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Current Pricing (may be out of date, updates appreciated)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
May 16, 2019, 2:50 am
#211
Join Date: Sep 2017
Programs: Hilton Honors
Posts: 76
I am on waitlist for PVG-DTW D1 in 5 days. Yesterday I saw 14 open seats in D1. Today it suddenly says "sold out" for D1 and the seat map also shows no seat available. However, the upgrade list section is still showing 14 remaining seats in D1. Does anyone know what's going on? Maybe there are 14 GUCs on this flight and they all cleared upon 120 hours prior to the flight? Many thanks!
May 16, 2019, 8:22 am
#212
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: DL PM, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 8,414
I am on waitlist for PVG-DTW D1 in 5 days. Yesterday I saw 14 open seats in D1. Today it suddenly says "sold out" for D1 and the seat map also shows no seat available. However, the upgrade list section is still showing 14 remaining seats in D1. Does anyone know what's going on? Maybe there are 14 GUCs on this flight and they all cleared upon 120 hours prior to the flight? Many thanks!
It could be an equipment change, which, while they are processing it, can temporarily zero out inventory (I assume so seats don't get double booked as they transfer pax over to new seat map). Check back later in the day and see if it still says that.
May 17, 2019, 12:28 am
#213
Join Date: Sep 2017
Programs: Hilton Honors
Posts: 76
Thanks! I ended up changing to a different date with D1 availability, but here's the interesting thing: the agent, event after consulting with a "coordinator", insisted that my G fare wasn't eligible for the 45K upgrade to D1, so I had to downgrade to a main cable Q fare first and pay 70K miles to D1. Did I get screwed? Calling the customer service is truly a test of luck.
May 17, 2019, 12:31 am
#214
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: San Francisco
Programs: DL
Posts: 466
Thanks! I ended up changing to a different date with D1 availability, but here's the interesting thing: the agent, event after consulting with a "coordinator", insisted that my G fare wasn't eligible for the 45K upgrade to D1, so I had to downgrade to a main cable Q fare first and pay 70K miles to D1. Did I get screwed? Calling the customer service is truly a test of luck.
May 17, 2019, 2:09 am
#215
Join Date: Sep 2017
Programs: Hilton Honors
Posts: 76
Oh well... would it help if I email them or call them and complain about it? lol
May 17, 2019, 4:41 am
#216
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
Today I just did one of those upgrades from a cheap PS G fare to D1 on a different TPAC route for 45,000 miles in each direction, although my fare code starts with a G. The agent had no problem with my plan to find a cheap PS fare (for the MQMs, but I didn't say that explicitly) and then use miles rather than GUCs to confirm the upgrade into D1 (suites) upgrade inventory (and definitely not pay miles to cover the fare difference between PS and D1). Inventory wasn't real easy, but I had lots of flexibility and it worked in both directions for a ticket that makes me quite happy.
OTOH, if you can be flexible about dates, there are some decent D1 Z fares out there, although it can be a challenge to get past all of the mixed cabin itineraries that delta.dumb is offering now. IME in some cases the cost difference between PS (or coach) and D1 would be a FCM-type offer that many people here would be happy to accept.
OTOH, if you can be flexible about dates, there are some decent D1 Z fares out there, although it can be a challenge to get past all of the mixed cabin itineraries that delta.dumb is offering now. IME in some cases the cost difference between PS (or coach) and D1 would be a FCM-type offer that many people here would be happy to accept.
May 17, 2019, 9:21 am
#217
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: DL PM, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 8,414
This G fare nonsense is getting really old. They rolled our the G fares in, IRRC, summer of 2017. I could give the agents a break for a few months, but two years and still having widespread misunderstanding? That's unacceptable and clearly must be a training issue (DL's fault), not particular agents.
May 22, 2019, 10:23 am
#218
Join Date: Sep 2017
Programs: Hilton Honors
Posts: 76
I called delta and explained the whole situation. To my surprise, they credited the difference (25K miles) to my account without hassle. They also did not claw back the fare difference refund I received between lower main cabin fare and my original G fare, but I will take that as compensation for my lost bonus MQMs.
May 22, 2019, 10:45 am
#219
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 23,057
There are no such fares on DTW-PVG. The PE fares are all have P/A/G fare basis codes and so all should be eligible. The coach basis PE fares seem pretty much limited to LAX-PVG route. Although I believe they have had them out of SEA in the past. This logic is applied to upgrades on C+/W fares (fare basis must be K+ to apply mileage upgrade award), so it would not be surprising if applied to PE fares with a coach basis as well.
May 25, 2019, 2:17 am
#220
Join Date: Jun 2017
Posts: 56
I was waitlisted on a flight from LAX-HND for a mileage upgrade award (40k, PE G fare) on a flight with my GF, was doing my usual weekly check to see if seats had opened up together since we were split up, and received an upgrade with miles offer for 34.9k per person. I took it, but I had thought based on the wiki that this option wasn't available on international flights. Just figured I would point it out for anyone else that is waitlisted, might be worth checking from time to time if you have an offer.
May 25, 2019, 9:00 am
#222
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
I thought TPAC was 45,000 miles from a G fare, or 40,000 TATL. I know these are the upgrade award prices from MSP.
May 25, 2019, 1:13 pm
#223
Join Date: Jun 2017
Posts: 56
I thought it was 45k to waitlist, too, but the rep said 40k when I did it. I asked her to double check and she seemed pretty confident. I was just surprised not only that I got a upgrade offer, but the upgrade offer was less than what Delta knew I was willing to pay.
May 25, 2019, 1:57 pm
#224
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 23,057
The only flights that have been specifically ruled-out as being ineligible for FCM offers are the following --
- Any flight segment of your trip is departing the United Kingdom, France, India, Ghana or Honduras
May 25, 2019, 1:59 pm
#225
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
I assume that the UK and France are excluded due to the luxury tax on premium cabin departures.