia, Southwest Pacific:
Y/B/M: 35,000 miles
H/Q/K: 80,000 miles
US-Africa (incl. South Africa)
Y/B/M: 35,000 miles
H/Q/K: 80,000 miles
US-Middle East
Y/B/M: 35,000 miles
H/Q/K: 80,000 miles
US to TLV:
Main Cabin to Delta One:
Y/B/M: 45,000 miles
H/Q/K: 90,000 miles
Main Cabin to Premium Select:
Y/B/M: 25,000 miles
H/Q/K: 40,000 miles
Delta Mileage Upgrade Awards
Mar 8, 2022, 6:21 pm
#406
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Edwardsburg, MI
Programs: Hilton Diamond, Delta Plat
Posts: 189
I agree. You can have the better product without costing yourself a dime or Skymile. How desperate are you for the MQM/MQD?
Mar 8, 2022, 6:25 pm
#407
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: NYC
Posts: 27,231
There’s a high likelihood that DL.com will offer an upgrade for $ or miles (at barely more than 1c/mile), even with a corporate TA-issued ticket. It’s usually based on the fare difference, but not always. OP can do a dummy booking on their own and see what it looks like. Then they can cancel within 24 hours.
Mar 9, 2022, 7:03 am
#410
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Back in Reds Country (DAY/CVG). Previously: SEA & SAT.
Programs: DL PM 1MM, AA PLAT, UA Silver, Marriott Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 10,348
And concur on sometimes forgetting about the MQMs and MQDs. Sometimes one has to realize DL is not the best option based on price/product/schedule or any combination of the three and sometimes another option just makes sense, especially if paying for a premium cabin (PE or J) where status matters much less than when in regular Economy.
Mar 9, 2022, 9:45 am
#411
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: 100,404
IIRC Marriott status gives low tier UA status. OP should check on this and claim the UA status well in advance of the trip if he/she decides to fly on UA.
Mar 9, 2022, 10:29 am
#412
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Back in Reds Country (DAY/CVG). Previously: SEA & SAT.
Programs: DL PM 1MM, AA PLAT, UA Silver, Marriott Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 10,348
Mar 9, 2022, 12:50 pm
#413
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: 100,404
Yes. I noticed the information under OP's username says SPG Plat and Marriott Gold, which could be very out-of-date. Moreover, even if OP is only Bonvoy Gold at this time, the double nights now makes it pretty easy to jump up a tier or two.
Mar 9, 2022, 2:12 pm
#414
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: DL PM, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 8,414
OP: I would confirm that the company paying for the tickets means to offer you two different classes of service depending on airline. Because the names can be confusing, I would make sure that they don't intend to fly you in either premium economy or extra leg room economy (comfort + or economy + on united) regardless of which airline you are flying. If they are OK paying for premium economy, they should be OK doing so on Delta. Or worse, I hope they don't mean to fly you in coach with extra legroom and did not mean to offer you W on United.
If this is, in fact, the case, I would hands down fly United. You will be much more comfortable (though the customer service will be terrible).
If this is, in fact, the case, I would hands down fly United. You will be much more comfortable (though the customer service will be terrible).
Mar 10, 2022, 9:19 pm
#415
Join Date: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,373
If so, then as a corollary, looking for MUA availability is much easier now for two reasons:
- PMs and DMs can see GUC inventory when logged in
- Usually Z is the needed class under the new rules, and that’s published, so anyone can see it on ExpertFlyer et al
Mar 11, 2022, 10:54 am
#416
Join Date: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,373
Do we still believe this to be the case post 2/1/22? Haven’t seen it specifically mentioned in the GUC/RUC changes megathread.
If so, then as a corollary, looking for MUA availability is much easier now for two reasons:
If so, then as a corollary, looking for MUA availability is much easier now for two reasons:
- PMs and DMs can see GUC inventory when logged in
- Usually Z is the needed class under the new rules, and that’s published, so anyone can see it on ExpertFlyer et al
May 16, 2022, 10:23 am
#417
Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: Washington, D.C.
Programs: Delta PM, United Silver, Marriott Ambassador Elite
Posts: 24
Some recent info
Well... let the below be a cautionary tale about taking one rep's answer as definitive. I had a hunch that this seemed off (namely the restricted fare classes), so did some digging on the Delta website, noticed a few inconsistencies, and called back. Talking with a second rep, had no issue changing my V fare to a K fare on the return (all Delta-marketed and operated flights) and then getting the MUA from EU-US for 65k miles.
Previous post (note: this is wrong, but an example of what I was quoted when calling in and asking about this semi-esoteric program) ----
In case of interest, I just got off the phone with a plat rep who was familiar with the program. She told me that the program changed on 2/13/2019 with the following updates:
Previous post (note: this is wrong, but an example of what I was quoted when calling in and asking about this semi-esoteric program) ----
In case of interest, I just got off the phone with a plat rep who was familiar with the program. She told me that the program changed on 2/13/2019 with the following updates:
- Must be traveling internationally from the US to Europe, Asia, or Africa.
- Underlying fare class must be Y/B/M.
- Program still exists and upgrading from Y to D1 for Europe would have been 65k miles (had it been available for my trip).
- OY inventory is what they look for for availability, but she would not confirm that the "available for upgrade with GUC" on the website 100% means an MUA is available.
Last edited by CommuneNefas; May 16, 2022 at 10:36 am
May 16, 2022, 10:28 am
#418
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: 100,404
This sounds more like a SkyTeam Upgrade Award with higher coach fare classes being required.
Does this mean no more MUAs for PS to D1? I'm sure I've done this with Mileage Upgrade Awards after February 2019 (but before COVID-19).
Does this mean no more MUAs for PS to D1? I'm sure I've done this with Mileage Upgrade Awards after February 2019 (but before COVID-19).
May 16, 2022, 10:37 am
#419
Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: Washington, D.C.
Programs: Delta PM, United Silver, Marriott Ambassador Elite
Posts: 24
May 16, 2022, 8:36 pm
#420
Join Date: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,373