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Current Pricing (may be out of date, updates appreciated)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 25, 2019, 2:21 pm
#226
Join Date: Jun 2017
Posts: 56
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
Jun 2, 2019, 1:37 pm
#227
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 57
Hello,
I have been fortunate in the past with mileage upgrades on international routes.
However, we are 2 persons still waitlisted for departure and return LAX-CDG (in premium select), leaving in two days. When we made the rez end of April, there were 17 available, so our chances seemed decent. Last week, the list showed 13 available (still decent!) and the seat/ticket sales counts aligned. Today, the app upgrade list shows 5, the seat map 4 open, and sales has 2 for sale. Curious... What do you guys make of that?
I know it's a busy/popular route where it's entirely possible for lots of tickets to sell in a week, it also seems equally unlikely. Were upgrades processing and not us?
My questions:
1. Do reservations with two persons get deprioritized under single reservations? Would we be lower on the list as two vs. one?
2. Assuming no, if only one seat opened up and we were next on the list, would it be offered to the next single traveler on the list?
3. What recourse or action, if any, might I take to advocate and pursue my upgrade?
4. Anyone have any luck on Delta modifying their route to flights that have confirmable upgrades? do you have to pay fare diff? can that be avoided?
Separately, we had some issues on a past flight in D1, and am still waiting for response. The complaint was transferred to the EU care team, which I learned only by calling and was never made aware. Anyway... That's a different issue.
Let me know what you think. Thanks, fellow flyers!
I have been fortunate in the past with mileage upgrades on international routes.
However, we are 2 persons still waitlisted for departure and return LAX-CDG (in premium select), leaving in two days. When we made the rez end of April, there were 17 available, so our chances seemed decent. Last week, the list showed 13 available (still decent!) and the seat/ticket sales counts aligned. Today, the app upgrade list shows 5, the seat map 4 open, and sales has 2 for sale. Curious... What do you guys make of that?
I know it's a busy/popular route where it's entirely possible for lots of tickets to sell in a week, it also seems equally unlikely. Were upgrades processing and not us?
My questions:
1. Do reservations with two persons get deprioritized under single reservations? Would we be lower on the list as two vs. one?
2. Assuming no, if only one seat opened up and we were next on the list, would it be offered to the next single traveler on the list?
3. What recourse or action, if any, might I take to advocate and pursue my upgrade?
4. Anyone have any luck on Delta modifying their route to flights that have confirmable upgrades? do you have to pay fare diff? can that be avoided?
Separately, we had some issues on a past flight in D1, and am still waiting for response. The complaint was transferred to the EU care team, which I learned only by calling and was never made aware. Anyway... That's a different issue.
Let me know what you think. Thanks, fellow flyers!
Jun 5, 2019, 11:28 am
#228
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2013
Programs: DL PM, MR Titanium/LTP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 10,130
Was quoted 90k for both Y ---> PS and Y ---> D1 on SYD - LAX.
The guy on the phone was surprised that they were coming up as one and the same. At the moment my account is at about 88k miles and he said they would confirm for 88k but it was just an exploratory call so declined.
Looks like Concur is now letting me book into M so will see if I get something different when I actually book (and ideally will do a paid upgrade to PS and then maybe upgrade waitlist to D1)
The guy on the phone was surprised that they were coming up as one and the same. At the moment my account is at about 88k miles and he said they would confirm for 88k but it was just an exploratory call so declined.
Looks like Concur is now letting me book into M so will see if I get something different when I actually book (and ideally will do a paid upgrade to PS and then maybe upgrade waitlist to D1)
Jun 21, 2019, 11:32 am
#229
Join Date: Sep 2017
Programs: Hilton Honors
Posts: 76
Just called delta for an MUA for my STL-ATL-PVG round trip in December. I bought an PS (G) ticket, so quoted 90K miles for both ways. The agent confirmed inventory right away, and was able to clear the upgrade immediately. I guess the only weird thing is for some reason the outbound STL-ATL flight could not clear, but lol it's only an one-hour flight.
Jul 26, 2019, 10:56 am
#230
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
Another incompetence story: I called the DM line and clearly asked about a "Delta SkyMiles Upgrade Award" from PS to D1 on TPAC flights operated by DL. The agent first said that it was available for 283,200 miles in one direction (although the app is giving me an offer of 156,600 miles each way). Then I repeated my request that I didn't want the upgrade based on differences in the fare but rather an upgrade award at a fixed number of miles. The agent then said it would be 17,500 miles in each direction. At that point I hung up as I didn't want to risk having that person messing with my ticket, although in my haste I didn't stay on the line long enough to give the person a bad rating.
It's been a long time since I've seen even a short coach flight as an upgrade award for only 17,500 miles and I can't imagine where she would have gotten that number since AFAIK no domestic flights have PS and only a few are coded as D1, although I guess if you had an international ticket in PS and wanted to use miles to upgrade only the domestic segments, this would be plausible, However, I have TPAC nonstops in both directions, so there's no domestic segment to upgrade.
It's been a long time since I've seen even a short coach flight as an upgrade award for only 17,500 miles and I can't imagine where she would have gotten that number since AFAIK no domestic flights have PS and only a few are coded as D1, although I guess if you had an international ticket in PS and wanted to use miles to upgrade only the domestic segments, this would be plausible, However, I have TPAC nonstops in both directions, so there's no domestic segment to upgrade.
Last edited by MSPeconomist; Jul 26, 2019 at 11:01 am
Jul 26, 2019, 11:16 am
#231
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: DL PM, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 8,414
Another incompetence story: I called the DM line and clearly asked about a "Delta SkyMiles Upgrade Award" from PS to D1 on TPAC flights operated by DL. The agent first said that it was available for 283,200 miles in one direction (although the app is giving me an offer of 156,600 miles each way). Then I repeated my request that I didn't want the upgrade based on differences in the fare but rather an upgrade award at a fixed number of miles. The agent then said it would be 17,500 miles in each direction. At that point I hung up as I didn't want to risk having that person messing with my ticket, although in my haste I didn't stay on the line long enough to give the person a bad rating.
It's been a long time since I've seen even a short coach flight as an upgrade award for only 17,500 miles and I can't imagine where she would have gotten that number since AFAIK no domestic flights have PS and only a few are coded as D1, although I guess if you had an international ticket in PS and wanted to use miles to upgrade only the domestic segments, this would be plausible, However, I have TPAC nonstops in both directions, so there's no domestic segment to upgrade.
It's been a long time since I've seen even a short coach flight as an upgrade award for only 17,500 miles and I can't imagine where she would have gotten that number since AFAIK no domestic flights have PS and only a few are coded as D1, although I guess if you had an international ticket in PS and wanted to use miles to upgrade only the domestic segments, this would be plausible, However, I have TPAC nonstops in both directions, so there's no domestic segment to upgrade.
I think I would have said yes, please to that offer. If there was a problem with it, there is a chance that a supervisor would have honored it.
Jul 26, 2019, 11:18 am
#232
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
Aug 2, 2019, 10:16 am
#234
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 443
Forgive me in advance as I am a bit confused with this thread—Are delta mileage award upgrades different than the option I see when I look at the itinerary on the app? I currently see a ridiculous offer of 480k need to upgrade my PS seat to D1 on an ATL-JNB flight. Is there another option that I am not aware of?
Aug 2, 2019, 10:29 am
#235
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: 18,931
Forgive me in advance as I am a bit confused with this thread—Are delta mileage award upgrades different than the option I see when I look at the itinerary on the app? I currently see a ridiculous offer of 480k need to upgrade my PS seat to D1 on an ATL-JNB flight. Is there another option that I am not aware of?
In more words
the buy-up offers visible on the web site or app are akin to buying an FCM offer using miles instead of cash at roughly 1 cpm (it's not exact because the taxes aren't included when you use miles). The price for such an upgrade can fluctuate up and down according to the whims of revenue management. IIRC this only used to be available to holders of Delta-branded AMEX cards but got opened up to everyone in the last year or so. This used to be called Upgrade With Miles.This thread is about Mileage Upgrade Awards (DL did a great job naming the two, right?) in which the price to upgrade is a function of the route, the original fare bucket, and the new cabin of travel. Given those three parameters, the price to upgrade is always a fixed amount of miles, and what fluctuates is the inventory for that upgrade according to the whims of RM (it's the same inventory bucket that GUCs clear into).
MUAs are no longer available domestically but for international travel you can call in (or tweet) and ask how much it would be. Except they will almost certainly think you are asking about UWM so you may have to repeat your question a few times to get the right answer. (If you do please come back and update us on the current route, fare class, and pricing, as current data for that is somewhat lacking)
Aug 2, 2019, 11:08 am
#237
Join Date: May 2015
Location: DCA
Programs: AA EXP, DL FO, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 6,712
In a word, yes.
In more words the buy-up offers visible on the web site or app are akin to buying an FCM offer using miles instead of cash at roughly 1 cpm (it's not exact because the taxes aren't included when you use miles). The price for such an upgrade can fluctuate up and down according to the whims of revenue management. IIRC this only used to be available to holders of Delta-branded AMEX cards but got opened up to everyone in the last year or so. This used to be called Upgrade With Miles.
This thread is about Mileage Upgrade Awards (DL did a great job naming the two, right?) in which the price to upgrade is a function of the route, the original fare bucket, and the new cabin of travel. Given those three parameters, the price to upgrade is always a fixed amount of miles, and what fluctuates is the inventory for that upgrade according to the whims of RM (it's the same inventory bucket that GUCs clear into).
MUAs are no longer available domestically but for international travel you can call in (or tweet) and ask how much it would be. Except they will almost certainly think you are asking about UWM so you may have to repeat your question a few times to get the right answer. (If you do please come back and update us on the current route, fare class, and pricing, as current data for that is somewhat lacking)
In more words
the buy-up offers visible on the web site or app are akin to buying an FCM offer using miles instead of cash at roughly 1 cpm (it's not exact because the taxes aren't included when you use miles). The price for such an upgrade can fluctuate up and down according to the whims of revenue management. IIRC this only used to be available to holders of Delta-branded AMEX cards but got opened up to everyone in the last year or so. This used to be called Upgrade With Miles.This thread is about Mileage Upgrade Awards (DL did a great job naming the two, right?) in which the price to upgrade is a function of the route, the original fare bucket, and the new cabin of travel. Given those three parameters, the price to upgrade is always a fixed amount of miles, and what fluctuates is the inventory for that upgrade according to the whims of RM (it's the same inventory bucket that GUCs clear into).
MUAs are no longer available domestically but for international travel you can call in (or tweet) and ask how much it would be. Except they will almost certainly think you are asking about UWM so you may have to repeat your question a few times to get the right answer. (If you do please come back and update us on the current route, fare class, and pricing, as current data for that is somewhat lacking)
Aug 2, 2019, 2:36 pm
#239
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: OKC
Programs: DL DM/2.768MM, Global Entry, Titanium_Marriott, GHertz
Posts: 6,752
Do I have it right that if you purchase an international ticket and use MUA for D1, if the upgrade space is available and a seat is confirmed that at a later date one could substitute a GUCs and have the SMs returned?
I am certain I have done this before, but nothing having new GUCs in hand I am wondering if the policy has changed.
I am certain I have done this before, but nothing having new GUCs in hand I am wondering if the policy has changed.
Aug 2, 2019, 2:49 pm
#240
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 23,057
Program rules seem to indicate terms similar to regular award tickets --
"Mileage Upgrade Awards must be surrendered or cancelled at least 72 hours prior to the scheduled flight departure time for miles to be redeposited into Member’s account. Upon reissue, if the Mileage Upgrade Award is not available on the desired alternative flight, the miles will be redeposited into Member’s account. Redeposit fees apply. Mileage Upgrade Awards booked within 72 hours of departure are nonrefundable and cannot be redeposited or changed. Members may reissue or change a Mileage Upgrade Award prior to departure time. Taxes, fees and any additional collection is based on the rules of the purchased fare."
"Mileage Upgrade Awards must be surrendered or cancelled at least 72 hours prior to the scheduled flight departure time for miles to be redeposited into Member’s account. Upon reissue, if the Mileage Upgrade Award is not available on the desired alternative flight, the miles will be redeposited into Member’s account. Redeposit fees apply. Mileage Upgrade Awards booked within 72 hours of departure are nonrefundable and cannot be redeposited or changed. Members may reissue or change a Mileage Upgrade Award prior to departure time. Taxes, fees and any additional collection is based on the rules of the purchased fare."
