How do I maximize my chance for upgrade
Nov 8, 2017, 2:45 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2017
Programs: Delta Skymiles
Posts: 1
How do I maximize my chance for upgrade
Hi everyone! I was wondering the following:
All else being equal, if I want to maximize my chances of upgrade, should I
a) buy my ticket as early or possible, or
b) buy later and thus get a higher fare class?
In other words, is time of purchase or fare class/ticket price better when it comes to upgrades?
thanks!
All else being equal, if I want to maximize my chances of upgrade, should I
a) buy my ticket as early or possible, or
b) buy later and thus get a higher fare class?
In other words, is time of purchase or fare class/ticket price better when it comes to upgrades?
thanks!
Nov 8, 2017, 3:08 am
#2
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: LON, PDX
Programs: DL PM, AS MVP 75K, HH/SPG/MR Gold, Amex Plat, PRG, CSR
Posts: 2,064
Welcome to FlyerTalk! 
Delta's upgrade priority is:
Fare class is much more important than date/time of request. However, you can buy a higher fare class than the lowest that is currently on sale at any time you prefer. This is easy to do over the phone or you can use the drop down menu in Delta's advanced search online. I'll often purchase X fares instead of V fares for domestic itineraries on which I have a good upgrade chance, as the difference is often only $5-$10.
If you give us your status, routes, and times many here will be able to help estimate your upgrade chances.
Delta's upgrade priority is:
1 Medallion Status
2 Fare Class Groupings
3 Delta Reserve Credit Card Members
4 Delta Corporate Travelers*
5 Card Members who earned the Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQD) Waiver in the current calendar year1
6 Date and time of upgrade request
2 Fare Class Groupings
3 Delta Reserve Credit Card Members
4 Delta Corporate Travelers*
5 Card Members who earned the Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQD) Waiver in the current calendar year1
6 Date and time of upgrade request
If you give us your status, routes, and times many here will be able to help estimate your upgrade chances.
Nov 8, 2017, 5:37 pm
#3
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: SLC & NYC
Programs: Diamond Medallion, Delta Million Miler, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 674
Hi everyone! I was wondering the following:
All else being equal, if I want to maximize my chances of upgrade, should I
a) buy my ticket as early or possible, or
b) buy later and thus get a higher fare class?
In other words, is time of purchase or fare class/ticket price better when it comes to upgrades?
thanks!
All else being equal, if I want to maximize my chances of upgrade, should I
a) buy my ticket as early or possible, or
b) buy later and thus get a higher fare class?
In other words, is time of purchase or fare class/ticket price better when it comes to upgrades?
thanks!
Nov 9, 2017, 7:07 am
#4
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: MEM
Programs: Starbucks Green Card
Posts: 5,431
Nov 9, 2017, 7:33 am
#6
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: SLC
Programs: DL DM and 1.5 MM, UA GM, HH DM
Posts: 283
I'm not being facetious when I say then, 'buy it'. Delta has gone to almost no upgrades even if you are the highest of diamond on most routes. Its just the way the program has gone. The upside to this is that you aren't locked into delta if you do. Fly any airline but pay up for the FCM.
Nov 9, 2017, 8:11 am
#7
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: NYC, MSY
Programs: DL DM, 1.5MM, NEXUS, Sky Club Lifetime, Admirals Club Lifetime, LowValueCustomer everywhere
Posts: 6,449
I find that route, day of the week and time of day are the key factors.
All 9 of my misses have been in or out of ATL on Tuesday or Wednesday with 6 of those ATL-LAX or LAX-ATL. That's a tough route where many flights are sold out in F a week before and people use GUC's and RUC's. Typically at least 45 on the UG list. I always book early and have a C+ aisle since I figure that's where I'm going to sit
If you really must sit up front then GAP fares purchased early are probably your best choice.
Nov 9, 2017, 9:41 am
#8
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Tahoe
Programs: Delta DM for now
Posts: 474
I don't have a percentage of success, but even as lowly FO scum this year I've had at least three segments upgrade to first. Two were my home leg from SLC-RNO and one was JFK-SYR. Buying my tickets last minute, I'm often on L or K fares which I suspect places me above most other FOs. I'll make a note to keep track of my success rate more once I hit GM this month and eventually PM next year.
Nov 9, 2017, 9:47 am
#9
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Treasure Coast, FL
Programs: DL Diamond, Marriott LT Plat, HH Diamond, Avis Preferred Plus, National Executive
Posts: 4,578
I was under 30% as a lowly PM and well under 50% (12 of 29 flights) as a not quite as lowly Diamond (since making Diamond).
It all depends on where and when you fly.
I was recently #12 on the UG list ATL-PBI.
It all depends on where and when you fly.
I was recently #12 on the UG list ATL-PBI.
Nov 9, 2017, 10:00 am
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Bye Delta
Programs: AA EXP, HH Diamond, IHG Plat, Hyatt Plat, Marriott Plat, Nat'l Exec Elite, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 16,291
By 2020, Delta is targeting giving out less than half the upgrades they do today. Set some boundaries for how far you're really willing to go to chase them. Also keep in mind the fare difference to buy up to First Class in advance may not be that much more than you'd pay for a higher coach fare class purchased closer in.
You don't state who is funding these tickets, but if it is work, I would suggest not endangering your career by deliberately delaying ticket purchases so you can have more expensive fares and thus better upgrade chances.
You don't state who is funding these tickets, but if it is work, I would suggest not endangering your career by deliberately delaying ticket purchases so you can have more expensive fares and thus better upgrade chances.
Nov 9, 2017, 10:31 am
#11
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: NYC, MSY
Programs: DL DM, 1.5MM, NEXUS, Sky Club Lifetime, Admirals Club Lifetime, LowValueCustomer everywhere
Posts: 6,449
By 2020, Delta is targeting giving out less than half the upgrades they do today. Set some boundaries for how far you're really willing to go to chase them. Also keep in mind the fare difference to buy up to First Class in advance may not be that much more than you'd pay for a higher coach fare class purchased closer in.
You don't state who is funding these tickets, but if it is work, I would suggest not endangering your career by deliberately delaying ticket purchases so you can have more expensive fares and thus better upgrade chances.
You don't state who is funding these tickets, but if it is work, I would suggest not endangering your career by deliberately delaying ticket purchases so you can have more expensive fares and thus better upgrade chances.
Nov 9, 2017, 11:23 am
#12
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: SLC
Programs: DL DM and 1.5 MM, UA GM, HH DM
Posts: 283
By 2020, Delta is targeting giving out less than half the upgrades they do today. Set some boundaries for how far you're really willing to go to chase them. Also keep in mind the fare difference to buy up to First Class in advance may not be that much more than you'd pay for a higher coach fare class purchased closer in.
You don't state who is funding these tickets, but if it is work, I would suggest not endangering your career by deliberately delaying ticket purchases so you can have more expensive fares and thus better upgrade chances.
You don't state who is funding these tickets, but if it is work, I would suggest not endangering your career by deliberately delaying ticket purchases so you can have more expensive fares and thus better upgrade chances.
Nov 9, 2017, 12:14 pm
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Bye Delta
Programs: AA EXP, HH Diamond, IHG Plat, Hyatt Plat, Marriott Plat, Nat'l Exec Elite, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 16,291
See, for example: http://laptoptravel.blogspot.com/201...l-upgrade.html
Last edited by javabytes; Nov 9, 2017 at 12:25 pm
Nov 9, 2017, 5:28 pm
#15
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: 100,417
Hi everyone! I was wondering the following:
All else being equal, if I want to maximize my chances of upgrade, should I
a) buy my ticket as early or possible, or
b) buy later and thus get a higher fare class?
In other words, is time of purchase or fare class/ticket price better when it comes to upgrades?
thanks!
All else being equal, if I want to maximize my chances of upgrade, should I
a) buy my ticket as early or possible, or
b) buy later and thus get a higher fare class?
In other words, is time of purchase or fare class/ticket price better when it comes to upgrades?
thanks!
I very much agree with the advice not to mess around and delay purchase if your employer is paying for the ticket.