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Current Pricing (may be out of date, updates appreciated)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
Aug 8, 2018, 9:04 pm
#61
Moderator: Hyatt; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: WAS
Programs: :rolleyes:, DL DM, Mlife Plat, Caesars Diam, Marriott Tit, UA Gold, Hyatt Glob, invol FT beta tester
Posts: 18,921
I have no information on "should" or "shouldn't" vis-a-vis policy, but I can definitely tell you from personal experience that I have my Twitter handle in my profile, and I have still been asked.
Aug 8, 2018, 10:59 pm
#62
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: ATL
Programs: DL Scattered Smothered Covered Medallion, Some hotel & car stuff, Kroger Plus Card
Posts: 10,745
Also, a few exchanges ago the agent asked me to provide my SM# or PNR so they could "link my account". I double checked and my profiles were already linked (and had been for...as long as DLAssist was a thing). Twitter agent said he/she didn't see that but could link it again for me.
In any case, that seemed to correct it and I'm back to being able to request stuff by just calling out date and destination.
Aug 9, 2018, 2:29 pm
#63
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2013
Programs: DL PM, MR Titanium/LTP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 10,130
Well turns out that it didn't matter that Twitter wasn't helpful because I ended up with my first ever TATL op-up. So I got to save whatever mileage DL would've actually quoted me and still got the J seat. I guess in retrospect I should say thank you to Delta Twitter for being unhelpful with this particular mileage upgrade 
Aug 24, 2018, 3:12 pm
#64
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2013
Programs: DL PM, MR Titanium/LTP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 10,130
Called in this time instead of using Twitter.
Was quoted 45k on a B fare to upgrade ICN - RDU (not confirmable on my dates) from Y --> D1
Was further quoted 25k to confirm Y --> PE and was told that I could further WL for D1 which would the additional 20k if it cleared to get to the 45k quoted for Y --> D1
Declined at present since it appears I can just buy PE for less than Y (but will have to call my corporate TA since PE isn't bookable on our Concur) but am hoping that once I buy PE, the D1 MUA cost remains 20k at which point I will waitlist for it.
Was quoted 45k on a B fare to upgrade ICN - RDU (not confirmable on my dates) from Y --> D1
Was further quoted 25k to confirm Y --> PE and was told that I could further WL for D1 which would the additional 20k if it cleared to get to the 45k quoted for Y --> D1
Declined at present since it appears I can just buy PE for less than Y (but will have to call my corporate TA since PE isn't bookable on our Concur) but am hoping that once I buy PE, the D1 MUA cost remains 20k at which point I will waitlist for it.
Nov 12, 2018, 3:27 pm
#65
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Sonoma CA
Programs: DL DM&MM, DL KMwannabe, HH, AA, TG,
Posts: 1,257
Upgrade with miles...where do we stand?
My partner and I are doing on mileage run to Bangkok in mid December. With the ticket there, we are booked JFK-SEA-ICN-BKK. About $1000 + 70k miles...Not a great deal but we can live with it, I will probably buy business class tickets for the return trip.
not to delete the old boat we can live with it, and will probably buy business class tickets for the return trip we are booked into Business on the transPac segment. JFK-SEA, We are in economy comfort that were told that we would be “at the top of the upgrade list” for Delta 1. Right now, there are 12 seats available in D1.
I’d like some clarification about where, exactly, those with mileage upgrade tickets stand in the upgrades waitlist..
Any insight would be most welcome.
Nov 12, 2018, 5:14 pm
#67
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Sonoma CA
Programs: DL DM&MM, DL KMwannabe, HH, AA, TG,
Posts: 1,257
The agent we spoke two (and he spent more than an hour on the phone with us, and seemed knowledgeable“ said that we should NOT Put in for an upgrade (not check the box)for the transcon flight because our mileage award would put us higher on the UG list. We have RUG certsand would use them if we knew we’d be in D1 transcon.
help!
help!
Nov 18, 2018, 5:04 am
#68
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 10,222
I've just tried to get my first ever mileage upgrade on DL. I purchased a PS fare and called in to get the upgrade. The agent said that I'd need to be put on the waitlist. I said OK and go ahead and put me on the waitlist for 45K miles. Now when I check my itinerary online there is no indication that I'm on any waitlist nor have the miles been removed from my account. Is this normal or should I call in again to confirm I'm indeed on the list?
Nov 18, 2018, 7:27 am
#69
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
I've just tried to get my first ever mileage upgrade on DL. I purchased a PS fare and called in to get the upgrade. The agent said that I'd need to be put on the waitlist. I said OK and go ahead and put me on the waitlist for 45K miles. Now when I check my itinerary online there is no indication that I'm on any waitlist nor have the miles been removed from my account. Is this normal or should I call in again to confirm I'm indeed on the list?
Nov 18, 2018, 7:32 am
#70
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
The agent we spoke two (and he spent more than an hour on the phone with us, and seemed knowledgeable“ said that we should NOT Put in for an upgrade (not check the box)for the transcon flight because our mileage award would put us higher on the UG list. We have RUG certsand would use them if we knew we’d be in D1 transcon.
help!
help!
Nov 18, 2018, 10:15 am
#71
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: DL PM, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 8,414
Shouldn't there be some indication of the waitlist? It's been a while since I waitlisted, but I recall there would be two versions of the same reservation. And I also thought that more recently the upgrade status in the reservation said something about waitlisted.
Nov 20, 2018, 9:22 am
#73
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: DL PM, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 8,414
Check online in your reservation and see if there is an offer there. Sometimes there will be. Otherwise, call and ask.
You can also call and ask about upgrading with miles.
Nov 20, 2018, 11:15 am
#74
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: MSP
Programs: Delta PM, 1MM
Posts: 3,783
I am currently waitlisted on two reservations, a domestic trip, using RUCs, and an international one, using SM upgrade awards to upgrade from PS to D1. One RUC has already cleared on the return domestic flight.
There are two seat maps for each waitlisted flight, but the information differs on the reservation pages. I don’t know if that difference is due to domestic vs international or RUC vs mileage upgrade award. The domestic reservation gives the fare as SU on the waitlisted flight and RY on the upgraded one; the booked fares were V and T. The international reservation shows the original G fare for PE on both waitlisted flights. There is nothing that says Upgrade Requested on the international flights but there is on the domestic one, which could refer to the medallion upgrade as well.
That’s what I’m seeing for upgrade waitlist indications. I am assuming that the duplicate seat maps mean all is in order, but I’ll call to check occasionally.
I am not optimistic about the international mileage upgrades, which are on MSP-HND-MSP.