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Current Pricing (may be out of date, updates appreciated)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
Nov 23, 2018, 2:09 pm
#91
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: DL PM, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 8,414
Nov 23, 2018, 2:14 pm
#92
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: 100,403
I don't think so and I don't think it would help as all instrument supported upgrades come from the same inventory bucket. In fact, you can't even ask simultaneously to waitlist for an instrument supported upgrade and a free elite upgrade on the same flight.
Nov 23, 2018, 2:17 pm
#93
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: 100,403
This would be an upgrade from coach to D1 on a flight without PS, right?
Nov 23, 2018, 4:27 pm
#96
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: MSP
Programs: Delta PM, 1MM
Posts: 3,784
Nov 24, 2018, 7:17 am
#97
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: West Chester, OH
Programs: Delta SM, Hilton Honors Diamond, Marriott Silver
Posts: 254
I'm looking at flights CVG-BCN in late May 2019. Lot's of D1 seat inventory but there is no award inventory for upgrade award. Is it too far out, or is the time of year?
Last edited by Scott H; Nov 25, 2018 at 5:46 am
Nov 25, 2018, 12:49 pm
#98
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Sonoma CA
Programs: DL DM&MM, DL KMwannabe, HH, AA, TG,
Posts: 1,257
We used to 75,000 miles to upgrade for a JFK-SEA-ICN-BKK itinerary. It was the only one where the transpacific leg had available upgrade seats. You depart at 7 AM from JFK on 12/5. Right now, there are 11 seats in Delta one available. Does anyone have any sense of when we are likely to hear whether the mileage upgrade workEd? If I understand it correctly, If we haven’t been upgraded by T -3, we would have to try to use RUG certificates for the JFK-SEA leg, since there are no mileage upgrades granted in that window?
Does anyone have experience with mileage upgrades not clearing, but certificate upgrades (which I understand come from the same pool) in fact clearing closer to departure?
Does anyone have experience with mileage upgrades not clearing, but certificate upgrades (which I understand come from the same pool) in fact clearing closer to departure?
Last edited by Steve007NY; Nov 25, 2018 at 1:15 pm Reason: Typos
Nov 25, 2018, 3:59 pm
#99
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: DL PM, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 8,414
The significant difference is certificate upgrades will go the airport standy list and can be cleared up until time of departure (and will be cleared if there are seats available).
Nov 25, 2018, 4:03 pm
#100
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Sonoma CA
Programs: DL DM&MM, DL KMwannabe, HH, AA, TG,
Posts: 1,257
So the strategy would be to hold the miles upgrade (since they have already deducted the miles for the entire itinerary) and wait and see if it clears until shortly before the flight, and if not, “cash in” certificates?
Nov 25, 2018, 4:21 pm
#101
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: DL PM, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 8,414
Yes. However, if on the day of departure there are still lots of seats open and you have not cleared, you may want to go to the airport more than 3 hours early and speak to a redcoat, and try to get someone to process the mileage upgrade for you so you don't have to use your RUC's, since the miles have already been taken out. Look for someone who looks friendly and not too busy. Also try in the Sky Club. It's not inline with policy for them to do this for you, but they can if they want to. Others have reported success with this, but know that it is very possible that you will arrive early and ask for this and simply be told no.
Nov 26, 2018, 2:17 pm
#102
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Sonoma CA
Programs: DL DM&MM, DL KMwannabe, HH, AA, TG,
Posts: 1,257
JDR-
thanks! The problem that I see is that our flight leaves at 7 AM. It’s the first leg of a 25 hour (and that doesn’t count transportation to and from the airports, etc.) itinerary between JFK and. Bangkok via Seattle and Korea). Do you think calling the platinum line and pleading might be equally effective or is the issue that all upgrades have been transferred to airport control (although this is before the 3 hour window, Will that matter?)
thanks! The problem that I see is that our flight leaves at 7 AM. It’s the first leg of a 25 hour (and that doesn’t count transportation to and from the airports, etc.) itinerary between JFK and. Bangkok via Seattle and Korea). Do you think calling the platinum line and pleading might be equally effective or is the issue that all upgrades have been transferred to airport control (although this is before the 3 hour window, Will that matter?)
Nov 26, 2018, 2:37 pm
#103
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: DL PM, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 8,414
JDR-
thanks! The problem that I see is that our flight leaves at 7 AM. It’s the first leg of a 25 hour (and that doesn’t count transportation to and from the airports, etc.) itinerary between JFK and. Bangkok via Seattle and Korea). Do you think calling the platinum line and pleading might be equally effective or is the issue that all upgrades have been transferred to airport control (although this is before the 3 hour window, Will that matter?)
thanks! The problem that I see is that our flight leaves at 7 AM. It’s the first leg of a 25 hour (and that doesn’t count transportation to and from the airports, etc.) itinerary between JFK and. Bangkok via Seattle and Korea). Do you think calling the platinum line and pleading might be equally effective or is the issue that all upgrades have been transferred to airport control (although this is before the 3 hour window, Will that matter?)
-Ask if the gate agent will not use the RUC's because you are waitlisted on a mileage upgrade and it would be paying twice. Very doubtful they will do this but does not hurt to ask.
-After the trip is over, write to delta and complain about not being upgraded even though there was space and having to burn RUC's instead. I'm guessing they will at least throw some miles at you.
I still think it's worth asking a red coat at the airport, but agree that getting there 3 hours early for a 7am flight is a bad idea, given the long day you have ahead of you.
Nov 29, 2018, 8:00 pm
#104
Join Date: Sep 2017
Programs: Hilton Honors
Posts: 76
Got on waitlist for Dec. 18 ATL-ICN. Bought ticket in PS (G). Was quoted 45K miles to upgrade to D1. Currently the seat map showing 13 seats available in D1. Anyone has any idea what's the likelihood of the upgraded clearing? Also, for a platinum member, when is the "deadline" for the miles upgrade clearing? Thanks!